The next morning, Alex’s fever spiked dangerously high. His burns were hot to the touch.
I rushed him to the treatment room, my heart pounding with worry.
That’s when we ran into Theo. He was holding Marcus’s hand, with Sarah by his side.
Despite his fever-induced dizziness, Alex’s eyes lit up when he saw Theo.
He broke free from my arms, stumbling toward his father with shaking steps.
“Dad!” Alex stretched out his trembling hands, his voice weak but hopeful. “Did you come to stay with me while I see the healer? I forgive you for yesterday…”
Theo stepped back, pulling Marcus closer to him.
His face twisted into a frown. “Didn’t I tell you not to come in the morning? Why did your mother bring you here?”
Marcus suddenly shoved Alex hard. “Stop calling him Dad! He’s MY father!”
Alex, already unsteady from the fever, fell backward. His burned skin hit the floor hard.
His scream of pain echoed through the treatment room.
Marcus moved to kick Alex while he was down.
“Stop!” I shouted, quickly pulling Marcus away from my injured son.
I scooped Alex up in my arms, his small body burning with fever. “Marcus, apologize to Alex right now.”
Theo’s eyes flashed with anger. “How dare you lay hands on another wolf’s pup?”
He pulled Marcus protectively behind him. “I warned you not to come in the morning. You deliberately brought Alex here to upset Marcus.”
“He didn’t mean to hurt Alex. This is your fault for not listening.”
I held my whimpering son closer, feeling his tears soak into my shirt.
“Your fault?” My voice trembled with rage. “Your son is covered in burns because you left him in a fire. He has a fever of 104. Where exactly should I have taken him?”
But Theo was already turning away, gently checking if Marcus was okay.
Sarah stepped forward with a practiced smile.
“I’m so sorry about that. Marcus has always been strong for his age. He barely touched Alex – we didn’t expect such a little wolf to be as weak as an Omega.”
Her words made Marcus puff up with pride.
“That’s right! He’s just a bastard born from an Omega mother. So weak, and he still dares to try stealing my father!”
I clenched my fists, staring coldly at Theo.
I had tolerated everything before this. His constant absence. His coldness when he spilled Alex’s cake. His rejection of our den.
But I would not tolerate anyone hurting my son.
“Theo,” my voice was ice. “Are you going to let them talk about your son this way?”
Theo’s lip curled in disgust. “It is Alex’s fault for being so weak. Must have inherited it from his Omega mother.”
