“He called me a motherless runt," Lucas said, each word dragged out like it hurt. "Said Mom would rather die than have a worthless pup like me."


    The temperature seemed to drop twenty degrees. Alpha energy rolled off ke in waves that made my wolf curl up. Even the headmaster shrank back in his


    chair.


    "Keep going," ke growled.


    "I tried walking away," Lucas''s voice trembled. "But he blocked me and said Mom died because she gave birth to a useless heir. That''s when I hit him. I know I shouldn''t have, but-


    ke''s fingers dug into the chair arm so hard I heard wood crack, Without thinking, Iid my hand over his, squeezing gently. The move felt as natural as breathing.


    He turned to me, his eyes wolf-gold and zing with rage-but also a sh of surprise. His hand flipped over, catching my fingers in a grip that was both fierce and careful. I caught Lucas noticing, a tiny smile lifting one corner of his mouth.


    "That''s enough," ke said, voice deadly quiet.


    Lucas''s eyes pooled with tears. "I messed up, didn''t I?"


    To my shock, ke moved around me and dropped to one knee in front of Lucas. His massive hand rested on his son''s tiny shoulder,


    "You didn''t mess up," he said, his voice softer than I''d ever heard it. "Standing up for family is never wrong."


    Lucas blinked, tears spilling over. "For real?"


    ke nodded, thumb gently wiping a tear from his son''s cheek. "For real. But next time,e to me first. Some fights are mine to handle.


    Something warm unfurled in my chest watching them. This wasn''t ice-king ke- this was a father who''d burn the world down to protect his son. For a second, I almost forgot I was just an imposter in their family portrait.


    ke rose to his full height, turning to the headmaster with wolf-gold still swirling in his eyes. "What punishment did you give the kid who trashed myte mate and bullied my son?"


    The headmaster''s throat bobbed. "He received medical attention-"


    Bill


    "A bandage isn''t punishment," ke cut in with arctic coldness. "That little shit insulted the Morgan legacy, disrespected my fated mate, and verbally attacked my son. By tribalw, that''s grounds for his whole family to be kicked off packnds."


    The headmaster went chalk-white. "We had no idea-"


    "Now you do." ke''s tone mmed the door on further excuses. "I want a full report on what happens to this kid. Handle it wrong, and Silverpeak Academy might find itself without Morgan backing. Clear?"


    The headmaster nodded frantically. "Crystal clear, Alpha King."


    ke held his hand out to Lucas. ''You''reing home with us today."


    Lucas nced at me, checking if "us" included me. I nodded with a reassuring smile.


    ke extended his other hand to me. "Ready to go, babe?''


    That casual endearment echoed in my ears as I slid my hand into his waiting palm. His fingers closed around mine with familiar ease, like we''d been doing this dance for years.


    "Yeah, I said softly, then reached for Lucas''s hand, Let''s blow this joint."


    Lucas beamed like Christmas hade early, his eyes bouncing between us with pure joy. A strange warmth spread through me-almost making me believe this wasn''t just an act.


    Walking through the academy halls, our little trio plus Hunter drew every eye. Students and teachers froze as we passed, whispering furiously: That''s the new Morgan Luna? She looks perfect with the Alpha King. Lucas finally has a mom again...


    At the entrance, sunlight hit us like a spotlight. ke suddenly halted, eyeing Tyler and the guards waiting outside. His grip on my hand tightened as he leaned close to my ear.


    "Show''s not over yet," he murmured. "Stay with me."


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