Chapter 29: Blood Trails


    Chapter 29: Blood Trails


    (Olivia''s POV)


    Victoria''s triumphant smirk burned into me as she glided past on Ethan''s arm. Their perfect silhouettes disappeared through the grand entrance of the Howling Moon Grand Hotel, leaving me standing alone in the downpour.


    Rain cascaded down my face, mingling with tears I refused to acknowledge. My Vintage Moonlight Gown, once a source of pride, now clung to my skin like a cold, heavy shroud.


    I remained rooted to the spot, water pooling around my feet. The security guards exchanged ufortable nces but maintained their positions


    "Ma''am, you should find shelter," one of them suggested, his voice barely audible over the drumming rain.


    I shook my head. Tm waiting for Alpha ckwood."


    Minutes stretched into what felt like hours. My teeth began to chatter as the cold seeped through my soaked gown into my bones. Still, I stood my ground.


    "Mrs. Winters."


    I turned to find Maxwell Chen approaching, his expression professionally neutral as he extended an umbre over my head. The sudden reprieve from the rain felt like a small mercy.


    "Alpha Stone has instructed me to offer you transportation back to Maple Grove," he said formally.


    I lifted my chin, summoning what dignity I could muster while dripping wet. "That won''t be necessary. I''m waiting for someone."


    Maxwell''s eyebrow twitched slightly. The Alpha insists."


    "And I refuse," I replied, my voice surprisingly steady. "Please thank your Alpha for his bted concern."


    Maxwell hesitated, clearly torn between his orders and my stubborn refusal. With a sigh, he pulled out his


    phone and stepped away.


    I could hear his murmured conversation despite the rain. "Sir, she''s refusing to leave... Yes, I exined... She


    says she''s waiting for someone... Understood."


    He returned, his expression unchanged. "Alpha Stone says you''re free to catch pneumonia if that''s your preference."


    With that, he retracted the umbre and walked away, leaving me once again exposed to the elements. The


    cold intensified, seeping deeper into my body until my limbs felt numb and heavy.


    Still, I waited.


    The grand hotel doors opened and closed as guests arrived and departed. Each time, I straightened, hoping to see Lucas ckwood''s imposing figure.


    My patience was finally rewarded when a tall man in an impable gray suit emerged from the hotel. Even from a distance, Lucas ckwood''smanding presence was unmistakable.


    OQ


    Cleats 24 Blood Trails


    I rushed forward, calling his name. My numbed legs betrayed me, and I stumbled on the slick pavement.


    Strong hands caught me before I could fall. The sudden contact sent a jolt through my system - his warmth radiating against my chilled skin.


    "Mrs. W


    Winters," Lucas said, his voice deep and concerned. “You''re freezing."


    I pulled away quickly, embarrassed by our proximity. "I apologize for the intrusion, Alpha ckwood. I needed


    to speak with you urgently."


    His prating gaze took in my soaked appearance and trembling form. Without


    a word, he removed his suit jacket and draped it over my shoulders.


    "My car is waiting." he said, guiding me with gentle but firm pressure toward a sleek ck vehicle idling at


    the curb.


    The interior of the car enveloped me in blessed warmth. Lucas slid in beside me and instructed his driver to


    turn up the heat.


    "Here," he said, offering me a thermos from apartment in the door. "It''s tea."


    I epted gratefully, my hands shaking so badly I could barely unscrew the cap. The hot liquid burned my


    throat in the most wonderful way, gradually restoring feeling to my extremities. "Thank you," I whispered, clutching the thermos like a lifeline.


    Lucas waited patiently as I gathered my thoughts. The kindness in his eyes gave me courage.


    "I need to borrow eighty thousand dors, I blurted out, then winced at my directness. "I wouldn''t ask if it


    wasn''t absolutely necessary."


    To my surprise, he didn''t seem shocked by my request. "May I ask what it''s for?"


    I hesitated, unsure how much to reveal. "Information about my daughter''s death. Information that could prove


    someone deliberately prevented her from receiving a kidney transnt."


    Lucas''s expression darkened. "Victoria Frost."


    It wasn''t a question. I nodded slowly, wondering how he had made the connection so quickly.


    Without another word, Lucas pulled out his phone and tapped the screen several times. "What''s your ount


    number?"


    I stared at him, momentarily speechless. "You''re... you''re going to lend me the money? Just like that?"


    A small smile touched his lips. "Consider it an investment in justice."


    Relief washed over me as I recited my ount details. Within moments, my phone pinged with a transfer


    notification.


