I scanned the crowded terminal, searching for Emma''s familiar face among the returning campers. Something in the air felt different-a scent, perhaps, or just an inexplicable feeling that made my wolf stir.


    Just as I looked up, a group of elderly travelers walked past, chatting andughing. Their tour guide, Wesley Hartman, held a small g above his head, momentarily blocking my view of the opposite side of the terminal.


    "This way, please! Stay together!" Wesley called out, his voice carrying over the airport noise.


    As the group passed, I caught a glimpse of something-someone-that made my heart skip. A woman with chestnut hair, her hand sped in another''s. Before I could focus, they disappeared into the crowd.


    "Daddy~!"


    A sweet voice cut through my thoughts. Emma was running toward me, her blonde hair bouncing with each step, her face lit up with excitement.


    I half-squatted, ignoring the twinge in my side where the scar from Olivia''s knife remained, and caught Emma as sheunched herself into my arms.


    "Daddy, I miss you so much!" she eximed, wrapping her arms around my neck.


    I lifted her, breathing in her familiar scent. "I missed you too, princess."


    In the two years since Olivia''s disappearance, Emma had be even more attached to me. What had started as Victoria''s orchestration-Emma''s attempts to please me-had evolved


    into genuine affection. She truly saw me as her father now.


    "Did you have fun at camp?" I asked, setting her down but keeping hold of her hand.


    Emma nodded enthusiastically. "I won first ce in the trackingpetition! Miss Parker said


    I have natural talent!"


    Speaking of Miss Parker, the training den teacher approached us with a polite smile. "Alpha


    King Stone, it''s good to see you."


    "Miss Parker," I acknowledged with a nod. "I trust Emma behaved herself?"


    < Chapter 125 Reunion at the


    +15 Points


    "She was exemry," Miss Parker replied, maintaining the respectful distance appropriate when addressing an Alpha. "Her skills are developing impressively."


    I noticed Emma watching this interaction with pride, her chin lifted slightly as she observed the deference shown to me by other parents who passed by. She enjoyed being the Alpha''s daughter, even if not by blood.


    "Thank you for taking care of her," I said to Miss Parker, who bowed slightly before departing.


    Emma tugged on my hand. "Daddy, where''s Mommy?"


    Before I could answer, a familiar voice called out from behind us.


    "Emmy!"


    Emma''s face lit up as she spotted Victoria. "Mommy!" She pulled me toward where Victoria sat in her wheelchair, looking elegant despite her disability.


    Victoria smiled warmly at Emma, then looked up at me with those eyes that had


    once


    captivated me. "I couldn''t wait at home. I haven''t seen Emmy for half a month, I miss her."


    She reached for Emma, who hugged her carefully, mindful of not disturbing her mother''s


    paralyzed legs.


    "Don''t worry," Victoria added, her voice softer as she met my gaze. "I don''t care about other


    people''s opinions anymore."


    The unspoken message was clear-she didn''t care if people judged her for appearing in public


    with me, the Alpha whose mate had supposedly died. Her eyes held what appeared to be


    genuine love.


    "You''ve given me the courage to face anything," she continued. "Even like this." She gestured to


    her wheelchair.


    (Cassandra''s POV)


    I couldn''t help but stare at the touching family reunion unfolding before me. Alpha King Ethan


    Stone, Victoria Frost, and little Emma-they looked like the perfect family despite Victoria''s


    wheelchair.


    "Aren''t they just beautiful together?" my friend whispered beside me.


    I nodded, watching as Victoria adjusted Emma''s hair with maternal tenderness. In the two


    years since her ident, Victoria had transformed her public image, bing a moderately famous crystal designer with thousands of followers across social media tforms.


    < Chapter 125: Reunion at the...


    +15 Points >


    Her followers knew everything-her childhood connection with Ethan, their five- year separation


    during his marriage to Olivia Winters, and their unwavering bond despite allplications.


    "Seeing Mr. Stone and his chosen partner, I believe in true love again," I remarked, genuinely


    moved by their devotion.


