Her expression dimmed, and she said nothing "Star, Gabriel said softly, breaking the tension as he slid a small bowl he'd shaped toward his niece, "look at this Do you like it?" Star's attention immediately shifted to it, completely forgetting her earlier question. June looked down, her fingers absently tracing the rough texture of the clay. Warmth spread through her chest, mixed with an ache she couldn't name. She knew Gabriel was giving her space- Just like he had for the past three months, always keeping a respectful distance without pushing her. 1 go get some fresh water," she said suddenly, standing and hurrying away. In the bathroom, June stared at her reflection. Three months later, the dark circles under her eyes had faded, her mouth was no longer set in a hard line, and the scars on her body had lightened. Moonlight Ridge's fresh air and peaceful atmosphere seemed to heal the invisible wounds she'd carried. But when Star talked about staying together forever, all she could see were Kai and Cora's faces- The pups she'd carried for months, yet who had pushed her down the stairs. Could she ever truly let go of the past? Alpha Nicholas's private SUV convoy pulled into Moonlight Ridge that same day. The mountain sun blazed down intensely, and he squinted as he watched the pack security help the two pups out of the vehicles. "Daddy, are we really going to see Mommy?" Cora asked, looking up at him with eyes that mixed hope and feat "Absolutely Nicholas said, straightening his leather jacket with a steady, confident voice. "She'll be so happy to see you both. His beta hurried over and handed him a file. "Alpha, we've confirmed your mate's location. She's at the local pottery studio in the town center, and she's with... those two people." The file included a surveillance photo: June stood crouched in front of a little girl, gently wiping clay from her face A tall man with glasses stood nearby, smiling warmly at them both. Sunlight streamed through the windows, bathing the trio in a glow that felt almost painfully perfect. Nicholas's fingers tightened involuntarily, nearly crushing the edge of the photo. He knew that look in the man's eyes all too well-it was a tenderness he'd never once shown June. "Get the cars ready," he said coldly. "We're going there now." During the drive, Kai and Cora were unusually quiet. They pressed against the car window, staring at the unfamiliar mountain town, their small hands clutching at their clothes nervously. Nicholas noticed that the pups had deliberately worn the outfits June had bought them last year-though they'd already grown a bit too big for them. "Daddy," Kai whispered suddenly, his young face etched with deep anxiety, "do you think Mommy will forgive Us?" Nicholas didn't answer right away. He flashed back to the security footage: June's anguished expression as she was pushed down the stairs, and the determined way she'd walked away for good. "She will," he finally said, unsure if he was lying to them or to himself. "Mommy loves you more than anything. She wouldn't just turn you away." The convoy pulled up in front of a place called Mountain Clay Studio. Through the large windows, Nicholas spotted June immediately. She was dressed in a simple white t-shirt and jeans, her hair tied back casually as she focused on shaping a piece of clay. Sunlight caught her profile, giving her a soft, radiant glow that made her seem completely at peace. Out of nowhere, the little girl named Star grabbed a handful of clay and playfully smeared it across June's face To Nicholas's surprise, June didn't get angry-instead, she laughed and reached out to smear some back. She was laughing so freely, so full of joy-it was a smile Nicholas hadn't seen from her in years. "Mommy!" Cora cried from beside him, suddenly breaking free from the security guard's hold and running int the studio. Nicholas couldn't stop her in time and hurried after her. The door swung open with a sharp jingle of bells, and June looked up, her smile freezing on her face. "Cora? Her voice trembled slightly as her gaze skipped past the pup and landed on Nicholas. But her expression wasn't welcoming-it was pure resistance and cold detachment. "What are you doing here? How did you even find me?" Star stared curiously at the intruders and instinctively hid behind June. Dr Gabriel stepped to his feet, moving subtly in front of the two of them. "Mommy" Kai burst in next, wrapping his arms around June's legs, tears welling in his eyes. "We miss you so much is this why you've been away-because of these two? Just for them?" He glared at Star with raw hostility, his stare so fierce that she clutched June's clothes tighter in fear. June stood frozen, her hands hovering in the air, unsure whether to embrace them. But when she caught sigh of Kal's accusing eyes, she snapped back to her senses, her own gaze turning cool and distant. She didn't hu them back instead, she took a small step away. Her eyes darted between the pups and Dr. Gabriel before settling on Nicholas. "What do you want?" she asked, her voice soft but sharp as a blade. Nicholas stepped forward, his gaze sweeping over Dr Gabriel before fixing on June. "June... we're here to take you home. You've made your point. The pups know they were wrong-just come back with us." The studio fell into heavy, tense silence. The other customers and staff looked around nervously, unsure how to handle the supernatural family drama unfolding in their human establishment, while some pulled out their phones to film what looked like an intense custody dispute. "Home?" June scoffed "Which one?" "Mommy, please come back with us!" Cora pleaded, tugging at June's hand, her eyes now filled with desperate longing instead of her usual attitude. "We promise we won't make you angry ever again!" "Yeah, Mommy," Kai chimed in quickly, "we got rid of Aunt Megan! Dad said you're our only mom from now on!" June's expression shifted slightly. She crouched down to their level, meeting their eyes directly. "I'm not going back with you, because not everything can be fixed with just an apology." "Why not?" Cora's tears spilled over. "Does that mean you don't love us anymore?" The question hit June like a punch to the gut.