“Ethan,” I whimpered, “it hurts…”
He turned to Olivia and his grandmother, his amber eyes blazing with fury. “This has gone too
far!”
Without waiting for their response, he carried me swiftly toward the Silvercrest Pack Medical
Den, my blood staining his expensive shirt.
Despite the pain, I felt a surge of triumph. Once again, Olivia had lost control, proving herself
unstable and dangerous. And once again, Ethan had chosen me.
At the Silvercrest Pack Medical Den, Dr. Harold Bennett examined my facial wound with a
grave expression. His fingers probed gently around the deep gash that ran from my temple to
my jaw.
“The cut is deep,” he said, reaching for a specialized healing salve. “And there are fragments of
moonstone embedded in the wound.”
I winced dramatically as he applied the salve. “Will it… will it leave a scar?”
Dr. Bennett hesitated, his eyes flickering to Ethan who stood anxiously at my bedside. “I’m
afraid it might, Ms. Frost. Moonstone injuries can be difficult to heal completely.”
Tears welled in my eyes–real ones this time. My beauty had always been my greatest
weapon. Without it, my power over Ethan might wane.
“Ethan,” I whispered, reaching for his hand. “Will you still love me when I’m no longer
beautiful?”
His fingers tightened around mine, but I noticed his hesitation. “We’ll find the best healers in
the Northern Territories, Victoria. Don’t worry about that now.”
He hadn’t answered my question. The realization sent a chill through me.
I quickly changed tactics, turning my face into the pillow as if overcome with emotion. “At least Emma still has me,” I murmured. “I only wish I could have done more for Lily. If I could
2/6
< Chapter 106: A Death and a D
have given my life for your daughter, I would have.”
+15 Points >
I watched him carefully through my lashes, gauging his reaction. His face softened with the
mention of Lily, pain and regret evident in his amber eyes.
Suddenly, Ethan swayed on his feet, his face alarmingly pale. Before I could react, his knees
buckled and he collapsed beside my bed.
“Ethan!” I cried out, genuinely alarmed.
Dr. Bennett rushed to his side, checking his pulse. “He’s exhausted and his wounds from the Shadow Guard haven’t fully healed. The stress of today’s events was too much.”
As they moved Ethan to a nearby bed, I lay back against my pillows, my mind racing. Matriarch Evelyn Stone had emerged as the greatest threat to my ambitions. The old woman
clearly suspected the truth about my role in Lily’s death.
She would have to be dealt with–permanently.
(Matriarch Evelyn’s POV)
The Silvercrest Pack Medical Den bustled with activity as Dr. Marcus Fletcher completed my
examination. Despite the morning’s confrontation, my vital signs remained strong.
“Your body is strong, Matriarch,” Dr. Fletcher said, removing his stethoscope. “But even the
strongest need rest.”
He adjusted my IV drip with practiced hands. “I’m concerned about your heart. Emotional stress could trigger your condition.”
I waved away his concerns with a wrinkled hand. “My heart has endured worse than this
morning’s events, Doctor.”
Olivia sat beside my bed, her emerald eyes clouded with guilt. She hadn’t spoken since we’d arrived, her shoulders hunched with the weight of her actions.
