~Ella~

I stood in the hall, utterly confused.


Caden's cold voice cut through the silence. "Frank says you have a son."

I was startled but kept my expression neutral.

Caden already had a fiancée. He'd be married soon.


If he knew I had his child, would he take him from me?

"No—I mean, a dog! I have a four-year-old dog who hasn't eaten today. I wanted to bring some leftovers for him."


"A dog?"

"Yes."

Caden's brows remained furrowed, but his expression calmed as he casually cut his steak.

Just as I was about to relax, my phone rang. I glanced awkwardly at Caden, who nodded. "Go ahead."

It was my stepmother, ordering me to attend another blind date.

"What? A blind date?" I blurted out.

"Yes, and if you don't go, I'll sell your son!"

Silverware clattered sharply against china.

My outburst seemed to displease Caden. I quickly placated my stepmother and ended the call.

"Blind date? Miss Ella seems quite busy." The words came unexpectedly from Caden's mouth.

I laughed awkwardly, eager to escape. "Does the Alpha need anything else?"

"You may go. Take the extra ingredients." Caden's gaze remained fixed on me.

I thanked him and hurried out, feeling his burning gaze until I left the estate grounds.

When I rushed home calling for Finn, he would normally be waiting at the door.

But this time, only my stepmother sat comfortably on the sofa.

My stomach dropped. "Where's Finn?"

"You mean that little monster with the burning hot body? Oh, I sold him to a laboratory." She laughed cruelly. "They were very interested in him. Paid me quite well."

The room spun around me.

Cold dread rushed through my veins. The pain threatened to drown me as I glared at the devil before me, my vision going red.

"If anything happens to Finn, I swear to God I'll kill you myself, you bitch!"

I ignored her contemptuous snort and ran for the laboratory.

Strangely, several researchers lay unconscious at the entrance. I grabbed one who was fleeing the building.

"Have you seen a four-year-old boy?"

The researcher broke free, screaming: "Monster! It's a monster! Run! It's coming!"

My heart plummeted as I looked where he pointed. On an examination table, a small werewolf—feral and snarling—stared at me with bared fangs.

His ears had transformed into wolf ears, his eyes glowing golden, his gaze full of aggression and fear.

But I recognized my Finn instantly.

My heart shattered. What horrors had my baby endured?

"Finn, baby, it's Mom. Don't you remember me?"

I approached and let his fangs sink into my arm as I held him tight. "I'm so sorry, Finn. Mom failed to protect you."

Slowly he released me, his eyes returning to normal. Seeing the wound, his beautiful eyes filled with tears. "Mom, I'm sorry. I didn't mean to."

"Thank God you're okay." I closed my eyes in relief, kissing his forehead.

Just as we were about to leave, heavy footsteps sounded behind us. The facility's director emerged.

He wore a white lab coat over his obese frame and held a syringe, eyeing Finn greedily. "You're not going anywhere."

More researchers appeared behind him.

I stepped in front of Finn. "What do you mean?"

"Allow me to introduce myself. I'm Mike. Your child is a werewolf, and we need to keep him here."

A werewolf! I'd known Finn was different, but I never imagined he was actually a werewolf.

I remembered Finn's golden eyes when he went feral—almost identical to Caden's.

So that hadn't been my imagination.

"He's normal now. You can't take him," I said, trying to sound calm. Finn tensed beside me, ready to attack.

"No, ma'am. He's a werewolf's offspring—young but powerful. I want to dissect him to discover what secrets lie in their biology."

A group of men moved to separate us. Finn bit one's finger hard. Mike immediately shot him with a tranquilizer dart.

"Get away from him! Don't touch my son!"

My arms were pinned as they dragged Finn away.

"Please! Leave him alone! Finn—" They threw me against the wall. Mike snickered, "Perhaps you'd like to experience what it's like to be a werewolf's mate."

"Have your fun with her, boys."

Mike left with Finn while his men approached, laughing lewdly as they tore at my clothes.