My Mate Chose Ex's Son Over Our Pup: I Disappeared

My best friend Ada felt sorry for my eight-year crush on Theo.

So when our wolves recognize each other as mate, Ada simply gave me a pheromone-enhancing herb and sent me to Theo’s bed.

Intoxicated by my scent, Theo claimed me like crazy.

When I woke up, he coldly agreed to hold the marking ceremony.

But shortly after the marking, Theo frequently visited European packs, and stayed away for five years.

I raised our son Alex alone, waiting for him at the pack.

But he never came come and just told me he didn’t like puppies.

Until Alex's birthday party, I saw a video where someone asked him:

"Theo, what's your happiest moment?"

He replied carelessly: "Last week in Europe, after putting Marcus to sleep, I took Claire to the dining table in the living room."

Amidst the whistles and cheers, my hands and feet turned ice cold.

Claire was his ex-girlfriend, Marcus was his ex-girlfriend's son.

They say he'd been living with them these five years in Europe, so it was all true.

I was completely heartbroken, submitted the mate bond dissolution to the Alpha Council, and left North America with my son, erasing our pack registration.

1

When the training ground caught fire, my mate rushed in to save his first love's son, leaving our pup in the fire and almost burned to death.

The Omega housekeeper burst into my healing chamber, her face pale with panic.

"The young wolves' training facility is on fire!"

My heart stopped. Alex was there for his combat training.

When I rushed to the scene, I found Alex huddled in a corner, his skin covered in angry red burns.

"Mom..." He stumbled into my arms, tears streaming down his ash-covered face.

"Does Father really not love me?" His voice cracked between sobs.

My heart shattered as he continued through his hiccups.

"Father was the first Beta to arrive when the fire started. I thought... I thought he came to save me."

Alex's small body trembled in my arms.

"I called out to him, begged him to help me. But he... he just ran past me."

"He went straight for Marcus, picked him up, and left me there in the flames."

"When the teacher asked, he told everyone he was Marcus's father. He didn't even look at me once..."

I held my burned, shaking son tightly against my chest, my eyes burning with unshed tears.

I wanted to say something, anything to comfort him. But remembering Theo's cold indifference toward us all these years, the words died in my throat.

I was filled with bitter regret.

My mate Theo left our pack after our marking ceremony for five years. Recently he finally came back.

I had thought after five years, he had finally changed his mind about us, about our family.

But I was wrong. So terribly wrong.

He only returned because Sarah mentioned wanting to come back to the pack.

That's when he rushed to arrange everything, even getting Marcus into the elite young wolf training program.

I looked down at my son's burns, my hands trembling as I began the healing process.

The wounds would heal, but I knew the scars on his heart would take far longer.

"Dad..." Alex whimpered in pain as I applied the healing salve.

"Why doesn't Father want me?"

I bit my lip until I tasted blood.

The day we went to meet Theo at the pack borders, Alex had spent a month learning to bake. He wore his best training clothes and nervously asked me:

"Mom, will Father like the cake I made?"

I nodded, "You're his only son, of course he will."

But when we arrived at the borders full of hope, we saw Theo holding Sarah's hand, with five-year-old Marcus in his arms.

Alex and I froze in place.

Marcus ran over and knocked the cake box from Alex's trembling hands. The cake Alex had practiced making for a month shattered on the ground.

Theo barely glanced at the ruined cake. "Sorry, I don't like sweets. You two should head back first. I need to help Sarah and Marcus settle in."

He didn't even look at Alex once, yet his eyes were full of warmth as he watched Marcus.

Looking at the cake scattered across the ground, I closed my eyes in despair.

"I'm sorry, Alex. It's all my fault. Next time when you're in trouble, call for me. I'll always come for you."

After taking Alex to the pack therapist, I finally got him to sleep.

But his little brows were still tightly furrowed.

"Father... save me..." he whimpered in his sleep.

My heart felt like it was being torn apart.

If it wasn't for what happened five years ago, Alex might not have to suffer like this now.

