Stole My Alpha, but Not My Throne

At the pack banquet, my five-year-old son Hugh Crowley calls Ryan Crowley, the pack's Alpha, "Dad". Ryan's expression stiffens. "You should call me Uncle Ryan." A moment later, Luna Odile Sloan's son rushes into his arms and calls him Dad. Ryan smiles and answers him. I've been with Ryan for seven years, yet our son can't even call him Dad in public because he's still another she-wolf's mate in name. Ryan's older brother, Mark Crowley, is once the pack's Alpha, but Mark dies in a conflict, leaving behind an unconscious Odile and a newborn pup who stands next in line to lead the pack. When Odile wakes up, she grabs Ryan's hand and mistakes him for her mate. To gain the support of the Council and the pack, Ryan goes along with her mistake and takes on the role of her mate. Ever since I started carrying his pup, he keeps telling me to wait a little longer for the pack's sake. From then on, I stay in the background and quietly help him navigate one challenge after another. All I want is for him to acknowledge Hugh and me. Hugh tugs at my sleeve and whispers, "Mommy, did I call him by the wrong name again? Does Uncle Ryan not like me anymore?" I crouch down and wipe his tears. "You did nothing wrong." The ballroom falls silent. Odile gives a little laugh. "Everyone, don't be too hard on Diya. She's a Rogue, after all. Of course she wants to be the Luna. But because she can't have that position doesn't mean she should use her pup to get it." The guests burst out laughing, and Ryan says nothing to defend me. I give a bitter smile, take Hugh's hand, and walk out. "I'll take you home to where you belong." They have no idea I'm the only daughter of the Frostfang pack's Alpha. Becoming the Luna of such a small pack means nothing to me. Chapter 1 Diya's POV Leaving outright wouldn't work. Ryan Crowley and the pack would never let me take his pup away without a fight. I had to plan my next move carefully. Ryan hadn't sent me a single message since the banquet. He didn't show up at our house until the following evening, looking worn out. He slipped his arms around me with practiced ease and apologized, "Kian ate too much cake last night. He was restless all night and wouldn't go to sleep unless I stayed with him. I'm sorry I didn't come over." Odile Sloan's scent hit me again, strong enough to fill my nose. At first, I had only caught a trace of it on his cuffs. Now, I could smell it all over him as he held me. My stomach turned, and I clenched my jaw. I barely heard a word of his excuse. "I see." I pressed a hand against his chest and quickly pushed him away. Ryan stared at me for a moment, seemingly caught off guard by my reaction. Knowing he was in the wrong, he smiled and shook the box. "Look! I brought your favorite honey cake. Come on, don't be mad, okay?" He set the box down and reached for our pup, Hugh Crowley. Hugh stepped behind me. I looked at Ryan. "Hugh cried all night. Tell him it wasn't his fault that you made him call you Uncle Ryan yesterday." His hand stopped in midair. "He's still little. He'll forget about it in a few days. There were so many people there. I had to think about the bigger picture." I stood firm. "You just need to tell him it wasn't his fault." Ryan reluctantly crouched down and held Hugh by the shoulders. "Hugh, what happened yesterday wasn't your fault. But at events like that, you need to listen to me and remember to call me Uncle Ryan instead. Do you understand?" Hugh nodded. "Okay, Uncle Ryan." Ryan frowned. "You don't have to call me that at home." Hugh looked up at me but didn't dare to call him anything else. The way Hugh looked at Ryan so cautiously broke my heart. Ryan ruffled Hugh's hair and said, "I told them I had to work late tonight, so I can stay for three hours. We can play whatever you like!" Hugh's face lit up. He ran to his room and brought back his box of building blocks. Ryan had barely sat down when his phone rang. After the call, he got up. "Kian's feeling sick again. I need to go check on him." I pointed to the open box of building blocks. "Could you finish this little section with Hugh before you go?" Ryan had already picked up his coat. "Don't make a fuss. I'll come back tomorrow." Hugh hurried after him, clutching