Chapter 4 SCOTT'S POV

I entered Nathan's room to wake him for school, but found him already sitting up, his eyes fixed on me.

"Good morning, Daddy," he said in a soft voice.

"Good morning, champ!" I replied, slightly surprised. "Why are you up so early?"

Nathan's voice trembled. "Where's my mom, Daddy?"

His question caught me off guard. We had agreed to discuss this when he was older, but his curiosity seemed urgent.

"What's wrong, champ?" I asked, sitting beside him on the bed.

Nathan's eyes welled up with tears. "I'm five now, Daddy. I'm not a baby anymore. Did Mommy leave us? Did she go to be with another man?"

His directness took my breath away. I knew my son, and something must have triggered this sudden inquiry.

"Little man, what happened?" I asked gently, seeking to understand the root of his concern.

"I was at school yesterday, and some boys were making fun of me for being motherless," Nathan said, tears streaming down his face.

"Come here, champ," I said, opening my arms. He snuggled into the crook of my neck, sniffing.

"You're the Alpha's son and future Alpha of the Royal Crescent Pack. You can't let their words get to you. Show them you won't tolerate disrespect," I advised firmly.

"Yes, Alpha," Nathan replied, his voice steady.

Deucalion appeared, speaking for the first time since Jasmine's rejection. "Our pup will become a strong Alpha."

"Nathan, your mom didn't abandon you, and she didn't leave me for another man," I reassured, smiling. "Who would leave this hot piece of cake?" I joked.

Nathan giggled, his mood lifting. But where's she, Daddy?" he asked.

"She's with the goddess," I explained. "The goddess was jealous of your mom and me, so she took her."

"I don't like the goddess," Nathan said angrily.

"I know, but there's always a reason for her actions. We must respect it and wait until we see your mom again," I said, lost in thought, thinking about Jocelyn.

"Let's get ready for school and show anyone who messes with you that you're the future Alpha," I said, helping Nathan prepare.

He giggled and headed to the bathroom. I followed, helping him undress and prepare his bath. Afterward, I dried him off, combed his hair, and applied lotion. Once dressed, we headed to the dining room.

Margaret, the chef, had already set the table. "Good morning, Alpha," she greeted.

"Good morning, Margaret. Thank you for the food," I replied. "My pleasure, Alpha," she said, bowing before leaving.

Marcus entered, and we exchanged pleasantries.

"I got the details, Alpha," Marcus said.

"Good. Brief me when you get back from dropping Nathan off at school," I instructed.

Nathan finished eating, gave me a peck on the cheek, and followed Marcus out.

"Bye, champ! I love you!" I called out to him.

....

JASMINE'S POV

We arrived at Raymond's place, and before I knew it, I was pouring my heart out to him. The words spilled out, and tears followed.

"Come here, girl," Raymond said, opening his arms.

I nestled into his embrace, sobbing uncontrollably. His gentle patting on my back soothed me.

"It's okay, darling," he whispered. After a while, I composed myself. "Honestly, I don't know why I'm crying," I admitted, confused.

"It's a mate thing, Jas," Raymond said comfortingly. "Your heart is processing the rejection."

I nodded, recalling Raymond's past. As a former omega of the Dark Moon pack, he'd faced maltreatment due to his sexual preference. He'd escaped, becoming a rogue – but unlike the vicious stereotypes, Raymond was kind and gentle.

"So, Jas, why did you reject your mate?" he asked, curiosity sparkling in his eyes.

"I was scared, Ray," I confessed remorsefully. "I acted on impulse. I regret it now."

"Do you think he'll hurt you?" Raymond asked, concern etched on his face. "Why would you think that?"

"Raymond, there's something I haven't told you," I said, my voice laced with hesitation. Raymond's eyes locked onto mine, encouraging me to continue.

"I need to go back in time, to when I lived in London with my parents," I began. "I had a best friend, Emily. She was my only friend, and I trusted her deeply."

"I met Emily in Grade 10 at Westminster School in London, England. She was mysterious, and people avoided her, calling her a freak. But I saw beyond the rumors. She approached me, and I listened. She said i wasn't like others and wanted to be friends. I was an outcast too, so I felt a connection."

"As we grew closer, I discovered Emily was a werewolf. Honestly, I was terrified and took a step back. But I realized I'd been treating her like the others, and that wasn't right. I apologized, and our bond strengthened. I even grew comfortable with Elsa, her wolf. We'd run through the forest together, with me sitting on Elsa's back. It was exhilarating."

"Everything changed after graduation, when I turned 18. That's when my life fell apart."

For the first time, we decided to hang out at Emily's house, which belonged to the Midnight Pack. She's the sister of Alec, the pack's Beta. I met him, and he treated me with warmth.

Inside Emily's room, she gushed about the Alpha of Midnight Pack and her desire to be his mate. She went on about his good looks and long-standing crush. I asked why she wasn't with him, and she said the Alpha was disrespectful and proud. I advised her to move on, citing his disrespect towards women. Emily confessed she didn't care, wanting only physical intimacy.

As it grew dark, I prepared to leave. Alec offered to drop me off, and I accepted. Stepping out, my eyes met a handsome stranger's. My heart raced as I thought, "This is the man of my dreams." Suddenly, I heard a growl.

"Mate," the stranger said.

Emily asked, "What did you say, Alpha Jack?" behind me. I turned to see her horrified expression.

The stranger seethed with anger, shouting, "An insignificant, weak, worthless human is my mate?!" He punched the wall, and Alec intervened.

"Get the hell out of my house!" the Alpha shouted, pointing at me. I fled in fear, tears streaming down my face. Alec followed, offering comfort during the journey.

At my house, I thanked him and went inside, crying again. I tried to make sense of the encounter and why the Alpha was so angry. I called Emily, leaving multiple texts, but she didn't respond.