---- Chapter 5 Eric didn't listen to my warning. He doubled down, sending a bouquet of flowers to my company's reception every single day. He brought me lunch, rain or shine, even after I threw it in the trash right in front of him. He even started staking out my apartment building, parking his car outside. I could clearly smell his scent, the oppressive weight of his Alpha presence driving me crazy. His blatant behavior quickly got my colleagues talking. Thad no choice but to tell them the truth. Hearing my story, they were furious on my behalf and quickly formed a united front. My colleagues immediately organized themselves, taking turns escorting me in and out of the office. Eric couldn't keep it up for long. ---- I didn't care about his games. I knew he couldn't keep this up forever. He had a massive family corporation and pack affairs to manage. Just as he finally seemed to be giving up, I got a call from River. I froze for a long moment, my finger hovering over the screen, my heart pounding. I couldn't remember the last time he had called me on his own. Then, I answered, but said nothing. The silence on the line was suffocating. I could almost hear his careful breathing. Finally, a weak, stuffy voice, soaked in the vulnerability of sickness, came timidly through the receiver. It held a pleading tone I almost didn't recognize. ---- "Mom, I miss you so much... Can you and Dad just... come see me? Please? Just once... please?" Ever since Eric took him, River had almost never spoken to me like this. Perhaps being sick made him feel more vulnerable, more like a wounded little cub. The more he spoke, the more upset he became, until his voice was thick with unshed tears. "T know... I was awful to you before. I was always annoyed with you, always on Dad's side... I'm sorry, " Mom. I was wrong. I really, really miss you... In the end, I didn't agree to go back with Eric. There was a time when a single cough from River would have kept me up all night. And now, hearing River plead through his tears, my heart still ached. But after the pain, there was a sharp clarity. Going back to revolving around them, doing that