Chapter 2

The municipal hall smelled of expensive cologne, polished wood, and stale politics. I stood behind the heavy oak podium. I gripped the edges until my knuckles turned white. The microphone amplified my ragged breathing.

"The Seattle Stray Wolf Initiative focuses on complete rehabilitation," I said.

I kept my eyes fixed on the back wall. I refused to look down. Adrian sat in the very front row. His presence suffocated the entire room. He represented the Blackwood Group. They were the biggest sponsor of this event. His dark suit absorbed the light. His Alpha aura pressed against my skin like a physical weight. It made my stomach churn.

Caleb stood up from the seat right next to him. A smug, calculated smile twisted his lips.

"Ms. Hayes," Caleb interrupted. His voice echoed through the silent hall. "You speak so passionately about rehabilitation and commitment. Yet you abandoned your post at the Silvermoon medical center three years ago. A sudden, completely unexplained resignation. Why should this city trust your dedication now?"

Whispers broke out across the crowded hall. The pack leaders exchanged judgmental glances. I stared at Caleb. My chest tightened. My lungs burned. I remembered the cold tiles of the isolation ward. I remembered the deleted files. I remembered the absolute humiliation of being publicly rejected.

I pulled a laminated document from my presentation folder. I held it up high for the entire room to see.

"This is my Seattle advanced medical license," I said. My voice rang out clear and hard. "I earned this through three years of treating the broken wolves your packs threw away. My qualifications are printed on this paper, Mr. Ross. They are not based on your pack politics."

Caleb's jaw tightened. The smug smile vanished. He sat back down in his chair.

The presentation finally ended. The crowd immediately broke into small groups. The low hum of networking filled the room. I quickly packed my files into my briefcase. I needed to leave. I needed to get away from his scent.

"Mommy."

I spun around. The chair behind me was empty. Leo was gone.

Pure panic spiked in my blood. I scanned the crowded room. My eyes darted past the suits and dresses.

Leo stood near the front row. He stood right in front of Adrian.

I froze. My breath caught sharply in my throat. My feet glued themselves to the carpet.

Adrian loomed over my son. The Alpha looked like a dark mountain of power. A heavy silver Alpha badge sat pinned to his lapel. The metal caught the overhead lights. Leo stared directly at the badge. His big gray-blue eyes widened with pure curiosity. He reached his small hand up toward the silver wolf head.

"Leo, no!" I yelled.

I dropped my briefcase. It hit the floor with a loud thud. I sprinted toward them. I shoved past a group of startled politicians.

I was too late.

Leo's tiny fingers brushed the cold silver metal.

Adrian reacted instantly. His reflexes were brutal. He snatched Leo's wrist.

A sharp, violent gasp escaped Adrian's lips. He stared down at his own palm. His golden eyes flared with sudden, blinding light. The heavy scent of cedar and sharp winter air exploded in the room. It was Adrian's raw pheromones. They flooded the space.

Aster whimpered loudly in my mind. She paced back and forth in absolute panic.

Adrian stared down at Leo. His massive chest heaved. I saw the exact moment his wolf slammed against his consciousness. Rex recognized the bloodline. The connection was undeniable.

Leo whimpered. The overwhelming Alpha aura crushed him. His eyes flickered silver. His little body trembled violently. His wolf soul panicked under the pressure. The suppressed trauma in his blood flared up. He let out a terrified cry.

I crashed into Adrian's side. I grabbed Leo's other arm.

"Let him go!" I snarled.

I yanked Leo back against my chest. I wrapped both my arms around his shaking body. I buried his face in my neck. I shielded him from the suffocating cedar scent.

Adrian didn't move. His hand stayed suspended in the empty air. His fingers twitched. He stared blankly at Leo's arm.

Leo's sleeve had pushed up during the struggle. A distinct crescent moon birthmark sat right over his pulse point.

Adrian slowly looked down at his own wrist. He had the exact same mark.

His golden eyes snapped up. They locked onto mine. The cold, untouchable arrogance was completely gone. A chaotic storm raged in his pupils. His breathing turned ragged.

"Who is he?" Adrian asked. His voice sounded like a raw, guttural growl.

My heart pounded violently against my ribs. I squeezed Leo tighter. My nails dug into my own palms.

"He has absolutely nothing to do with you," I said.

Caleb stepped forward. He glanced dismissively at Leo. He scoffed.

"He's just an Omega's brat, Alpha," Caleb said. His tone dripped with contempt. "You don't need to care about some random stray she picked up."

Adrian didn't even look at Caleb. He kept his burning eyes fixed entirely on my face. His jaw clenched so hard a muscle jumped in his cheek. He took one slow step toward me.

"I asked you a question, Nora," Adrian said.

I didn't wait for him to speak again. I turned my back on him. I carried Leo straight toward the heavy exit doors.

My legs shook with every step. I pushed violently through the double doors. I hit the cold, biting street air. I walked faster. I practically ran down the sidewalk. I held my son tightly against my chest.

I didn't look back. I would never let him take my son.