Weekends were the days Xavier, the Alpha, had set aside to spend with his pup, Celine.

Celine, her tiny tail wagging with excitement, had slipped into her Elsa dress at dawn, her eyes sparkling at the thought of a day at the amusement park with her father. But then, Xavier’s call came, his deep Alpha tone laced with regret, explaining that something urgent had arisen within the pack—he couldn’t make it.

Celine’s ears drooped, her small frame trembling as she let out a whimper. By nightfall, she was burning up with fever.

Thea, her heart heavy but her resolve unwavering, carried Celine to the pack’s healing den. There, in the sterile glow of the den’s lights, she ran into Xavier.

He stood tall, his broad shoulders tense, his Alpha aura faintly flickering. “Addilyn wasn’t feeling well,” he explained, his voice low. “She’s here too.”

Thea’s jaw tightened, but she said nothing, focusing instead on Celine’s fragile form in her arms.

---

While Thea cradled a sleeping Celine, her fingers gently brushing through her daughter’s fur, Xavier approached. His presence was commanding, even in the quiet of the healing den.

For the first time since their separation, his voice softened, the Alpha tone replaced by something almost human. “Thea, I’m sorry. This must be hard for you.”

Thea’s gaze remained fixed on Celine, her voice steady despite the storm inside her. “It’s Celine you should apologize to. She’s been counting the moons to see you, and then you didn’t show.”

Xavier knelt beside them, his hand reaching out to brush Celine’s cheek. But as his fingers neared, she stirred, her small body instinctively curling closer to Thea.

His hand froze mid-air, then dropped to his side, defeated. “Have you eaten?” he asked, his tone softer now.

Thea shook her head, her eyes never leaving Celine.

Just then, Xavier’s phone buzzed—a call from Addilyn. Whatever she said made his expression darken, his Alpha aura flaring briefly before he reined it in.

“Just rest,” he said, his voice strained. “I’ll join you soon.”

Thea’s ears caught the gentleness in his tone, a stark contrast to the way he’d once spoken to her. There was a time when she’d called him, pleading for him to return to the den, only to be met with sharp words about pack duties.

After hanging up, Xavier glanced at Thea, his guilt palpable. “Addilyn wasn’t like this before. Maybe it’s the pregnancy making her more… demanding. Don’t take it personally. I’ll get you something to eat.”

“No need,” Thea replied, her voice calm but firm. “She’s carrying your pup; you should be with her. I can handle this.”

Her words, laced with quiet strength, left Xavier visibly conflicted, his fists clenching at his sides.

“Thea,” he said, his voice almost a whisper, “you’ve changed.”

She smiled, though it didn’t reach her eyes. “When you no longer have a mate to lean on, you learn to stand on your own.”

Xavier’s gaze dropped, his Alpha aura dimming as if weighed down by her words.

“Thea,” a voice called from behind him. Xavier turned to see Kian, the pack’s Healer, approaching. His white coat was spotless, and in his hands, he carried a takeout container.

Xavier’s eyes narrowed, his Alpha aura flickering dangerously, but Thea’s calm demeanor held him in place.

Kian’s presence was a quiet reassurance, his voice steady as he handed the food to Thea. “I thought you might need this.”

Thea’s smile this time was genuine. “Thank you, Kian.”

Xavier watched the exchange, his jaw tightening, but he said nothing. The weight of his guilt, his choices, and the bond that still lingered between him and Thea hung heavy in the air.

Kian Reynolds, a young Healer three years younger than Thea Gonzales, had recently returned to the pack after completing his training abroad. As pups, they had been neighbors, their dens just a short run apart in the sprawling pack territory. But Kian’s family had moved to another pack when he was still a young wolf, and their connection had faded—until three months ago, when he unexpectedly reached out to her.

Celine’s fever had persisted for days, and the pack’s healing den was overwhelmed with other cases. Thea, desperate to ease her pup’s suffering, had turned to Kian for help. Running into Xavier Ford there was unexpected, to say the least.

