I got in touch with my family easily. They were overjoyed, especially my father.

The moment he found out he was a grandfather, he was so emotional he nearly cried. He wanted Cayden and me to return to Windmere immediately.

Just then, my sleeping son mumbled softly in his sleep. "Daddy, you promised me…"

It would be his fifth birthday in two days. Even in his dreams, he was holding onto Leo's promise to celebrate his birthday together.

I gently stroked his sleeping face as tears welled up in my eyes.

Just two more days…

I wanted Cayden to leave without any regrets.

But before dawn, a sharp knock on the door shattered his sweet dream.

It was Leo's mother, Patricia Sinclair, sending someone to bring Cayden and me back to the pack.

I frowned, knowing that Patricia had always looked down on us. To her, I was just some nameless rogue from an outsider tribe who got lucky when I met her precious son, Leo.

And she didn't like Cayden either.

After all, she thought that someone like Jasmin, who had pure blood and came from the same pack, was the only woman worthy of being Luna.

Unlike me, Cayden was excited. He thought Leo was finally coming to take him home.

But when we arrived at Patricia's house, we were greeted by Leo's relatives, all looking at us with disdain.

Leo, who hadn't come home all night, was standing beside Jasmin with a gentle expression as he supported her.

Patricia completely ignored Cayden and me, smiling as she made an announcement. "Jasmin is pregnant. As per our agreement, Leo will be the next Alpha of the Blazetooth Pack.

"Their child will be the rightful heir. And soon, Leo and Jasmin will hold their Marking Ceremony."

The room erupted in excitement as everyone turned to Jasmin.

I, however, stared straight at Leo.

He placed a tender hand on Jasmin's stomach, acting like he couldn't see me or Cayden standing just a few feet away.

"Yeah, I'm finally going to be a father."

Finally?

A sharp pain shot through my heart.

Beside me, Cayden had his little hand tightened around mine as he asked in a trembling voice, "Mommy, what is Daddy saying? Am I not his child?"

His soft voice made the entire room go silent.

Then, Leo's relatives sneered. "He's just an illegitimate child, but he actually dared to speak up here.

"If people find out the Alpha of Blazetooth Pack has an illegitimate child, do you know what that'll do to our reputation?"

"A lowborn woman and her brat trying to claim the heir's position? You can only do it over my dead body!"

"There's no way we can let anyone know that kid is Leo's!"

Patricia scoffed and looked at us with pure disdain. "From now on, we'll say the child is an orphan we took in. As for Mia, she's just a maid Leo hired to take care of him."

I gripped Cayden's hand tighter.

I had always known Patricia hated us. She was the one who first suggested that Jasmin should carry Leo's child.

"I'm not an orphan! I have a mommy and a daddy…" Cayden's eyes turned red as he held back his tears, protesting in a small voice.

"Mom, isn't this going too far?" Leo let go of Jasmin's hand and took a step toward us.

But before he could come any closer, I saw Jasmin reach out and pull him back.

He hesitated for a few seconds. Then, he fell silent.

"Fine. I agree with your plan."

I stepped forward with Cayden and faced Leo and Patricia head-on. "My child is not an orphan. He doesn't need to be adopted.

"From this day forward, Cayden is mine alone. He has nothing to do with Leo."

I kneeled and fought back tears as I whispered to Cayden, "Baby, don't call him Daddy anymore, okay?"

Leo froze. He knew it was all because of Cayden that I had agreed to return to Blazetooth Pack and accepted his relationship with Jasmin. He promised to give Cayden a rightful identity.

And now, I was giving that up myself.

He stared into my eyes, trying to read my emotions.

But I looked away.

He would never have my heart again.

Cayden was too young to understand everything that was happening. He cried so hard that his eyes were swollen.

I just wanted to take him home and comfort him, but Jasmin blocked our way. "Mia, I heard Leo gave you a ring that represents his family's status.

"Since I'm his Luna now, and my child will be the heir of the pack, shouldn't you hand it over?

"We wouldn't want anyone to get the wrong idea if they saw you still wearing it."

So, that was it.

This was the real reason they brought us here. It was purely to humiliate us.

I turned to Leo and asked coldly, "Is this what you want as well?"

That ring had been a token of our love, the very first thing he had given me the night we became mates.

He had told me he was giving me everything—his name, his title, his entire life. He had promised I would be his one and only mate.

I had abandoned my family, hidden my true identity, and given him my heart because of that promise.

Now, faced with my question, he avoided my gaze. "Mia, it's just a ring…"

"Fine."

I looked at the deep red marks on Jasmin's neck planted by him before pulling off the ring without hesitation.

Seeing that she eagerly slid it onto her own finger, I even smiled and congratulated her. "You're a much better fit than I ever was."

Leo's expression twisted in shock as I turned away, took Cayden's hand, and walked out without looking back.

Cayden couldn't understand what had happened today. He cried silently in my arms and asked me if Leo didn't want him anymore and if I was the only person in the world who loved him.

I held him tightly. "That's not true. Many people love my little hero.

