Mira's POV
The Council chamber is silent as I walk in.
Twenty pairs of eyes turn to stare at me. Elders. Alphas from neighboring packs. Legal advisors. All here to witness my humiliation or my victory.
I can't tell which yet.
"Luna Mira," Elder Thorne says from the head table. "Please take your seat."
I sit beside Alpha Grayson, my childhood friend. He squeezes my hand once under the table. A silent promise: I've got you.
But do I trust him? The warning text echoes in my mind: Trust no one. Not even the friend driving you right now.
Damon enters moments later. He looks tired. Disheveled. Nothing like the confident Alpha who usually commands every room.
Good.
"Alpha Damon," Elder Thorne says coldly. "Sit."
Damon sits across from me. Our eyes meet for a brief second. I see fear there. Panic. Regret?
No. Not regret. Just fear of consequences.
"We are here for an emergency session requested by Luna Mira regarding—" Elder Thorne pauses, reading from a document, "—adultery, abandonment, and petition for immediate rejection and full custody of the minor child, Kai."
Murmurs ripple through the chamber.
"Luna Mira, present your evidence."
Alpha Grayson stands, pulls out a tablet. "With the Council's permission, I'll be representing Luna Mira tonight."
"Granted."
He taps the screen. A video begins playing on the large display behind Elder Thorne.
It's Damon and Selene. In a restaurant. Holding hands. Kissing.
The timestamp shows three weeks ago.
My stomach churns even though I've seen this before. Hearing the gasps from the Council makes it real in a new, horrible way.
Another video. Damon and Selene entering a hotel. The timestamp: two months ago.
Another. And another. Weeks and weeks of evidence. Dates and times carefully documented.
While I was at my mother's deathbed, he was building a new life without me.
"That's enough," Elder Thorne says, his voice disgusted. "Alpha Damon, what do you have to say for yourself?"
Damon stands slowly. "Selene is my true mate. The Moon Goddess—"
"The Moon Goddess does not condone adultery!" Elder Margaret, the oldest and most respected member of the Council, slams her hand on the table. "You made vows to this woman. You have a child with her. True mate or not, you broke sacred laws."
"I—I know. But the bond—"
"Is irrelevant when you're already married!" Elder Margaret's eyes blaze. "You should have come to this Council. Asked for guidance. Requested a proper dissolution. Instead, you snuck around like a common cheater."
"I'm sorry," Damon says, but his voice lacks conviction.
"You're sorry you got caught," Alpha Grayson corrects coldly. "Not sorry for what you did."
Before Damon can respond, the chamber doors burst open.
A small figure runs in.
"Daddy!"
My heart stops.
Kai.
My baby boy is supposed to be safe with Grayson's sister. What is he doing here?
He runs straight to Damon, who scoops him up. "Kai? What are you—"
"Mommy said I could come see you!" Kai wraps his arms around Damon's neck.
Mommy?
I stand up. "Kai, baby, come to Mama."
Kai looks at me. His little face scrunches in confusion.
"Why is the nanny here?" he asks Damon.
The room goes dead silent.
Nanny?
"Kai, sweetheart, it's me. Mama." I move toward him, arms outstretched.
He shrinks back against Damon. "No. You're the nanny. Mommy Selene said so."
The words hit like a physical blow.
Mommy Selene.
"What?" I whisper. "Kai, no. I'm your mommy. Remember? I gave birth to you. I've been taking care of Grandma, but I'm still your mama."
Kai shakes his head. "Mommy Selene takes care of me. She reads me stories and makes my favorite food and sleeps in Daddy's room. You're just the nanny who went away."
Tears blur my vision. "Damon, what did you do? What did you tell him?"
Damon's face has gone pale. "I... Selene was helping with Kai while you were gone. She was just being kind—"
"She replaced me!" My voice breaks. "She's been pretending to be his mother!"
"It wasn't like that—"
"Then what WAS it like?" I'm shaking. "Explain to me how my three-year-old son thinks I'm the nanny and your mistress is his mother!"
"Mira, calm down—"
"DON'T TELL ME TO CALM DOWN!" I scream. "You didn't just betray me as a wife. You erased me as a mother. You let that woman steal my child!"
Elder Thorne bangs his gavel. "Order! Someone explain how this child got here."
A woman steps forward from the shadows. Selene.
She's been here the whole time. Watching. Waiting.
