The Alpha's Dark Solstice Claim

Chapter 6 - The lie.

Marybeth

I couldn’t lie to myself anymore. Not after the way he looked at Eli. Not after the way something inside me shifted when he said my name, like it still mattered. For seven years, I had told myself it was a mistake.

That I had imagined it. That he had walked away easily. Standing there now, watching him look at my son … I knew I had been wrong. And that was dangerous. Because it meant I still felt something. Eli stood a few feet away, eating his almonds, unaware of the tension tightening between us.

Rowan’s attention kept drifting back to him, like instinct had already decided. And instinct didn’t care about consequences.

“Marybeth,” Rowan said quietly.

“Yes?” I lifted my chin.

“If he’s mine …” He didn’t finish. I already knew where it led. Acknowledgment. Claim. Structure. Everything I had refused. I opened my mouth.

I was going to answer him. Honestly. For the first time since I returned, I was going to say it. Yes. And then … A presence cut through the air behind him. Sharp. Cold. Controlled. I felt it before I saw her.

Seraphina. Rowan turned slightly as she stepped onto the edge of the square, her expression composed, her posture flawless, her gaze already fixed on us. On me. On Eli. Understanding dawned in her eyes with terrifying speed.

Not confusion. Not surprise. Recognition. She knew. Of course, she did. She had always been perceptive. It was one of the reasons she had survived as Luna this long. Her gaze flicked once more to Eli. And in that single glance, I saw everything.

Calculation. Pain. And something darker. Something that made my wolf go very still. I swallowed. The moment shattered. Whatever I had been about to say … Whatever truth had been sitting on the edge of my tongue … I crushed it.

“No.” The word came out clean. Certain. Final.

“What?” Rowan stilled.

“He’s not yours,” I said, holding his gaze. The lie tasted bitter. But I didn’t look away. Because I couldn’t afford to. Not with Seraphina standing behind him. Not with everything at stake. Rowan’s expression didn’t change immediately.

But something in his eyes shifted. Not doubt. Not confusion. Something quieter. Like he didn’t believe me … But didn’t know why I would lie.

“Marybeth,” he said slowly.

“I raised him alone,” I cut in. “You told me to forget. I did.” Every word was measured. Controlled. Careful. “I moved on.” The silence between us stretched thin. Seraphina stepped closer. Close enough now that her presence pressed against the back of the conversation.

“How unexpected,” she said lightly. Her voice was smooth. Perfect. As if she hadn’t just walked into something that could fracture her entire world. “Marybeth Calloway,” she continued. “It’s been a long time.”

“Seraphina.” We held each other’s gaze. Neither of us smiled. Neither of us needed to. Her attention shifted briefly to Eli again. Just long enough to acknowledge him. Not long enough to show anything real.

“A child,” she said. “How … fortunate.” The word wasn’t kind. It wasn’t cruel either. It was something in between. Something that sat wrong in my chest.

“He’s mine,” I said. The statement came out sharper than I intended. Seraphina’s eyes flicked back to me.

“Of course,” she replied smoothly. Rowan hadn’t moved. He was still watching me. Still searching my face. Still not convinced. I couldn’t let this stretch any longer.

“Eli,” I called.

“Yeah?” He looked up immediately and jogged back over, still holding his paper cone.

“We’re leaving.” I sighed.

“But I just got …” He started protesting.

“Now.” The firmness in my voice made him stop arguing.

“Okay,” he muttered, falling into step beside me. I didn’t look back immediately. Because I knew if I did … I might hesitate. And hesitation was the one thing I couldn’t afford.

“Marybeth.” Rowan’s voice followed me. I paused. Just for a second. Not enough to turn.

“Yes?” Silence. Then …

“Be careful.” The words were quiet. But they carried something I hadn’t expected. Not suspicion. Not accusation. Concern. My chest tightened painfully.

“I always am,” I replied. Then I kept walking. My father was waiting when we got back. Not in the study this time. In the kitchen. Leaning against the counter, a cup of coffee in his hand. He looked up as I walked in. His gaze moved over me. Then to Eli. Then back again.

