After I left Alpha father and son went crazy with regret

It was well past nine o'clock at night when Nora returned to Silvermoon Pack.

The cottage stood in darkness, its windows unlit, and no one waited to greet her at the door. "Dear Nora, Happy Birthday. Your birth was a gift to the world."

A message flashed on her phone-a simple birthday wish from a friend.

It was warm but impersonal, a reminder of the absence that loomed heavier than the night.

Standing alone in the shadowed villa, Nora scrolled through her chat app.

Message after message appeared-greetings from acquaintances, colleagues, and distant friends. Yet, the one name she longed to see remained silent.

Seven days.

It had been seven days since she last exchanged a message with her husband, Alpha Arnold.

Seven days of unanswered texts and unreturned calls.

And now, on her birthday, his silence cut even deeper.

Nora's forced smile faltered in the dark.

"Luna? What are you doing back here?"

The sudden flicker of light startled her.

The omega maid stood at the entrance, her eyes wide with surprise.

"Where are Arnold and Alex?" Nora asked, slipping off her shoes.

The maid hesitated, her voice tinged with unease. "Alpha isn't back yet, and the young master is..."

She paused before continuing vaguely, "Writing something in his room."

Nora handed the maid her bags and strode toward her son's room.

She pushed open the door and found Alex, her ever-active five-year-old, sitting at his desk.

He was bent over a notebook, completely absorbed in his work.

Alex is five years old and has the physique and keen senses of an Alpha heir.

His golden hair gleamed under the desk lamp, and a faint glow from the golden wolf's head symbol on his neck-the mark of his lineage...reminded Nora of the legacy he carried.

He sensed her presence instantly, his head tilting slightly toward the door.

"Alex, I'm home..."

Nora smiled and stepped inside, but before she could finish her greeting, Alex turned away sharply, his eyes returning to the pages in front of him.

He kept writing, completely ignoring her.

Nora's heart sank as she approached. Resting a gentle hand on his shoulder, she glanced down at the notebook filled with scribbles and diagrams.

"Do you want to go somewhere?" she asked softly. "I just finished my tour of the pack, so we can plan something fun together."

Alex didn't look up. Instead, he snapped, "I don't want you to come."

The sharpness in his voice cut deeper than she expected.

"It's Aunt Linda's birthday in a week, and Dad and I are going on a trip with her," he said matter-of-factly. Nora blinked, taken aback.

Alex pushed the notebook toward her, revealing detailed plans for the trip-rafting, soaking in the hot

springs of Spectral Shadow Valley, and taking pictures of the Wolfsbane Sea of Flowers.

Nora's chest tightened, but before she could speak, Alex added, "And that's not all. Dad got Aunt Linda a gift too. I heard it's a necklace made of moonlight gemstones."

Nora froze.

A necklace?

Nora froze, her hand brushing against her bare neck.

She hadn't even received any gifts when she married Arnold.

Nora hesitated before asking, "Alex... do you remember Mom's birthday?"

"Hmm? What?" Alex responded impatiently. "Mom, don't you have anything better to do? I'm busy making

travel plans and don't have time to talk about stuff that doesn't matter."

Nora dropped the hand that had been stroking his hair and fell silent.

Her sharp eyes caught a painting inside Alex's travel brochure.

It depicted two adult wolves running with a cub in a rainforest under a full moon.

The golden-furred wolves were unmistakably Arnold and Alex.. the symbols of the Alpha family.

But the she-wolf beside them wasn't Nora, whose silvery-white coat was pristine.

Instead, the she-wolf had a strand of red fur on her forehead.

Those were Linda's features.

Nora stood still for a moment before softly saying, "Actually, today..."

Alex's green eyes glinted with hostility. "How much longer are you going to stand there?"

Her words stuck in her throat. Nora paused, then quietly left the room.

The maid approached and said, "Luna, I just called Alpha. He said he had something to do tonight and told you to get some rest."

"I know," Nora replied, her mind replaying Alex's words. She walked over to the house's payphone and dialed Arnold.

She didn't use her cell phone... she knew he would just ignore her call.

