Alpha King Claims His Family

The afternoon sun streamed through the windows of Moonlight Werewolf Preschool as I hurried down the hallway, my heart already racing from the urgent phone call. River was in trouble again. My hands trembled as I pushed open the door to the principal's office, and the scene that greeted me made my wolf stir restlessly beneath my skin for the first time in months.

River sat hunched in a small chair, his dark hair tousled and a streak of dried blood under his nose. His little hands were clenched into fists, and even from across the room, I could sense his wolf pacing anxiously—far too strong for a five-year-old. But it was the sight of the woman sitting regally in the chair beside him that made my blood run cold.

Mercy Cruz looked exactly as I remembered—perfectly styled blonde hair, designer clothes that screamed Luna status, and that same cruel smile that had haunted my college years. She sat with her back straight, one manicured hand resting protectively on her son Marco's shoulder. The boy was sniffling dramatically, though I noticed he kept peeking at River with satisfied malice.

"Ms. Roberts," Principal Marcus Thompson's voice cut through my shock. The Beta's tone was carefully neutral, but I caught the subtle disapproval in his scent. "Please, have a seat. We need to discuss River's... behavioral issues."

I remained standing, my protective instincts flaring as I moved closer to my son. "What happened?"

"Your son attacked my Marco," Mercy's voice dripped with false concern, though her eyes glittered with triumph. "Completely unprovoked. Poor Marco was just trying to be friendly during snack time."

"That's not true!" River's small voice cracked with indignation. "He took my cookies and said—"

"River." I placed a gentle hand on his shoulder, feeling him tremble with suppressed emotion. "Tell me what really happened."

My son's eyes—so much like his father's—filled with tears of frustration. "Marco took my cookies, Mama. The ones you made special for me. And he said... he said fatherless pups don't deserve Alpha treats. That I'm nobody because I don't have a daddy."

The words hit me like a physical blow. I felt my wolf surge forward, protective fury blazing through my veins. For five years, I'd shielded River from the cruel realities of pack politics, but it seemed the world had finally found us.

"How dramatic," Mercy laughed, the sound like broken glass. "Children say such silly things. But the fact remains—your son drew blood. Marco has a split lip."

I looked at Marco's face, noting the tiny cut that was already healing thanks to his werewolf genetics. Meanwhile, River's nose was still crusted with blood, and I could see the beginning of a bruise on his cheek.

"River was defending himself," I said quietly, my voice deadly calm. "And from what I can see, he took more damage than he gave."

Principal Thompson cleared his throat uncomfortably. "Regardless of the circumstances, Ms. Roberts, this is River's third incident this month. The school