Chapter 2
Moonweave was notoriously complex to repair, and this piece bore a significant tear. The restoration would take considerable time.
After three hours in the bitter cold, her fingers were too numb for such delicate work.
But Ash erupted: “You’re useless! You just don’t want to do it! I promised Sweet Sister it would be fixed tomorrow. You have to do it today!”
Ravenna clutched her warm cup, her voice like frost: “Ash, I’m your mother, not your servant!”
She rarely showed strictness with Ash. His inherited brilliance meant she never worried about his studies.
Instead, Ravenna had devoted herself to being his caretaker, attending to his every need.
From daily necessities to his health–she’d been meticulous in her care.
Yet Ash always found fault.
accustomed to her domestic devotion, he took her service for granted, while constantly criticizing her efforts.
Even her storytelling voice wasn’t the right pitch for him.
Ravenna had understood that raising a gifted pup came with challenges, so she’d endured it all.
But now, her patience had run dry.
Startled by her tone, Ash looked to his father.
Valdrin emerged from the kitchen, addressing Ash: “Let your mother rest tonight. She can fix it
tomorrow.”
Suddenly, Valdrin resumed his role as the attentive mate.
Wearing an apron, his gaze soft, he tucked a heated stone into Ravenna’s lap and stroked her hair. “Why get angry with a pup?”
Ravenna shifted away from his touch.
Her voice was eerily calm: “I’m not angry with him.”
She was simply informing Ash that she would no longer be his servant.
Valdrin’s hand froze mid air before withdrawing.
The silence carried an unsettling weight, an inexplicable sense of loss.
Valdrin frowned. This wasn’t like Ravenna. He’d expected tears, accusations, resentment–then
eventual submission.
Instead, she’d skipped straight to acceptance.
As if she simply didn’t care anymore.
“Let’s eat,” Valdrin changed the subject, bringing out a bowl of venison stew, made from a fresh kill from the sacred hunting grounds.
He served Ravenna first.
“Warm yourself with this, Isn’t herb–seasoned venison your favorite?”
Ravenna stared at the rich broth, the tender meat infused with sacred herbs that only grew under the full moon.
Valdrin’s specialty.
But-
Bitterness rose in her throat.
“Herb–seasoned venison was Winter’s favorite.”
Valdrin paused briefly, then continued casually: “You’re sisters. Your tastes should be similar.”
Ravenna laughed mirthlessly.
Her preferences were nothing like Winter’s.
But Valdrin only remembered Winter’s likes.
His mind, usually occupied with pack alliances and territory negotiations, had carved out a special place for every detail about Winter.
Chapter 1
“I hate venison,” Ravenna said quietly.
“I hate its gamey taste. It’s repulsive. Like eating dirt.”
Valdrin continued serving, his voice neutral: “It strengthens your wolf heart.”
Ravenna’s grip tightened on her spoon. So that was his concern.
She said nothing more, forcing down the bowl before retreating to her chamber.
For eight years, Ravenna and Valdrin had slept in separate chambers.
Valdrin claimed his wolf senses were too acute for shared sleeping quarters, so she’d volunteered to take the guest wing. Eight years in solitude.
In truth, he simply couldn’t bear sharing a bed with her.
Now, none of it mattered to Ravenna anymore.
The next morning, she woke with a pounding head, disoriented and weak.
Loud banging echoed through her door.
Mother! Useless mother! Why haven’t you risen to prepare my morning hunt?”
Ravenna’s body felt leaden. She struggled to rise, realizing it was already past moonset.
1
Ash needed to join the young pups‘ training at first light. Usually, she’d wake before dawn to prepare
his morning meal and pack his training gear.
When she opened the door, Ash kicked her leg with his boot.
At seven, his wolf strength was already formidable. Ravenna stumbled back, gripping the doorframe
to stay upright.
“Where’s Father?”
The den was empty, no trace of Valdrin
Ash sneered, “Father has pack duties. He’s busy leading our territory. All you do is laze around the den, and you can’t even wake up to feed me.”
Indeed, Valdrin was always occupied.
The Alphar’s Salostitute Ima. A Heart Claimed A Soul Reborn
As Alpha of Silver Creek territory, his duties were endless, consumed by pack politics and border. disputes, leaving little time for family.
When Ash had fallen ill as a pup, she’d taken him alone to the pack healer, running between. herbalists and medicine women until she collapsed from exhaustion. After Ash recovered, she fell ill herself.
Valdrin’s only response had been a cold: “Next time, send a pack servant.”
So dismissive, those words.
Having never raised a pup himself, he couldn’t understand a mother’s worry when her child was sick.
Pack servants could run errands, but how could she trust them with her pup’s care and comfort?
Valdrin never understood this, only criticized her for not delegating.
Now Ash shared his view.
“Aunt Winter is right–you’re just lazy, not a proper mother at all!”
A child’s cruel words cut deepest.
Ravenna stared at her son, the pup she’d carried through nine moons.
She’d raised him from first breath, when he’d nuzzle into her neck, swearing with a pup’s conviction to protect his mother when he grew strong.
How had it come to this?
Ravenna’s laugh was bitter: “Ash, can’t you sense I’m ill?”
Ash finally noticed her pallor.
His frown mirrored his father’s coldness, showing irritation rather than concern.
“How stupid, getting sick at a time like this. Someone who can’t even maintain their wolf strength doesn’t deserve to be my mother.”
With that, Ash left with his training gear.
Ravenna slumped against the doorframe, her vision swimming.
„The Alpha’s Substitute Laina
The door slammed shut.
Clutching her chest, Ravenna thought bitterly: Soon, I won’t be your mother at all.
www
„The Alphar’s Substitute Lana A Heart Claimed