the box. "Can we finish it tomorrow, then?" The only answer he got was the sound of the door closing. He stood frozen at the door for a moment, then went back to the table and put the scattered blocks away, one by one. I reached out to help and offered to play with him, but he held the lid shut. "It's okay, Mommy. Uncle Ryan is busy. Let's wait until he comes tomorrow." Hugh forced a smile, trying to hide his hurt feelings. My eyes filled with tears. "How about we watch your favorite cartoon together instead?" I asked. He shook his head quietly. "Mommy, I'm going to bed. If I fall asleep early, tomorrow will come sooner. Then Uncle Ryan will be here." I pulled him into my arms and held him tight. "Sweetheart, you don't have to wait for him." Hugh deserved all the love his parents could give him. He shouldn't have to hide his hurt and act so grown-up at such a young age. When I found out I was with pup, Ryan was so happy that he shifted into his wolf form and carried me on his back all around the forest. But soon after, he told me he'd only just become Alpha and couldn't make our bond public yet. He asked me to wait, so I deleted the happy announcement I had planned to send to our friends and family. Hugh was born the following year. I asked Ryan when he planned to acknowledge him as his pup. He said Odile's father was the Alpha of an allied pack, and he couldn't risk losing his support. Ryan asked me to wait a little longer. When Hugh was a few months old, I sent Ryan photos of him. Ryan replied with just one line. "Don't let anyone else see this." In the third year, Ryan told me his older brother, Mark Crowley, had died saving his life. He couldn't abandon Odile while she had amnesia. He promised to acknowledge me and Hugh once she recovered her memories. To help Odile recover her memory, I spent countless nights studying medicine and pushing the medical team to cure her. I kept waiting until Hugh turned five years old. I had waited long enough. Hugh shouldn't have to spend his childhood waiting for a promise that might never come, or hoping he could finally call his own father "Dad" in public one day. After Hugh fell asleep, I called my dad, Albert Hartwell, the Frostfang pack's Alpha. "Dad, I'm bringing your grandson home to meet you. We'll be going to a vacation island in a week. Please arrange for us to fake our deaths in an accident. Have a plane ready to pick us up." Chapter 2 Diya's POV At the first sound in the hallway, Hugh ran to the door. But the footsteps stopped next door. He slowly sat back down and pulled the box of building blocks closer to his chest. By afternoon, his food had already been reheated twice. I crouched in front of him. "Sweetheart, let's eat first. When your dad gets here, I'll open the door for you." Hugh shook his head and scooted over to make room for me. "Mommy, let's eat here. That way, we can open the door faster." Someone suddenly knocked. Hugh jumped up excitedly and rushed to open the door. "Uncle Ryan, you're here!" A uniformed werewolf stood outside. "Ms. Wilder sent me to bring you to the estate." Nancy Wilder was Ryan's mother and the former Luna. "Is Grandmother taking us to see Uncle Ryan?" Hugh asked, his eyes lighting up as he looked at me. I couldn't bring myself to tell him no. Maybe Ryan would be there. He could at least spend one last evening building blocks with Hugh. I drove Hugh to the estate. A housekeeper led us to the sitting room, where Nancy sat on the couch, drinking tea. Hugh walked up to her, clutching his box of building blocks. His cheeks were pink with excitement. "Grandmother, did Dad ask you to bring us here? Where is he? I've been waiting to build with him." Nancy set down her teacup and ignored Hugh. She looked at me instead. "Ryan still needs the support of the Elders' Council and Odile's father. I don't want a repeat of what happened at the banquet yesterday." Hugh hugged the box to his chest and stepped forward. "Grandmother, is Dad—" "Hugh." She cut him off. "From now on, you'll address me as Ms. Wilder." Hugh stood with his mouth open but said nothing more. After a moment, he pulled back the box he had started to offer her and held it against his chest. "Yes, Ms. Wilder." I stepped in front of him. "All he did was