“Thane,” I called my son, “I heard you injured your fingers today and was upset. I have prepared your favorite soup. Come and drink it.”

Listening to my voice, Theon’s smile disappeared. She got down from Anna’s lap and hid behind her legs, saying in a spoiled voice, “I don't want to drink your soup. I’m full. Aunt Anna took me for lunch at a very beautiful place.”

He then looked up at Anna, his eyes shining brightly as he asked in innocence, “Aunt Anna, will you take me there tomorrow as well?”

Seeing Thane giving me the cold shoulder, Theon intervened, only pretending to care, as he said in a strict voice, “Thane, your mother left an important meeting just to prepare this soup for you. You shouldn't refuse her like that.”

In his response, Thane held Anna's legs even tighter. I smiled faintly before saying, “Let him be. If he likes Anna's ice cream more than my soup, I would then trouble Anna to spend more time with my son. I hope she doesn't mind.”

“Of course, not.” Anna's eyes lit up, “Theon is like my own son, Alpha Elena. I like him so much. I feel energetic while spending time with him.”

After realizing that she had revealed too much, she instantly tried to cover it up while saying, “You gave shelter to me in your pack and trained me personally. I have deep respect for you in my heart. That's why I try to reduce the burden from your shoulders by taking care of your son.”

I smiled, almost in sarcasm as I said, “That's so sweet of you.”

The next day, I woke up earlier than usual. I had an appointment with the principal of our city’s best school. The School was especially for the werewolves, but they also gave admission to mortals. It was the door of the world for the cubs to learn accomodation with humans. So, it was a very important day for Thane. We, as parents, needed to guide our children properly to not show their powers to human children.

While I was putting notebooks in Thane’s school bag, Theon came up to me. He looked worried while saying, “Elena, why aren't you ready for the meeting? You know that elders would be super mad if you don't attend the meeting again, don't you?”

I narrowed my eyes as I asked, “But, wasn't the meeting in the evening today?”

“Oops,” Theon chuckled. I could read the deception in his eyes while he added in a pretentious voice, “I forgot to tell you that the meeting was rescheduled and it's in the morning.”

“I’m sorry. I should have told you earlier. Now, you have to miss the appointment of Thane’s school. You can't be present at both places at the same time.” He added.

“Cancel the meeting,” I replied in a flat voice while continuing to pack Thane’s school back. Theon was stunned for a while. He asked in a surprised voice, “You are again cancelling your meeting for Thane?”

“So what?” I narrowed my eyes. He chuckled and immediately added, “You are raising him with such a love and pure heart. Thane must remember all this and repay you with filial piety when he grows up.”

“Thane is my son. I’ll do everything that I can for him. I don't wish anything in return.” I replied in an indifferent voice, causing him to chuckle. He hesitated for a moment, then finally said, “But, I thought you might not be available for his school meeting. So, I asked Anna to attend Thane’s school meeting with me,”

“Now that you are coming, I should call and refuse Anna from coming.” He added as he took the photo out of his pocket to dial Anna's number. Just then Thane rushed up to him, asking excitedly, “Dad, is Aunt Anna really coming?”

Theon exchanged a glance with me, then turned to Thane and said hesitantly, “There is no need for her to come now. Even though your mother’s schedule is very busy, she has decided to come with us. Your mother loves you so much. You must listen to her from now on.”

Thane then looked up at me. For some reason, I felt he looked disappointed. I then stroked his hair gently while asking, “Whom does Thane want to go with, his Mummy or Aunt Anna?”

“Aunt Anna,” he replied instantly before continuing, “I want Mommy to focus on her work. I can go with Aunt Anna.”

Both Theon and Anna turned pale on Thane’s blunt response. Thinking I might dwell on his words and began wondering about their relationship, Anna immediately interrupted, “Thane is such a responsible child. He knows you have important work and he doesn't want to come between you and your work. That's why he isn't forcing you to go with him. How cute! You have raised such a mature kid, Alpha Elena.”

