I recoiled from his touch, disgust and fury warring within me. "Get out of my house, Ethan.


    Now!"


    "Olivia-"


    "GET OUT!" I screamed, my control finally snapping. Tears streamed down my face as I pointed to the door. "You have no right to be here. No right to ask anything of me!"


    I felt myself teetering on the edge of aplete breakdown. The walls seemed to be closing in, and I couldn''t breathe. Ethan''s presence was suffocating me.


    Through my tears, I caught sight of a familiar figure at the edge of my vision. Lucas


    ckwood stood just outside my door, his powerful frame tense with anger as he took in the


    scene.


    Relief washed over me at the sight of him. Without thinking, I rushed toward him, my eyes


    pleading.


    "Lucas, please," I begged, my voice breaking. "Take me away from here. I can''t...


    I can''t stay here anymore."


    (Lucas''s POV)


    I had only made it halfway to my car when I felt it-a sharp tug of concern that made me turn back toward Olivia''s cottage. Something didn''t feel right.


    +15 Points >


    As I approached, I heard raised voices. Olivia''s, filled with pain and fury, and a man''s-deeper, pleading. I recognized it immediately. Ethan Stone.


    I moved silently to the edge of the clearing, staying in the shadows as I assessed the


    situation. What I saw made my blood boil.


    Olivia stood trembling in her doorway, tears streaming down her face as she screamed at


    Ethan to leave. The Silvercrest Alpha looked desperate, reaching for her even as she backed


    away.


    I''d seen enough. When Olivia spotted me and ran toward me, her eyes filled with tears and


    begging me to take her away, something primal and protective surged within me.


    Without hesitation, Iunched myself at Ethan, my fist connecting with his jaw in a powerful


    blow that sent him staggering backward.


    "What the hell do you think you''re doing?" I growled, positioning myself between him and


    Olivia.


    Ethan recovered quickly, his amber eyes shing with anger as he straightened. "This is


    between me and my mate, ckwood. Stay out of it."


    "Your mate?" Iughed harshly, feeling Olivia trembling against my side. "Is that what you call


    her after abandoning her for years? After letting your daughter die while you yed family


    with another woman?"


    Ethan''s face darkened with rage and guilt. "You know nothing about my rtionship with


    Olivia."


    "I know enough," I snarled, pulling Olivia closer to my side protectively. "I know you''ve caused her nothing but pain. I know she''s crying and begging to be taken away from you."


    I felt Olivia''s fingers clutch at my jacket as she whispered something only I could hear: "Take me to the Moonstone Psychological Counseling Center."


    The request stunned me. I knew what that ce was-a mental health facility for werewolves in crisis. For Olivia to ask to go there meant she was in a far more fragile state than I''d


    realized.


    I turned my attention back to Ethan, my voice dropping to a dangerous growl. "Haven''t you


    caused her enough pain, Stone? What kind of man torments his wife this way?" Ethan took a step forward, his hands clenched into fists. "Don''t pretend you care about her, ckwood. We all know why you''re really here. The Silvercrest territory has always been a


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    < Chapter 118 Shattered Bonds


    prize for the Moonstone Pack."


    +15 Points >


    I felt Olivia stiffen beside me, but I kept my eyes on Ethan. "Think what you want, Stone. But


    right now, I''m taking Olivia somewhere safe-away from you."


    In one swift movement, I swept Olivia into my arms. She felt so small, so fragile against my


    chest. Her emerald eyes, usually so fierce and determined, now looked lost and haunted.


    "If you try to stop us," I warned Ethan, "I won''t be responsible for what happens next."


    For a moment, I thought he might challenge me. The Alpha in him bristled at the threat, at


    seeing another wolf-another Alpha-holding his mate. But something in his expression


    shifted as he looked at Olivia''s tear-stained face.


    "Olivia," he said softly, his voice breaking. "Please. We need to talk about this."


    She turned her face into my chest, refusing to even look at him. I felt her tears soaking


    through my shirt.


    "She doesn''t want to talk to you," I said firmly. "Respect her wishes for once in your life."


    Without waiting for his response, I carried Olivia to my SUV parked at the edge of the clearing.


    I could feel Ethan''s eyes burning into my back, but he made no move to follow us.


    As I settled Olivia into the passenger seat, I caught a flicker of movement in the trees beyond


    her cottage. A sh of pale blonde hair, quickly hidden. Someone had been watching us.


    I scanned the area carefully but saw nothing more. Whoever it was had disappeared into the


    shadows.


    "Are you sure about this?" I asked Olivia quietly as I slid into the driver''s seat. "The Counseling


    Center?"


    She nodded, her face pale and drawn. "I can''t do this anymore, Lucas. I feel like I''m drowning.


    Like I''m losing my mind."


    Her honesty broke my heart. I reached over and squeezed her hand gently. "Then that''s where


    we''ll go."


    What I didn''t see was Victoria Frost emerging from the shadows between the trees, a satisfied


    smile ying on her lips as she watched us leave. She pulled out her phone and made a quick


    call before following our SUV at a discreet distance.