20 She opened her mouth, a bitter smile twisting her face as she asked, "Wasn't it you who pushed me down the stairs and lied about the moonlight grass? Didn't you do those things with your own hands?" "And what about saying you didn't want me as your mom, that you only wanted Megan Silvermoon to be your mom? Weren't those your own words?" "I always thought of myself as trying my best, even If I wasn't the perfect Luna-I put everything I had into caring for you, loving you with all my heart." "So why did it all end up like this?" The two pups flushed red with shame, too embarrassed to speak, but Kal refused to back down and pleaded again, "Mom, we were just little pups back then... I know I was wrong now. Please, can you forgive us?" Before June could respond, Star piped up timidly, her small hand clutching June's shirt, her big eyes brimmin with tears. "Auntie June... are you leaving?" Dr. Gabriel bent down and scooped up his niece, soothing her gently. "Star, don't be scared. She won't abandon you... No matter where she chooses to go, we have to respect that choice." "And even if she's not here, she'll still come visit you often to play." Nicholas watched the scene unfold, nameless rage flaring in his chest. What gave this stranger the right to use such intimate terms? What made him think he could hold that pup and stand by June's side like they were the real family? "June Blackstone," he stepped forward, his voice low and dangerous, "stop being so stubborn. The pups nee you." "Are you saying that as a mother, you'd rather give up raising your own flesh and blood just to take care of someone else's kid?" "Me, stubborn? And they need me?" June rose to her feet, her eyes flashing with a cold light Nicholas had never seen before. "Did they need me when they pushed me down the stairs?" "Did they need me when they said they hated me in front of everyone?" "Did they need me when they called Megan Silvermoon 'mom'?" Each question landed like a slap, leaving Nicholas speechless and reeling. The pups wailed even louder, clinging desperately to June's clothes and refusing to let go. "We're sorry... Mom..." Cora sobbed, gasping for breath, "We'll only love you from now on... We promise we won't hurt you ever again." June's eyes reddened, but her resolve didn't waver. Dr. Gabriel quietly handed her a tissue, a small gesture that only fueled Nicholas's fury. "Who do you think you are?" he demanded coldly. "What gives you the right to butt into pack business?" Dr. Gabriel adjusted his glasses calmly, his voice steady as he replied, "I'm June's friend. As for the right..." He glanced at the two pups, now sobbing uncontrollably. "I think the people who hurt her have no business asking me that question." Nicholas's fists clenched until his knuckles cracked. Just as the tension thickened like a storm about to break, Star whispered, "Auntie June, we haven't finished the bowl we were making..." That simple comment sealed June's decision. She took a deep breath and turned to Nicholas. "Please take the pups and leave... I'm saying it again: there's nothing left to discuss between us." 'Mom!" the pups screamed in unison, wrapping their arms around her legs and holding on tight. "Please, don' leave us!" The scene erupted into chaos. The studio owner looked around nervously, wondering if they should contact someone from the local supernatural community, while other customers continued filming what they assumed was just an intense family dispute. June stood at the heart of the storm, her face pale as snow. Nicholas stared at her trembling hands and suddenly realized he'd made a catastrophic mistake. He'd assumed showing up with the pups would win her over, but he'd completely overlooked her pain. Those wounds weren't something a quick apology could heal-like a shattered piece of pottery, no matter how you tried to fix it, the cracks would always show. "Kai, Cora..." he said haltingly, "let's go back to the territory for now." "No!" Kai cried defiantly, gripping June's clothes and refusing to let go. "We want our mom! You said today you'd bring her back home with us-you promised!" June shut her eyes, silent tears streaming down her cheeks. Dr. Gabriel quietly offered her Star's small hand, and the little girl grasped June's fingers tightly, as if lending her strength. "Nicholas Blackstone," June sald, her voice as icy as a winter wind, without a trace of hesitation, "take them away. I've already told you-I can't forgive what happened before." "If you're here about support payments, I can transfer the money without a second thought." "As for anything else, don't bring it up again. If you show up like this once more, I won't hesitate to contact the local pack authorities." Her words hit like a sledgehammer, shattering what was left of Nicholas's confidence. Chante to He'd believed she would soften, that she'd come back for the sake of the pups. But her determination to leave was unshakeable. He bent down, forcibly lifting the two pups despite their cries and struggles, and strode toward the door. Before pushing it open and stepping out, he glanced back one last time- June was crouched on the ground, comforting Star, with Dr. Gabriel standing close beside them. The three of them looked so intimate, so perfectly content.