ELENA'S POV
He took a step closer. "What? You thought I'd be the savage they all talk about?"
His face was so close now. I could smell the fresh scent of rain on his jacket.
"No, of course not," I whispered, flustered. "You've saved me twice now. You're… a good man."
He smiled slightly. "Good man? That's a new compliment for me."
I backed away quickly. "Sorry. I should go. Come on, Lucas."
I took Lucas's hand and turned to leave, trying to calm my racing heart.
HARRISON'S POV
I stood still at the end of the hallway, watching Elena walk away with the little boy.
There was something about the way she held his hand… the way he looked up at her, smiling, safe. My heart beat hard in my chest.
I should've looked away, but I couldn't.
There was something… familiar.
The boy turned slightly before disappearing around the corner and stared straight at me. His eyes. They weren't just familiar—they were mine.
I barely breathed.
The moment they disappeared, Luke came walking up beside me.
"Alpha," he said, sounding a bit shaken. "That kid… he's only six years old."
He paused, glanced down the hallway again, then back at me.
"I mean… if that's the woman from seven years ago… then…"
"No," I said quickly, my voice a little too sharp. "No, no, no. That's impossible."
Luke looked at me. "But Alpha, think about it. The fire at Moon Valley, the woman you saved... she disappeared before anyone could identify her."
I clenched my jaw. "I haven't been able to have children since the war. The doctors made that clear."
Luke said softly, "Dr. Wood said it wasn't a hundred percent.
He looked at me. "So… what are you gonna do about her?"
I didn't answer. I turned and walked away, heart pounding.
MATHEW'S POV
The music was loud, and the guests were laughing and drinking. I sat with Jennifer in the center of our engagement party, raising my glass.
"To us," I said with a smile.
Jennifer touched her glass to mine. "To us. And to me… wearing this stunning necklace." She flipped her hair and grinned.
I chuckled. "Two million well spent."
She smiled proudly. "You know it."
Then, just like that, Harrison walked in and sat right across from us.
He didn't even blink. He looked me straight in the eyes and said, "I want that maid."
I frowned. "What maid?"
"Elena," he said firmly.
Jennifer laughed nervously. "You're joking… right? She's just a maid. You can have anyone in the pack. Why her?"
"She's beneath you," she added coldly.
Harrison's voice turned sharp. "Watch your mouth. You don't speak about her like that."
I sat up slowly, trying to keep my tone light. "Come on, brother. We're at my engagement party. Ask for anything, anything at all. But Elena… you know I can't do that."
"I'm not asking," Harrison said, staring hard at me. "I'm telling you."
He grabbed the whiskey glass I gave him, dropped it on the table, then took mine from my hand and drank it instead.
Jennifer blinked in shock.
"Okay," she said softly. "You can have her. After the party."
"Jennifer," I snapped.
She rolled her eyes. "What? That woman has a bastard son. You're really okay with that?"
Harrison smirked. "A child is exactly what I need."
He stood up and walked away, leaving us frozen.
ELENA'S POV
I was back in the kitchen washing dishes. My hands shook a little from everything that had happened earlier.
Lucas was helping, drying spoons.
"Mommy," he said, "why can't we go to the party with Daddy?"
I sighed. "Sweetie, Alpha Harrison isn't your daddy."
"But I can smell him, Mommy," Lucas said. "I can smell your wolf.
My breath caught.
"That's not possible," I whispered. "I lost my wolf seven years ago."
He looked confused.
I turned away. "Honey, please go play with Tyler. Mommy needs to finish this."
He frowned but nodded. "Okay."
As soon as he walked out, I heard a soft, calm voice behind me.
"Your son is right… I'm here, Elena."
I turned sharply—and gasped.
"Zoey?" I whispered.
It was my wolf. Glowing faintly, like a spirit, standing near the back door.
"I missed you," Zoey said. "The Moon Goddess gave me a second chance. I've come back for you. And I have something to tell you… about our mate."
She said, " Alpha Mathew…
"What?" I whispered.
Before she could answer, Jennifer walked into the kitchen.
Jennifer said, yeah, Mathew is your mate. In seven years I've kept that secret.
I asked, how did you know?
He told you that?
