The Alpha Wants My Son Dead

The tech camp stood like a modern fortress against the backdrop of ancient pines, all gleaming glass and sleek metal that seemed out of place in the wilderness. I watched Leo trudge toward the entrance, his small backpack making him look even more fragile than usual. My heart constricted with fear at sending him away while he was still unwell, but perhaps here—away from the Ravenscroft estate—he might actually improve.

‘You don’t need to stay for the orientation,’ Chris said dismissively, checking his watch. ‘I have a pack council meeting in an hour.’

‘I want to meet his instructors,’ I replied, keeping my voice neutral despite the anxiety churning inside me. ‘Make sure they understand his... health concerns.’

Chris’s jaw tightened. ‘Fine. Waste your time if you must. Just don’t embarrass me with your mothering.’

He strode away without saying goodbye to Leo, who watched his father’s retreating back with resigned acceptance. That silent surrender from a child so young broke something inside me.

‘Come on, sweetheart,’ I said, taking Leo’s hand. ‘Let’s go see your camp.’

Inside, the main hall buzzed with activity—children from prominent packs across three states, their parents networking with practiced ease. I guided Leo through the crowd, hyper-aware of the whispers that followed us. News of my public humiliation at the hunting banquet had spread quickly through pack circles.

‘Mrs. Ravenscroft?’ A deep voice cut through my thoughts.

I turned to find a tall man with intelligent eyes and an open expression that lacked the predatory assessment I’d grown accustomed to from Alpha males. He wore no pack insignia, just a simple camp director badge that read ‘Jamie Carter.’

‘It’s Leo’s first time at camp,’ he continued, crouching to Leo’s level. ‘We’re excited to have you join us, especially for the robotics program. I hear you’re quite the builder.’

Leo nodded shyly. ‘I made a wolf that can walk and howl.’

Jamie’s smile reached his eyes—a rarity in our world of calculated expressions. ‘That’s impressive. I’d love to see it sometime.’

As he straightened, his gaze caught on my forearm where my sleeve had ridden up, revealing finger-shaped bruises from Chris’s last outburst. His expression flickered with recognition before carefully neutralizing.

‘Perhaps you’d like a tour of our facilities?’ he offered, his tone casual but his eyes communicating something deeper—concern, perhaps.

‘That would be wonderful,’ I replied, tugging my sleeve down.

As Jamie showed us around, I noticed how he spoke directly to Leo, treating my son’s questions with genuine interest rather than the condescending tolerance most adults showed him. Leo gradually relaxed, his pale face brightening with each new discovery.

The tour ended at the health center, where Jamie introduced us to the medical staff. ‘Our team is exceptional,’ he assured me. ‘And they understand the unique needs of young wolves.’

I hesitated, then took a risk. ‘Leo has been experiencing some unusual symptoms. Fatigue, loss of appetite... and some concerning discoloration in his veins.’

The camp doctor frowned. ‘discoloration?’

‘silver-like traces,’ I said quietly.

Understanding passed between the doctor and Jamie—they knew what that might mean. The doctor’s expression grew serious. ‘We’ll monitor him closely, Mrs. Ravenscroft. You have my word.’

After settling Leo into his cabin and saying a tearful goodbye, I found Jamie waiting for me near the parking area.

‘Mrs. Ravenscroft,’ he called, approaching with purpose. ‘A moment, please.’

He held out what looked like an ordinary smartphone. ‘This is for you. My company specializes in secure communications technology. This device is untraceable and encrypted.’

I stared at him, confused. ‘I don’t understand.’

Jamie’s eyes flicked to my bruised arm, then back to my face. ‘I think you do. My pack values protection over tradition. Sometimes that means providing tools for those who need... privacy.’

I flinched when my actual phone rang—Chris’s ringtone. Jamie noticed.

‘The camp will send daily updates through this secure device,’ he continued smoothly, as if offering standard parent communication. ‘It also has other features you might find useful.’

I took the phone, our fingers brushing briefly. An unexpected current of connection passed between us—not romantic, but something equally powerful: alliance.

‘Thank you,’ I whispered.

‘Leo will be safe here,’ he promised, his voice low and intense. ‘And this might help you stay safe too.’

---

That night, alone in my bedroom at the Ravenscroft estate, I examined Jamie’s device. It contained not just communication apps but also research tools, document scanners, and something called ‘Wolf Law Library.’

Over the next three days, I dove into pack inheritance laws, discovering loopholes I never knew existed. Illegitimate children could be legitimized through specific Wolf Council procedures—if the Alpha claimed them and the current Luna was proven unfit or the heir was proven ‘deficient.’

The pieces were falling into place. Chris and Bella’s secret son. Leo’s mysterious illness. The public humiliation to undermine my position as Luna.

Using Jamie’s secure system, I accessed financial records Chris thought were hidden. Large sums were being transferred from pack accounts to an overseas trust fund, with Bella listed as a beneficiary. They were preparing not just to replace Leo, but to exile us both—or worse.

On the fourth night, as I compiled evidence, a video call came through on Jamie’s device. Leo’s face appeared, healthier than I’d seen in months.

‘Mommy! Mr. Carter said I could call you on his special phone.’

Relief flooded through me. ‘Hi, baby. Are you feeling better?’

Leo nodded enthusiastically. ‘My tummy doesn’t hurt anymore! And look!’ He held his arm to the camera, showing clear, normal veins without a trace of silver.

Jamie appeared in the background. ‘Mrs. Ravenscroft, could I have a word after you two finish?’

When Leo said goodnight, Jamie’s serious face filled the screen.

‘The silver traces are gone completely,’ he confirmed. ‘We’ve been carefully monitoring everything he consumes. Nothing here contains any trace of toxins.’

‘so it was deliberate,’ I whispered, the confirmation of my fears both vindicating and terrifying.

Jamie nodded grimly. ‘Leo was being poisoned. The question is: what are you going to do about it?’

I stared at the evidence I’d gathered—financial records, inheritance laws, medical reports. It was damning but not enough. To protect Leo, I needed an escape plan, money, and irrefutable proof of Chris’s crimes.

‘I need to leave,’ I said, the words feeling both treasonous and liberating. ‘But a Luna can’t just walk away from her pack. And without proof...’

‘There’s another option,’ Jamie said carefully. ‘rejection. If you can prove endangerment—’

‘A rejection requires resources I don’t have,’ I interrupted. ‘Chris controls everything.’

Jamie’s eyes held mine through the screen. ‘Not everything. Not anymore.’

As we began formulating a plan, a noise downstairs made me freeze. Heavy footsteps—Chris was home early.

‘I have to go,’ I whispered urgently.

‘Ellie,’ Jamie said, using my first name for the first time, his voice intense. ‘remember—you’re not alone in this anymore.’

I ended the call and hid the device just as my bedroom door crashed open. Chris stood there, his eyes burning with Alpha rage and something else—suspicion.

‘Who were you talking to?’ he demanded.

My heart pounded as I realized he must have heard my voice. I forced my face into the mask of submission I’d perfected over years of survival.

‘No one,’ I lied, praying he couldn’t smell my fear. ‘I was just checking on Leo.’

Chris stalked toward me, his nostrils flaring. ‘Funny, because I just got off the phone with the camp. They said Leo’s been spending a lot of time with the director. Someone named Carter.’

The way he said Jamie’s name sent ice through my veins. Somehow, Chris knew—or suspected—that Jamie was more than just a camp director.

I couldn’t help but shivered. If Chris ever discovered our plan, neither Leo nor I would survive.

How much, then, did he know now?