ALAINA'S POV

Justin was afraid of his brother. Everyone in New York was. No one dared to stand against Kane. Why? He was the true Alpha of the Silvermoon pack. His name alone made even the strongest wolves lower their heads in submission. Yes, he was that powerful.

“Take her to the back,” Justin hissed quietly to the nanny. His eyes moved nervously toward the terrace where Kane stood. I could see the fear in his eyes. “Keep her out of sight.”

He feared Kane’s anger as much as he feared his power.

Kane was known for his coldness and for one thing - his hatred for dirt, lies, and weakness. Even his wolf was said to despise the scent of deceit. He had moved out of the main house years ago, choosing solitude and silence. He always wanted to be alone. For him to return tonight… something was different.

The moment his shadow disappeared from the terrace, the nanny turned to me with a cruel expression. She glared at my son with so much hatred in her eyes that he flinched in fear.

“Little bastard,” she muttered, and before I could react, she kicked Liam hard.

“Stop!” I screamed.

My wolf snarled in my chest as I rushed to grab my child. I pulled him into my arms, shielding him with my body. My heart pounded so fast I could barely breathe.

I lifted my head slowly. My voice shook with anger “If you dare touch my child again, I will kill you. Including Justin.”

The nanny froze. Even Justin’s head snapped up in shock.

“We don’t live here! We want to go home!” I cried out.

I tried to leave, clutching Liam tightly, but Justin’s hand grabbed my hair from behind, yanking me back.

“Alaina,” he said coldly, “I suggest you remember your place.”

His claws nearly pierced through his hands. His anger was barely controlled.

“Let my mother go!” Liam shouted through tears. His tiny wolf inside him growled.

“Justin…” My voice cracked as I looked at him. “I’ve already agreed to donate my blood. What else do you want from me?”

He glared at me like I was something filthy. “If you and your damned family hadn’t switched Danielle’s life, if you hadn’t ruined her, she wouldn’t have suffered. She wouldn’t have fallen into depression. She wouldn’t have gotten into that accident!”

His wolf’s aura flared, filling the air with a suffocating pressure.

I shook my head. Tears blurred my vision.

“I didn’t! I swear it, I didn’t! I never conspired with the Lawrence family!” My voice broke. “You’ve already destroyed my life, Justin. Isn’t that enough?”

But no matter how much I begged, no one ever believed me. Not him, not the pack, not the world.

The truth was buried under lies that weren’t mine to tell. Danielle had spun her story well. She claimed my brother, Elijah, had hurt her, threatened her, and left her broken. She told everyone we’d plotted against her. And everyone believed her.

No one believed me, the daughter of the accused.

My brother and I had spent our lives trying to make it right. Our mother worked herself to death to atone, giving everything she had to Danielle. Elijah dropped out of school at sixteen to support her. He did everything to make her life better.

But it wasn’t enough.

And because of that lie, I ended up behind bars.

Justin pushed me back roughly. “Five years in prison, and you still haven’t learned a thing.”

I stumbled and nearly fell. “Please, stop—”

“Don’t touch my mom!” Liam cried again.

His small body shook as he stood in front of me, trying to protect me.

Before I could stop him, his next word made the world still.

“Dad!”

My heart stopped.

Every wolf in the room froze. Even Justin’s hand dropped to his side as the scent of dominance filled the air.

At the door, Kane stood.

He was tall with a cold expression on his face. His aura was strong, too strong. It was filled with pure Alpha power that made even Justin lower his eyes. His wolf prowled under his calm surface.

The nanny went pale instantly. Everyone knew of his condition—his hatred for filth, his revulsion for being touched. Yet before anyone could react, Liam ran forward and threw his small arms around his leg.

Time stopped. The place went deathly still.

My breath caught. I looked at the scene in front of me with horror.

“Alpha Kane, I’m sorry, I’m so sorry!” I gasped, trembling. “He doesn’t know, please don’t be angry!”

Kane didn’t move. He just looked down at Liam with an unreadable expression. The moonlight from the open door hit his face.

The most feared Alpha in New York was letting a child cling to him, and he didn’t push him away.

“This little one…” His voice was deep. “How old are you?”

Liam didn’t flinch. His small hands held on to him tightly. He tilted his chin up bravely. “Five,” he said.

I felt my knees weaken. My heart raced. My wolf whimpered in confusion.

Kane raised his head and looked at me. His eyes were like liquid gold. As we made eye contact, my breath hitched. It seemed like time stopped.

“Alaina,” he said quietly. “The eldest daughter of the Jameson family. It’s been almost six years.”

His voice sent a shiver down my spine. He remembered me.

The last time we met, I was still human in his eyes. I’d sat across from him at the Silvermoon family dinner table, smiling nervously, never daring to look him in the eye.

Now, I stood before him as something broken.

“Mr. Kane, I’m sorry…” I whispered, reaching for Liam. I just wanted to leave before his wrath turned on me.

But my son held on to him tighter.

“Daddy,” he murmured stubbornly.

Tears burned behind my eyes. “Liam, no. He’s not Daddy. Mommy will take you to find Daddy soon, okay?”

Kane’s jaw tightened a bit. He tried to pull away, but Liam wouldn’t let go.

Then he looked at me again. His nostrils flared slightly as his wolf stirred.

His eyes went dark.