Chapter 286
At the Silvercrest Pack Medical Den, Victoria Frost’s phone rang, the screen lighting up with Emma’s name. She answered immediately, her voice softening from its usual sharp edge.
“Emma, darling? What’s wrong?”
“Mommy,” Emma whimpered through the phone, her voice weak and frightened. “It hurts so much. My side is burning, and I’ve been throwing up. Please call Alpha Ethan.”
Victoria’s face paled, her grip tightening on her Raven–Trimmed Wheelchair. Her wolf bristled with anxiety beneath her skin, sensing the danger in this development.
“No!” she hissed urgently, her scent spiking with fear. “Don’t call him, Emma. Just wait for me. I’ll be there soon.”
She ended the call, her mind racing. If Ethan discovered Emma’s kidney transplant was causing complications, it would Inevitably lead him to question the origin of the donor kidney. The trail would lead straight back to Connor Blackthorn’s wife, Patricia Warner, and the organ that had been redirected from Lily Winters to Emma.
Victoria’s wolf paced anxiously beneath her skin. Everything she had built could crumble if Ethan learned the truth. She needed to get to Emma before anyone else did, especially before any medical staff could examine her and document the issue.
She dialed Ethan’s number, forcing her voice to sound calm and collected. “Ethan, I need to return to Rosewood Haven. Could you pick me up?”
The next morning dawned clear and crisp. Olivia emerged from her cottage with James Knight beside her, his protective presence. a buffer against the world. They headed toward James’s Midnight Rider Motorcycle parked outside, their breath forming small
clouds in the cool morning air.
A sleek black Maybach pulled up nearby, its engine purring softly. Ethan Stone stepped out, his amber eyes widening slightly at the sight of Olivia. His wolf became instantly alert, attentive beneath his skin.
He abruptly spoke into his Alpha Phone, “Victoria, something’s come up. I’ll send Maxwell Chen instead.” He hung up without
waiting for a response.
Approaching Olivia, Ethan kept his tone carefully neutral. “I can give you a ride.”
Olivia’s emerald eyes remained cold as she deliberately turned away, her wolf rejecting his presence entirely. The warmth and vulnerability she had shown with James was nowhere to be seen, replaced by the icy Luna who had learned to survive without her
mate.
James stepped between them, his protective instincts flaring, “I’m escorting her today,” he stated firmly, meeting the Alpha’s
gaze without flinching
Ethan observed Olivia’s frigid demeanor, so different from her vulnerability the previous night. His wolf retreated with a low
whine of disappointment, but he didn’t pursue further. With a curt nod, he returned to his vehicle, his scent tinged with regret.
+30 Bonus
Maxwell Chen arrived at the Silvercrest Pack Medical Den within twenty minutes of Ethan’s call. His manner as he helped Victoria into the passenger seat was noticeably less deferential than before–efficient but lacking the usual respect.
Victoria’s wolf bristled at the subtle change, sensing it reflected Ethan’s shifting attitude toward her. As they drove in silence toward Rosewood Haven, she fumed inwardly, consumed by jealousy.
“Where is Alpha Stone?” she finally asked, her voice tight with controlled anger.
“He had urgent business to attend to,” Maxwell replied, his eyes fixed on the road ahead.
Victoria’s claws threatened to.
emerge as she imagined Ethan with Olivia, her wolf snarling with possessive rage. After everything. she had done to secure her position, after all the sacrifices and manipulations, Olivia still threatened to take it all away.
By the time they reached Rosewood Haven, Victoria had channeled her jealousy into calculated planning. If she couldn’t attack Olivia directly–not with Ethan watching her so closely after the Connor Blackthom incident–she would find another way to
hurt her.
A cruel smile curved her lips as she thought of Olivia’s newly reunited mother, Evelyn Winters. The woman was scheduled for surgery next week–a procedure that could easily go wrong with the right interference.
Her wolf’s eyes gleamed with malicious intent as Maxwell helped her from the car. She had found the perfect vulnerability to
exploit.
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