2

Five years ago, my best friend Ada saw how I had been pining for Theo for eight years.

On the full moon night when we turned eighteen, when our wolves first recognized each other as mates, she slipped an enhanced pheromone elixir into my wine.

I was horrified when she locked me in Theo's room. "Sarah, what the hell are you doing?"

Sarah leaned against the door, smiling. "I've known for years. Theo loves you, too. He responds to your scent. He's just too proud to admit it. Last full moon when he shifted, I heard him howl your name."

I tried to protest, but smelling Theo’s scent made me feel like I'm on fire.

Sarah's laugh echoed through the door. "Enjoy your night, sweetie." Then I heard the lock click.

That night, Theo claimed me like he was possessed. The way he touched me, held me, marked me - I thought it meant he'd always wanted me too.

When we woke up the next morning, Theo's voice was cold as ice: "I'll take responsibility. We'll hold the marking ceremony next week."

I thought it was just his way of showing affection. I thought our happy life was about to begin.

But at the ceremony celebration, I overheard him talking to his fellow Beta wolves.

"Theo, you're being too harsh on yourself. She's a talented healer, beautiful, and she obviously loves you. Plus, you're true mates. Why not just accept it?"

Theo's laugh was bitter as he took a drink. I watched from around the corner as he pulled out a sanitizing wipe and cleaned his hands - the hands that had just touched me during the ceremony.

"I did feel something for her at first. But now? Finding out she's the kind of Omega who would drug herself with pheromone enhancers just to trap a mate?"

He shook his head in disgust. "Every time I think about how she threw herself at me that night, how she used chemicals to force a mating... it makes my skin crawl."

"An Omega who would stoop that low isn't worthy of being a Beta's mate. Much less mine."

Before I could explain anything about the enhanced pheromone elixir, Theo visited European packs, and stayed away for five years.

I gave birth to the pup alone, took care of Alex alone for four years, and looked forward to Theo's return every day.

After five years, he finally returned, but with his ex-girlfriend and her son.

The empty villa was lonely and silent. I reached out through our mate bond, trying to contact Theo, but found myself blocked.

Then suddenly, he walked into our den.

Suppressing my anger, I spoke carefully, "Alex needs to go to the treatment room tomorrow morning to change his burn dressings. Could you take him?"

Theo barely glanced at me. "Can't. I'm taking Marcus for his physical examination tomorrow morning."

Then he added coldly, "If you must bring Alex to the treatment room, come in the afternoon. Marcus gets upset when he sees Alex calling me father."

The rage I'd been containing finally exploded.

"How dare you? You left our son in a burning building today! He could have died!"

Theo's eyes flashed with anger. "Sarah's mate died in combat. She couldn't go in to save Marcus alone. What was I supposed to do?"

"You're supposed to save your own son first!" My voice cracked with emotion.

"I made you my mate five years ago, and that hurt Sarah deeply," Theo growled. "You have no right to stop me from protecting her and Marcus now."

His words hit me like physical blows. Each one tearing deeper than the last.

The mate bond between us felt like ice in my veins.

Five years ago, I had carried Alex alone while Theo was away in Europe.

For five years, I'd raised our son by myself, waiting for Theo to return.

Only to find he'd spent those years playing father to another child.

Now Alex lay in his bed, covered in burns, still whimpering for the father who had chosen to save another pup instead of him.

The partially written mate bond dissolution request sat on my desk, waiting to be submitted to the Alpha Council.

If it was just me, I would have submitted it already. My wolf howled in agony each time Theo rejected our bond.

But every time I thought about finalizing it, I remembered Alex's desperate need for his father's love.

Every time I saw the longing in my son's eyes when he watched other pups with their fathers, I wanted to try one more time.

3

The next morning, Alex's fever spiked dangerously high. His burns were hot to the touch.

I rushed him to the treatment room, my heart pounding with worry.

That's when we ran into Theo. He was holding Marcus's hand, with Sarah by his side.

