Chapter 4

Ethan Cross is standing beside one of the exhibition booths.

A candidate distributor badge hangs from his chest.

Three years have passed since I last saw him.

He looks older now. More polished. More confident.

Maya stands beside him, holding the hand of a little rabbit-eared boy.

The moment Ethan recognizes me, he freezes.

Then his expression changes into something almost smug.

“So you finally decided to stop hiding from me.”

He looks me up and down.

“Three years should've been enough time to get over your little tantrum.”

I glance at him without answering.

I dressed simply today.

Leo is wearing a plain gray pup outfit, nothing that shows who he is.

Ethan's eyes move to the little wolf ears on top of Leo's head.

His brows pull together.

“What happened to you?”

He looks almost offended on my behalf.

“You're working as a nanny now?”

Leo immediately tightens his arms around my neck.

“She’s not a nanny.”

His little voice is sharp.

“She’s my mommy.”

Ethan laughs.

“Pups get attached easily.”

He looks at Leo like the answer is obvious.

“You stay with a young shifter long enough, and they start calling you Mom.”

Then his eyes return to me.

This time, there is pity in them.

“I heard you ran straight to Alexander Vale after I claimed Maya.”

He shakes his head.

“You really did all that just to make me jealous.”

A faint smile touches his mouth.

“Everyone knew Alexander hated you after what happened eight years ago.”

“You honestly thought the Alpha of Silvermoon Pack would take you back?”

His gaze sweeps over my clothes again.

“So he kicked you out, and without me around to take care of you, this is what you ended up doing?”

“A nanny?”

Maya gently tugs on Ethan's sleeve.

“Ethan, don't say that.”

Her voice is soft.

“Freya has always been proud.”

Then she looks at Leo.

“But wolf pups can be exhausting.”

She gives me a sweet smile.

“It must be hard taking care of him by yourself.”

“We actually need someone to help with Milo at home.”

She squeezes the little boy's hand.

“You were always so good at taking care of Ethan.”

“You'd probably be great with our son too.”

Ethan nods.

“We'd pay you well.”

He gestures toward the badge hanging from his chest.

“And I'm here today to secure MoonNest's Northern Territory distribution contract.”

“Once Cross Industries gets the deal, we'll be expanding fast.”

He looks at me like he is doing me a favor.

“I could probably find you a proper position later.”

My eyes drop to his badge.

“Northern Territory distributor?”

“Yeah.”

Ethan lifts his chin.

“The founder of MoonNest is coming here personally today.”

He sounds completely certain.

“Out of every company on the candidate list, Cross Industries is the strongest.”

“That contract is mine.”

I look at him calmly.

“Then you're going to be disappointed.”

His smile fades slightly.

“Your application won't be approved.”

Maya bursts out laughing.

She quickly covers her mouth.

“Sorry.”

But she doesn't look sorry at all.

“Freya, did you work here for a few days and start thinking you get to choose the distributors?”

Ethan's expression darkens.

“Three years apart, and now you just make things up?”

I don't bother answering.

Then Maya suddenly looks down at Leo's wrist.

Her face changes.

A black-and-gold band is wrapped around it.

She goes completely still.

“Wait.”

She steps closer.

Her eyes widen.

“That’s a Silvermoon heir band.”

Ethan turns sharply.

“What?”

Maya points at Leo's wrist.

“That security band is only issued to the Alpha's direct heir.”

She stares at the little boy.

“Why is it on this pup?”

Before I can move, Ethan grabs my wrist.

“Freya.”

His voice turns cold.

“Did you steal something from Silvermoon?”

I yank my hand free.

“Don't touch me.”

But Ethan looks like he has already decided what happened.

He studies Leo from head to toe.

“The Silvermoon Alpha's son has never been shown publicly.”

His eyes narrow.

“No one outside their inner circle even knows what the kid looks like.”

He points at the band.

“And now you're putting the Silvermoon heir's security band on some random pup?”

Leo immediately scowls.

“I’m not random.”

Ethan ignores him.

“You want people to think this kid is Alexander's son?”

“So you can use the Silvermoon name to get special treatment?”

Maya suddenly looks like everything makes sense.

“Oh.”

She looks at me in fake shock.

“That explains it.”

“That’s why Freya said she could decide who gets the MoonNest contract.”

Her voice drops.

“She's pretending to be connected to Silvermoon.”

Ethan's face hardens completely.

He looks at me like I have finally crossed a line even he cannot excuse.

“Freya.”

“Do you have any idea what happens to someone who impersonates the heir of Silvermoon Pack?”