"I brought him," she says quietly. "I thought... I thought Kai should see his father. Should know what's happening."
"You have no right!" I lunge toward her, but Alpha Grayson holds me back.
"Mommy, don't yell at the nanny," Kai says, still in Damon's arms. He's crying now, scared by my outburst.
My son is calling HER mommy and ME the nanny.
I sink to my knees, broken.
This is worse than the affair. Worse than the betrayal. Worse than anything I imagined.
They didn't just steal my husband. They stole my child.
"Kai," I say softly, trying to calm myself. "Baby, please. Look at Mama. Really look."
He peeks at me from Damon's shoulder.
"Remember when you were sick last year? Who held you all night? Who sang you the special song about the moon?"
His little brow furrows. "The... the nanny?"
"No, baby. Your mama. Me. I'm your mama." Tears stream down my face. "Remember the cookies we made together? Remember how you helped me mix the dough and you got flour everywhere?"
A flicker of recognition crosses his face. "Cookies?"
"Yes! Chocolate chip. Your favorite. We made them together. Just you and me."
"I... I remember cookies." His voice is uncertain. "But Mommy Selene makes cookies too."
"I'm sure she does. But baby, I'm your first mommy. The one who carried you in my belly. The one who loves you more than anything in the whole world."
Kai looks between me and Selene, confused and scared.
"Damon," Elder Margaret's voice is ice. "Put that child down. Now."
Damon slowly sets Kai on the floor.
"Kai," Elder Margaret says gently. "Come here, sweetling."
Kai walks to her carefully. She kneels down to his level.
"How old are you, Kai?"
"Three." He holds up three fingers.
"And who takes care of you at home?"
"Mommy Selene and Daddy."
"What about this lady?" She points to me.
Kai looks at me. "The nanny. She used to be there, but then she went away to see sick Grandma."
"Did you miss the nanny?"
He nods. "She was nice. She played with me and tucked me in."
"Did anyone tell you the nanny's name?"
"Mira. But Daddy said I should call her Miss Mira now because she's just a nanny."
Elder Margaret's face goes hard. She stands, faces Damon.
"You. Did. What?"
"I didn't mean—it was just easier for him to understand—"
"You erased his mother!" Elder Margaret's voice shakes with rage. "You systematically replaced her with your mistress and convinced a three-year-old child that his own mother was hired help!"
"He was confused! Mira was gone for months! Selene was there! I was trying to give him stability!"
"Stability? Or a convenient excuse to play house with your true mate?" Alpha Grayson stands. "You're disgusting."
"Selene IS my true mate! The Moon Goddess—"
"The Moon Goddess would be ashamed of you!" Elder Margaret cuts him off. "Using a sacred bond as justification for destroying a child's sense of family. For erasing his mother from his life."
She turns to the other Council members. "I've seen enough. I vote for immediate approval of Luna Mira's petition. Grant her full custody, approve the rejection, and strip Alpha Damon of his title pending further investigation."
"Seconded," says Elder Thorne.
"Thirded," says Alpha Grayson.
One by one, every Council member votes the same way.
Against Damon. For me.
"The motion passes unanimously," Elder Thorne declares. "Luna Mira is granted full custody of the minor child. Alpha Damon, you are stripped of your Alpha title effective immediately. Beta Marcus will assume temporary leadership until a new Alpha is chosen."
Damon staggers back like he's been shot. "You can't—I'm the Alpha! This is my pack! My birthright!"
"Was your birthright," Elder Margaret corrects. "You forfeited it when you broke pack law. When you destroyed your family. When you taught a child to forget his own mother."
"Mira, please." Damon turns to me. "Please. Don't do this. We can fix this. We can—"
"Fix what?" I'm crying again, but my voice is steady. "The fact that my son doesn't recognize me? The fact that you erased me so completely he thinks I'm a stranger?"
"I didn't mean for it to go this far!"
"But it did!" I stand up. Walk to Kai. Kneel beside him. "Baby, I'm not the nanny. I'm your mama. And I love you so much. More than the moon and stars and sky. Do you remember me saying that?"
Kai's eyes fill with tears. "Moon and stars and sky?"
"Yes, baby. That's what I used to tell you every night before bed."
"I... I think I remember." His little hand reaches for my face. Touches my cheek. "Mama?"
The word breaks me. "Yes, baby. Yes. I'm Mama."
"Where did you go?" He's crying now. "Why did you leave me?"