Despite his fever-induced dizziness, Alex's eyes lit up when he saw Theo.

He broke free from my arms, stumbling toward his father with shaking steps.

"Dad!" Alex stretched out his trembling hands, his voice weak but hopeful. "Did you come to stay with me while I see the healer? I forgive you for yesterday..."

Theo stepped back, pulling Marcus closer to him.

His face twisted into a frown. "Didn't I tell you not to come in the morning? Why did your mother bring you here?"

Marcus suddenly shoved Alex hard. "Stop calling him Dad! He's MY father!"

Alex, already unsteady from the fever, fell backward. His burned skin hit the floor hard.

His scream of pain echoed through the treatment room.

Marcus moved to kick Alex while he was down.

"Stop!" I shouted, quickly pulling Marcus away from my injured son.

I scooped Alex up in my arms, his small body burning with fever. "Marcus, apologize to Alex right now."

Theo's eyes flashed with anger. "How dare you lay hands on another wolf's pup?"

He pulled Marcus protectively behind him. "I warned you not to come in the morning. You deliberately brought Alex here to upset Marcus."

"He didn't mean to hurt Alex. This is your fault for not listening."

I held my whimpering son closer, feeling his tears soak into my shirt.

"Your fault?" My voice trembled with rage. "Your son is covered in burns because you left him in a fire. He has a fever of 104. Where exactly should I have taken him?"

But Theo was already turning away, gently checking if Marcus was okay.

Sarah stepped forward with a practiced smile.

"I'm so sorry about that. Marcus has always been strong for his age. He barely touched Alex - we didn't expect such a little wolf to be as weak as an Omega."

Her words made Marcus puff up with pride.

"That's right! He's just a bastard born from an Omega mother. So weak, and he still dares to try stealing my father!"

I clenched my fists, staring coldly at Theo.

I had tolerated everything before this. His constant absence. His coldness when he spilled Alex's cake. His rejection of our den.

But I would not tolerate anyone hurting my son.

"Theo," my voice was ice. "Are you going to let them talk about your son this way?"

Theo's lip curled in disgust. "It is Alex's fault for being so weak. Must have inherited it from his Omega mother."

The mate bond in my chest felt like it was freezing over.

Theo turned away, wrapping an arm around Sarah's shoulders.

"Come on, Marcus. Let's go get those rewards I promised you. Your physical test results were outstanding today."

"Can I get the silver training knife, Dad? The one you showed me yesterday?"

"Of course, champion. Anything for my strong little Beta."

I looked down at my son's tear-stained face, his burns still angry red against his pale skin.

In that moment, something inside me shattered completely.

As they walked away, leaving Alex trembling in my arms, I finally said:

“Let’s dissolve the mate bond.”

4

Theo paused mid-step, turning back with cold eyes.

"You really think this is clever, don't you?" His lip curled in disdain.

"If you think you can threaten me with a mate bond dissolution, go ahead. Submit it."

Then he walked away without another glance.

Sarah's eyes flashed with something like triumph, but she quickly masked it, coming back to apologize.

"I'm so sorry about all this. You know, being an Omega without a wolf spirit, you can't really sense Theo's true status or our pack dynamics. But I assure you, nothing happened between us."

She smiled sympathetically. "He's just very loyal to old pack bonds. He feels bad that I lost my mate and Marcus lost his father. That's all this is - just him being caring. Don't take it personally..."

Before leaving, Sarah insisted on exchanging contact information.

"For compensation," she said sweetly. "For any distress we may have caused."

"Sarah, come on!" Theo called from outside, his voice gentle as he held Marcus.

"Coming!" Sarah hurried after them, her face lighting up.

They hadn't gone far when their conversation drifted back to me.

"Theo, you shouldn't have agreed so quickly when she mentioned dissolving the mate bond. You know she was just angry..."

Theo's scornful laugh cut through the air:

"After all the tricks she used to trap me into this mate bond, you think she'd actually let it go?"

"Her being harsh with Marcus was just a little warning. Give it a few days - she'll be begging me to come back."

