Alpha Alaric's voice cut through the air like a whip. "Elias."

 The boy flinched, head bowed so low his chin nearly touched his chest. His small hands twisted the hem of his shirt, knuckles white. He was only seven or eight, exactly my son's age.....yet he looked like he wanted the ground to swallow him. Not a single word left his lips.

Alaric didn't even glance at me. His attention stayed locked on his son, cold and unrelenting. "You were told to wait by the car. Explain."

 Elias's shoulders curled inward. The silence stretched, heavy and painful.

I couldn't stay quiet any longer. The boy's hollow eyes from earlier still haunted me. "Alpha," I said gently, keeping my tone respectful, "perhaps he could benefit from being around more children his own age. It might...."

Alaric's head snapped toward me. His eyes narrowed, sharp and accusing. "Are you trying to recommend your own child?" The words lashed out, icy and dismissive. "Focus on your work, beta. Don't meddle in others' family matters. And don't think you can climb to the top through shortcuts. Got it?"

Shock slammed into me. Heat rushed to my face. Climb to the top? Shortcuts? Did he seriously believe I was using his lonely son to push my own agenda? My wolf snarled inside my chest, but I bit my tongue. Arguing with the Alpha was suicide. Still, the injustice burned. Did he even know his own wife was out there meddling in everyone else's families... pushing necklaces, new schools, and "better futures" on my son while I stood here getting scolded for basic kindness?

Elias remained frozen, silent. The sight of him twisted something deep in my gut.

 Before I could find a safe reply, my phone vibrated sharply in my pocket. I glanced at the screen, my close friend, a teacher at my son's school. Heart already racing, I answered.

"Seraphina...." Her voice was urgent, clipped. "Your son skipped class again. He's not on the grounds. No one knows where he is."

 The world tilted. "Again?" The word came out choked.

 "This isn't the first time. It's been happening for days now."

I felt the blood drain from my face. Skipping? For days? How had I missed it? Every morning he'd eaten breakfast, kissed my cheek, and seemed perfectly normal. Had I really been that blind?

I looked up at the Alpha, pulse hammering. "I need to leave. My son, he's missing from school."

 To my surprise, Alaric didn't argue or demand explanations. He gave one short, curt nod. "You can go."

 I didn't wait for more. I bolted.

The drive to the school passed in a blur of red lights and pounding fear. When I burst through the gates, my friend met me at the entrance, her face pale.

 "We've searched everywhere," she said quietly. "The usual spots, the playground, even the older wing. He's gone. And Seraphina... this has happened multiple times this week. Different classes. He slips out and doesn't come back until later."

I pressed a hand to my stomach, fighting nausea. "Why didn't anyone tell me sooner?"

 She hesitated. "We thought it was a phase. But it's getting worse."

I tried to reach Dominic through our mate bond, pushing my panic toward him. Our son is missing from school. Do you know where he is?

 His reply came back calm... too calm. Go home and wait, Seraphina. I'll handle it.

 Is he with you? I demanded....

The bond went silent. He'd cut me off.

Frustration and fear clawed at me, but there was nothing left to do here. My friend squeezed my shoulder. "Go home. I'm sure everything will be okay."

 I drove back on autopilot, guilt gnawing holes in my chest. Had I been so wrapped up in work, in bills, in trying to hold everything together that I'd missed the signs? Was I becoming the kind of mother Luna implied I was... too busy, and too absent?

The house was dark and empty when I pulled into the driveway. No lights. No voices. My stomach dropped further. I was about to rush back out when the postman's truck slowed at the curb.

 "Package for your son," he called, handing me a neatly wrapped box with a bright silver bow. "A special delivery came."

I stared at the tag. Happy Birthday scrawled in elegant handwriting. Signed: With love, Luna Valeria.

 Confusion crashed over me. His birthday? We'd celebrated it last week... cake, balloons, the whole thing. Why was Luna sending another gift now?

Before I could even open it, the front door swung open.

 Luna stepped inside first, graceful as ever, that perfect smile curving her lips. Dominic followed close behind her, looking relaxed, almost proud. And between them....

My son.

He walked in holding both their hands, one small palm in Luna's, the other in his father's. His face lit up when he saw me, but there was something off about the smile, like he was bracing for trouble.

 "Mom!" he said brightly. "Luna took me to see the new training fields. It was amazing!"

I stood frozen in the entryway, the package still clutched in my hands, heart hammering so hard I could barely breathe.

Luna's eyes met mine, soft and sympathetic. "Don't worry, Seraphina. He was perfectly safe with us."

 Dominic gave me that same indulgent smile from breakfast. "See? Nothing to panic about."

But all I could see was my son standing between them, comfortable, happy, holding the hands of the woman who was slowly rewriting every rule of my family.

 And for the first time, real fear coiled tight in my chest.

 This wasn't just meddling anymore.

 This felt like the beginning of something much worse.

My heart dropped so fast I felt it hit the floor. Relief crashed into confusion, tangling together until I could barely breathe.

 "You found him?" I asked Luna, my voice cautious, almost grateful.

Luna blinked at me with those wide, innocent eyes, then let out a soft, surprised laugh. "Found? Oh no, Seraphina. I've just been taking him out for the past week, to that amusement park he's always wanted to visit. We've been going every single day." She tilted her head, smile never wavering. "Funny, you never even asked where he was. Maybe try caring a little more about your child?"

The words landed like a slap.

 Skipping school. For an entire week. For an amusement park. With her.

My blood turned to fire. No one at the school had said a word because no one dared challenge Luna. I opened my mouth, tone sharpening before I could stop it. "You took my son out of school without telling me? For days?"

Dominic snapped instantly. "Seraphina, don't be rude."