After a few years of working abroad, I returned home to reunite with my son. I barely set foot on pack grounds when I heard about his upcoming engagement to Alicia Woods—a surprise he hadn’t mentioned himself. That night, after a quiet dinner together, Conner posted a picture of us. The caption read, "Thank you, the most important woman in my life." It warmed my heart and hoped Alicia wouldn’t misunderstand it.

The next morning, I made my way to a local shop to prepare for the engagement banquet.

“Look who’s back in town.” I heard, and turned coming face-to-face with Alicia, looking at me with hostility.

“You thought you could waltz back in and just pick up where you left off?” she demanded.

“I’m just here to support Conner, for his engagement to you.”

Her eyes hardened. “Save it. We all know why you’re really here. Conner may be too blind to see it, but I’m not.”

I sighed, calming myself. “I’m not sure what you’re implying.”

Alicia scoffed, her laughter cold. She took a step closer, and I stepped back, sensing danger from her. “You think you’re so special, don’t you? Conner’s precious mother, swooping back in to claim your place in his life. But let’s be clear—I’m the one he’s chosen. You’re just a sad, useless woman with nothing left to offer him.”

“Alicia, you’ve misunderstood. I’m not here to interfere in your relationship. I’m only here to celebrate with Conner.”

But Alicia wasn’t listening. She smirked and gestured to her friends. “Why don’t we give her a little reminder of who’s in charge around here?”

Before I could react, one of her friends grabbed me by the arm, her nails digging into my skin. Another yanked my hair, pulling my head back roughly.

“Stop it! What do you think you are doing?” I demanded, struggling against their hold.

“Oh, do not worry,” Alicia taunted. “Just giving you a lesson in respect. Maybe then you’ll think twice about influencing Conner.”

The accusation slapped me in the face. Influence him? I’d only want the best for him and for the pack.

“You’re making a mistake,” I said, “I don’t influence him on his decisions.”

Alicia sneered, unmoved. “You don’t get it, do you? Conner doesn’t need you anymore. He has me. And I will not let you take that away.”

I tried to pull free, but the girls held me fast. Alicia watched, clearly pleased, as her friends continued their grip, rougher now, making me kneel on the floor. The shopkeeper glanced our way but quickly turned, pretending not to notice.

“Conner’s always seen you as this perfect, untouchable mother figure,” Alicia continued. “But when I’m done, he will know exactly who you really are—a clingy woman who couldn’t let go when her son moved on. You have already overstayed your welcome.”

“I’m here because Conner invited me, Alicia. And if you love him, you should want him to be happy—”

“Oh, trust me, I do,” Alicia interrupted with a mocking smile. “That’s why I’m here to protect him—from you.”

“Alicia, this doesn’t have to be like this,” I began, but she cut me off, glaring as she looked down at me.

Alicia sneered. “You think you can come back here and play the doting mother? Newsflash: I will not let you ruin my life. You are just a shadow of what you once were. Conner’s my future, this pack is mine now, not yours.”

“I just want Conner to be happy. It’s my priority,” I shot back, meeting her gaze with as much strength as I could muster, but the pain in my scalp as Alicia pulled my hair harder made me whimper in defeat.

“Priority? Please,” she laughed. “I know the truth—you’re desperate to cling to your son because without him, you are nothing. So go back where you came from and never show yourself here again.” Alicia pushed my head and kicked me in the stomach with her boots, causing me to fall forward, my face on the floor that she now stepped on as if I was a filthy rag.

I tried to crawl my way out of their hold, as pathetic as I may look, but I was dragged back by my feet.

“You think this is over?” Alicia taunted, she and her friends hovered over me, one of her friends, holding her phone camera at my face, taking photos of me.

“And what were you doing at the shop? Meddling again, aren’t you?” Alicia said. “Shopping for the banquet like you are the one planning it?”

“I am just trying to help,” I replied.

“Help?” She laughed. “You are acting like you are the one getting married, not me. This is my engagement, not yours.”

“You do not have to act this way, Alicia. I am here for Conner.”

Her eyes narrowed suspiciously. “Yeah, right. We both know you’re here to make yourself the center of attention. Look at you, trying to play the devoted mother while you scheme behind everyone’s back.”

I felt my fists clench. “You do not know anything about me. I care about my son’s happiness.”

“Oh please.” She stepped closer, while I tried to sit up. “You are just a lonely woman who can’t accept that your time has passed. Conner has me now, and I will not let you ruin this for him.”

“Stop it! You are being unreasonable!” I protested.

“You think this is a game?” Alicia’s eyes blazed with fury. “I’m the future of this pack, and you’re just a nuisance. Time to show you your place.”

She grabbed the collar of my blouse, hurled me up, and shoved me hard against the wall of the shop. “You need a reality check.” Her friends laughed, while they filmed me.

I pushed back, but she was strong, her grip had torn the sleeve of my blouse. “You’re crossing the line, Carol. You think this is about love? This is about power. You’re trying to take my place, and I will not allow it.”

“You’re being irrational,” I argued. “I just want what’s best for him.”

“Best for him? Is that why you’re here, buying things for a celebration you were not invited to plan? You think he needs you here? You’re just embarrassing yourself.”

