"The ceremony for Ethan and Victoria will be arranged for next month," I announced. "And Olivia''s adoption ceremony will take ce tomorrow at dawn."


    Ethan''s cold gaze fixed on Olivia, as if ming her for this turn of events. But my granddaughter-to-be stood tall, her dignity intact despite everything she had


    endured.


    (Olivia''s POV)


    Matriarch Evelyn''s private quarters were warm and inviting, a stark contrast to the cold


    formality of the Stone Ancestral Hall. The elderly she-wolf moved with surprising grace as she


    served me moonberry tea and venison, my favorites.


    "You must eat, child," she urged, her eyes kind but concerned. "You''ve grown too thin."


    I took a small bite of the venison, savoring the rich vor. "Thank you for dinner, Matriarch.


    And for... everything else."


    She waved away my thanks. "I should have done it years ago. That Victoria has had too much


    influence over my grandson."


    I sipped my tea, unsure how to respond. Matriarch Evelyn''s memory issues meant she


    sometimes forgot that Lily had died, that Ethan and I had been estranged for years.


    "How is my great-granddaughter?" she asked suddenly, confirming my thoughts. "Lily must be


    getting so big now."


    Painnced through my heart. "She''s... she''s at peace, Matriarch."


    Understanding flickered in the old woman''s eyes. "Ah, yes. Forgive me, child. Some days are


    < Chapter 76: Blood Secrets


    clearer than others."


    We finished our meal infortable silence. As I prepared to leave, Matriarch Evelyn squeezed my hand.


    "Remember who you are, Olivia. A true Luna''s strengthes from within, not from her


    Alpha."


    +8 Points >


    I nodded, touched by her wisdom and support. As I walked through the hallway toward the exit, voices from Ethan''s study caught my attention.


    "I''ll add Emma to the Stone family registry tomorrow," Ethan was saying. "She deserves her


    rightful ce in our lineage."


    My steps faltered. My enhanced werewolf hearing had picked up every word clearly. Emma would receive a privilege that had been denied to Lily, my sweet daughter who had actually


    carried Stone blood.


    My wolf howled in silent anguish at this final betrayal. Lily had died without ever being


    officially recognized as part of the Stone family, while Emma-who I now suspected wasn''t


    even Ethan''s biological child-would receive full recognition.


    The injustice of it burned like fire in my veins, deepening my resentment toward Emma and


    strengthening my resolve to uncover the truth about her parentage.


    I straightened my shoulders and continued walking. Soon, very soon, the truth woulde to


    light.


    (Victoria''s POV)


    Ethan drove me back to Rosewood Haven in silence, his wolf unusually distant. When we


    reached the entrance to the property, he stopped the car but didn''t turn off the engine.


    "You''re noting in?" I asked, trying to keep the disappointment from my voice.


    "Pack business," he replied curtly. "I need to handle some urgent matters."


    I ced my hand on his arm, feeling the tension in his muscles. "Is everything alright? You


    seem distracted."


    His amber eyes met mine briefly. "Just tired. It''s been a long day."


    "Of course," I said, forcing a smile. "Will youe by tomorrow to see Emma?”


    He nodded. "I''ll try. Give her a kiss for me."


    As I exited the car, I couldn''t shake the feeling that something had changed. His wolf, usually


    so responsive to my presence, seemed withdrawn, preupied.


    +8 Points >


    I watched his Shadow Ghost disappear down the driveway, a sense of unease settling in my stomach. After all these years, after finally getting Ethan to agree toplete our mate bond, why did it feel like he was slipping away?


    (Olivia''s POV)


    The pack driver dropped me off at Maple Grove, his expression carefully neutral. Being


    officially adopted by the Matriarch had already changed how pack members treated me-with


    cautious respect rather than open disdain.


    As I walked toward my building, a familiar scent caught my attention-Ethan''s distinctive


    Alpha musk, powerful and unmistakable. My wolf tensed immediately.


    I spotted his Shadow Ghost parked in the shadows, its sleek ck surface reflecting the


    moonlight. I quickened my pace, hoping to reach my door before he approached. "Olivia."


    His voice carried from the darkness, the unmistakablemand of an Alpha in every syble.


    I kept walking, pretending not to hear.


    In an instant, he was beside me, moving with supernatural werewolf speed. His hand closed


    around my wrist with frightening strength.


    "We need to talk," he growled, his amber eyes glowing in the darkness.


    I tried to pull away. "I have nothing to say to you."


    His grip tightened. "This isn''t a request."


    Before I could protest further, he was pulling me toward his vehicle, his wolf''s dominance


    overwhelming my feeble resistance. With one fluid motion, he opened the


    passenger door and


    forced me inside.