call you Grandmother." "Then teach him to call me Ms. Wilder." She fixed her gaze on me. "If you cause another scene, I'll make sure the whole pack learns how a Rogue Ryan took in tried to use her lowborn pup to cling to the Alpha." Hugh's knuckles had turned white from gripping the box so tightly. When I reached for it, he only hugged it closer. "Let me hold it for you," I whispered. "You can still build with it later. It won't get lost." Hugh finally let go. I folded his pale fingers into my hand and looked at Nancy. "I have no interest in fighting for the Luna position. Hugh and I won't be coming here again." Nancy started to speak again, but I had already taken Hugh's hand and turned to leave. "Come on. Let's go home." As we passed the garden, Hugh suddenly stopped and squeezed my hand. "Mommy, those outfits look like the ones I picked out." On the lawn, Ryan bent down to catch the child running into his arms. The woman beside them held up a camera and told them to stand closer together. All three of them wore matching family outfits. Hugh's hand slipped from mine, and he took a small step forward. "That's Uncle Ryan." His voice was barely audible, and no one on the lawn turned around. Hugh had carefully picked out that outfit at the mall. Ryan had said it wasn't suitable to wear yet, then took it away. Hugh tugged at the hem of his shirt, then looked back at the trio. "Mommy, did Uncle Ryan take the wrong outfit?" I crouched to straighten his clothes. The button was within reach, but I tried twice and still couldn't fasten it. Hugh put his hand over mine. "It's okay. We can wear something else." A child's laughter rang out across the lawn. Hugh watched them over my shoulder for a while before asking softly, "Will Uncle Ryan still come back tonight to build with me?" Chapter 3 Diya's POV I was about to answer Hugh when a shadow fell over us. It was Ryan. With a grim expression, he pulled me aside and said, "Didn't I tell you not to bring Hugh here? Why won't you listen?" I forcefully shook off his hand and retorted sarcastically, "Nancy invited us. If we hadn't come, I wouldn't have known you had given the outfit Hugh picked out to someone else to wear." Ryan avoided my gaze and cleared his throat. "I don't know how Kian found it. I had clearly hidden it away." He reached out and gently squeezed my fingers. "I didn't do it on purpose. How about we go pick out another outfit next time? I'll even buy ten sets if that's what you want." "When is this 'next time'? You promised Hugh yesterday that you'd build blocks with him, but it's almost dark, and you still haven't come." I shot back. Ryan furrowed his brows. "I'll go in a little while. I just can't get away right now. You know that." "You're always telling us to wait. I've had enough of that!" I snarled. Back when a rival pack attacked me, Ryan saved me and stayed with me at the foot of a cliff for three days and three nights. After that, I decided to be with him, even though he wasn't my fated mate. But Dad looked down on Ryan's small pack. He said that if I chose to be with Ryan, I would have to leave and could never call myself a member of the Frostfang pack again. To be with Ryan, I left my pack and became a Rogue in their eyes. I waited for him year after year. A pup's shrill scream broke my thoughts, and I turned around. Kian Crowley pointed at Hugh and shouted, "He's a thief! He stole the necklace Dad gave me!" Hugh stood still, his lips pale with fear. He held both hands tightly against his chest. "I didn't!" I held Hugh close and comforted him gently. "I believe you, Hugh. You would never do something like that. Don't be afraid. I'll protect you." Odile raised her eyebrows and chimed in, "Of course a Rogue's pup would stoop to stealing. How disgraceful." Ryan stepped in front of us and snapped, "That's enough. Don't say things like that to a pup." At Ryan's voice, Hugh immediately looked up and held out the necklace to show him. "This is mine. There's a chip here. Last time, I—" "Give it back to Kian first," Ryan said, cutting him off. Hugh drew his hands back. "But I didn't take his necklace." Ryan held out his hand. "Stop kicking up a fuss. Kian is waiting. Give it to him for now, and I'll buy you another one later." Hugh clutched