"I had to help Grandma. But I never stopped being your mama. Never stopped loving you. I'm so sorry you forgot me."
"Don't leave again," he whispers.
"Never. I'm never leaving you again." I pull him into my arms. He comes willingly this time, wrapping his small arms around my neck.
"I missed you, Mama."
"I missed you too, baby. So, so much."
I hold him tight, breathing in his little-boy smell, feeling his heartbeat against mine.
My son. My baby. Mine.
Over Kai's shoulder, I see Selene watching us. She's crying too. Her face is filled with something that might be regret. Shame.
Good. She should feel both.
"Selene," Elder Margaret says. "You will also face charges. Alienation of affection. Interference with parental rights. And adultery. The Council will convene in one week to determine your punishment."
Selene nods, unable to speak.
"As for you, former Alpha Damon," Elder Thorne continues. "You have one week to vacate the Alpha residence. All assets will be frozen pending the outcome of the divorce proceedings. You are forbidden from approaching Luna Mira or the child without a Council-appointed supervisor present."
"This is insane! She's my son! My wife! My pack!"
"Was," I say quietly, standing with Kai in my arms. "All of it was. Past tense."
I turn to Elder Thorne. "I'd like to perform the rejection ritual. Now. While the Council is assembled."
"Are you certain?"
"Completely."
Damon's face goes white. "Mira, wait. Please. Think about this. Think about Kai. He needs his father."
"He needs a father who doesn't erase his mother. Who doesn't lie. Who doesn't destroy families for his own selfish desires." I set Kai down gently, turn to face Damon. "And that's not you. Not anymore. Maybe it never was."
I take a deep breath. Speak the words that will sever our mate bond forever.
"I, Mira Chen, reject you, Damon Blackwood, as my mate. I sever our bond before the Moon Goddess and this Council. You are no longer my husband, my mate, or my Alpha. I release you to your true mate and wish you the happiness you denied me."
The words burn coming out. The mate bond screams in protest, stretching and tearing.
"Do you accept this rejection?" Elder Thorne asks Damon.
Damon looks at me. Really looks at me. And I see the moment he realizes what he's lost.
Not just his title. Not just his pack. Not just his wife.
But his family. His son. His entire life.
"I..." His voice breaks. "I accept."
The mate bond snaps.
Pain explodes through my chest. Physical. Agonizing. Like someone ripped out my heart.
I fall to my knees, gasping.
Damon falls too, clutching his chest.
For a moment, we're both on the floor, both destroyed by the breaking of something that was supposed to last forever.
Then it's over.
The pain fades.
The bond is gone.
I'm free.
I stand up slowly. Brush off my knees. Pick up Kai again.
"Mama? Are you okay?" He touches my wet face.
"I'm okay, baby. I'm better than okay. We're going home."
"Where's home?"
Good question. Not the Packhouse. Not anymore.
"With me," Alpha Grayson says. "You and Kai can stay with my family as long as you need. We have plenty of room."
"Thank you." I look at him carefully. At the man who knew exactly when to arrive tonight. Who had evidence ready. Who orchestrated all of this.
Is he my savior? Or part of the trap?
Either way, I have no choice right now. Kai needs stability. Safety. And I need time to figure out my next move.
"This session is adjourned," Elder Thorne announces. "Former Alpha Damon, you are dismissed. Luna Mira, the Council will contact you regarding the next steps."
I walk out of the chamber with Kai in my arms and Alpha Grayson at my side.
Behind me, I hear Damon calling my name. Begging. Pleading.
I don't look back.
In the parking lot, Alpha Grayson opens his car door for us.
"Thank you," I say again. "For everything. For coming when I called. For the evidence. For—"
"Don't thank me yet," he says quietly. "This is just the beginning. Damon won't give up easily. And there are others who won't be happy about tonight's outcome."
"Others?"
"Luna Mira!" A voice calls from the building.
I turn. Selene is running toward us.
"Please. Please, I need to talk to you. I need to explain."
"There's nothing to explain. You betrayed me. You stole my family."
"I know! I know I did. And I'm so sorry. I never meant—" She's crying hysterically. "I never meant for Kai to forget you. I swear. I just... I was trying to help. To make him feel safe while you were gone."
"By replacing me?"
"No! I just... he was so sad. So confused. And Damon was falling apart. And I thought if I could just help, if I could be there for them..." She wipes her eyes. "I fell in love with Damon. But I also fell in love with being a mother. With taking care of Kai. And I let myself pretend. Pretend I was his real mother. Pretend this was my family."