Jennifer said, no I found out by accident, and then I've to make sure you'd fall in bed with the sleazy rogue all it took was a little something In your drink
She stepped closer and shoved me. "You want to know why Mathew never told you you were his mate? Because you're nothing. You're a maid with a bastard child."
"Then why are you so scared of me?" I snapped.
She slapped me hard across the face.
"You bitch!" she hissed. "I should've killed you that night instead of just drugging you."
"What did you just say?" a deep voice growled behind her.
Jennifer froze.
Mathew stood at the doorway, eyes wide, face pale.
"You told me… that Elena went to seduce that asshole rogue.
Jennifer panicked. "Mathew, listen."
"Get out." His voice was ice.
"But—"
"NOW!"
Jennifer stormed out, furious.
Mathew turned to me slowly. There was a bottle in his hand. He stepped closer.
"What are you going to do?" I asked.
He didn't answer. He placed the bottle down behind me and whispered, "You know you're my mate. And I still want you."
I stared at him, disgusted. "You never told me. You let me suffer. And now you're here… what, lusting after me?"
"I can't help it," he said. "You're a maid. An orphan. But damn it… I can't get you out of my system."
He stepped closer.
"I can make you my mistress," he whispered.
My hand flew up and slapped him across the face.
He staggered back, touching his cheek. "You slapped your Alpha?"
"You disgust me, Mathew. I'd rather be a rogue than your mate."
"Don't push me, Elena," he growled. "Don't make me reject you."
"Do it," I whispered. "I accept your rejection, Mathew Wilson."
A searing pain hit my chest as the bond snapped. My knees buckled, but I stayed standing.
Mathew's lips curled into a cruel smile. "Then I guess I'll leave you… to my brother."
"What?"
"Harrison," he said coldly. "And I'm sure you've heard the rumors. How cruel. How dangerous he can be."
I stared at him.
He leaned close. "Beg me now, Elena… or go serve a man who might just destroy you."
I looked him dead in the eyes and said, "I'll take my chances… with Alpha Harrison."
He froze.
JENNIFER'S POV
I paced back and forth in my room, biting my nails.
"Damn it," I muttered. "Now Mathew knows."
He knew everything.
He knew I was the one who drugged Elena seven years ago. He knew I lied, ruined her life… and still, the way he looked at her?
That look in his eyes—God, he still loves her!
I stopped pacing and grabbed a pillow from the bed, throwing it across the room.
"No, no, no! He's going to do something stupid. I know him. He'll chase after her, try to 'fix' everything like some hero." I laughed bitterly. "As if he didn't throw her away the first chance he got."
My fingers curled tightly.
"I can't let him."
I sat on the edge of the bed, staring at my phone.
"I have to do something... before it's too late."
My hands shook as I dialed a number.
It rang twice before a low voice answered.
"It's Jennifer. I need your help."
"I'll send you a location," I said. "Be there in an hour."
ELENA'S POV
I opened the door to Lucas's room and smiled at first.
His toys were scattered everywhere—his little wooden wolf, the soft red blanket he always used, the robot he never went to bed without.
But then I looked closer.
The bed was empty.
"Lucas?" I called out, stepping inside quickly.
Silence.
I felt a chill. Then my phone buzzed.
I picked it up with shaking fingers and read the message:
"If you want to see your son, come to the woods. Come alone."
My whole body froze.
"No…"
I didn't even think. I grabbed the old lantern from the hallway and ran out of the house, my heart thudding wildly.
The cold night air bit at my skin. My bare feet slapped against the ground as I ran into the darkness of the forest.
The woods were quiet.
Too quiet.
"Lucas!" I shouted, holding up the lantern. "Sweetie, where are you?!"
My voice echoed back at me.
Twigs cracked under my feet. The wind howled through the trees. Shadows danced around me.
"Lucas! Please! It's mommy!"
Suddenly, the light flickered—and there he was.
A huge man stood in the middle of the path, blocking my way.
He was tall, broad-shouldered, and his eyes were glowing faintly yellow. He didn't say a word.
I took a step back. "Where's my son?"
He didn't answer. He just pointed deeper into the woods.
I tried to move around him—but he stepped in my way again.
"Where is he?!" I screamed.
He grabbed my arm roughly. I fought him, slapping, kicking, but he was too strong.
Then, I heard a sound behind me.
A second man.
This one wore a black hood.