“You saw him,” he said. Not sharp. Not demanding. Just … certain.

“Yes.” I sighed.

“And?” he frowned.

“Nothing.” I set my coat down slowly. My father always knew that there was something between me and Roman. So, of course, he didn’t believe me. But he didn’t push immediately either. Eli slipped past us toward the living room, already distracted. Good. This wasn’t for him.

“What happened, Marybeth?” My father set his cup aside. The way he said it … quiet, patient … made it harder to deflect. I exhaled slowly.

“He knows,” I said. A flicker of understanding crossed his face.

“Knows what?” He suddenly looked confused.

“That Eli might be his.” Silence settled. Not heavy. But focused.

“And you told him?” he asked.

“No.” I sighed, trying to figure out if I should tell my father the truth. His brows drew together slightly.

“What did you say?” He studied me carefully.

“I told him Eli wasn’t his.” Another pause. Not disapproval. Not yet. Just consideration.

“Why?” he asked gently. I looked down at my hands. Because the answer wasn’t simple. Not something I could explain cleanly.

“Because I needed time,” I said. “To think. To decide what’s best for Eli.”

“And do you know what that is yet?” My father studied me for a long moment.

“No.” The honesty came easier than I expected. “But I know what it isn’t,” I added quietly.

“What?” He frowned.

“Letting someone else decide for me.” His expression softened slightly. Not disagreement. Understanding.

“And you don’t regret it?” he asked.

“No.” I met his gaze. I didn’t. Not even a little. Because whatever happens next … It would be my choice.

Seraphina

I knew the moment I saw the boy. It wasn’t subtle. It couldn’t be. The resemblance alone would have been enough. But it wasn’t just that. It was Rowan. The way he had stopped moving. The way his attention had locked.

The way something in him had shifted … instantly, completely. I had never seen him look like that. Not for me. Not for anything. And that was what hurt the most. Marybeth Calloway. Of course, it was her.

I had known about her for years. Not in detail. Not openly. But enough. The rival Alpha’s daughter. The quiet tension that had once existed. The night no one spoke about … but everyone understood had happened.

I had chosen not to question it. Because questioning it would have cost me everything. My place. My position. My future. So, I endured. I adapted. I became what the pack needed me to be. Luna. Steady. Controlled. Unshakable.

And I waited. Waited for time to erase what had come before me. It should have worked. It always did. But Marybeth hadn’t stayed gone. She had come back. With a child. With his child. My fingers curled slowly into my palms.

The pain was sharp. Immediate. But I didn’t let it reach my face. I never did. Because control was everything. Marybeth denied it. Cleanly. Confidently. But I didn’t believe her. I didn’t need to. I had seen Rowan’s face.

And I knew him well enough to understand what that meant. The boy was his. Which meant everything had just changed. A child. An heir. Something I had never been able to give him. My throat tightened.

I forced it down. This was not the moment to break. Not here. Not in front of him. Or her. I stepped closer, resting my hand lightly against Rowan’s arm. Grounding. Claiming. Reminding. He didn’t pull away. But he didn’t lean into it either.

That was new. I noticed. Of course, I did. I noticed everything. Marybeth left quickly. Too quickly. Running. I watched her go. Calm. Composed. Perfect. Until she was out of sight. Then … My hand tightened slightly against Rowan’s sleeve.

Just for a second. Enough to feel something real.

“You don’t believe her,” I sighed. He didn’t answer. He didn’t need to. My nails pressed into my palm. Hard enough to hurt. Good. Pain kept me focused. I had built this life. Earned it. Held it together when others would have broken.

I would not lose it now. Not to Marybeth. Not to a child. Not to something that should have stayed buried. My gaze followed the direction Marybeth had gone. Cold. Measured. Certain. I would endure this too. But this time …

Endurance wouldn’t be enough. I would not let Marybeth take Rowan away. Whatever it took … I would not lose.