In the heart of the Scarlet Claws Pack, where loyalty and honor reigned supreme, I was once the proud Luna and my son Drew David, a prodigy in our education center, was destined to become an Alpha before he even turned ten. His brilliance was overshadowed only by his battle with a terminal illness, yet his spirit remained undaunted.

“Mom, I wanna go picnic with you and Dad as a gift,” Drew’s voice echoed with innocent hope as he aced his exams, his eyes gleaming with the anticipation of our planned family celebration. With his birthday just around the corner, I envisioned a perfect picnic—one last precious memory for our family.

But as the fateful day arrived, Hugh, my husband and the Alpha, broke his promise and vanished without a trace. The days of silence were agonizing. Drew’s health deteriorated swiftly and despite my desperate attempts to reach Hugh, he remained unreachable. We rushed Drew to the hospital, where the prognosis was dire: less than 48 hours left.

Tragically, the next day, Drew slipped away. My heart shattered into pieces as Hugh finally answered my calls—not with concern, but with irritation. “What, Lacey? Can you stop calling me obsessively? Fifty missed calls? Come on, what nonsense now?” I later discovered he had spent those critical days with his mistress, my sister Kathleen and her feverish son. Her social media post flaunting their happy picnic with the caption, “Thanks for always taking care of us. Little Frankie is happy now,” only deepened my despair.

The injustice Drew endured fueled a fire within me. I vowed to exact retribution. “They said you want a divorce—please, tell me it’s not true!” As Hugh stood before me in his prison orange, begging for a reprieve from our divorce, I had already orchestrated his downfall—stripped of his Alpha title, his wealth and now imprisoned.

***

“Are you the patient’s family?” A doctor in a white coat asked, his expression giving away bad news before he even spoke. I gulped and nodded. “Yes, I’m his mom.”

He paused, looking at me for a few seconds before saying, “We need to talk in my office.” My stomach churned; this couldn’t be good. But I followed him in anyway.

Once we were seated at his desk, he took a deep breath and gave me a look I’d become all too familiar with over the past few years—a mix of pity, concern, and helplessness that never failed to make me uneasy. “What’s happening, doc?” I urged.

“Ms. David, Drew has been incredibly strong and resilient all these years. Most ALS patients only live 3-5 years after diagnosis, but he’s managed to hold on for six,” he began.

“Yes, but what about this last flare-up? He’s going to be okay now, right?” I pressed.

“Well, the thing is... I’m not sure how to say this, but his condition has gotten significantly worse since his last check-up a few months ago—”

“What do you mean? He always takes his medicine and gets enough rest,” I cut him off, my voice rising.

“Ms. David, those medications only manage the symptoms; they can’t cure him. And last night’s attack was severe. I’m afraid he only has about 48 hours left,” he said gently.

“What? No, you must be joking. There’s no way my son’s life is ending that soon.”

“We’re really sorry, Ms. David. We’ve done everything we can, but that’s our best estimate.”

“Can’t I move him to a bigger hospital? Or get another doctor to help? I’ll pay whatever it takes,” I pleaded.

“Unfortunately, like we’ve discussed before, there’s no cure for apoptosis—not even the best doctor can change that. Your son has reached the final stage. It won’t be long before his brain loses the ability to control muscle movement, leading to paralysis and, eventually, respiratory failure.

“My suggestion is to gather his loved ones and focus on making him happy. Let him leave this world with good memories.”

It felt like I couldn’t breathe, like I was choking. I bit down on my tongue to stop myself from breaking down right there. I thanked the doctor, then hurried to the restroom. The second I got into a stall, I finally let the tears flow.

I couldn’t believe what I’d just heard. It felt surreal. My son was diagnosed with Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) when he was only four. This illness had taken everything from us, with how fast it progressed and how much it robbed him of—his ability to move, speak, eat, and even breathe.

Thus, despite being very good in diplomacy and strategy—just what anyone would expect from the Alpha’s son, when it came to strength, stamina and resilience, he struggled a lot. His illness left him easily fatigued and he couldn't join in any rough fights.

Hugh David and I had been married for over 10 years, yet he never really loved me or our son. We were together out of duty to the pack since I was the oldest daughter of the previous Alpha and Luna.

I used to have a sister who mated with an Alpha from another pack. They married and had a child, but last year, her mate was killed by a stronger Alpha. With nowhere else to go, she returned to the Scarlet Claws.

