Alaina’S POV

The moment I saw Justin, my blood ran cold. My wolf whimpered inside me, trembling with fear.

“What are you doing here?” Elijah growled, stepping in front of me. His wolf’s aura flared in anger. “Alaina’s already spent five years in prison. She’s suffered enough. What else do you want from her?”

Justin smirked cruelly. “Atonement?” he mocked. “How could she ever repay what she owes me? Maybe I should start by killing that little bastard of hers.”

My breath caught. His words hit like claws to my heart. I froze, staring at him in horror. I could feel my wolf, Lira, start to panic.

Protect the pup, she cried.

“Justin, please…” I dropped to my knees before I even realized it. Pride meant nothing now. Only my child mattered. “I’ll do what I promised. Just give me a few days. Please, please…”

All I wanted was time. Just a few days to breathe, to be with my son again. Was that too much to ask?

“Get up, Alaina!” Elijah’s voice cracked with pain. “He won’t touch us. Don’t bow to him.”

But Justin only laughed. “Won’t touch you?”

With a flick of his hand, his men moved forward.

Five bodyguards — all strong wolves — charged at my brother. Their scents filled the air, aggressive and bloody. Elijah’s wolf roared as he fought back, throwing punches. His movements were desperate. He was strong too. He had been a construction worker for years and had instances where he had to fight, but they were too many. Soon, he was surrounded, beaten to his knees.

“Stop it! Please!” I screamed. Tears burned my eyes. I crawled forward and clutched at Justin’s leg. “You can make me do anything, just stop hurting my brother. Please, I’ll obey you.”

“Don’t beg him, Alaina!” Elijah shouted, struggling as blood dripped from his nose. “Let him kill me if he dares!”

Justin tilted my chin up with his fingers. His eyes were filled with hatred. “You’ll obey me? How pathetic. You’re still the same little slut.”

Before I could react, a snarl ripped through the air. “Don’t touch my mother!”

Liam’s voice was fierce. His small body shook with rage as he lunged forward and bit Justin’s hand.

Everything froze.

Justin’s expression darkened. His wolf pushed forward and his eyes flashed gold. He raised his hand—

He meant to slap Liam, but I moved quickly and it landed on me instead. My cheek hurts. My face stung, and the taste of blood filled my mouth.

I pulled Liam close, shielding him with my body. My wolf growled low in my chest.

“Don’t you dare touch my son,” I said through clenched teeth.

Justin stared at me like he didn’t recognize me anymore.

“Even now,” he said bitterly, “you still won’t tell me who that bastard’s father is? You’re protecting his pup?”

I held my child tighter. I didn’t say anything. My wolf growled inside me, We’ll die before we let him touch the boy.

Justin’s patience snapped. “Take them both back!”

“Alaina! Liam!” Elijah roared. He broke free for a moment before one of the guards slammed a club against his head. He collapsed instantly.

“Brother!” I screamed, reaching for him, but rough hands yanked me back.

I could feel it then — the dominance of Justin’s pack on me. We were weak wolves compared to them. We couldn’t win.

The drive back to the Silvermoon pack estate felt endless. My arms stayed locked around Liam. My wolf kept whispering comfort into my mind.

When the car finally stopped in front of the Silvermoon pack villa, I looked at Justin.

“What do you want from me?” I asked.

He got out of the car, flexing his bitten hand.

“Stay here for a month,” he said coldly. “After that, you’ll donate a kidney to Danielle. Don’t even think about running.” He looked down at Liam and sneered. “Little wolf cub.”

The driver leaned closer to him, whispering, “Master, have you noticed? The boy… he looks a lot like someone from the Silvermoon bloodline.”

Justin went stiff, turning back to look at my son. He scowled.

“You talk too much,” he snapped.

He turned away quickly. I could feel the anger rolling off him in waves. I knew what he was thinking. He had never touched me before. He had saved himself for a bond that never happened.

“Get out,” he ordered.

The nanny reached for Liam, but he resisted. His small wolf instincts blazed as he snarled and bit her hand.

“You little beast!” she shouted, grabbing a broom.

Before I could move, she swung it down. I moved in time and the blow landed on my back. Pain shot through me, but I didn’t care. I wrapped my arms tighter around my son. “It’s okay, baby. I’ve got you.”

“What’s going on here?”

The voice that came from the balcony froze everyone in place. It was deep, commanding. It was filled with pure Alpha authority that made every wolf in the yard bow their head immediately.

I froze. My wolf’s heart skipped. That voice…

The nanny stammered, turning pale. “M-Master, I’m sorry, I disturbed your rest.”

My eyes lifted slowly toward the man on the balcony.

Justin’s body went tense. “Brother… why are you back?”

Kane’s golden eyes glowed under the light. His presence was suffocating. “What? I can’t come back to my own house?”

Justin immediately bowed his head. “That’s not what I meant.”

Everyone in New York knew that Kane was the true Alpha of the Silvermoon Pack — the one even Alphas bowed to.

In the car, I froze. My fingers tightened around Liam’s shoulders as that familiar voice echoed again. My heart pounded hard.

Why… why did it sound so familiar?

My wolf’s voice whispered softly in my mind. Because once… he was ours.