Alpha King Claims His Family

The afternoon sun streamed through the windows of Moonlight Werewolf Preschool as I hurried down the hallway, my heart already racing from the urgent phone call. River was in trouble again. My hands trembled as I pushed open the door to the principal's office, and the scene that greeted me made my wolf stir restlessly beneath my skin for the first time in months.

River sat hunched in a small chair, his dark hair tousled and a streak of dried blood under his nose. His little hands were clenched into fists, and even from across the room, I could sense his wolf pacing anxiously—far too strong for a five-year-old. But it was the sight of the woman sitting regally in the chair beside him that made my blood run cold.

Mercy Cruz looked exactly as I remembered—perfectly styled blonde hair, designer clothes that screamed Luna status, and that same cruel smile that had haunted my college years. She sat with her back straight, one manicured hand resting protectively on her son Marco's shoulder. The boy was sniffling dramatically, though I noticed he kept peeking at River with satisfied malice.

"Ms. Roberts," Principal Marcus Thompson's voice cut through my shock. The Beta's tone was carefully neutral, but I caught the subtle disapproval in his scent. "Please, have a seat. We need to discuss River's... behavioral issues."

I remained standing, my protective instincts flaring as I moved closer to my son. "What happened?"

"Your son attacked my Marco," Mercy's voice dripped with false concern, though her eyes glittered with triumph. "Completely unprovoked. Poor Marco was just trying to be friendly during snack time."

"That's not true!" River's small voice cracked with indignation. "He took my cookies and said—"

"River." I placed a gentle hand on his shoulder, feeling him tremble with suppressed emotion. "Tell me what really happened."

My son's eyes—so much like his father's—filled with tears of frustration. "Marco took my cookies, Mama. The ones you made special for me. And he said... he said fatherless pups don't deserve Alpha treats. That I'm nobody because I don't have a daddy."

The words hit me like a physical blow. I felt my wolf surge forward, protective fury blazing through my veins. For five years, I'd shielded River from the cruel realities of pack politics, but it seemed the world had finally found us.

"How dramatic," Mercy laughed, the sound like broken glass. "Children say such silly things. But the fact remains—your son drew blood. Marco has a split lip."

I looked at Marco's face, noting the tiny cut that was already healing thanks to his werewolf genetics. Meanwhile, River's nose was still crusted with blood, and I could see the beginning of a bruise on his cheek.

"River was defending himself," I said quietly, my voice deadly calm. "And from what I can see, he took more damage than he gave."

Principal Thompson cleared his throat uncomfortably. "Regardless of the circumstances, Ms. Roberts, this is River's third incident this month. The school board is concerned about his... aggressive tendencies. Perhaps he would benefit from a more... suitable environment."

The threat was clear. They wanted to expel my son.

Mercy's smile widened. "It's such a shame when children lack proper guidance. A strong Alpha father figure makes all the difference in a pup's development. Don't you think, Lilah?"

The use of my first name was deliberate—a reminder of when we were equals, before she became Luna and I became nothing. Her hand moved to rest on her rounded belly, and I realized with a sick twist in my stomach that she was pregnant. Another perfect addition to her perfect pack family.

"Some of us manage just fine on our own," I replied, but even I could hear the weakness in my voice.

"Do you, though?" Mercy's voice turned silky with malice. "Look at River—acting out, fighting, desperate for male attention. How long before he becomes completely uncontrollable? How long before you can't handle him anymore?"

Each word was a carefully aimed arrow, striking at my deepest fears. River's wolf was getting stronger every day, and I knew that soon I wouldn't be able to help him control it. He needed his father. He needed his Alpha.

"Perhaps," Principal Thompson interjected, "it would be best if River took some time away from school. Until you can... address these behavioral concerns."

Suspension. They were suspending my baby for defending himself.

I looked down at River, saw the defeat creeping into his young face, and felt something inside me shatter. For five years, I'd tried to be everything he needed. But I wasn't enough. I'd never been enough.

Mercy's laughter filled the silence. "Oh, Lilah. Still trying to play Alpha when you're barely even an Omega. Some wolves are just meant to be alone."

The words echoed in the small office, and I felt the last of my resolve crumble. My wolf, dormant for so long, suddenly howled with desperate need. River needed protection I couldn't give him. He needed his father.

With trembling fingers, I reached for the mind-link I'd kept sealed for seven years. The connection felt rusty, painful, like forcing open a door that had been locked too long.

*Dalton,* I whispered into the void, my mental voice breaking with suppressed emotion. *I need... River needs... please.*

The response was immediate and overwhelming—a flood of shock, relief, and desperate love that nearly brought me to my knees. Somewhere across the city, I felt him moving, racing toward us with the urgency of a man who'd been waiting seven years for this moment.

Help was coming. Whether I was ready or not.