"Grandpa Alex and Grandma Bella miss us very much. They can't wait to see you. Do you want to leave with me and go find them?"

He hesitated, clutching the toy car Leo had given him last year for his birthday. "But… I don't want to leave Daddy…"

I held back my tears and gently reassured him, "Daddy and Grandma Patricia don't want us to stay here. Do you want to call him Uncle Leo for the rest of your life?"

He froze for a moment, then slowly put down the toy car. Tears welled up in his eyes as he pleaded with me, "Can I at least spend this birthday with Daddy before we leave? I just want one last memory with him."

He refused to call him "Uncle Leo".

I silently wiped away my tears and kissed the top of his head. "Of course, my love."

But two days later, on his birthday, Leo, who had promised to throw him a party, never showed up.

I called him and asked angrily, "It's Cayden's birthday today. You promised you'd be home. Where are you?"

I could handle disappointment but couldn't bear to see Cayden's last bit of hope shatter.

Leo didn't say a single word before hanging up.

"Daddy's not coming, is he?" Cayden lowered his head, staring at the cake before him while trying to convince himself.

"It's okay, Mommy. Uncle Leo is just really busy. You can celebrate with me instead."

It was the first time he'd ever called Leo "Uncle".

He seemed to accept that Leo didn't want him anymore, but the way he bit his lip and forced a smile shattered my heart into pieces.

Furious, I was about to call him again when I suddenly received a message from him.

"Come back to Blazetooth Pack."

"Baby, look! Daddy remembered your birthday!"

Cayden's eyes lit up with hope as he gasped in excitement. "Mommy! Daddy remembered my birthday! Let's go! He must have so many presents for me!"

After receiving confirmation from Leo that he had indeed prepared a birthday party, Cayden was beyond ecstatic. He grabbed my hand and practically dragged me to the villa in the pack.

But as soon as I stepped inside, my heart sank at the sight before me.

The room was filled with roses. Guests in formal attire mingled around.

This didn't feel like a birthday party at all. It felt more like…

Cayden, however, didn't notice. He ran straight toward Leo, who was standing in front of a cake, and threw himself into his arms.

"Daddy! I'm here! Are you waiting for me to cut the cake?"

Leo looked utterly shocked to see us. "Why are you here?"

He was dressed in his formal suit and standing next to Jasmin. His reaction confirmed my worst fear.

The guests began whispering amongst themselves.

"Isn't today supposed to be Alpha Leo's announcement of his Luna? Why is there suddenly a kid here?"

"That child called him Daddy. Could he be an illegitimate son?"

Hearing their words, Leo suddenly pushed Cayden away. "What did you just call me?"

Cayden stumbled backward, falling to the floor. He looked up at Leo, terrified, unsure of what he had done wrong.

This was too much.

I rushed forward to pick him up, ready to leave, but Jasmin stepped in front of me. "Mia, today is the official announcement of Leo's and my titles. You crashed the event on purpose, didn't you?"

The smug smirk on her face told me everything I needed to know.

She was the one who had sent that text.

She clung to Leo's arm and said in a voice dripping with mockery, "I've warned you before. No matter how much you love our Alpha, you can't just drag some stray in here and claim he's his child.

"I'm right, aren't I, Leo?"

Leo avoided my gaze and nodded.

I held my sobbing son close, my patience finally snapping. "Cayden is not a stray. I gave birth to him.

"And his father was a great Alpha. Far greater than anyone in this little pack."

I carried Cayden and turned to leave, but Jasmin suddenly slapped me across the face.

"How dare you lie? You're just some outsider trash! We took you and your brat in.

"Is this how you repay us? Spreading lies about our Alpha and insulting our pack? Someone come and beat her!"

The members of the pack rushed forward, pinning me to the ground. Their fists rained down on me mercilessly.

Through the pain, I looked up at Leo with red eyes and found that his face was filled with hesitation as Jasmin clung tightly to his arm.

I didn't owe him anything anymore.

Seven years ago, he saved my life and loved me with all his heart since then.

But all of that—all the love, all the memories—had been shattered under their fists.

Cayden sobbed desperately. He grabbed onto Leo's pant leg and suddenly dropped to his knees.

"Uncle—no, Alpha Leo! I was wrong! Please, I beg you, stop hurting my mommy!"

Both Leo and I were stunned.

"Stop!" Leo immediately ordered them to back off, staring at Cayden like he couldn't believe what he had just heard.

"What did you just call me?"

"Alpha Leo, since Mommy and I are not welcome here, we'll leave now."

It was like he had grown up in an instant. His tiny hands trembled as he helped me stand and guided me out of the villa under everyone's watchful eyes.

A message from Leo popped up on my phone. "Don't be mad. Take Cayden home. I'll come back tonight."

Cayden ignored the message. He held back his tears as he looked at me and asked, "Mommy, you said Grandpa Alex and Grandma Bella miss us, right?

"Then let's leave right now."

I looked at Cayden, who suddenly became mature, and swallowed hard as I nodded.

That night, I burned everything that tied us to this place.

And then, I took him and left for good.