I smiled flatly. I remained silent while looking through their facadary. I stroked Thane’s hair while saying in a gentle voice, “If you don't want Mommy to go with you, I’ll not go.”

“Hurray…” Thane jumped out of excitement, “Aunt Anna, come let's go. I don't want to get late on my first day.”

Theon and Anna looked hesitant for a moment, only looking at me as if waiting for permission. I stepped away from their way and said, “This way…”

Anna then picked Thane up in her lap and placed a soft kiss on his cheeks, saying, “I miss you so much.”

Thane giggled, saying, “I miss you too, Aunt Anna.”

Theon pinched Thane’s cheeks and hugged him from behind even though he was in Anna’s lap. It looked like Theon was hugging Anna, and all of this was in front of my eyes. They then broke their hug. Theon carried Thane and held Anna's hand before leaving, looking just like a family of three. I kept watching them until they disappeared from my sight, not revealing anything I already knew about them. I then went inside to get ready for the meeting.

This had always been the case. Since I foge ignorance towards them, they became bolder day by day. At first, she would discreetly meet with my husband, Theon, while I was out running Pack’s business. Theon would make excuses like taking care of Thane at home and slipped away from my side. My beta mate was too immature to believe I couldn't sniff Anna's scent from him after his foolish trial of removing it. But he forgot I was the Alpha and nothing could escape through my eyes, even his deception and infidelity.

But now, even when I was home, Anna would find excuses to drop by.

"Alpha Elena, I've been trying out new gardening techniques. You have a really huge garden. I want to decorate it with my newly learnt techniqhes to show my gratitude towards you.”

"Alpha Elena, I just got back from a trip and brought some exotic plants for your garden." "Alpha Elena, I'm starting a new charity project and thought you'd be interested in contributing." …

Although I sensed deep down that Evelyn's visits were all pretexts to see Theon, I never confronted her. Whenever she came, I welcomed her graciously. I even agreed to help with her charity project. Theon seemed thrilled with this arrangement. This way, Anna's visits at home could become more often. Whenever Anna visited, his eyes would light up with excitement. Sometimes, he'd even find excuses to touch her arm or shoulder in front of my presence. He dared enough to hug hug her and placed a soft kiss on her cheeks just because she was wearing my clothes that day, and when caught by me he smiled pretentiously, saying, “Oh my God! Elena, you are there? I thought it's you…”

My innocent mate couldn't make up a better excuse. He might forget that we are werewolves and we can sense our mates by smell. There is no chance that we get confused by the clothes.

Even our son grew more and more fond of Anna, going so far as to ask her to pick him up after training everyday. I shook my head. I didn't want to bother about these incidents. I had my faith and nobody could shake it no matter how hard they try.

After a few months when I was playing with Thane, he blurted out about the parents-teachers meeting that was going to hold the next day. I rescheduled all my meetings only to attend the meeting with the Principal of Thane’s School to know his academic progress.

"Principal Thompson?" I asked, extending my hand.

She smiled warmly and took my hand in a firm handshake. "Ah, yes! Nice to finally meet you, Anna... I mean, Thane's mother."

I raised an eyebrow, sensing a hint of awkwardness in her tone. "Anna?" I repeated. "I think there's been a mistake. My name is Elena."

Principal Thompson's expression faltered, and she took a step back, her eyes darting around her office as if searching for an escape route.

"I... I apologize for the mistake," she stammered. "I must have gotten my wires crossed."

“We have been in contact even before Thane's admission. Then, why are you confused with my name?”

Principal Thompson hesitated before responding, "She's... uh... Thane's other mother. I've been meeting with her regularly to discuss Thane's progress."

My eyes narrowed, a surge of anger rising within me. "What do you mean by 'other mother'?" I demanded, my voice low and even.

Principal Thompson's face turned bright red as she realized her mistake. "I... I didn't mean to imply... It's just that Anna has been attending parent-teacher conferences and meetings, and I assumed..."

