Adrian's words shocked me. I immediately turned to glare at him. Hostility filled his eyes.

I longed to yell, to tell him the truth—those children were his own blood, not the "fruit of sin." But I hesitated. He might claim they were the product of a paid encounter. For a moment, I considered whether this man even deserved to know the truth about my children.

However, I remained silent. I needed to control my temper. Coming here felt like a challenge; this man wouldn't let me rest.

Grace Miller, her voice sharp, reprimanded her son: "What's wrong with you, Adrian? Why are you saying this? No one does that."

Adrian chuckled darkly. "People do that, Mom. Or, I should say, some people do. Many don't give their children their father's name. Do you…"

Frowns etched everyone's faces. Beta Patric cleared his throat and patted Adrian's shoulder. "Alpha, let's not discuss others."

"Why not, Patric? In our society, people call those children bas—"

"ALPHA ADRIAN!" I yelled, interrupting him.

I stood, glaring at him. His parents looked shocked; they didn't know he was talking about my children.

I couldn't look away. My body trembled with rage. He rolled his eyes, unconcerned. His only goal: to hurt me.

Tears welled, but I fought them back. He's going to call his own children bastards! I thought, clenching my fists.

Lucas Miller addressed his son: "Adrian, will you shut your mouth? What gives you the audacity to call Natalia those names?" He assumed Adrian was referring to me, given my adoption.

Adrian remained silent, his piercing gaze fixed on me. His narrowed eyes betrayed his knowledge and hatred. Calm down, Natalia. Don't give him the satisfaction, I told myself.

I turned to Uncle Lucas and Auntie Grace. "I apologize for my behavior," I mumbled, lowering my head. Despite my fury, he was their Alpha; yelling was inappropriate. However, if we'd been alone, I would have slapped him again, like that night in the hotel. How dare he speak of my children?

"It's okay, Natalia," Uncle Lucas said.

Auntie Grace, still frowning at Adrian, said, "He should be apologizing, not you. Sometimes, I feel this boy is beyond our control."

Their demeanor showed their displeasure. I remembered Uncle Lucas's disappointed look at the pack party, watching Lynda. Was she the reason for their distance?

"Just because I don't argue, you can't disrespect me," Adrian retorted to his parents.

Uncle Lucas scoffed. "Now you'll discipline us? Do you want us to bow to you, Alpha?"

Auntie Grace grasped his hand, patting his shoulder. "Lucas, let it go. You're not well enough to argue."

Adrian smirked, then turned to Beta Patric. "Beta Patric, remind them of their words when I was an ordinary pack member."

Patric looked at him, shaking his head in protest, but Adrian was stubborn. He glared at Patric, urging him on. Patric reluctantly repeated Alpha Lucas's words from his time as Alpha: "When it comes to position, age and relationship are irrelevant. If you're the Alpha, everyone bows."

Everyone stared. Adrian chuckled, stood, and fixed his gaze on me, then his father. "Remember your words. The way you messed with my life, I'll never forgive you."

His father looked away; his mother's eyes filled with tears. I felt terrible watching their helplessness. How could he treat them like this? How could he forget they gave him life and position? His arrogance was staggering.

"I'm leaving," he announced, heading for the door.

Beta Patric, without a word, glanced at me and Adrian's parents, guilt evident on his face.

Once Adrian and his Beta were gone, I turned to his parents. Uncle Lucas's hand trembled; he looked sick, physically and mentally. Auntie Grace wept, shocking me. She was so strong. I couldn't help but ask,

"Why don't you scold him? He was unbearable."

Uncle Lucas sighed. "These past few years… he's not the Adrian I knew, the one I could discipline. He's the Alpha, a fighter, a ruler of the wolf world."

"But he's your son."

Auntie Grace shook her head. "He still believes we ruined his life by forcing him to marry you."