“I am his mother,” I snapped. “I have a right to be here.”

Alicia leaned in. “You do not get to decide that anymore. You’re not in charge. You are just a meddler who can’t let go.”

With that, she pushed me again, and I stumbled to the floor. “Alicia, stop!” I struggled to get up, but before I could, Alicia yanked my blouse, ripping it apart, and exposing my underwear.

I cried, feeling the fabric tear again and my skin burned with embarrassment. “Smile, Carol!” one of them shouted as they filmed and laughed in the background.

“You’re too close to him, too attached,” she sneered. “It’s inappropriate. What are you, his wife? You think he needs you? You’re just a burden, why don’t you just go end yourself.”

“This is absurd. I care for him. I’m his mother. It’s my job.”

“Oh, ten let me remind you that you’re job is done.” She turned to her friends. “Hold her.”

They moved quickly, grabbing my arms and holding me in place. “What are you doing?” I yelled.

She lunged at me, fists flying, connecting with my side and causing me to gasp in shock. Each hit felt like a blow to my dignity as much as my body. Her friends tightened their grip, laughing as they watched.

“Alicia, stop!” I cried out, but she didn’t. She pushed me down, and I stumbled to the floor.

“Look at you,” she uttered satisfyingly. “You think you can come back here and be his mother while I’m the one who will be his wife? You’re pathetic. We don’t need you here.”

I gritted my teeth, trying to regain my footing, but she kicked me in the side, and I fell again. “This is a warning, Carol. Stay away from Conner. You’re nothing to him now. He has me.”

“You’re making a mistake,” I gasped. But Alicia only laughed, taking pleasure in my humiliation.

“Get her up,” she commanded her friends. They yanked me to my feet and began dragging me out.

“Let’s get you out of here. It’s time for everyone to see how pathetic you are.”

Alicia grabbed my arm, dragging me up from the floor. I winced as the torn fabric of my blouse exposed my chest, and I could feel the eyes of onlookers on me, judging, mocking.

“Let go of me!” I shouted, struggling against her grip while I tried to cover myself.

“Oh, but you’re coming with me,” Alicia said, her smile twisted with malice. “Let’s show everyone what happens when you try to interfere in our lives.”

Her friends followed, capturing every moment of my humiliation, their laughter echoing through the shop. “This is going to be good!” one called out, filming everything.

Alicia yanked my hair, forcing me to move forward. “You’ve overstepped, Carol. You don’t belong here anymore. It’s time for you to disappear.”

“You can’t do this! Let go of me!” I pleaded, but she did not listen.

“Why not? You’ve already made a fool of yourself,” Alicia taunted, tightening her grip. “Everyone thinks you are just a desperate woman clinging to her son.”

As we approached the exit, I caught glimpses of people watching — faces full of curiosity and judgment. No one stepped forward to help. I felt like a spectacle, a drama for them to enjoy, that even some of them brought out their phone and began filming us.

“Let’s take this outside,” Alicia said, dragging me out of the shop and into the open air.

“What are you going to do?” I demanded, fear creeping into my voice.

“Let’s see how well you swim,” she replied, a cruel smile spreading across her face.

Fear consumed me because I never knew how to swim. What did she mean by that?

With that, she pulled me through the woods just beyond the road, the laughter of her friends trailing behind us. My heart raced realizing the danger I was in.

“Please, Alicia! This is not necessary! Don’t do this.” I shouted desperately.

“Oh, but it is,” she said, pushing me forward, and dragging me further as I refused to walk across the road and to the thick woods beyond it.

“You need to learn a lesson. No one wants you here. And I’m here to make sure you understand that.”

The trees closed in around us, and I knew what they intended. “You can’t do this! Conner will—”

“Conner doesn’t care! He has me now, and you have no business meddling with us. You should get lost!” Alicia yelled.

I struggled against her grip, but she was merciless. “Let go of me! You’ll regret this!” I screamed, but the words fell on deaf ears.

“Too late for regrets, Carol,” she said, pulling me closer to the riverbank where the water flowed harshly with the strong current beneath it. No. This can’t be. I can’t swim. I trembled in fear and tears pricked my eyes.

“This is where you end,” Alicia whispered tauntingly to my eyes as she held both of my wrists behind my back. I struggled to get free, but I couldn’t fight back, she was too strong, and I was scared of what was before me — a rushing river that could quickly drown my helpless body.

Her friends laughed, holding their phones up to capture the moment. “Say goodbye!” one shouted.

Panic surged through me. They were not joking, they wanted to dispose of me, to make me vanish. I had to fight back.

“You’re making a mistake!” I cried, but it only fueled their amusement.

Alicia made me face the camera, holding my jaw tightly as I tried to wriggle my wrist out of her grip. “Look here. You should at least leave a message for me, your future daughter in law. Make it nice, so I could replay it on our anniversary.”

I tried to push her away, but she held me tighter and her other friend helped to hold me in place.

“Don’t be like that, mother in law. You should leave me a present, don’t you think? One that I could treasure forever… Though your disappearance would be enough already to be a gift for the bride—for me,” she taunted, chuckling evilly.

“No. You will never be the bride—”

“Enough,” Alicia hissed, ready to push me into the water. “It’s time for you to disappear for good.”