From the moment she came back, Hugh's indifference turned into outright cruelty. He had always been distant, but now, he was blatant about it. “Lacey, the person I’ve always loved is your sister, Kathleen. Now that she’s here, you should know your place,” he said.

After some pushing, Hugh agreed to take Drew on a picnic as the gift for his good grades. But suddenly, on the day where the long-anticipated picnic supposed to happen, Hugh stood us up and could not be contacted, even by his right-hand man, Rafael Davidson. I was freaking out because Drew's health took a sudden nosedive that night. He was shivering and couldn’t even get out of bed. His illness had flared up before, but this was the worst. He had to be admitted to emergency treatment.

That morning, the doctor gave me the news—48 hours left. I wiped away my tears and walked into my son’s ward. There he was, lying there so weak, his face pale under the breathing mask. “Hi, sweetheart,” I whispered, gently caressing his cheek.

“Mom... my body hurts,” he said, his voice so faint it almost got lost in the beeping of the machines around him. Tubes were connected to his little body, keeping him alive. He struggled to breathe, and I had to look away. It was too much to see him like this. “You’ll be okay, love. Mom’s here. Want me to get you some ice cream?” I asked, my voice barely steady.

“Where’s Dad?” His question hit me like a dull knife, right in the heart.

“He’ll be here soon, Drew. He’s on his way.” I lied. I had to. No mother could tell her son that his dad was a selfish jerk who didn’t care enough to be there.

“Tell him to hurry. I want to see him... so we can go on that picnic he promised.”

Hugh hardly lived with us; he stayed in another mansion within our pack's territory. He never saw Drew’s suffering firsthand and thought we were exaggerating to get him to come home. I was always the one taking care of Drew. Sometimes, in the middle of the night, he would cry out for Hugh, longing to be with his dad. It broke my heart and all I could do was hold him and cry.

I waited for Hugh a day and night, but he still did not show up. Drew’s condition kept getting worse and he kept calling out for Hugh in his semi-conscious state.

After quite some time, I finally managed to get through to Hugh.

“What, Lacey? Can you stop calling me obsessively? Fifty missed calls? Come on, what nonsense now?”

“Your son... Drew...” My voice shook with anger and sadness.

“Stop using him as an excuse again! Kathleen’s son had a fever and I had to help her. Yes, I bailed on the picnic yesterday, but we can always do it another day. Tell your weak son to stop whining!” He rattled off so quickly I couldn’t get a word in before he hung up.

I couldn't believe what I had just heard. I wanted to call Hugh back and tell him about Drew’s condition, however, his phone was turned off again, so I could not get through him. A feeling of anger, humiliated, and sadness crept in as I squeezed the phone. Poor Drew, I got him a deadbeat dad.

Finally, he went critical and didn’t wake up again. A few hours later, the doctor told me they couldn’t feel Drew’s vital signs anymore and I dazed as I saw his lifeless body lying on the bed.

I broke down, then ran to the nearest hill. I transformed along the way and howled in sorrow, joined by the distant howls of other pack members. Nothing could bring Drew back now.

I had to deal with the sorrow alone and get through the burial as quickly as possible. I just wanted it to be over. Only a few close people came to the ceremony because I couldn’t handle a crowd.

Drew had been my only sunshine during the storm, my reason to live. With my parents gone, a husband who didn’t love me and no close relationship with my sister, I felt completely alone now.

When I got home, everything hit me even harder. Drew’s stuff was scattered everywhere—his clothes, his books, his pictures on the wall. I opened his room and saw everything just as he’d left it a few days ago. It was like he was still here, but he was gone forever.

I completely lost it, crying so hard I felt dizzy. I went to the kitchen, grabbed a glass of water and tried to calm down. While I was sipping it, I checked Instagram and saw Kathleen’s story at the top. I clicked on it and saw a picture of her with man and a little boy in the middle, all smiling. The boy had a fever plaster on his forehead and the caption read, [Thanks for always taking care of us. Little Frankie is happy now.]

I was so enraged I threw the glass against the wall, watching it shatter. It was infuriating that Hugh chose to be with Kathleen and her sick kid instead of being with Drew, who was about to die. I laughed bitterly through my tears, wondering if it was all some cruel joke. What did Drew do to deserve this? To have a dad like Hugh? Then I heard footsteps coming closer.

When I finally looked up, an Omega was hurrying over. “What happened, Luna?” she asked, noticing the broken glass and spilled water.

Before I could say anything, Hugh’s face appeared and he wasn’t happy. “What’s going on here, Lacey? Are you out of your mind?” he said, hands on his hips.

