With utmost care, I lifted her into my arms. She weighed almost nothing, her body limp against my chest. "Get us to Silvercrest Medical Center," I ordered my assistant as I carried Olivia to the waiting vehicle. "And call ahead. I want their best healers ready when we arrive."


    As we sped toward the medical center, I held Olivia securely, one hand checking her pulse. It was weak but steady.


    "Hold on, Olivia," I murmured, brushing a strand of hair from her face. "You''re safe now."


    I had never felt such a fierce desire to protect someone before. This woman, the mate of my business rival, had somehow broken through my carefully constructed walls.


    And I would make whoever hurt her pay dearly.


    (Olivia''s POV)


    I woke to the steady beep of a heart monitor and the antiseptic smell of the Silvercrest Medical Center. Every inch of my body ached, but the pain in my heart overshadowed all physical difort.


    Lily''s pendant was gone.


    A warm hand covered mine, and I turned my head to see Lucas ckwood sitting beside my bed. His usually impassive gray eyes held a warmth I hadn''t seen before.


    "You''re awake," he said softly, relief evident in his voice.


    I tried to speak, but my throat was dry. Lucas reached for a ss of water on the bedside table and helped me take a small sip.


    "Thank you," I whispered, my voice barely audible.


    Lucas''s expression was gentle as he set the ss down. "I''m sorry I didn''t get to you sooner."


    I shook my head slightly, wincing at the pain the movement caused. "You saved my life," I managed. "I''m grateful.”


    +15 Points >


    Hisrge hand remained on mine, his thumb tracing small circles on my skin. The gesture wasforting, grounding me in the present when all I wanted was to slip back into unconsciousness and escape the reality of what had happened.


    "The doctors say you have three broken ribs, a fractured wrist, and numerous contusions," Lucas informed me, his voice tight with controlled anger. "Who did this to you, Olivia?"


    Before I could answer, the door to my hospital room burst open. Ethan stood in the doorway, his amber eyes zing with fury as they fixed on Lucas''s hand covering mine.


    "ckwood!" he growled, striding into the room and grabbing Lucas''s wrist. "Get your hands off my wife!"


    Lucas rose to his full height, towering over Ethan. His gray eyes were cold as ice. "Where were you when she needed you, Stone?"


    Ethan''s face contorted with rage. "That''s none of your business!"


    "It became my business when I found her beaten half to death in the wilderness where you abandoned her," Lucas replied, his voice dangerously calm.


    Without warning, Lucas''s fist connected with Ethan''s jaw, sending him staggering backward. Ethan recovered quickly, his amber eyes glowing with rage as he prepared to retaliate.


    I couldn''t let this happen. Despite the pain shooting through my body, I forced myself out of the hospital bed, stumbling between the two men.


    "Stop!" I cried, cing myself in front of Lucas, shielding him with my battered body.


    Ethan froze, his fist raised mid-air. His amber eyes widened as they took in my appearance-the bandages, the bruises, the way I swayed on my feet.


    "Olivia," he whispered, his anger giving way to shock. "What happened to you?"


    I flinched away as he reached for me, hatred and betrayal burning in my emerald eyes. "Don''t touch me," I hissed. "Don''t you dare touch me."


    Ethan''s hand dropped to his side. "Olivia, please-"


    "Get out," I interrupted, my voice stronger than my weakened body suggested. "I don''t want you here." Lucas stepped forward, supporting me as my legs threatened to give way. "You heard her, Stone. Leave." Ethan''s gaze darted between us, a mixture of confusion and jealousy crossing his features. "She''s my mate," he insisted. "I have every right to be here."


    "You lost that right when you abandoned her," Lucas replied coldly. "Now leave before I call security."


    For a moment, I thought Ethan would refuse. Then, with a final re at Lucas, he turned and stormed out of the room.


    As the door closed behind him, my strength finally gave out. Lucas caught me before I hit the floor, gently lifting me back onto the hospital bed.


    "Rest now," he murmured, his gray eyes filled with concern. "You''re safe."


    But I wasn''t safe. Not really. Because the one thing that mattered most to me- Lily''s ashes-was gone. (Ethan''s POV)


    Chapter 71 Shattered Bon


    +15 Points >


    I paced the corridor outside Olivia''s hospital room, my mind racing. The sight of her battered body had shaken me to my core. Who had done this to her? And why was Lucas ckwood by her side instead of me?


    My phone rang, and I answered it immediately when I saw it was Maxwell.


    “Alpha, we found him," Maxwell reported. "The man who attacked Luna Olivia. He''s being held at the abandoned warehouse on the edge of town."


    "I''m on my way," I replied, ending the call.


    Twenty minutester, I strode into the dimly lit warehouse. My security team had the attacker cornered, his face already bloodied from their interrogation.


    "This is him?" I asked, studying the man with cold detachment.


    Maxwell nodded. "Darius Reed. Known rogue wolf with a history of violent robberies."


    I approached Darius slowly, my amber eyes glowing in the dim light. He cowered against the wall, fear evident in his bloodshot eyes.