Chapter 1
On the day of Hadley’s alpha succession trial, my husband, Alpha Derick Gildon, for the first time, put work aside to drive our son Hadley to the testing site.
On the way, Alpha Derick received an urgent call and left us halfway there. We had no choice but to run the rest of the way, only to be ambushed by rogues.
In the battle, Hadley’s old injuries flared up as he tried to protect me, and he was eventually rushed to the ICU.
Hadley was gravely injured, and the only remedy that could save him was in Alpha Derick’s pack, and as the Alpha, he was the sole person in charge.
I called Alpha Derick, and over the phone, I heard the voice of his first love.
“Alpha Derick is busy. What do you need?”
There was no time to wonder why they were together. Desperately, I said, “Get him on the phone. Our son is in the ICU and needs his special medicine.”
Alpha Derick’s voice was cold, “Do you enjoy making up these stories every day to fool me?”
Then he hung up.
I dialed again, but his phone was already off.
That day, I lost my son forever! The Red Moon Pack lost its next alpha heir!
“Hadley’s condition is critical, Luna. Didn’t you say there’s a special medicine? Is it here now?”
The pack doctor emerged from the ICU, his face full of worry.
Hadley’s old wounds had caused heart failure. Without the medicine within two hours, he wouldn’t make it!
Two hours?
My hand froze mid-dial.
I trembled, nodding frantically, “Yes, Doctor. Please do everything you can to stabilize him. I’ll get the medicine as fast as I can!”
I said I’d hurry, but my legs felt too weak to stand.
I collapsed onto a chair in the hallway, using the Mind Link to reach out to Alpha Derick.
Over and over again.
But he blocked me, and my wolf couldn’t sense him.
Evelyn roared urgently in my mind, “Hurry up! Where the hell is that man? Our son is dying!”
I was equally frantic and had to call Alpha Derick’s beta, Alger, to ask him to bring the medicine.
But he said that such a special remedy could only be used by an alpha; others had no access. With time running out, I used every method I could to get Alger to reveal Alpha Derick’s whereabouts.
He seemed to sense my anxiety and fear.
After a moment of hesitation, Alger finally gave me the location.
Without hesitation, I shifted into wolf form and sprinted forward, determined to find my husband as quickly as possible.
It was a pet clinic.
Through the glass door, I saw Alpha Derick holding Veronica on the sofa, his face full of affection.
The moment he saw me enter, his tenderness turned to coldness. “Eileen, are you done? Why are you here? Has Hadley’s trial ended? Go back now!”
He stood up, looking at me with disgust, as if my presence was a mistake.
I couldn’t afford to delay. I went straight to the point, desperately saying, “Hadley was attacked by rogues, his old injuries have flared up, and his condition is critical. Only the special medicine you have can save him. Hurry up and get the medicine, come with me to the hospital.”
I reached out to grab Alpha Derick, but he turned his head away in disdain, frowning at me in exasperation. Veronica glanced at me and said coolly, “Eileen, I know you don’t like me, but there’s no need to curse your own son just to steal Alpha Derick away!”
Curse?
At those words, Alpha Derick’s frown deepened.
He said coldly, “Have you caused enough trouble? If you’re done, leave. Don’t embarrass yourself here.” Clearly, Alpha Derick didn’t believe me either.
“I’m telling the truth! Hadley was attacked by rogues and his old injuries have resurfaced. He’s still in the ICU, and his condition is critical! If you don’t believe me, go see for yourself!”
I was desperate inside, and Evelyn wanted to take over, but I reassured her it wasn’t necessary.
“You’re just putting on an act to blame me for abandoning you and Hadley halfway, aren’t you? Can’t you give me a bit of personal space?”
Alpha Derick sneered, his gaze growing colder.
Before I could continue explaining, Veronica spoke up again, “Eileen, today when I took Jeff for a walk, another cat bit his leg. I didn’t know what to do, so I called Alpha Derick. I didn’t realize he was supposed to take you to the trial. If you’re uncomfortable with this, you can tell me, and I can apologize. But now Hadley is dying? That’s a bit exaggerated. As a mother, as a Luna, how can you joke about the life of the future alpha heir?”
Veronica pouted, feeling a mix of grievance and satisfaction.
I couldn’t help but shout at her, “Do I look like I’m joking?”
“Alpha Derick…”
At my outburst, Veronica immediately ran crying into Alpha Derick’s arms.
Alpha Derick held her and glared at me with anger.
“Eileen, enough! Can’t you see Veronica’s cat is hurt? Veronica is already suffering, and you’re making things worse, attacking her with harsh words. How can you be so heartless?”
I was seething with rage, almost ready to explode. I took a deep breath to calm myself and spoke gently to Alpha Derick:
“You can say whatever you want to me, but Hadley really can’t wait.”
I added sincerely, “Come with me to get the medicine and save Hadley. I’m begging you, please.”
For the first time, I made such a humble plea to Alpha Derick. Evelyn also whined softly, trying to appease him. Hearing my words, his tightly furrowed brows relaxed a little.
He seemed moved.
“Alpha Derick, Jeff is bleeding heavily! The doctor recommends we take him to a larger hospital for surgery!” Veronica, looking at the bleeding cat, was on the verge of tears. Hearing this, Alpha Derick’s expression turned anxious.
“Don’t worry, I won’t let anything happen to Jeff.”
As he spoke, Alpha Derick and Veronica hurriedly picked up the cat and headed towards the car.
I grabbed Alpha Derick, pleading, “The medicine for Hadley…”
Alpha Derick hesitated, looking at me.
“Alpha Derick, hurry, Jeff is really close to dying!”
Veronica urged anxiously.
I pleaded again in front of Alpha Derick, “If we delay any longer, Hadley will die. Please, give me the medicine!”
Veronica then interjected, “Hadley has always been healthy. How could his old injuries flare up so easily? The one who is really dying is Jeff. This is a life at stake. Stop lying and stop taking Alpha Derick away from me.”
Hearing this, Alpha Derick shook off my hand and said coldly, “You’re the Luna of the pack. Even if you’re fighting for attention, there’s no need to grovel publicly. You’re not only embarrassing me and Hadley but also disgracing our pack. How could Hadley have such a shameless mother?” He turned away and got into the car with Veronica and her cat, driving off. At that moment, the hospital called.
“Luna, please come to the hospital to say your final goodbyes to your son…”
I hung up and rushed to the hospital in a frenzy.
But by the time I arrived, Hadley was already a cold, lifeless body.
I held Hadley’s body and cried until my tears were all dried up.
Two days later.
I silently arranged Hadley’s funeral alone, feeling as though my heart had died.
Even though I witnessed his cremation with my own eyes, I still couldn’t accept the reality.
I just didn’t understand.
Hadley had been so confident, saying he would pass the alpha trial and become the strongest Alpha to protect his mother. How could he suddenly turn to ashes?
He was so considerate, so intelligent, so filial. Why did he end up like this?
I held Hadley’s urn in my hands, carefully wiping it.
Memories of every moment with Hadley replayed in my mind.
Tears welled up in my eyes uncontrollably.
Evelyn howled in pain, questioning why I let our son die. I didn’t know. In truth, wasn’t it Alpha Derick’s fault?
If it hadn’t been for Alpha Derick abandoning us midway, if he had only provided the special medicine in time.
After two days of being missing, Alpha Derick called me.
“Today is my mother’s birthday. She has allowed you to bring Hadley to the villa to celebrate. Make sure you dress up properly before you come; don’t embarrass me.”
I glanced at Hadley’s urn, wiped away my tears, and replied coldly, “Alright, I will bring Hadley there.”