Audrey's POV
This was the first time I'd seen Fen in days.
Eight years. Eight long years I had raised him as my own cub, believing he was my blood. Every late night, every tear, every tantrum I soothed—everything I did—I had done for him. And now… he wasn't mine. Not at all. He belonged to Lisa.
Fen's small face twisted in disgust, his wolfish eyes flashing as he glared at me. "I was sick in the hospital. Why didn't you come see me?"
I felt my blood roar beneath my skin, fury and ice lacing my veins. My voice was cold as winter moonlight. "Isn't Lisa your mother? You have her. That should be enough."
Lisa's eyes narrowed at my words.
For a moment, I thought she suspected I had learned the truth. But she was dull enough to accept it as a mere coincidence.
Surely, If she had known before, she would have acted. She would have seen this coming.
Fen's temper erupted like wildfire. "Because you didn't come! Lisa stayed with me the whole time! She told me you were too strict before—you never let me eat spicy food, and now I'm allergic to peppers! This is all your fault!"
His little fists bunched, his voice sharpening like feral claws. "And you bad-mouthed Lisa in front of Grandma, making her yell at her. You're nothing but a cruel witch!"
I froze, staring at Fen. Red welled in my eyes, and my chest constricted. Eight years of feeding him, teaching him, holding him through every storm… and now, Lisa's poison alone had turned him against me.
So this is what people meant when they said birth isn't enough. The love of raising a child can be erased in a heartbeat by lies whispered by the mother.
Fen sneered at me, a predator in miniature. "Since you hurt Lisa, I'll take revenge for her!"
Before I could react, he pulled a folded letter from his pocket and flicked open a lighter.
Time froze. My heart raced in my chest, my mind reeling.
"No… don't…"
Ignoring the pain in my injured leg, I grabbed my crutch and surged forward. Sharp agony shot through me, but I didn't care. That letter… my father's words… his blessing… could not burn in my hands.
By the time I reached the second floor, the edges were already blackened. Flames licked the paper hungrily.
Instinct overrode everything else. I slapped at the fire, ignoring the sting, until only scorched scraps remained.
Fen stood there, hands on his hips, smug as a wolf claiming territory. "See? Now you know you were wrong. Apologize to Lisa!"
He thought he had me cornered. He thought he had power.
I clenched the charred fragments in my hand, fingertips trembling, smoke curling around my fingers. Only a few words remained legible—my father's blessing for my eighteenth birthday, the last warmth he had left me. Now Fen had turned it to ash.
"Fen Blackthorne!" My voice cut through the air like a snapping branch. Red burned in my eyes, my fury rising. "Didn't I teach you respect? You never destroy what belongs to someone else!"
For a fraction of a second, fear flashed across his face. His posture shrank, ears flat as if he was a cornered animal. But the defiance didn't leave him. He still thought himself justified. After all, he'd been spoiled all his life.
He lifted his chin and sneered. "It's just paper. Why are you mad? I didn't see a problem. You didn't come when I was sick, so why should I care?"
I felt my claws extend beneath my skin, teeth gnashing. "It's not just paper! That was my father's memory! His blessing! How dare you touch it!"
Without thinking, I struck him across the cheek. The slap echoed like a wolf's growl in the still air.
Fen froze, eyes wide, shock paralyzing him. Slowly, he touched his reddening cheek… and then the flood came. Bitter, jagged sobs ripped from him. "You hit me! I hate you! You're not my mom anymore! I don't want you to be my mom!"
I froze as well, a slight tremble spreading across my body. I lost it. I lost control. I actually slapped him.
This was the first time I raised my hand against a child.
"Audrey! How dare you!" Lisa's voice pierced the room, sharp as silver claws. She flew up the stairs, dragging Fen into her arms. His sobs shook him violently as she held him, desperate and trembling.
"Lisa! She hit me! She's never hit me before! She's a cruel witch! She's not my mom!" Fen cried, burying his face into Lisa's shoulder. "I don't want her to be my mom!"