Alpha Derick's eyes were filled with intense longing, waiting for me to relent. In the past, I might have caved for the sake of the family, the pack, and our son. But now, it all seemed absurd.

“Alpha Derick, don’t you find it ridiculous to say these things now? Hadley is dead. Do you still think this is a family? Or a complete pack? What’s left here that I can’t easily walk away from?”

Every word I uttered cut into him like a knife. I wanted him to realize it was his actions that destroyed this family.

But Alpha Derick wasn’t ready to give up. His eyes reddened as he...