Three Weeks Prior...
Damon~
"Two of our third ranks were found dead just two nights ago," Carlos, my beta, reported. "It wasn't pretty."
I gritted my teeth, anger simring just beneath the surface. "Silver Hollow seems to be growing more brazen by the day."
"It's a direct ssage, a threat."
"That much is obvious," I growled, my hands clenched into fists. "But if that bastard thinks he can take Howlcreek as if it's so souvenir, he's sorely mistaken."
I stood up, my head suddenly swimming. The headaches had beco more frequent. "Double the patrols at the borders. I want every inch of our territory watched. Anyone not part of Howlcreek that steps foot here dies on sight. No questions, no rcy."
Carlos nodded. "Understood. I'll inform the enforcers."
I paced behind my desk. "And I want scouts sent to Silver Hollow's borders. We need eyes on them, twenty-four-seven. I won't let them make the first move again. We hit them before they even think about it."
Carlos gave a sharp nod, already reaching for his phone to relay the orders. The others in the room stood rigid, waiting for further instruction. I opened my mouth to speak again, but a sharp pain sliced through my head.
I paused, frowning, and lifted my hand to my temple. The headache had been gnawing at for days, but this was different. Stronger.
"Alpha..." Carlos's voice broke through my haze, but it sounded distant, muffled. I shook my head, trying to clear the blur from my vision.
"Alpha, you're bleeding."
I blinked, confused, as I reached up and felt the warm trickle sliding down from my nose. I stared at my blood-covered fingers in disbelief. When did I start bleeding?
Carlos took a step forward, concern etched on his face. "Alpha, are you—"
But his voice faded, drowned out by the sharp ringing in my ears. The world tilted, the floor rushing up to et . I tried to steady myself, but my body wasn't responding. My vision blurred, the faces of my pack distorting as darkness crept in.
"Alpha!" Carlos shouted, his voice distant as I collapsed, the world spinning into blackness.
---
I woke up to the sterile scent of antiseptic and the faint beeping of machines. My vision was blurry, and it took a mont to register that I wasn't in my office anymore. I groaned, trying to sit up, but a firm hand gently pushed back down.
"Easy, Alpha," Carlos's voice said quietly beside .
My head pounded, but the pain wasn't as sharp as before. I blinked up at him, taking in the concerned look on his face. "What the hell happened?" My voice ca out rough, my throat dry.
Carlos hesitated, glancing at the doctor standing at the foot of my bed. The doctor, a middle-aged woman with sharp eyes and graying hair, stepped forward. "You collapsed, Alpha Damon. Your body's been under extre stress."
I scowled. "I've had headaches before. This was nothing."
The doctor shook her head. "I'm afraid it's more than that."
There was a pause, a heaviness in the air as she gathered herself. "After we ran so tests, we discovered that you have lymphoma—cancer of the lymphatic system. The headaches, nosebleeds, and weakness you've been experiencing were symptoms."
The word "cancer" hung in the air like a noose. I stared at her, my mind refusing to process what she'd just said.
"Lymphoma?" I repeated, my voice laced with disbelief. "That's... impossible. I'm a shifter. We heal."
"Yes, but even shifters aren't immune to all illnesses," the doctor replied gently. "Your body's ability to heal has slowed, likely due to the cancer's progression. This is why your symptoms worsened so rapidly."
My heart hamred in my chest, a mix of anger and fear swirling inside . I was the Alpha. How could this happen to ?
Carlos shifted uncomfortably beside , his eyes full of worry. "What are the options?" he asked, his voice steady, though I could sense the undercurrent of desperation.
The doctor sighed. "You'll need imdiate treatnt—chemotherapy. But more importantly, you'll need a bone marrow transplant. Without it, the prognosis isn't good."
I clenched my fists, trying to keep my breathing steady. "A transplant? From who?"
"We typically search for close family mbers first, as they're most likely to be a match. Do you have any blood relatives we can test?"
The question hit like a punch to the gut. I had no blood relatives—at least none I knew of. My family had been wiped out when I was young. I'd built this pack, Howlcreek, from the ashes. They were my family now but in terms of blood? Only one.
"My son," I murmured. I didn't want to drag him into this. He was still so young. But we had a probable war on the horizon.
---
The mont I said, "My son," the door swung open, and Lorelei rushed in, her hair slightly disheveled, panic etched across her face.
"Damon!" she exclaid, grasping my hand. "What's going on? I heard you collapsed!"
"I'm fine, Lorelei. Just a little complication."
"Complication?" she shot back, her voice rising. "You were bleeding and passed out! That's not a 'little' anything!"
The doctor stepped forward. "Luna, your husband has lymphoma. He needs imdiate treatnt, including a bone marrow transplant."
Her expression went pale. "Lymphoma? Damon... how could this happen?"
"I didn't know," I said, frustration creeping in. "But we're handling it."
"Handling it?" she repeated incredulously. "You're sick! How can you 'handle' cancer?"