I shot him a look and stormed off to my room. “You’re a mad woman!” I heard him yell after me.

I collapsed onto my bed, buried my face in the pillow and let the tears come. All I could think about was my sweet, smart baby who I couldn’t save. I wished I could’ve taken away his pain, but there was only so much I could do.

I exhausted myself by crying my heart out and I finally fell asleep. A knock on the door woke me up. “Luna Lacey, it’s lunchtime. You skipped breakfast. Please eat this,” I heard the Omega say, but I couldn’t bring myself to move.

“Please, Luna. Alpha will be upset if you don’t eat and get sick,” she pleaded.

Not wanting to cause more trouble, I dragged myself to the door and opened it. On the tray was a plate of steak and a glass of water. She set them down and left. I asked if Hugh was still around and she said he had gone out shortly after I shut myself in, only coming back to grab a few things.

I nodded and she left. I barely touched the food and went back to bed. For the next few days, all I did was cry, sleep, eat a little and go to the bathroom. I didn’t bother with washing up or taking care of myself.

I felt like there was no point in living anymore. Just as I was sinking deeper into that despair, someone knocked on the door again. “I already ate, leave me alone!” I shouted, my voice cracking. I was so tired that I might’ve just starved myself if I could.

“Lacey, it’s me, Wanda.”

I hesitated for a moment before finally opening the door. Wanda rushed in and enveloped me in a tight hug, her own tears soaking into my shoulder. We’d been best friends since we were kids and even though she was a Beta and I was an Alpha, our friendship had always been strong. We’d been there for each other through everything.

I cried too, but this time it was a mix of sadness and a bit of relief. It felt good to know that someone still truly cared about me. “Lacey, I’m so sorry, I just heard about Drew,” Wanda said, her voice trembling as she rubbed my back.

After we both calmed down, we started talking. Wanda explained that she hadn’t been able to reach me on the phone for days. When she tried to visit, the Omegas told her I was too sick to see anyone. Wanda sensed something was wrong and kept pushing for answers. They were too scared to tell her anything—I'd made it clear not to mention Drew’s death to anyone, including Hugh.

Eventually, Wanda ran into Rafael. He was the one who helped with the ceremony and had been staying here to keep an eye on me while Hugh was off doing his thing. Wanda and Rafael had a past together, so Rafael finally filled her in on what happened, but made her promise not to tell anyone else.

Listening to my story again, Wanda’s eyes filled with tears. She cursed Hugh and Kathleen under her breath. “Don’t worry, we’ll make them pay. I’m going to help you, I swear.”

She told me to hang in there and promised she’d come up with a plan for me. We ended up talking for over an hour—time really flew by with her here, compared to when I was alone. She even brought some of our favorite snacks: donuts and chocolates.

Seeing that I was starting to feel a bit better, Wanda insisted I take a shower. “Lacey, you smell awful! I’m sure Drew wouldn’t want his mom to stink,” she teased. Her playful jabs made me laugh for the first time in days. I threw a pillow at her and headed to the bathroom. A fresh shower was exactly what I needed.

As the water washed over me, it felt like I was shedding my sadness and heartache. With each drop, I felt a new sense of determination. Drew might be gone, but I was going to make Hugh and Kathleen pay for what they’d done.

When I emerged, I felt like a new person. “Finally, you don’t look like a wreck!” Wanda said with a grin. Despite her bluntness, Wanda had always been kind and had a way of making me laugh. After I changed into clean clothes, we went downstairs. The maids had prepared a feast and they seemed relieved to see me eating again. I dug into everything—chicken drumsticks, pastas and various meats. Wanda laughed and said, “Slow down, Lacey! You’ll choke yourself!”

About ten minutes later, our plates were cleared and our stomachs were full. I walked Wanda to the gate, feeling a lot better. “Thanks for everything, Wanda. I’d still be in bed if it weren’t for you.”

“No need to thank me. I’d do the same for you, just like you did for me last year,” she replied, smiling. Wanda had lost a baby last year and I stayed with her to help her through that tough time.

“I’ll come back tomorrow,” she promised. As we hugged goodbye, a car suddenly pulled up in front of us.

“This bastard—” Wanda began, her tone shifting.

I squeezed Wanda’s hand and gave her a look that said we needed to stay calm. She nodded, keeping her anger in check.

Hugh rolled down the car window and said, “What’s going on here? I hope you’re not up to anything sneaky.”

