The next morning, Desmond developed a raging fever from the silver poisoning. His wound was burning to the touch.

I rushed him to the pack's exclusive medical center, my heart pounding with dread.

Just as we arrived, we ran into Jaxson. He was holding Ashford's hand, with Selene smiling at his side.

Despite his dizziness, Desmond's eyes lit up when he saw Jaxson.

He broke free from my grasp and staggered towards his father.

"Dad!" Desmond reached out with trembling hands, his voice weak but full of hope. "Did you come to see the healer with me? I forgive you for yesterday..."

Jaxson took an involuntary step back, pulling Ashford protectively closer.

His face twisted into a scowl. "Didn't I tell you not to come this morning? Why did your mother bring you here?"

Ashford suddenly gave Desmond a malicious shove from the top of the stairs. "Don't call him Dad! He's my dad!"

Desmond, already unsteady, tumbled backward. His injured leg slammed hard against the stone steps.

His scream of pure agony echoed through the lobby.

As Desmond lay on the ground, Ashford moved to kick him again.

"Stop!" I shrieked, yanking Ashford away from my son.

I gathered Desmond into my arms, his small body burning with fever. "Ashford, apologize to Desmond. Now."

Anger blazed in Jaxson's eyes. "How dare you yell at an orphan who lost his father?"

He shielded Ashford behind him. "I warned you not to come this morning. You deliberately brought Desmond here to upset Ashford."

"He didn't mean to hurt him. You brought this on yourself by not listening."

I clutched my whimpering son tighter, his tears soaking through my shirt.

"My fault?" My voice trembled with rage. "Your son's leg is severely injured because you abandoned him in the rubble. He has a fever of 104 degrees. Where else was I supposed to take him?"

But Jaxson had already turned his back, gently checking if Ashford was unharmed.

Selene stepped forward, her smile perfectly practiced.

"Yvette, I'm so sorry. Ashford has always been a strong boy. He barely touched Desmond—we just didn't expect a little wolf to inherit his Omega mother's weak constitution and be so fragile."

Her words made Ashford puff out his chest with pride.

"That's right! He's just an Omega's bastard. So weak, and he still dares to try and steal my dad!"

I clenched my fists, my gaze locking onto Jaxson.

Until now, I had endured everything. His four-year absence. His indifference as Ashford smashed Desmond’s cookies. His blatant rejection of our family.

But I would never, ever tolerate someone harming my son.

"Jaxson," my voice was pure ice. "Are you really going to stand there and let them humiliate your own son?"

Jaxson's lips curled in disgust. "It's his own fault for being weak. He's a disgrace to the Vance name."

The last flicker of warmth from our mate bond died, leaving only ice in my chest.

Jaxson turned, draping a casual arm over Selene's shoulders.

"Let's go, Ashford. Time to get that reward I promised you. You did an excellent job on your assessment."

"Can I have that training dagger, Dad? The one you showed me yesterday?"

"Of course, champ."

I looked down at my son's tear-streaked face, the raw, silver-burned skin on his leg a glaring wound.

In that moment, something inside me shattered irrevocably.

As they walked away, leaving Desmond trembling in my arms, I finally spoke, my voice clear and steady.

"Jaxson, let's sever our mate bond."