Just then Thane’s giggling voice sounded from behind, “Mamma Anna, I want Pizza this time. You will take me to my favourite restaurant today, right?”

Anna, who was earlier laughing and playing with Thane, came to an abrupt halt when her gaze fell on me. Just then, Theon walked in while moving his car’s key in his fingers. His face also turned pale.

“Elena? What are you doing here?” He blurted out.

“It's a Parent-teacher meeting in Thane's school. Where am I supposed to be then?” I asked while narrowing my eyes. Theon chuckled. He tried to cover up his question while saying, “Oh yeah! I thought you would be busy today. That's why I didn't inform you about it. But, it seems like you are already aware of it.”

I didn't respond to him. Instead I shot a glance at Anna, who was holding Thane in her hands, while saying, “You must have come to accompany Thane to lessen my burden. You are so considerate, Anna.”

Anna, not noticing the sarcasm in my words immediately added, “Yes, yes. I know how troublesome it is for you to handle the Pack and Thane at the same time. I just try to lessen your burden by taking care of Thane on your behalf. You have done so much to me. I can only repay you through this.”

“Mommy, You are here as well?” Thane turned to me, his eyes that were shining brightly a few seconds ago seemed to dim a bit. He then turned to his Principal, saying excitedly, “Principal, I’ll attend the meeting with both my mothers today.”

He held my hands with his left hand and Anna's with his right, then dragged us to sit in front of his Principal. He seemed to be excited for having two mothers whereas Anna chuckled. She looked up at me with a pair of apologetic eyes, that were as fake as her smile, while saying, “I don't know from where he has learnt to call me Mamma Anna. I tried to stop him many times. He just doesn't listen.”

“Thane, you shouldn't call Aunt Anna that way. You have only one mother and that's Elena, your Mommy, who is also the Alpha of the our Pack. You should be careful with your words.” Theon also interrupted, “If you call Aunt Anna, Mamma Anna, your Mommy will not like it and feel sad. Do you want your Mommy feel sad?”

Thane looked up at me with a pair of thoughtful eyes. He seemed reluctant and felt wrong for being called out like this. I smiled at him before turning to Theon as I said, “If he wants to call Anna, Mamma Anna, let him be. It can't change the fact that I’m his mother. I’ll always remain his mother. His addressing others as his mother won't change anything.”

Theon nodded his head. While laughing he said, “You are right, Elena. You will always be his mother. It doesn't change anything.”

From that day on, Thane kept calling Anna ‘Mamma Anna' in front of me. Anna too called Thane as ‘My boy’, ‘My son’ and played with him. Theon and Anna thought I was not understanding anything. They took me as ignorant fool who wasn't aware of what was going on in my villa. But, I only laughed at their foolish thoughts.

Days passed by and Thane turned fourteen. Theon always argued with me to take Thane with me to the Elders’ meeting to help him understand Pack's chores. He thought I didn't use his malicious plan behind it. He was in a hurry to get our son inherit my legacy. I didn't decline him either. After all, I didn't intend to stop Thane either. I was ready to give my everything to Thane.

I discussed it with the elders of our Packs and they agreed to give some duties to Thane to test his capabilities. One of the small packs who were in alliance with our pack were causing trouble for us these days and the elders decide to send Thane to talk to the Alpha of the pack considering our long term alliance. It was Thane’s first trial task and he ended up taking the best Knights of our pack to beat the Alpha to the point of making him cripple which resulted in the breaking up of our alliance.

“Do you have any idea what you have done, Thane? How will you lead the pack if you are going to cut all your allies? What do you think the Elders would think about you?” Theon lost his calm on Thane. Thane seemed unaffected by Theon’s tone. He casually replied while turning to me, “I don't care about these minor issues. Mom is the Alpha of the Pack. After her, It is I, who will be the Alpha of the Pack and everyone will have to listen to me, even the elders. Right Mom?”