Chapter 2: The Choice He Made

The moment Atlas saw Elena, his composure shattered.

He immediately placed the pup back in the cradle and strode toward the door.

“Elena, what are you doing here?”

The others’ faces paled.

“Luna?”

“Luna, please, listen. We just heard Mara had her pup, so we came to visit. The Alpha ran into us on the way, and we asked him to come along.”

“That’s right, it was just a visit. Please don’t misunderstand.”

Even now, his guards were lying for him.

Hearing them call her Luna made Elena’s stomach churn. That title, once a symbol of the pack’s trust, was now just a tool they all used to uphold a lie.

She looked up at Atlas. “And you? What’s your explanation?”

“Elena, don’t get worked up.” He tried to step closer, his cedar scent sharp with tension. “It’s like they said. We just happened to run into each other.”

“You’re still lying?”

She had thought her wolf had gone numb, but his words pierced through her last shred of restraint.

Elena raised her hand and slapped him across the face.

“Yesterday, you told me you were taking a team to the northern border for a month. Is the pack hospital the new border of Blackwood?”

Atlas’s face went white. “The schedule changed. I’m sorry. You’re pregnant. Just calm down—”

“It’s my fault.” Mara climbed out of bed, the pup in her arms, and stepped weakly between them. “Don’t hit him. "

"The Alpha only stayed with me out of pity. I’m Rowan’s widow. I just wanted someone to protect me, and a pup to keep me company. I’m not trying to take your place as Luna.”

“You have a child with him, and you’re telling me you’re not trying to take my place?”

Elena raised a hand to shove Mara aside, but Atlas seized her wrist in a crushing grip.

“You can hit me, but don’t you touch Mara. She just gave birth four days ago. Her body is still weak.”

His instinct to protect another woman was so effortless.

Elena let out a cold laugh. “You said you’d be gone for a month just so you could be here for her delivery? "

"Atlas, you made the entire pack lie for you, and you have the audacity to call this responsibility?”

She wrenched her arm free and again tried to push Mara away.

But Mara suddenly lunged in front of Atlas, holding the baby up like a shield.

Elena’s hand was already in motion; she couldn’t stop it in time. Her fingers brushed the blanket wrapped around the infant as Mara let go.

The pup fell from her arms.

A sharp cry echoed through the room.

Panic erupted.

“My baby!” Mara scrambled forward and scooped the child into her arms. “Luna, you can hurt me all you want, but why would you hurt him?”

" He’s only four days old! Your own pup is due any day. How could you lay a hand on a baby?”

Several guards rushed to her side.

“Luna, no matter how angry you are, you can’t take it out on a pup.”

“Call a doctor! He fell from that high. He could have a head injury.”

Atlas’s Alpha aura crashed down around them. He turned, his eyes blazing at Elena.

“What happened today was my fault, but that is my son. My biological son!”

Elena stared at him, tears finally breaking free. “Then what is our child?”

“Why isn’t he crying? Atlas, is he going to die?”

Mara shrieked, clutching the baby. Atlas forgot all about Elena. “Get a doctor! Now!”

Elena stood in the doorway, forcing herself to breathe.

“Let them go. Atlas, I’m giving you one last choice.”

“Me or Mara. My pup or her pup. You can only keep one. Who do you choose?”