I couldn't help but laugh bitterly.

Oh, Theo. People change.

The desperate Omega who would have done anything for your love is dead.

Now, for my son's sake, I'm choosing to walk away completely.

I was done letting my son be collateral damage in Theo's games.

After Alex's burns healed, he remained withdrawn and sad.

To cheer him up, I organized a fourth birthday celebration, inviting all his young packmates.

For a while, it worked. Alex was actually smiling, playing with the other pups.

Until the blessing video started playing on the screen.

The lights dimmed. Everyone gathered around the screen, excited to see the traditional pack birthday blessings.

Instead, we saw Theo's face in what looked like a recent pack gathering. He was lounging on a couch, drink in hand.

Someone off-camera asked: "Beta Theo, where's your favorite place to mate?"

His casual response froze my blood: "After putting Marcus to sleep, I like taking Sarah to the dining table in the living room."

The room fell silent. All eyes turned to Alex, who had gone completely still in my arms.

Sarah appeared almost immediately, her face a mask of concern.

"Oh no, I'm so terribly sorry! There was a mix-up with the videos. I had prepared such a lovely birthday blessing for Alex..."

She glanced around the room, then lowered her voice. "These things happen sometimes. No need to make a scene."

Then she pulled out her phone, starting to show me other clips.

Theo teaching Marcus combat moves. Theo taking Marcus hunting. Theo proudly watching Marcus's first partial shift.

Theo was capturing the moment on camera, his voice full of joy: "That's my boy! Look at those claws!"

"See?" Sarah's voice dripped with false sympathy. "Theo's such a wonderful father figure. He just needs... the right family environment."

Sarah leaned closer, her voice dropping to a whisper. "Let's be honest - if you hadn't used that pheromone enhancement five years ago, Theo would never have been with you. You're a talented healer, and quite beautiful for an Omega. You could find someone else."

She showed me one final photo - her, Theo, and Marcus at a pack gathering, looking like the perfect family.

"Just let him go. Let us be a real family again. It's what's best for everyone."

I covered Alex's eyes with my hand, shielding him from more pain.

"I'm done," I said quietly, cutting her off. "We're done."

I pulled out my phone and called Ada, my friend who led a pack in the next territory.

"Remember when you offered me that healing position in your pack? Is it still open? I will be there in three days."

5

Ada's excited voice came through the phone.

"Of course! We've been holding the Chief Healer position for you. But... I heard Theo finally returned to the pack. Will he agree to the transfer?"

I laughed bitterly.

"He'll be relieved."

That evening, Theo came home early, looking slightly guilty about missing Alex's birthday party.

"Hey buddy, want to do some training together?" He tried to ruffle Alex's hair.

Alex stepped back coldly. "I have combat practice scheduled."

"I could teach you some Beta-level techniques..." Theo offered awkwardly.

"No thanks. The pack trainer already knows my level."

Theo's hand dropped. He turned to me, pulling out a small velvet box.

"I brought you something."

Inside was a silver necklace with a crescent moon pendant. I recognized it immediately - from the photos Sarah had shown me. She'd bragged about how Theo spent $100,000 on her ring, and this necklace was part of the matching set.

"I don't want your leftover gifts," I said quietly.

"It's not... I just thought..."

I took Alex's hand and walked past Theo, wearing a deep red dress I hadn't touched in five years. Back then, he'd said he didn't like bright colors on his mate - too attention-grabbing for an Omega. I'd worn nothing but white ever since.

He looked at the red dress I was wearing.

"You look... different. Where are you going? I'll drive you."

The same controlling tone, masked as concern.

"No need. I've learned to do a lot of things while you were gone."

Like running a healing practice.

Like raising a son alone.

Like realizing my worth wasn't tied to a mate's approval.

"Besides," I added, "I know these roads better than you now. Five years is a long time."

We were heading to the pack registration office. Today was the day Alex and I would officially withdraw from the pack.

Two hours later, as we left the office with our papers processed, we found Theo's car waiting outside.

