The steady beep of medical equipment filled the private room at Silvercrest Pack Medical Den. Olivia Wintersy motionless on the hospital bed, her chestnut hair spread across the white pillow, her skin nearly as pale as the sheets that covered her.


    Dr. Marcus Fletcher''s words echoed in my mind: "Although we''ve revived her body, her will to


    live is gone."


    I pulled my chair closer to her bedside, taking her cold hand in mine. Three days had passed since I''d pulled her from Silvermoon River, and still she hadn''t awakened.


    "Olivia," I said softly, my thumb tracing circles on the back of her hand. “I know you can hear


    me somewhere in there."


    No response. Not even a flicker of her eyelids.


    "You''re stronger than this, I continued, my voice low but firm. "I''ve seen your strength at the Crystal Competition, how you held your head high despite everything."


    The monitors continued their steady rhythm, mocking my efforts.


    I leaned closer, my gray suit jacket brushing against the edge of her bed. "Olivia, your daughter Lily needs you to be strong," I murmured, my eyes never leaving her face. "She wouldn''t want


    you to give up."


    At the mention of Lily''s name, something changed. A single tear escaped from beneath Olivia''s closed eyelids, trailing down her pale cheek.


    But then the monitors shrieked in rm as her heartbeat plummeted dangerously. "Doctor!" I shouted, jumping to my feet and rushing to the door. "We need help in here now!"


    Dr. Fletcher and two urses rushed in, pushing past me to reach Olivia.


    "Her heart rate''s dropping," one nurse reported urgently. "Blood pressure falling."


    Dr. Fletcher worked with practiced efficiency, administering medications through her IV line while barking orders to his team.


    I backed against the wall, watching helplessly as they fought to stabilize her. My wolf stirred restlessly beneath my skin, agitated by the crisis unfolding before us.


    +15 Points >


    "She''s stabilizing," Dr. Fletcher announced after several tense minutes. He turned to me, his


    expression grave. "Alpha ckwood, I must advise against mentioning her daughter. It seems


    to trigger a severe emotional response that her body can''t handle right now."


    I nodded, my jaw tight. "Understood."


    The medical team filed out, leaving me alone with Olivia once more. I returned to my seat


    beside her bed, carefully wiping away the tear that had fallen.


    "I''m sorry," I whispered, taking her hand again. “I didn''t mean to cause you more pain."


    My phone vibrated in my pocket. Thomas Griffin, my driver and trusted assistant, was calling.


    "Yes?" I answered quietly, not wanting to disturb Olivia.


    "Sir, I''ve confirmed your suspicion," Thomas reported solemnly. "Olivia Winters'' daughter, Lily, passed away a few months ago due to kidney failure while waiting for a transnt."


    The revtion struck me like a physical blow. I nced at Olivia''s still form, understanding


    now the depth of her grief.


    "The child was only five years old," Thomas continued. "There are rumors that apatible


    donor was found but mysteriously redirected to another patient."


    My grip tightened on the phone. "Find out who received that kidney, Thomas." "Already working on it, sir."


    "What else have you learned?" I asked, my eyes never leaving Olivia''s face.


    "The funeral was small, attended primarily by Olivia herself and a few pack healers. Alpha


    Stone was notably absent."


    My wolf growled at this information. What kind of father missed his own daughter''s funeral?


    "Anything else?" I prompted.


    "Yes, sir. After the funeral, Olivia Winters moved out of the Stone Pack House to a small cottage in Maple Grove. She''s been living there alone ever since."


    I thanked Thomas and ended the call, my mind processing this new information.


    The picture forming was one of profound abandonment and grief.


    "Thomas, gather everything you can find about Lily Winters," I instructed in a follow-up call, my voice low butmanding. "Medical records, personal items, anything that might help us understand what happened to her."


    217


    < Chapter 112 The Awakening


    +15 Pont>


    Within hours, Thomas had delivered a small collection of items to the hospital room. Among


    them was a tablet containing videos from Crescent Moon Training Den, where Lily had briefly


    attended before her illness worsened.


    I scrolled through the files until I found onebeled "Thanksgiving Gratitude Project." The description indicated that young pups had recorded messages of thanks to family members


    who had influenced their lives.


    Hoping the sound might reach through Olivia''s unconsciousness, I ced the tablet near her


    bed and pressed y.


    The screen showed a tiny girl with emerald eyes identical to Olivia''s. Her small face was


    serious as she spoke directly to the camera.


    "I''m thankful for my mommy," Lily''s sweet voice dered. "She''s the best mommy


    in all the world. She makes me special moonberry pancakes when I''m sad, and


    she holds me really tight when my kidney hurts."


    My throat tightened as the child continued, her voice growing softer, more earnest.


    "If I could be born again, I would still choose Mommy as my mommy. So Mommy,


    please don''t be sad anymore. Lily loves you the most!"