I tightened my grip on my fists and jaw. “None of your business.” That’s when I noticed Kathleen sitting in the backseat. My patience was wearing thin.

“Hey, Lacey,” Kathleen said with a saccharine sweetness that made my skin crawl. “Frankie’s been crying all day. He’s sick and wants a robot toy. Hugh mentioned Drew had one, so I thought I could borrow it.”

“No way. You’re not touching Drew’s stuff!” I snapped, not backing down.

“Lacey, don’t be so dramatic. It’s just a toy. Drew would love to share,” Hugh said, rolling his eyes.

“Shut up! You don’t get to decide that!” I shot back.

Kathleen then tried to play the sympathy card. “Lacey, I get it, you’re not thrilled about Hugh and me, but Frankie is really sick.” I had to hold myself back from losing it.

Hugh sighed and said, “Alright, I knew you’d be unreasonable. We’ll just get a new one, Kath, don’t worry.”

“But… it’s a limited edition and it’s pretty expensive,” Kathleen said, batting her eyes.

“I’ll handle it,” Hugh said, looking at her with that annoying reassured smile.

Seeing them so cozy together felt like a knife to the heart, so I snapped, “Hugh, who’s really your son here—Frankie or Drew? It’s getting confusing.”

“Lacey, stop making a scene. I’m not dealing with this right now,” Hugh said, rolling up the window. The car pulled away and I yelled after it, “You’ll regret this, Hugh! I swear you will!”

Wanda stayed close, soothing me as I shouted until my voice was almost gone. Eventually, some Omegas who’d heard the noise helped me back to my room.

The next morning, I felt a bit better. I had cried all I could and now it was time to take action. I picked out my best dress, did my hair and put on makeup. Today, I was determined to find the best lawyer to discuss divorce and figure out how to come out on top.

It was tough to think about splitting up, especially since werewolves are supposed to have only one true mate for life. What if the Moon Goddess cursed me? But honestly, Hugh and I never had that deep mate bond—it was more about infatuation and duty from the start.

I first met Hugh when we were pups. He was found alone in the forest near our pack house, looking lost and battered. His pack had been attacked and most of his family was killed. His parents told him to run while they stayed behind to fight. Exhausted, Hugh collapsed under a tree and Kathleen and I found him.

I ran back to the house, gasping for breath and begged my dad, the old Alpha, to help him.

After some pack members checked on Hugh, they brought him to the infirmary. At first, he was on high alert, refusing to let anyone near and even trying to lash out. But when my dad stepped in, Hugh recognized him as the Alpha of the allied pack.

Hugh opened up about everything and my dad quickly got some of our strongest members together to check out Hugh’s pack, hoping to rescue anyone who might have survived. At the same time, he stationed another group at our base to keep us safe.

A few days later, my dad returned with grim news. There were no survivors and everything was reduced to ashes. It was a brutal ambush and my dad had to work with other Alphas to track down the culprits.

Physically, Hugh recovered quickly, but mentally, he was a mess. The shock of losing his entire pack in a single night was overwhelming.

While my dad was busy coordinating with other Alphas, I spent a lot of time with Hugh, trying to help him recover. My mom and I took turns caring for him. I felt deeply for him and wanted to support him as much as I could. But I later realized that my constant presence was actually overwhelming him. Hugh had always been a lone wolf and despite my good intentions, my attempts to include him in our pack’s activities only made things worse.

Over time, Hugh really started to shine. He got faster, stronger and smarter—where most werewolves took 10 seconds to sprint around the field, Hugh nailed it in 5. His stamina was incredible; he could keep going for days, like when he escaped that ambush. And he was sharp too, always coming up with solid strategies in our battle simulations.

After months of planning and negotiating, my dad finally got support from six nearby packs to go after the Boldtail Pack, which were responsible for the attack. Hugh was determined to join in, even though my dad was worried about his age. But Hugh was adamant.

One dark night, with only the moon lighting their way, they set off for battle. I was scared to death and didn’t want to see anyone get hurt, but I knew Hugh had to fight for his pack.

I ran up to the highest hill, watching them leave and I prayed to the Moon Goddess. “Moon Goddess, please protect my pack and everyone going into battle, especially my dad and Hugh. I’d give anything for their safety,” I prayed, my eyes squeezed shut. I kept praying until I felt like I’d done enough. Then, the moon started to shine brighter, so bright I had to close my eyes again.

Is that a sign from the Moon Goddess, or am I just seeing things?