He stared at the documents in my hand. "What are you doing here? "

Theo followed us to the registration office, watching as I carried Alex inside and stayed there for two hours.

Something in his expression had changed. His wolf was restless, sensing something wrong.

"Just updating some paperwork that expired," I said casually.

"Aren't you busy today? I heard Sarah needs help settling Marcus into the elite training program."

Theo's eyes narrowed, studying me intently. His face grew darker with each passing moment.

Finally, he let out a bitter laugh. "Well played, little Omega."

"This is a first - a mate actually pushing their partner toward another wolf. Fine. If that's what you want, I'll give you exactly that."

He slammed his car door so hard the metal dented. His tires squealed as he peeled away, leaving the scent of burning rubber in the air.

I couldn't understand why he was angry. I was giving him what he wanted - freedom to be with Sarah and Marcus.

Later, his beta assistant called me.

"Ma'am, Theo specifically cleared his schedule today to spend time with you and Alex. Why did you drive him away?"

"Now he's drunk on wolfsbane wine at Sarah's place, playing with Marcus..."

The assistant had always thought Theo and I were true mates, always tried to help us reconcile.

But I just laughed quietly. "Thank you, but let him be."

After all, we only had three days left.

Three days until Alex and I would leave this territory forever.

6

Alex tugged at my sleeve. "Mommy, when we go to the new pack, will I have to see Father again?"

I pulled him close, breathing in his puppy scent. "No, baby. Never again."

"Good," he whispered. "I don't want to be a Beta anyway. I want to be a healer like you."

Theo's assistant called again that evening.

"He's asking for you," she said hopefully. "Maybe if you just talked..."

"No," I said firmly. "Let him stay with his chosen family."

Three days.

And then we'd be gone.

But on the day we were finalizing our pack transfer, Alex suddenly doubled over in pain.

His skin was burning hot, bones shifting beneath the surface. The early signs of a premature shift.

Fear gripped my heart. Alex had always been gifted - all his trainers said he'd shift early. But shifting before ten could cut a wolf's lifespan in half.

That's why I'd spent a million dollars on the inhibitory potion months ago, keeping it locked in our safe.

"Hold on, baby," I whispered, racing home to get the potion.

But when I opened the safe, it was empty.

My hands shaking, I called Theo.

"The inhibitory potion - where is it?"

"Oh, that." His voice was casual. "Marcus showed signs of early shifting, so I borrowed it. Emergency situation."

"Take it back right now," I demanded. "Alex is starting to shift."

Theo's laugh was cold. "What game are you playing now? How convenient that Alex suddenly needs to shift right when Marcus does."

"Are you trying to kill Marcus by denying him the potion?" His voice turned ugly. "Besides, didn't you want me to focus on Sarah and Marcus? Why the jealousy act now?"

The call ended with a click.

I stared at my phone in despair, hearing Alex's whimpers of pain from the next room.

"Mom..." he called weakly. "It hurts..."

"I'm sorry," I whispered, gathering him in my arms. "The potion..."

"It's okay," he managed a smile through his pain. "I can be strong."

My hands were trembling as I called Ada. She bought another inhibitory potion from the witch and sent to us immediately.

An hour later, the pack radio crackled with news:

"Breaking news: Young prodigy Marcus, ward of Beta Theo, has achieved his first shift at the incredible age of four! Beta Theo stayed by his side throughout the process, helping manage the transition..."

I listened with cold fury as they described how Theo had "fortunately" acquired an inhibitory potion just in time.

Alex was curled in my lap, fighting against his own premature shift, while the potion that should have been his was being celebrated across pack radio.

"Theo," I whispered to the empty room, "since you love them so much, Alex and I will help you keep them."

The day after Alex recovered from his near-shift.

I submitted our pack withdrawal papers, sent the mate bond dissolution request to the Alpha Council, and removed my mate mark with the ritual herbs Ada had sent. With Alex in my arms, I left the territory that had been our home for five years.