    "Thank you," I whispered, my voice thick with emotion. "I''ll pay you back, I promise."


    Lucas waved away my gratitude. "Now, tell me about this information."


    I quickly exined about Rnd Warner and his im regarding Lily''s redirected kidney do. As I spoke, I dialed Rnd''s number to arrange an immediate meeting.


    "I have the money" I told him when he answered. "Where can we meet?"


    "The alley behind Moonstone Dining Hall in thirty minutes," Rnd replied, his


    voice tense. "Come alone."


    I ended the call and looked at Lucas. "I need to go."


    "I''ll drive you," he said, his tone brooking no argument.


    Twenty-five minutester, we sat in Lucas''s car near the designated meeting spot. Rain continued to fall,


    though less heavily now.


    "He should be here by now" I said, checking the time nervously.


    As if on cue, a phone rang from somewhere nearby. The sound echoed in the empty street,ing from an


    alley to our right.


    Lucas and I exchanged concerned nces. When the ringing stopped, a sense


    of foreboding settled over me.


    "Stay here," Lucas instructed, reaching for the door handle.


    I ignored him, pushing my door open. Tming with you."


    The alley was poorly lit, shadows stretching across the wet pavement. We moved cautiously forward,


    following the faint glow of a phone screen.


    The sight that greeted us turned my blood to ice. Rnd Warnery sprawled on


    the ground, a pool of blood spreading beneath him. His phoney beside his outstretched hand, the screen still illuminated from my


    recent call.


    "Oh my God," I gasped, rushing to kneel beside him.


    Rnd''s eyes fluttered open at my approach, Blood bubbled from his lips as he


    tried to speak.


    "Who did this to you?" I asked, pressing my hands against the wound in his abdomen.


    Lucas was already on his phone, calling for an ambnce. Behind him, a man appeared - Lucas''s assistant.


    who must have been following at a discreet distance


    "Help me lift him," Lucasmanded, and together they raised Rnd slightly to apply pressure to the


    wound


    I fumbled with my phone, frantically essing my banking app. Tm transferring


    the money now, Rnd. Please, tell me who was responsible for redirecting Lily''s kidney donor."


    Rnd''s bloodshot eyes focused on me with effort. "V-Victoria..." he began, blood spilling from his mouth


    with eachbored breath.


    "Victoria Frost?" I pressed, desperate for confirmation. “She arranged for the kidney to go to Emma instead?"


    He t


    tried to nod, his body convulsing with a wet cough. More blood spattered across


    his shirt.


    "Stay with me, Rnd, I begged, showing him my phone screen. "Look, the transfer isplete. Tell me exactly what happened. I need proof."


    His lips moved, forming words I couldn''t hear. I leaned closer, straining to catch


    his whispered confession.


    With a final, bloody cough, Rnd''s eyes rolled back. His body went limp in Lucas''s arms


    "No!" I cried, shaking his shoulder. "Rnd, please!"


    Sirens wailed in the distance, growing louder as the ambnce approached.


    Within minutes, paramedics


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    Chapter 29. Blood trads


    swarmed the alley, pushing us aside to work on Rnd.


    "Is he going to make it?" I asked one of them as they loaded him into the


    ambnce


    "We''re doing everything we can," was all she would say.


    I turned to Lucas, panic rising in my chest. "I need to go with them. He''s the only


    one who knows the truth"


    Lucas nodded, already guiding me toward his car. "We''ll follow them to the


    hospital


    The next hours passed in an agonizing blur, I paced the hospital waiting room, ignoring the stares my


    blood stained, still damp gown attracted


    Lucas dealt with the police, his authoritative presence ensuring minimal questioning. When they finally left, he approached me with a shopping bag. "My assistant brought these," he said, offering the bag. "Dry clothes."


    I epted gratefully, disappearing into a bathroom to change. The simple jeans and sweater felt like heaven against my skin after hours in the wet gown.


    When I emerged, Lucas handed me a cup of steaming liquid. "Ginger tea from the


    cafeteria. It should help


    with the chill."


    I wrapped my hands around the warm cup, my gaze fixed on the operating room


    doors. "Thank you."


    Lucas settled into the chair beside me, his calm presence anchoring me as we waited. Neither of us spoke, the silence between us surprisinglyfortable Hourster, the operating room light finally switched off. I leapt to my feet as Dr. Marcus Fletcher emerged, his surgical mask hanging around his neck.


    I rushed toward him, desperation evident in every line of my body. "Dr. Fletcher, please - how is he?"


    Dr. Fletcher''s tired eyes met mine, and my heart plummeted before he even


    spoke.