My Mate Wanted Our Son’s Marrow to Save Him

I arrived at my apothecary earlier than usual, the morning air crisp against my face. Something felt wrong the moment I turned the corner. The scent hit me first—silver, mixed with something acrid and artificial. My steps quickened as I approached the shop, my heart sinking with each step.

Across my windows, splashed in gleaming silver paint, were the unmistakable markings of rogue wolves—a clawed circle with a slash through it. The message was clear: territory violation. My carefully crafted herbal wards lay scattered across the sidewalk, their protective energy spent.

"Scarlett." Chandler's voice came from behind me, steady and concerned. "I felt the wards trigger."

I didn't turn around immediately, my eyes fixed on the damage. "They were here last night."

Chandler moved beside me, his Beta aura expanding as he surveyed the scene. "Silver-laced paint. They wanted to make sure you'd know."

"Edith's work," I said, my voice tight. "She's making her move."

Chandler's jaw tightened as he examined the markings. "This isn't just vandalism. It's a declaration."

I nodded, finally turning to face him. "They're going to keep coming."

"Let me help you clean this up," he said, rolling up his sleeves. "And then we need to talk about security."

As we worked, scrubbing the silver paint from my windows, I felt something shift between us. This wasn't just about being good neighbors anymore.

"From now on, there will be a Silverwood patrol passing by every hour," Chandler said, his voice leaving no room for argument. "And I'll be sleeping on your couch."

"You don't have to—"

"Yes, I do." His eyes met mine, resolute. "They crossed a line coming into neutral territory like this."

I didn't argue further. For the first time in years, I allowed myself to accept help without calculating its cost.

---

My phone buzzed for the fifth time in a row. Then the tenth. Then twenty.

"Mom?" Cade's voice called from the greenhouse. "Is everything okay?"

"Just a minute, sweetheart," I called back, silencing my phone as I read the latest message.

*You're nothing but a vengeful bitch letting your own mate die.*

The previous ones had been worse—death threats, accusations, graphic descriptions of what should happen to me for refusing to save Kingston.

I checked the pack networks, my stomach knotting as I scrolled through the forums. Edith had been busy. Every major werewolf network was buzzing with her version of the story.

*EXCLUSIVE: HEARTLESS EX-LUNA REFUSES TO SAVE DYING ALPHA*

*SCARLETT CLARK: THE WOMAN WHO WOULD LET HER FATED MATE DIE OUT OF SPITE*

*OBSESSION OR JUSTICE? THE TRUTH BEHIND THE OBISIDIAN MOON PACK SCANDAL*

The comments were worse than the headlines.

"Kill the bitch."

"Someone should take the pup from her."

"What kind of Luna abandons her Alpha?"

I closed the app, my hands shaking. This wasn't just Edith anymore—this was pack politics at its ugliest. She'd weaponized the werewolf community against me.

"Scarlett?" Chandler appeared in the doorway, his expression grim. "You've seen it."

"Yes." I set my phone down. "She's good."

"She always was," he said quietly. "But we'll fight back."

---

The greenhouse was warm, the scent of herbs calming my frayed nerves. Cade sat across from me on a small stool, his face serious as I laid out various plants between us.

"This is wolfsbane," I said, pointing to a purple-flowered plant. "It's toxic to our kind. And this—" I moved to a sturdy green plant with fuzzy leaves, "—is silver thistle. It's used in weapons against us."

Cade touched the silver thistle carefully. "Like the paint on our windows?"

"Yes." I nodded, impressed by his connection. "And these—" I gestured to a row of healing herbs, "—are what we use to protect ourselves. Lavender for calming, sage for cleansing, rosemary for remembrance."

"Why are you showing me this now?" he asked, his young face too serious for his years.

I took a deep breath. "Some dangerous people from my past are trying to find us. They want to hurt you because of who your father is."

His eyes widened slightly, but he didn't look away. "Kingston?"

"Yes." There was no point in lying to him. "But Chandler and I are going to keep you safe."

Cade nodded, picking up a sprig of rosemary. "I won't leave the boundaries. I promise."

"You're smarter than most adults I know," I said softly, touching his cheek.

"I'm going to help protect us too," he declared, his voice small but determined. "I can tell which plants are dangerous and which are safe."

To my surprise, he began sorting the herbs with remarkable accuracy, his intuition guiding him. As I watched him work, a chill ran down my spine—not from fear, but from the realization that my son was more powerful than anyone suspected.

Including Edith.

And that made him even more valuable to her.