Carlos shifted uneasily. The doctor remained silent, letting us process the news.
"Damon, what are we going to do?" Lorelei's hands trembled, tears welling in her eyes.
"We need a transplant," I said, my voice steady. "Our son is the only blood relative I have."
She froze, shock giving way to anger. "No. Absolutely not."
"What do you an, no?" I shot back. "He's our only option!"
"He's too young for that!" she argued, stepping closer. "You can't ask that of him!"
"He is my son too," I countered. "I would never ask this of him if there was another choice."
"What about his life?" Lorelei pressed, her voice shaking. "What if sothing goes wrong?"
"I'd never risk his life!" I insisted. "We need him to do this."
Lorelei paced, visibly torn. "No, Damon. I won't allow it."
"This isn't your choice!" I snapped.
"He's our son!" she shouted, tears streaming down her face. "I can't let you put him in harm's way!"
Silence hung in the air, thick with tension. Carlos looked at , gauging my reaction. Lorelei's fear was real, and I knew she was only trying to protect our family.
"Lorelei," I said softly, "he'll be fine. We need him."
Her lip quivered as she turned away. "There has to be another way. He's too young for this."
"There's no one else," I replied, frustration rising. "He's our only shot."
She faced again, desperation in her eyes. "Please, Damon. We'll find soone else. I won't let him do this."
I took her hands, grounding her. "Trust . He's strong, just like us. He'll be okay."
Lorelei's resolve crumbled, and she collapsed into my arms, tears spilling over. "I can't lose either of you," she whispered.
I held her tightly. "You won't." But deep down, I knew there were no guarantees in this fight. I pulled her to my chest. "We will both be okay."
"You might not be," she whispered. "You are not his biological father, Damon."
The words hit like a slap. My heart raced, anger surging. "What are you saying?" I growled.
Lorelei recoiled, but I couldn't contain my rage.
"I tried, Damon!" she pleaded, her voice trembling. "But it's not just . You need to understand that I've wanted this. I wanted a child with you. You have issues, as your father had with fertility. You know that!"
I saw red. She was using sothing that I had trusted her with against . "Don't put this on !" I roared, pacing the room, my fists clenched. "You're trying to justify your choices while I'm facing death! This is about you being unfaithful!"
"I thought—"
"Thought what?" I spat, my voice low and dangerous. "That I wouldn't find out? That I'd just accept it?"
"I never wanted to hurt you! I thought you'd understand!"
"Understand what?" I shouted, frustration boiling over. "That you've been with other n?"
"Damon, please! I've been scared too! I wanted a family with you, but it didn't happen! I thought we could find another way."
"Not like this!" I yelled, my wolf, Nox, howling in response to the pain. "You fucking deceived . For six years!"
"I'm begging you. Don't push away. I didn't an for this to happen," she cried, desperation written all over her face.
"Then get out!" I roared. "Or I will fucking rip you to shreds!"
"Damon!" she implored.
"Get out! I will kill you."
Her face twisted in anguish. "I had no choice."
"Just go!" I shouted, feeling raw and exposed.
As the door clicked shut, I sank back into the bed. My head in my hands. Rage and betrayal ran riot inside , leaving breathless. I was losing everything. My chosen mate had betrayed . Fate was such a cold-hearted bitch.
---
I was drained. It had taken a single day for everything to co crashing down. The impending war with Silver Hollow, being diagnosed with cancer, and now I had just found out that my wife and mate had betrayed in the worst way possible. The boy that I had raised with all the love in the world was another man's child.
The high ranks surrounded , trying to calm down. For the past week, they had been monitoring the scouts guarding our territory. I should have felt at ease, but rembering the old tis when it had been Lorelei, Kendra, Daniel, and Tom made the pain rise.
Even if I survived this, things could never be the sa. There was no going back to the status quo. Lorelei had disappeared as well and taken about thirty grand with her. She left Louis too. I felt numb, broken, and full of so many other complicated emotions that threatened to drive insane. She would not get far, not with that tracking device Carlos had planted on her.
But I had to rember my pack. For the past week, we had searched through the DNA registry for a match, but there had been no luck. It had been wishful thinking, after all.
"There is a match," Tom yelled, his voice hopeful, eyes wide as if he could not believe what he was seeing. I got up from the chair, bones, and muscles groaning in protest.
A picture of a child popped up, my eyes widened, and my heart seized in my chest. Green eyes, dirty blond hair—it was as if I was looking at a younger picture of .
"He is your twin, Alpha," Kendra balked.
"The resemblance is uncanny," Carlos comnted.
It was like a fucking dream. I read through the details. "But what is he doing in the human sector?" I never slept with a human before, never. "I want to see his mother's details."
"Yes, Alpha."
After a mont, another image took over the screen, one that made my blood turn to ice. Amber eyes, wild black hair. How could I forget that mouth?
"Mate," Nox growled, feeling himself for the first ti in a week.
"Zarah Langdon," I muttered.
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