Chapter 0003

Alaric & Elara

Alaric

I stood in the dimly lit interrogation room of the police station, my gaze drifting toward the window that overlooked a nearby school. The muffled sounds of children laughing and playing filtered through the glass, a stark contrast to the silent, cold atmosphere inside.

My child was out there somewhere, and every passing second felt like an eternity. Frustration gnawed at me; the investigation had stalled, and I was done waiting.

Turning away from the window, I squared my shoulders and took a deep breath. If the authorities couldn’t get the answers I needed, I would just have to handle it myself. Olivia was here, and she was the key.

I pushed open the heavy door to the adjacent room where Olivia sat. Her eyes flicked up to meet mine, a flash of fear darting through them before she quickly looked away.

“Olivia Hartwell,” I said sharply, pulling out the chair across from her and sitting down. “Let’s cut to the chase. Where were you, and what were you doing when my late wife was giving birth?”

She swallowed hard. “I... I was helping her during labor. I didn’t go anywhere,” she mumbled.

I leaned forward, resting my forearms on the table. “Do you know the consequences of lying to an Alpha?” My tone was icier than ever—a warning.

Her eyes welled up with tears, and she began to tremble. “I-I swear, I don’t know anything…”

I arched an eyebrow, unimpressed. “I find that hard to believe.”

Olivia was silent for a long time, just staring down at her lap. I just watched her, quietly waiting. My icy gaze was enough to break her.

Finally, she broke down. Within an instant, she went from trembling quietly to sobbing uncontrollably. “Okay! I—I was with Mason for a bit that day,” she blurted out between sobs.

My jaw tightened. “Mason? Who is he, and why was he at the hospital?”

Olivia sniffed. “M-Mason Brown is my fiancé. H-he was there because his ex-wife, Elara Spencer, was also giving birth that day.”

Elara Spencer. The name resonated in my mind like a distant echo. Something about it seemed... familiar, although I couldn’t seem to figure out why. I’d never met an Elara Spencer before. I always remembered a name.

I mind-linked my Beta, James. “James, I need you to investigate everything about a woman named Elara Spencer. Right now.”

…

Elara

The smell of eggs sizzling in the pan filled our tiny apartment. I glanced over at Zoe, who was humming softly as she colored at the kitchen table. Her black hair fell in soft waves around her face, her little tongue poking out of her mouth in concentration.

I wasn’t sure how she always stayed so cheerful despite the way that we lived—despite the way others treated us. Our apartment was tiny, just a little kitchen and living room, with one bedroom. We even slept in the same bed.

I tried to keep our home cozy, filling the space with thrifted blankets and toys and stuffed animals. A tiny TV sat in the corner, but we hardly used it; we both preferred to read, anyway. During the hot summer, I would often take Zoe to the library to read book after book. She didn’t know that I mostly just brought her there because I couldn’t afford air conditioning and the library was free.

But wherever we went, even the library, we were ridiculed simply for being Omegas. And somehow, it never seemed to bother my daughter.

I admired that about her, truly.

“Breakfast is almost ready,” I said.

“Okay, Mommy,” she replied without looking up.

I turned back to the stove, my thoughts drifting back to yesterday. Zoe had been my rock, pulling me away from the school after the other parents’ taunts had become too much to bear. Their whispers about us—about her—still echoed in my ears.

“She doesn’t even have a father,” they had sneered. “She’s a bad influence on the other children.”

I clenched the spatula in my hand. Zoe deserved so much better than this. She was such a bright, loving child, and it broke my heart that she had to face such cruelty.

For some reason, she had pointed down the street and said that she had a daddy. The other parents laughed right in her face.

Of course, there was no father. Just a police station. Not one that counted, anyway. Zoe never saw Mason as a father.

In that moment, I couldn’t tell if she was just trying to shut the other parents up or maybe it was wishful thinking. Either way, I didn’t want that burden to fall on her.