the necklace to his chest and burst into tears. "You'll know if you just look at it. Uncle Ryan, please take a look!" Ryan pried Hugh's fingers open, trying to take the necklace. "Just apologize to Kian, and this will all be over." I grabbed Ryan's hand. "Didn't you hear Hugh say he didn't take it?" Ryan ignored me and pushed me aside. Then he took the necklace from Hugh's hands. Hugh lunged forward, but he only managed to grab Ryan's sleeve before the necklace was handed to Kian. "That's mine!" Hugh clutched Ryan's sleeve, sobbing so hard he could barely breathe. "Uncle Ryan, that's my necklace. There's a chipped spot on it!" Chapter 4 Diya's POV I got up and slapped Ryan hard. "Is it so hard to listen to Hugh and check if there's a chip on the necklace? He's your pup. How could you be so cruel to him?" Ryan rubbed his cheek, his voice full of anger. "What the hell is wrong with you? Have you lost it?" "What's wrong with me?" I struggled to catch my breath. "You're right. I've lost it. You're his father, yet you refuse to acknowledge him and make him call you his uncle instead. How am I supposed to stay calm?" I turned to Odile, who was watching. "And you. You must be pretty pleased with yourself." I laughed. "You've enjoyed sleeping with your mate's younger brother all these years, haven't you?" Panic flickered in Odile's eyes. She looked worried, not shocked. I stared at her. "You got your memory back a long time ago, didn't you?" Odile grew even more anxious. Then she clutched her chest as if she were about to faint. "Alpha Ryan, what is she talking about? Is Hugh really your pup?" "Is what she said true?" Odile cried. "If you're not my mate, then where is he?" Ryan rushed over to catch Odile, looking alarmed. Nancy came over when she heard the commotion. "Diya is making things up. You can't trust a Rogue. She just wants to become Luna and is saying all this on purpose!" When Ryan said nothing, Nancy spoke to him through a mind-link. "Your position as Alpha is secure, but the pack still needs Odile's father to grow stronger. You must keep Odile on your side." After a brief pause, Ryan spoke. "You can't believe Diya. She just wants your place, Odile." Hearing that, Odile smiled faintly. "I believe you, Ryan." I was disgusted by their pretense. Then Nancy called over a group of guards. "Get them out of the pack!" Ryan raised a hand to stop the guards. "There's no need for that. Diya can stay and work as a maid. Send Hugh to an orphanage." I stared at him in disbelief, struggling to breathe. "Where are you sending him?" Ryan straightened his sleeves. "You did something wrong, so you must face the consequences." Hugh pressed against my leg. His crying stopped for a moment, then he looked up at Ryan. "Uncle Ryan." Ryan ignored him and called for someone to come over. "Don't touch him!" I picked Hugh up and held him close. "If this pack doesn't want us here, we'll leave." I argued no more. I picked up the box of building blocks, carried Hugh to the car, and drove away. On the way, Ryan texted me. "This is only temporary. It's the only way you can stay by my side. Please don't be mad. Come back." I didn't reply. Ryan sent another text message. "I promise I'll visit Hugh every day and take you out at least once a month. We'll spend time together as a family of three." I snorted and pulled over. Then I called Dad. "We're not waiting until next week. I need the setup and double you've prepared now." A pause came on the other end of the line. "Did Ryan hurt you or Hugh?" "He's trying to send Hugh to an orphanage." Dad asked no further questions. "Send me your location. Take Hugh and move away from the car. Someone will come for you in an hour." Hugh rested his head on my shoulder. He had heard our conversation and gently touched my face. "Mommy, we don't have to build the blocks anymore." I rubbed his back. "Okay. We won't." An hour later, Dad's people arrived. Hugh left the box of building blocks in the car. The box fell with the car as the vehicle went over the cliff. Just as the front of the car passed the edge, my phone, which I had left inside, lit up again. Ryan had just sent another message. "Where are you? I'll head over." I took Hugh's hand and boarded the helicopter without looking back.