03:41You promised me.
03:42It would be his fifth birthday in two days. Even in his dreams, he was holding on to Drake's promise
03:48to celebrate his birthday together. I gently stroked his sleeping face as tears welled up in my eyes. Just two
03:54more days. I wanted Caden to leave without any regrets. But before dawn, a sharp knock on the door shattered
04:01his sweet dream. It was Drake's mother Patricia Sinclair, sending someone to bring Caden and me back to her place.
04:07I frowned, knowing that Patricia had always looked down on us. To her, I was just some nameless rogue from
04:13an outsider tribe who got lucky when I met her precious son Drake.
04:16And she didn't like Caden. And she didn't like Caden. And she didn't like Caden. And she didn't like Caden
04:18either. After all, she thought that someone like Jasmine, who had pure blood and came from the same pack, was
04:23the only woman worthy of being Luna. Unlike me, Caden was excited. He thought Drake was finally coming to take
04:29him home. But when we arrived at Patricia's house, we were greeted by Drake's relatives, all looking at us with
04:35disdain. Drake, who hadn't come home all night, was standing beside Jasmine with a gentle expression as he supported her.
04:41Patricia completely ignored Caden and me, smiling as she made an announcement. Jasmine is pregnant. As per our agreement, Drake
04:49will be the next alpha of the blaze tooth pack. Their child will be the rightful heir. And soon, Drake
04:55and Jasmine will hold their marking ceremony.
04:57The room erupted in excitement as everyone turned to Jasmine. I, however, stared straight at Drake. He placed a tender
05:03hand on Jasmine's stomach, acting like he couldn't see me or Caden standing just a few feet away.
05:08Yeah, I'm finally going to be a father.
05:11Finally, a sharp pain shot through my heart. Beside me, Caden had his little hand tightened around mine as he
05:17asked in a trembling voice,
05:19Mommy, what is daddy saying? Am I not his child?
05:22His soft voice made the entire room go silent. Then, Drake's relative sneered.
05:28He's just an illegitimate child, but he actually dared to speak up here. If people find out the alpha of
05:33blaze tooth pack has an illegitimate child, do you know what that'll do to our reputation?
05:37Patricia? A lowborn woman and her brat trying to claim the heir's position? You can only do it over my
05:42dead body.
05:43There's no way we can let anyone know that kid is Drake's.
05:46Patricia scoffed and looked at us with pure disdain.
05:49From now on, we'll say the child is an orphan we took in. As for Selena, she's just a made
05:54Drake hire to take care of him.
05:56I gripped Caden's hand tighter. I had always known Patricia hated us. She was the one who first suggested that
06:02Jasmine should carry Drake's child.
06:04I'm not an orphan. I have a mommy and a daddy.
06:08Caden's eyes turned red as he held back his tears, protesting in a small voice.
06:12Mom, isn't this going too far?
06:14Drake let go of Jasmine's hand and took a step toward us. But before he could come any closer, I
06:19saw Jasmine reach out and pull him back.
06:22He hesitated for a few seconds. Then, he fell silent.
06:26Fine. I agree with your plan.
06:28I stepped forward with Caden and faced Drake and Patricia head on. My child is not an orphan. He doesn't
06:34need to be adopted. From this day forward, Caden is mine alone. He has nothing to do with Drake.
06:41I kneeled and fought back tears as I whispered to Caden, Baby, don't call him daddy anymore, okay?
06:46Drake froze. He knew it was all because of Caden that I had agreed to return to Blaze Toothpack and
06:51accepted his relationship with Jasmine.
06:53He promised to give Caden a rightful identity. And now, I was giving that up myself.
06:59He stared into my eyes, trying to read my emotions. But I looked away. He would never have my heart
07:05again.
07:05Caden was too young to understand everything that was happening. He cried so hard that his eyes were swollen. I
07:11just wanted to take him home and comfort him.
07:35Thank you, sir.
08:05...
08:35Grandpa Alex and Grandma Bella miss us very much. They can't wait to see you. Do you want to leave
08:40with me and go find them?
08:42He hesitated, clutching the toy car Drake had given him last year for his birthday.
08:47But, I don't want to leave Daddy.
08:49I held back my tears and gently reassured him, Daddy and Grandma Patricia don't want us to stay here. Do
08:55you want to call him Uncle Drake for the rest of your life?
08:58He froze for a moment, then slowly put down the toy car. Tears welled up in his eyes as he
09:03pleaded with me.
09:03Can I at least spend this birthday with Daddy before we leave? I just want one last memory with him.
09:10He refused to call him Uncle Drake. I silently wiped away my tears and kissed the top of his head.
09:16Of course, my love.
09:18But two days later, on his birthday, Drake, who had promised to throw him a party, never showed up. I
09:24called him and asked angrily,
09:25It's Caden's birthday today. You promised you'd be home. Where are you?
09:30I could handle disappointment but couldn't bear to see Caden's last bit of hope shatter. Drake didn't say a single
09:36word before hanging up.
09:37Daddy's not coming, is he?
09:39Really? Caden lowered his head, staring at the cake before him while trying to convince himself.
09:44It's okay, Mommy. Uncle Drake is just really busy. You can celebrate with me instead.
09:50It was the first time he'd ever called Drake Uncle. He seemed to accept that Drake didn't want him anymore,
09:55but the way he bit his lip and forced a smile shattered my heart into pieces. Furious, I was about
10:01to call him again
10:01when I suddenly received a message from him. Come back to Blaze Tooth Pack. Baby, look. Daddy remembered
10:08your birthday. Caden's eyes lit up with hope as he gasped in excitement.
10:13Mommy! Daddy remembered my birthday. Let's go! He must have so many presents for me.
10:19After receiving confirmation from Drake that he had indeed prepared a birthday party, Caden was beyond ecstatic.
10:24He grabbed my hand and practically dragged me to the villa in the pack. But as soon as I stepped
10:29inside,
10:29my heart sank at the sight before me. The room was filled with roses. Guests in formal attire mingled
10:35around. This didn't feel like a birthday party at all. It felt more like. Caden, however, didn't notice.
10:42He ran straight toward Drake, who was standing in front of a cake, and threw himself into his arms.
10:48Daddy! I'm here! Are you waiting for me to cut the cake?
10:52Drake looked utterly shocked to see us. Why are you here?
10:55He was dressed in his formal suit and standing next to Jasmine. His reaction confirmed my worst fear.
11:01The guests began whispering amongst themselves.
11:04Isn't today supposed to be Alpha Drake's announcement of his luna? Why is there suddenly a kid here?
11:09That child called him Daddy. Could he be an illegitimate son?
11:13Hearing their words, Drake suddenly pushed Caden away.
11:16What did you just call me?
11:18Caden stumbled backward, falling to the floor. He looked up at Drake, terrified,
11:22unsure of what he had done wrong. This was too much. I rushed forward to pick him up, ready to
11:28leave,
11:28but Jasmine stepped in front of me.
11:30Selina, today is the official announcement of Drake's and my titles.
11:34You crashed the event on purpose, didn't you?
11:37The smug smirk on her face told me everything I needed to know.
11:41She was the one who had sent that text.
11:43She clung to Drake's arm and said in a voice dripping with mockery,
11:46she became the last two years.
11:46I'm upset.
11:46You didn't want to come.
11:46you need to ask him if you had done wrong.
11:46I'm not how to come home.
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