A sudden knock at the door jolted me from my thoughts. My heart skipped a beat. Was it the landlord again, coming to complain about rent being late? I bit my lip, wiping my hands on a towel.

“Zoe, stay here,” I instructed, heading toward the door. I hesitated for a moment before unlocking the door and swinging it open.

Mason was standing there. My blood ran cold, and I instantly went to slam the door in his face, but he stuck his foot in the way and kept it from closing.

“What do you want?” I asked sharply, trying to keep my voice low so as not to scare Zoe.

His eyes were hard, a sneer curling his lip. “Did you have Olivia thrown in jail?” he demanded.

I blinked. “What are you talking about?”

“Don’t play dumb with me, Elara!” he spat, slamming his palm against the door hard enough to make it shudder. “I know you did something to get her arrested.”

I scowled. His actions wouldn’t scare me into letting go of the doorknob, no matter how much I was secretly trembling. Mason had always been a lot bigger than me, and he had a temper. He had never turned that temper toward me and Zoe, but I wasn’t about to let him start now.

“Why would I waste my time on something so petty?” I blurted out. “I have better things to do than meddle in your pathetic life.”

“You’re lying!” he roared. “Admit it. You’re still hung up on me. You think you’ll find someone better than me? Dream on. You’ll come crawling back eventually.”

I felt a surge of indignation. “One of us is dreaming,” I retorted coldly. “And it’s not me.”

His eyes flashed, and before I could react, he slammed his shoulder against the door, breaking my grip and forcing it open. I stumbled back in shock.

“Mason! Get out!” I shouted, my voice shaking.

My screams did nothing to stop him. He advanced toward me, his broad shoulders filling the space. “You think you can just brush me off?” He growled. “You’re nothing without me. A worthless Omega.”

I backed away, glancing desperately toward the kitchen, where a knife block sat on the counter. “Zoe, go to your room!” I yelled. “And lock the door!”

But before she could move, Mason lunged at me, grabbing the front of my shirt. “You’re going to fix this, bitch,” he growled. “You’re going to get Olivia out of prison, or else.”

I slapped him hard across the face, the sound echoing in the apartment. He blinked in surprise before a cruel smile spread across his lips.

“That’s all you’ve got?” he mocked. “Pathetic.”

Suddenly, a small figure darted between us. Before I could stop her, Zoe leapt forward and sank her teeth into Mason’s arm with surprising ferocity. Furry little ears poked out from amongst her black hair, and a little snarl ripped from her throat.

“Ah! You little brat!” he howled, releasing me. He pulled his hand back as if to hit her.

“Zoe, no!” I cried, putting her behind me.

“You’re raising a savage!” Mason bellowed.

“Get out of my house, Mason!” I shrieked.

“Not until you help Olivia. She’s in jail because of you, and I’m not leaving until you fix it.”

“That’s insane! I had nothing to do with that!” I protested. “And besides, how could I get her out of jail? It’s out of my hands!”

Mason snarled, his fist swinging toward me. But then something happened.

“STOP! Get away from my mommy!”

I froze, whipping my head toward Zoe. She had just screamed that word, but something about it…

She was only six. And yet it was somehow deep and authoritative, and caused both of us to stop.

Mason stared at her for a moment, still stunned. But then he seemed to collect himself and laughed derisively. “And what are you going to do about it, huh? No one’s coming to save you.”

But he was wrong.

The front door swung open with a force that made it slam against the wall. A towering figure filled the doorway—dark hair, intense eyes, and an aura that commanded attention.

Before Mason could react, Alaric strode forward and delivered a swift punch to his jaw. Mason crumpled to the floor like a rag doll, unconscious.

“Daddy!” Zoe cried out, her face lighting up as she ran toward Alaric.

Before I could even respond, I felt my strength run out. My knees buckled, and the room began to spin around me as I started to fall.

Suddenly, warm arms swept me up, holding me against a sturdy chest. Alaric held me effortlessly.

Before l stumbled into the darkness, he breathed.

“Goddess, I’ve finally found you.”