My Alpha Let Me Raise His Bastard—Did He Forget I’m Royal novel Chapter 1

Chapter 1

At my son’s funeral, I hid behind a tree and heard my Alpha mate tell his Beta:

“The kid could’ve been saved. But if he woke up, he’d rat out my other son.”

I grabbed the tree. Nails digging into the bark.

Three-year-old pup. Got torn apart, screaming for his daddy.

And his daddy? Let him get fed to rogues alive. All to protect some bastard kid.

I pulled out my phone. Dialed the number I hadn’t touched in five years.

“Dad. I’m coming back to take the throne.”

“And that pack? I want it GONE.”

—

After the funeral, everyone left.

I went back to the cemetery. Just wanted to see my son’s grave one more time. But when I got near that old oak tree, I heard voices.

Beta Thalorin.

“Alpha, I don’t get it.” He sounded confused. “The young master—he was still breathing when they brought him back. Why didn’t you let the healers save him?”

I froze.

“Silvain smelled Mortis on him.” Draven’s voice was cold. “If he woke up, he’d tell everyone who did it.”

I grabbed the tree to steady myself.

“But that’s your own son—”

“Mortis is my son too!”

Thalorin went quiet.

I didn’t move. Couldn’t even breathe.

“What about the heir?” Thalorin finally asked.

“Once Elysia calms down.” Draven’s tone was flat again. “I’ll bring Mortis back. Say he’s some rogue orphan. Let her raise him herself. If she trains the future Alpha, no one can say anything.”

I waited until they were gone before stepping out from behind the tree.

My knees had gone numb. My face was dry. I don’t know when I stopped crying.

But I knew one thing—

Draven wanted me to raise my son’s killer with my own hands.

Yeah, right.

I’d make him pay. In BLOOD.

—

When I got back to the pack house, I went straight to his office.

Door was open. He sat at his desk, pen in hand. Looked up when he heard me. That perfect mask of grief on his face. Eyes full of fake concern.

What a performance.

“Elysia?” He put the pen down and stood. “Why aren’t you resting? You’ve had a long day, you should—”

“I want to break the mate bond.”

He froze. Hand hanging in mid-air.

“What?”

“You heard me.”

He walked around the desk toward me, reaching out like he wanted to hold me. I stepped back. His hand stopped. Hurt flashed across his face.

“Elysia, I know you’re in pain. I am too. But we can’t do this right now—”

“I’m not being impulsive.”

“Then why?” He stared at me. “Just because we couldn’t save Silvain? Elysia, he was hurt too badly. The healers said—”

“You know exactly how badly he was hurt.”

A photo.

Draven and some blonde woman. In bed. Naked.

Second photo. Him kissing her forehead.

Third photo. Three people. Draven, the woman, and that boy Mortis. Like a happy little family.

Fourth one. Text.

“Surprised? This is what a real family looks like.”

“You think you’re something? You’re just a tool. He only marked you for your white wolf power.”

“Oh, and you know why your wolf spirit never woke up? He’s been putting wolfsbane in your food. Didn’t want you awakening and threatening my position.”

“You’re pathetic. Can’t even tell when your own man’s cheating.”

“Good thing your kid’s dead. He was deadweight anyway. Just step aside already.”

I gripped my phone so tight my hand hurt.

Wolfsbane.

I always thought my wolf stayed dormant because of the pregnancy. He gave me that medicine every day for five years. Said it was for my health. I drank it all.

Turns out it wasn’t for me.

It was for him.

I walked to the window. Watched the sky go dark. My finger hovered over a number I hadn’t touched in five years.

“Hello?”

Father’s voice came through. Old. Strong. For a second, I wanted to cry.

“Father. It’s me.”

“I need the antidote,” I said. “For wolfsbane.”