Xavier, the Alpha, stood with his arms crossed, his towering frame exuding an aura of authority. His sharp gaze flicked between Thea and Kian as the younger wolf approached, holding a steaming bowl of beef stew.

"I went to several dens to find this for you," Kian said, his voice warm with concern. "Eat it while it’s still hot."

Thea’s hands were full, cradling Celine against her chest, so Kian offered to feed her himself. Xavier’s jaw tightened, his alpha aura pulsing faintly as he asked, "Do you work here?"

Kian smiled casually, though his tone carried a hint of challenge. "You could say that. To be precise, my father is the pack’s lead Healer." It wasn’t an exaggeration; Kian’s family held significant influence within the healing ranks.

Xavier’s eyes narrowed as he looked between Thea and Kian. "And what’s the relationship between you two?"

With a mischievous grin, Kian raised an eyebrow. "Isn’t it obvious, Alpha?" The way he said it—casual, almost dismissive—made Xavier’s expression shift through a storm of emotions, his alpha aura flaring briefly.

Before Xavier could respond, Addilyn Freeman’s voice called out from the doorway, her presence immediately drawing his attention. He hesitated for a moment, his gaze lingering on Thea and Celine, before turning to leave with Addilyn.

Once he was gone, Thea let out a slow breath, her shoulders relaxing slightly. "Kian, please be a bit more subtle next time. You almost gave us away."

Kian chuckled, spooning another bite of stew for her. "Don’t worry; practice makes perfect. The more we do this, the better we’ll get at it."

Thea couldn’t help but smile, though her eyes flicked toward the doorway where Xavier had disappeared. Kian’s presence was a comfort, but the weight of the past still lingered, a shadow she couldn’t quite shake.

A week later, Celine had fully recovered.

Thea returned to the pack’s den to wrap up her leave paperwork. The halls were bustling with pack members, their auras mingling as they went about their duties. She kept her head high, her posture every bit the former Luna, though the weight of her separation from Xavier still lingered in her steps.

That evening, as she was leaving the den, she bumped into Xavier in the elevator. The tension between them was palpable, and the other pack members, sensing the Alpha’s mood, quickly excused themselves, leaving the two alone.

The elevator descended. Thea watched the numbers on the panel decrease to the first floor, her jaw tight. Xavier stood beside her, his towering frame dominating the small space. His hands were in his pockets, his Alpha aura pressing down even in silence. He finally spoke, his voice low and commanding. “Was the wolf I saw with you at the healing den your mate?”

The elevator doors opened with a soft ding.

Thea slung her bag over her shoulder, her movements deliberate. She stepped out without looking at him. “That’s none of your business, Alpha Ford.”

Xavier followed her, his boots clicking against the polished floor. “But your choices affect my pup. I don’t want her calling someone else ‘Father.’”

Thea stopped abruptly, her back stiffening. She turned to face him, her eyes blazing with defiance. “Did you think about our pup when you broke our mate bond? When you pushed me to reject you because of Addilyn, did you think I wouldn’t find someone else?”

Xavier’s jaw tightened, his Alpha aura flaring momentarily, but he had no response. The air around them crackled with unresolved tension.

Pack members passing by glanced curiously, their whispers carrying through the hall. Thea ignored them, her focus entirely on Xavier.

Just then, Kian appeared, almost as if it were planned. His presence was calm, his Healer aura soothing in contrast to the storm brewing between Thea and Xavier. He walked up to Thea, his steps measured, and casually draped an arm around her shoulders. His voice was light, teasing. “I’ve been waiting ages—I’m starving.”

He tapped his wristwatch and addressed Xavier, his tone respectful but firm. “The workday’s over, Alpha. Are we free to go?”

Xavier’s eyes narrowed, his fists clenching at his sides. He said nothing, but the frustration in his gaze was unmistakable.

With a smirk, Kian tightened his hold on Thea, and together, they confidently walked away, leaving Xavier standing alone in the middle of the hall. The pack members averted their eyes, their whispers growing louder as the former Luna and the Healer disappeared into the night.