The mental link between them remained silent.

After several rings, Arnold's impatient voice finally answered, "I already said I don't have time for her. Tell her-"

"Honey, who's calling?" Linda's syrupy voice interrupted. "Come stay with me, won't you?"

Nora gripped the phone tightly, her knuckles turning pale.

"It's nothing, just the housemaid," Arnold said dismissively.

Before Nora could say anything, he hung up.

They hadn't seen each other for two or three months.

During that time, Nora had been traveling extensively for Silvermoon Pack's official business.

She had poured her heart and soul into her duties.

Now, finally back home, she found no warmth from her husband or son.

Even for a phone call, Arnold hadn't let her finish speaking.

"Nora, don't be sad," a gentle voice echoed in her mind.

It was her inner wolf, Lena, trying to comfort her.

"They've always been this way. Maybe... they just don't know how to love you."

Nora forced a bitter smile.

After so many years of marriage, she thought she'd grown accustomed to Arnold's coldness, detachment, and impatience.

Yet, her heart still ached at their indifference.

When they first married, Nora had tried hard to be the perfect Luna.

She'd sent frequent messages to Arnold, asking when he'd be home so she could prepare special meals. Arnold never replied.

Eventually, he even severed their ability to sense each other's location.

Perhaps it was that she was feeling too tired.

Nora suddenly felt exhausted. She was powerless to make any more moves to keep her husband.

The next morning, Nora checked her phone. Arnold's messages remained absent.

Instead, her friends had texted:

"Honorable Luna-sama, what's your birthday wish this year?"

"I've already bought a present. When are you visiting? I'll treat you to dinner!"

Seeing the words 'birthday wish,' Nora felt another pang in her chest.

She had rushed to complete six months' worth of work in four, hoping to spend her birthday with Alex and Arnold.

That had been her only wish.

Nora hesitated but decided to call Arnold using her own phone.

He didn't pick up.

After a long wait, Arnold finally mindlinked her: [Something wrong?]

Nora replied: [Are you free for dinner with me and Alex? Since today is my...]

Before she could finish, his icy voice cut her off. [Yes. Let me know when you've finalized the location.] Nora: [...Okay.]

The link went dead.

He didn't remember her birthday.

Nora had expected this, but the sting of disappointment still lingered.

Suddenly, she remembered the suitcase she'd left downstairs-the one with gifts for Alex and Arnold. She hurried to the hall, but as she approached the staircase, she overheard Alex speaking to the maid. "When is she leaving?" Alex asked, annoyed.

"Young master, this... this is Luna's home too. It's up to her."

"It's not her home. It's Dad's home! He's the leader of Silvermoon! I'd rather have Aunt Linda live here. She's beautiful and gracious-and Dad and I love her! Why can't she be my mom?"

"You mustn't speak like that," the maid scolded gently. "Luna will be sad if she hears."

"She's just an incompetent she-wolf who can't stay away from me and Dad. It doesn't matter if she hears."

Alex shrugged. "Tomorrow, Dad, Aunt Linda, and I are going on a trip. Just leave her alone in the cottage." Around the corner, Nora felt like she'd been struck by lightning.

Everything faded into a blur.

After giving birth to Alex, she'd raised him almost entirely on her own. Arnold had rarely been involved. Once, Nora had been confident and ambitious. She had dreamed of building a diplomatic career or becoming a jewelry designer.

Marriage changed everything.

She abandoned her aspirations to devote herself to raising Alex and supporting Arnold.

Only in the past two years had Nora started contributing to the pack's work again. Sometimes she traveled

to other packs to strengthen alliances.

During those times, Linda occasionally visited Alex.

Nora had never imagined that Alex would come to see Linda as a better mother.

There were no words more devastating.

Nora leaned against the wall, trying to steady her breath.

She'd sacrificed so much, working tirelessly to finish her tasks early, just to spend time with Alex.

But now, it all felt meaningless.

Nora returned to her room, packed the gifts she'd brought for Alex and Arnold back into her suitcase.

Perhaps she was never truly welcome here.

It was time for her to leave.