Chapter 5
Luke's POV
Meanwhile, back at home, my younger brother and sister were practically bouncing off the walls as we watched the video feed.
Levi shot his fists into the air. "Mom's incredible! Did you see how she flipped that whole thing around?"
"Get her, Mommy!" Lily spun in circles, her pigtails flying. "That mean lady got what she deserved!"
The video showed our mom destroying some awful woman who'd tried to mess with her.
Mom had no clue I'd slipped a wolf hair onto her jacket this morning. I'd been worried someone might pick on her at the new job, but I never thought it would happen!
Though I'm only 5 years old, I've naturally been quite perceptive. I have a special ability that even my mother doesn't know about, if I place one of my wolf hairs on someone, I can sense the images and sounds around that person. If I connect my brainwaves to a computer, it can display the visuals and audio that my wolf hair detects.
"That guy's just as bad as the witch," I growled, my hands balling into fists. "He helped her gang up on Mom. Nobody gets away with hurting our family."
My wolf blood was stirring, making me restless and angry in a way that felt too big for my five-year-old body.
"Wait..." Lily pressed her nose to the tablet screen. "Luke, doesn't that man look exactly like Levi?"
I grabbed the tablet and studied the guy's face, comparing it to my little brother's features. The resemblance was... unsettling.
Mom never talked about our father—ever. But this couldn't be a coincidence, could it?
I needed answers.
Pulling out my phone, I searched for information about the man. The top result made my stomach drop:
"Construction Accident at Glamour Lens Leaves Worker Hospitalized - Titan Industries Under Investigation for Safety Violations"
The article showed the same man from the video, identified as Alexander Reid, CEO of Titan Industries. According to the report, his company had cut corners on building materials, causing a collapse that put a werewolf worker in a coma.
"He's definitely on the news," Lily whispered, pointing at his photo. "Luke, what if he really is our dad?"
"No way." I shook my head firmly. "Our dad would love Mom and protect her. This jerk just stood there while that woman attacked her."
But even as I said it, something in my gut disagreed. My wolf instincts were practically screaming that this man was connected to us somehow.
"We're going to investigate," I announced, already forming a plan. "Levi, you're coming with me to this Glamour Lens place. We need to find out what this guy's really about. Lily, you stay here and keep watch. The second Mom comes home, you text us."
"Ooh, secret mission!" Lily saluted dramatically. "I won't let you down, Agent Luke!"
Alexander's POV
Hearing Freya's design concept, Tiffany snapped. "You bitch! How dare you—"
I stepped between them, signaling my assistant to restrain Tiffany.
Turning to Freya, I said, "Double salary, any management position you want. We're even."
"How predictable," Freya's voice dripped with contempt. "The moment you realize you've lost, you have her dragged away so she won't have to kneel. Very Alpha of you."
My jaw tightened. She was right—I'd never intended to honor that ridiculous bet. If Tiffany hadn't opened her mouth and agreed to it, we wouldn't be in this mess. She never thought before she spoke, and now we were all paying for it.
But I couldn't let Freya humiliate someone under my protection.
"I can compensate you other ways," I offered.
"I want exactly what was promised. Her. On her knees. Apologizing."
"Push me too far, and I'll make sure the name Crystal disappears from the jewelry world permanently."
Freya's eyes went ice-cold. "Is that a threat?"
"Call it whatever you want. I have the power to make it happen. So what's it going to be—compromise, or watch your career burn?"
"Alpha! Emergency!" Caleb burst through my office door.
I shot him a withering look. "This better be good."
Seeing the two women still in the room, Caleb clamped his mouth shut and rushed to my side.
"The manager at Glamour Lens called," he whispered urgently. "That guy's back—the one who's been causing trouble. But this time he's got a hostage. A kid who came in for a photo shoot. He's demanding to see you personally."
The blood drained from my face. A child hostage changed everything.
"Take me there. Now."
I called over my shoulder as we rushed out, "We'll finish this later, Crystal."
Glamour Lens Children's Photography Studio
The scene was chaos. A middle-aged man held a sobbing child against his chest, a silver pistol pressed to the boy's head.
"You heartless bastards!" the man screamed. "Six months my son worked here without seeing a dime! Now he's in the hospital, dying from your cheap steel pipes, and you won't even return my calls! If I don't see the boss today, this kid dies!"
"Luke, help me!" the boy cried, reaching out with tiny hands. "I'm scared!"
Another little boy fought against the adults restraining him. "Let me go! I have to save him!"
I stepped forward, hands raised. "I'm the Alpha Alexander. Whatever you need, we can work it out. Just let the child go."
"My boy's been in a coma for weeks because of your shoddy construction! I come here every day begging for help, and your people treat me like garbage. Well, now I've got your son. We're both fathers—if you don't make this right, you'll know what it feels like to lose a child too!"
"He's not my son," I said quickly. "This has nothing to do with him. Tell me what you want."
I'd only had one accidental sexual encounter five years ago, and that was with Tiffany. As far as I knew, Tiffany hadn't gotten pregnant. This kid just happened to look like me.
"Hear that, boy? Your daddy doesn't want you!" The man's voice turned vicious. "Go on, call for him. Beg your daddy to save you."
"He's not my daddy!" the child wailed.
"Still lying? Maybe I should start cutting up that pretty face of yours."
The man raised his hand to strike the boy's face.
"No!" The word tore from my throat before I could stop it.
The boy was terrified beyond reason. "Daddy, save me! Please! I'm so scared!"
That single word—"Daddy"—hit me like a physical blow. My Alpha instincts roared to life, every protective impulse I possessed focusing on the trembling child.
"Don't be afraid," I heard myself say. "Daddy's here."
"Finally admitting it!" the attacker snarled. "What kind of father are you?"
"Take it out on me. Leave him alone. Whatever you want—money, medical bills, wages—I'll handle it."
"My son's dying because of your greed! You won't even pay for his treatment!" The man's voice cracked with desperation.
I could see he'd been pushed past his breaking point.
"I'll cover everything—full medical expenses, back wages, whatever he needs. Just don't hurt my son."
The words slipped out before I realized what I'd said. "My son."
"Caleb! The briefcase!"
My assistant handed over a black case filled with stacks of hundreds.
"One million dollars. If there are other problems, we'll solve them. Just let him go."
The sight of real money broke the man's resolve. He released the boy and collapsed to his knees, the silver pistol clattering across the floor as he sobbed.
I rushed forward and scooped the child into my arms. "It's okay. You're safe now. Daddy's got you."
Holding him felt... right. Natural. Like something I'd been missing without knowing it. The boy's small fists had tangled in my hair during his struggle, and several dark strands came loose in his grip.
"Alpha," Caleb approached cautiously. "What about the man? Should we call the police?"
I looked at the broken father still kneeling on the floor. "No. Let him go to his son. And find out why wages weren't being paid. Someone's going to answer for this."
Caleb shifted uncomfortably. "Well, about that..."
"There's obviously a problem. Fix it." I paused, still holding the boy. "And run a background check on Crystal while you're at it."