I Escaped the Alpha Who Poisoned Our Child

The morning sun filtered through the small basement window, casting weak light across the concrete floor where Mia and I had spent our first night in the servant's quarters. My arms still burned from the silver exposure, angry red welts crisscrossing my skin. But there was no time to tend to my wounds—Angelique had made it clear I was to serve breakfast at precisely 7:30.

I knocked softly on the Luna Suite door, balancing the heavy breakfast tray. The door swung open to reveal Angelique in a silk robe, her perfect hair already styled, her makeup flawless.

"You're late," she snapped, though I'd arrived exactly on time.

"I'm sorry, Miss Lawson." I kept my eyes downcast as I entered, setting the tray on the dining table where Elias and Adler already sat.

"Coffee, Alpha," I murmured, placing the steaming cup before Elias. He didn't acknowledge me, his attention focused on Adler, who was describing some video game victory.

"And for you, Miss Lawson." I extended the second cup toward Angelique.

She smiled sweetly, then deliberately knocked my hand as she reached for it. Scalding coffee cascaded over my already burned arm. I bit back a cry of pain.

"How clumsy," she tutted. "Look at the mess you've made."

"I'm sorry," I whispered, setting the cup down with shaking hands.

"Clean it up," she ordered, then turned to Elias. "Oh, Elias, do you like my new ring?"

She extended her hand, and there on her finger gleamed the Luna ring—his grandmother's heirloom that he'd placed on my finger ten years ago. The diamond caught the light, mocking me.

"It suits you," Elias replied, his eyes warm with admiration. "Much better than it ever suited..."

He didn't finish the sentence, but his gaze flicked dismissively toward me.

"Adler needs new training gear," Angelique continued, stroking her son's hair. "The Alpha's son deserves the best."

Elias beamed at Adler. "Of course. Whatever he needs."

The boy preened under the attention, shooting a triumphant glance at me. "I'm going to be the strongest wolf in the pack."

"Better than that," Elias ruffled his hair. "You'll be my heir."

---

The training ground stretched before us, a muddy expanse where pack members gathered for the monthly assessment of the pups' progress. Mia clung to my hand, her small body trembling.

"It's okay, baby," I whispered. "Just do your best."

She nodded, her eyes wide with fear. I knew what Elias thought of her—weak, unworthy of his bloodline. But she was only eight, still years away from her first shift.

"Next up," called Marcus, the Beta. "Adler versus Mia."

My heart sank. The matches were supposed to be friendly demonstrations, but I knew better.

"Mommy," Mia whimpered.

"Go on," I encouraged her gently. "Remember what we practiced."

Mia stepped onto the field, her small frame dwarfed by Adler's already imposing figure. He was bigger than most children his age, encouraged to use his size to intimidate.

"Begin!" Marcus shouted.

Adler wasted no time. He shifted instantly into his young wolf form—a russet-colored creature with bared teeth. Before Mia could even attempt to shift, he lunged.

His teeth sank into her shoulder. Mia screamed, blood blooming across her shirt.

"Stop!" I cried out, but no one moved to intervene.

Adler pinned her to the ground, his jaws still locked on her flesh. Mia's cries grew weaker as she struggled beneath him.

"Good job, Adler!" Elias's voice boomed across the field. "That's the killer instinct I want to see!"

The pack members watched in silence, their expressions carefully neutral. None would defy their Alpha by showing sympathy to his rejected mate's daughter.

"Release her," I pleaded, stepping forward.

Elias's head snapped toward me, his eyes flashing with anger. "The match isn't over until I say it is."

"But she's hurt—"

"Silence!" His voice dropped into the Alpha tone, that supernatural command that no wolf could resist.

The force of it hit me like a physical blow. My knees buckled instantly, sending me crashing to the mud. The weight of his command pressed down on me, forcing my body to submit against my will.

"Crawl to them," Elias ordered, his Alpha tone vibrating through my bones.

I fought against it, but my body betrayed me. On hands and knees, I crawled across the muddy ground to where Adler still held Mia pinned.

"Clean his paws," Elias commanded, his voice carrying to every member of the pack.

With trembling hands, I reached for the hem of my dress.

"No, Mommy, no," Mia sobbed.

Adler released her, standing over me with a triumphant smirk. I dabbed at the mud on his paws with the fabric of my dress, tears blurring my vision.

"This is what happens when you interfere," Elias whispered, bending close so only I could hear. "Your weakness is a disease, Marilyn. And it's infecting our daughter."

As I knelt there in the mud, something inside me—something that had been dormant for ten long years—stirred again. And this time, it didn't go back to sleep.