Chloe gasped in surprise. "Ilara, what are you doing in the Alpha's house?"

My first instinct was to pull my son behind me, to shield him from her gaze.

"I..."

"They're distant relatives of mine. Just staying here temporarily."

I had barely started to speak when Damien cut me off.

His grip on the suitcase tightened.

It wasn't the first time he'd denied me.

But every single time, it felt like a knife twisting in my heart.

I was about to say something, but my son spoke first.

"Hello, Alpha."

I whipped my head around in disbelief, only to see my son's eyes, red and brimming with tears.

"Mommy, let's go."

All the words caught in my throat. I forced a smile and whispered back, "Okay."

As we walked past, Damien grabbed my arm.

He stared at me, his voice shaking with disbelief.

"What... what did he just call me?"

I laughed, the sound hollow and bitter.

"Isn't this what you always wanted? Alpha?"

For six years, Damien didn't just hide our bond.

He never even let our son call him Dad.

The only difference was, before, he forced Leo to call him 'Alpha'.

Now, our son was doing it on his own, drawing a line between them.

I looked down, trying to wrench my arm from his grasp, but his grip was like iron.

Damien stared at me, his eyes a swirling mix of emotions.

"Give me a few days. I'll explain things to Leo."

I reminded him, "Chloe is waiting for you. Let go."

He flinched as if just remembering she was there and reluctantly released his hold.

I scoffed and took my son's hand to leave.

But Damien suddenly called out, "Wait."

He ran to his car and came back with a cake box.

"Leo, happy birthday."

Chloe chimed in at the perfect moment.

"The Alpha originally bought that for me, but what a coincidence that it's your son's birthday."

"Ilara, I hope you don't mind."

The cake in my hands suddenly felt like it weighed a thousand pounds.

I was about to hand it back, but then I saw the flicker of hope in my son's eyes.

My heart softened, and I stopped.

Leo didn't understand the bitter games adults played. He just looked at Damien with pure, hopeful expectation.

"Can you stay and eat it with me?"

Damien only hesitated for a moment before agreeing.

Leo cheered and ran into the living room, urging me to open the box.

I stroked his hair and quickly cut a few slices.

But the smile on my face froze the instant the cake touched my tongue.

"Spit it out! Don't eat that!"

I snatched the cake from my son's hand, my voice frantic.

Damien's face darkened instantly.

"Ilara, have you lost your mind?"

I looked up, my eyes burning.

"Leo is allergic to mangoes. Didn't you know?"

Damien's expression immediately shifted to one of panic.

"I'm sorry, I didn't know."

Sorry. Again.

From the day our son was born, all I've ever heard from him is "sorry."

Leo finally processed what was happening and stared blankly at Damien.

The hope in his eyes was gone.

"It's okay. It makes sense that they wouldn't know."

After saying that, my son buried his face in my chest and refused to look at Damien again.

Without another moment of hesitation, I picked Leo up and walked out.

Even as we left the villa, I could feel Damien's guilty, panicked gaze on our backs.

But this time, it didn't affect us at all.

I went straight to the headquarters and quickly packed up my office.

I had wanted to say a proper goodbye, but now, it seemed pointless.

I placed the signed Mating Bond Severance Agreement on my desk and let out a long, slow breath.

With our luggage in hand, I took my son to the airport.

Before we boarded the plane, I asked him, "Are you angry that Mommy is taking you away from the pack?"

He shook his head and pressed his cheek against mine.

"I just want my mommy."

The tears finally broke free. In that moment, all the pain washed away, replaced by a profound sense of relief.

I took out my phone and blocked Damien's number, his social media, everything.

Damien Blackwood, we are done.