The sudden ring of her phone broke the silence. Olivia turned away from the window and reached into her purse, pulling out her phone. She nced at the screen before answering.


    "Hello?” Her voice was soft, controlled despite the emotional turmoil I knew was raging inside her.


    I watched as her expression shifted, a flicker of something-pain? hope?-crossing her features.


    "Yes, ra. I understand. I''lle right away," she said, her voice catching slightly. "Thank you for calling."


    She ended the call and stared at her phone for a moment, her knuckles white from gripping it too tightly.


    "Is everything alright?" I asked, keeping my voice gentle.


    "That was ra Wilkins from the Howling y Pottery Studio," Olivia exined, her emerald eyes meeting mine briefly. "She said Lily''s... Lily''s mug is ready for collection."


    I noticed how her voice trembled when she mentioned her daughter''s name. The raw grief was


    still so fresh.


    "Would you like me to take you there?" I offered, already signaling to Thomas Griffin to change


    our route.


    Olivia nodded, her wolf''s scent shifting with aplex mixture of emotions-grief, longing, and something like determination.


    "Yes, please," she whispered. "I''d like to go now."


    (Olivia''s POV)


    The bell above the door of Howling y Pottery Studio chimed softly as we entered. The


    familiar scent of y and zes filled my nostrils, bringing with it a flood of memories-Lily''s


    small hands covered in y, her tongue poking out in concentration as she worked.


    ra Wilkins looked up from behind the counter, her kind face lighting up with recognition.


    The elderly she-wolf had always had a special way with the pups who came to her studio.


    < Chapter 83 Lily''s Gift


    +8 Points


    "Olivia! I''m so d you coulde quickly," she said, wiping her hands on her apron as she approached. "Where''s our little artist today? Not with you?"


    My heart clenched painfully. ra didn''t know. Of course she didn''t—I hadn''t been back here since Lily...


    "She''s... nearby. I haven''t picked her up yet," I lied, unable to bring myself to tell this kind woman the truth. Not here, not now.


    "Such a determined little pup," ra continued, oblivious to my pain as she reached beneath the counter. "Two whole months she worked on this mug. Most pups her age give up after one session, but not your Lily."


    She carefully unwrapped a package, removingyers of protective tissue paper. "She wanted it to be perfect for her father''s birthday. Wouldn''t let me help at all- said it had to be all her own work."


    ra ced the mug in my hands. It was small and slightly lopsided, clearly made by a child''s inexperienced hands. The bright colors were unevenly applied, and there were tiny fingerprints preserved in the y.


    But what broke my heart was the childlike drawing on the side-three stick figures holding hands. A family of three. And beneath it, in wobbly letters: "I DAD!"


    My vision blurred with tears. Lily had spent two months making this for Ethan, while he had


    been too busy with Victoria and Emma to even acknowledge her existence.


    "She was so excited to give it to him," ra said, smiling at the memory. "Said her daddy would use it every morning and think of her."


    [ I felt Lucas''s hand on my shoulder, steadying me as I swayed slightly.


    "Thank you for taking such good care of it," I managed to say, carefully rewrapping the


    precious mug.


    Lucas, sensing my distress, quickly thanked ra and guided me toward the door.


    "Bring Lily back soon!" ra called after us. “I miss my favorite student!"


    Outside on Shadow Creek Artisan Street, the cool evening air hit my face, but it did nothing to


    ease the burning pain in my chest. I clutched the wrapped mug to my heart, my legs suddenly


    too weak to support me.


    "She spent two months making this for him," I whispered, my voice breaking. "Two months,


    Lucas. And he never even..."


    < Chapter 83: Lily''s Gift


    +8 Points >


    The tears I''d been holding back all evening finally broke free. I wept openly, my wolf howling in shared grief beneath my skin.


    “He acknowledged Emma today—a child who isn''t even his-while our daughter, his flesh and blood, died without ever knowing her father''s love."


    Lucas hesitated only briefly before drawing me into his arms. His embrace was warm, protective, offeringfort without demands.


    "I''m so sorry, Olivia," he murmured against my hair. "Your daughter deserved better."


    (Ethan''s POV)


    I mmed my fist against the steering wheel of my Shadow Ghost, my wolf raging beneath my skin. The media circus had finally been contained, the damage from Olivia''s public rejection somewhat mitigated.


    But she was gone. Her car was missing from the Stone Estate parking area, yet Lucas ckwood''s vehicle was also absent.


    They had left together.


    I grabbed my phone and called Maxwell Chen.


    "Find Olivia," I ordered without preamble. "And ckwood. Now."


    Maxwell didn''t question mymand. "Yes, Alpha. I''ll activate the tracking protocol immediately."


    Within minutes, my phone buzzed with a message. Maxwell had located them at the Howling y Pottery Studio on Shadow Creek Artisan Street.


    A pottery studio? What business did Olivia have there with ckwood?


    I pressed the elerator harder, weaving through traffic with dangerous speed.


    My wolf was restless, territorial instincts ring at the thought of another Alpha near my mate.


    When I reached Shadow Creek Artisan Street, I spotted them immediately. Olivia was in Lucas ckwood''s arms, her face buried against his chest as her shoulders shook with sobs.


    Something primal and possessive erupted within me. I mmed the car door and stormed toward them.


    “Get your hands off my mate,” I growled, my Alpha voice resonating with power. Lucas looked up, his expression hardening but his arms remaining protectively around Olivia.


    "She doesn''t seem to want yourpany, Stone," he replied coolly.


    +8 Points >


    I grabbed Olivia''s arm and pulled her away from him. "She is my mate, ckwood. My Luna.


    This doesn''t concern you."


    Olivia stumbled as I yanked her toward me, and something fell from her hands. A


    small package hit the cobblestone street with a sickening c***k.


    "No!" Olivia cried out, lunging for the fallen object.


    Lucas moved faster, kneeling to gather what appeared to be pieces of broken pottery. I saw red, my wolf''s jealousy consuming all rational thought.