"It wasn't yours to take."
"I know. I KNOW. And I'm so, so sorry." She looks at Kai. "I love him, Mira. I know I have no right. I know I'm the villain here. But I do love him."
Kai stares at her. "Mommy Selene?"
"No, baby," I say firmly. "She's not your mommy. She's Miss Selene. And you won't be seeing her anymore."
"But I want to see her!" Kai starts crying. "She's nice! She plays with me!"
My heart breaks all over again. Because he's bonded with her. In the months I was gone, she became important to him.
And cutting her out will hurt him too.
"Mira, please," Selene begs. "Let me say goodbye. Let me explain to him. Don't just disappear from his life the way you think I made you disappear."
She has a point. As much as I hate it.
"Fine. One goodbye. In front of me. No lies."
Selene kneels down. "Kai, sweetie, I need to tell you something."
"What?"
"You know how I've been taking care of you? Playing with you and reading you stories?"
He nods.
"Well, that was wrong of me to pretend to be your mommy. Because you already have a mommy. This lady right here." She points at me. "She's your real mommy. She loves you so much. And she's back now."
"But where will you go?"
"Away for a little while. To think about the mistakes I made. But I want you to know something." Her voice breaks. "I love you, Kai. And I'm sorry I confused you. Your mama is the best person in the world. You're lucky to have her."
Kai looks between us. "Can I have two mommies?"
"No, baby," I say gently. "You have one mama. Me. Miss Selene was just helping for a little while. But she has to go now."
"Will I see her again?"
I look at Selene. At the genuine pain in her eyes. At the love she clearly feels for my son.
She betrayed me. Stole my husband. Nearly destroyed my family.
But she also took care of Kai when I couldn't be there. Loved him. Protected him.
The world isn't black and white. People aren't purely good or evil.
They're just... broken. Complicated. Human.
"Maybe," I say carefully. "Someday. If you're good. But not for a long time."
Selene nods gratefully. "Thank you. For that. For not hating me completely."
"Oh, I hate you," I say honestly. "But I also understand you. And that's somehow worse."
She laughs bitterly. "Yeah. It is."
She stands, backs away. "Goodbye, Kai. Be good for your mama."
"Bye, Mommy Sel—I mean, Miss Selene."
She walks back to the building, shoulders shaking with sobs.
"Come on," Alpha Grayson says. "Let's get you two home."
I buckle Kai into the car seat. He's already half asleep, exhausted from the emotional night.
As we drive away, I see Damon standing in the Council building entrance. Alone. Broken. Watching us leave.
For a second—just a second—I feel sorry for him.
Then I remember: he chose this. Chose Selene. Chose to destroy our family.
And now he has to live with that choice.
My phone buzzes. Unknown number. Again.
Well done, Mira. Round one goes to you. But the game isn't over. Damon was just a pawn. The real enemy is still hidden. Still watching. Still waiting. Sleep well tonight. You're going to need your strength for what comes next.
I stare at the message, my blood running cold.
What game? What enemy?
I look at Alpha Grayson. He's focused on driving, completely calm.
Too calm?
The warning texts said not to trust him. Said he might be part of a trap.
But he just helped me win everything. Full custody. The rejection. Damon's downfall.
Unless that was the plan all along. Get me to trust him. Lower my guard. Then strike.
"Everything okay?" he asks, noticing my stare.
"Fine," I lie. "Just tired."
"We'll be at my house soon. You and Kai can rest."
Rest. In a stranger's house. With a man who might be my enemy.
But what choice do I have?
I look at Kai sleeping peacefully in his car seat.
For him, I'll walk into any trap. Face any enemy. Survive any game.
Because I'm his mother.
And mothers protect their children.
No matter what.
Even if it kills them.
The car turns down a dark road. Away from the city. Toward Alpha Grayson's territory.
I clutch my phone, ready to call for help if needed.
But who would I call? Who can I trust?
The answer, I'm realizing, might be no one.
In this new world I've found myself in—where husbands betray, friends steal, and mysterious texters warn of hidden enemies—I'm completely alone.
Just me and my son against whatever darkness is coming.
And that darkness, I suspect, is closer than I think.
Maybe even sitting in the driver's seat beside me.
Smiling.
Waiting.
Planning my next destruction.