    My friend sighed dreamily. "A man as powerful and handsome as Stone, and Miss Frost is disabled, but he never rejected her and still protects her like his first love."


    I frowned slightly, a question forming. "If he values her so much, why hasn''t he married her


    yet? It''s been two years since his mate''s death."


    "Don''t you know?" my friend replied, lowering her voice. "He''s observing the three-year


    mourning period for Matriarch Evelyn Stone. They were exceptionally close, and pack tradition demands respect for such bonds."


    I noticed Victoria''s knuckles whitening as she gripped her wheelchair''s armrests. She must


    have overheard us.


    "That old woman," my friend continued, oblivious to Victoria''s reaction. "Even in death, she


    dys their happiness."


    (Olivia''s POV)


    I felt a chill run down my spine as I overheard the conversation. Grandmother Evelyn was dead? The news hit me harder than I expected.


    Lucas must have noticed my reaction because his grip on my hand tightened. "Are you


    alright?" he asked quietly.


    I nodded, unable to speak past the lump in my throat. We were walking past the group where Ethan stood with Victoria and Emma, the perfect family portrait.


    The sight of them together-Ethan''s protective stance beside Victoria''s wheelchair, Emma''s adoring gaze up at him-was a cruel reminder of everything I had lost. My daughter. My mate. My ce in the pack.


    "Liv, Lucas called softly, his gray eyes filled with concern.


    I took a deep breath, steadying myself. Two years of therapy hadn''t erased the


    pain, but they had taught me to manage it.


    "I''m fine," I assured him, my voice steadier than I felt.


    Lucas looked relieved but heartbroken. I knew he was remembering how he''d


    found me after my suicide attempt in Moonstone River.


    < Chapter 125. Reunion at the


    (Third person''s POV)


    +15 Points


    Lucas ckwood would never forget the day he received that call. After months of believing Olivia had perished in the river, hearing her voice had seemed like a miracle-or a cruel joke. "Lucas?" her voice had been tentative, uncertain. "It''s me. Olivia."


    He had driven through the night to reach the coastal town where she was staying,


    still disbelieving until he saw her standing there, thinner and paler but unmistakably alive.


    "I needed time," she had exined that night over tea. "Time to heal from my psychological wounds. I''m better now."


    Butter, while helping her in the kitchen, he had seen the scars on her wrists- jagged lines that told the story her calm words concealed. Evidence of attempts to end her life after the river had failed to im her.


    His heart had broken anew. He had pulled her into his arms, holding her as if she might disappear again.


    "I''m sorry," he had whispered. "I waste."


    Olivia had rested her head against his chest. "It''s all over. I''m not alone now. I have my mother..."


    The revtion had surprised him. Olivia had reunited with her mother, Evelyn Winters, who had spent years searching for her daughter after they were separated during Olivia''s childhood.


    Though Olivia didn''t remember her mother due to the trauma she had experienced, Evelyn had recognized her daughter instantly from news reports about the Luna of Silvercrest Pack.


    It was Evelyn''s unwavering care that had pulled Olivia back from the brink when nothing else could. Her mother had been her anchor, her reason to live when Lily''s death and Ethan''s betrayal had left her adrift.


    Olivia''s reaching out to Lucas had been prompted by Evelyn''s illness-a condition


    that required


    specialized treatment only avable in Silvercrest territory.


    At the parking lot, Lucas guided Olivia to his waiting car. "I thought we might visit


    Sacred


    Moonlight Cemetery first," he suggested gently.


    Olivia nodded, her eyes distant. "Yes. I need to see Lily."


    Lucas had visited the cemetery frequently during Olivia''s absence. He had


    discovered that,


    contrary to Victoria''s cruel deception, Lily''s grave remained undisturbed, her tombstone still


    +15 Points >


    Victoria had exploited Olivia''s grief with a simr urn, another maniption in her campaign to destroy Olivia.


    When they arrived at the cemetery, Olivia approached her daughter''s grave with trepidation. Seeing the untouched memorial, she fell to her knees, tears of relief streaming down her face. "She''s still here," Olivia whispered. "She was here all


    along."


    The next morning, they met with Dr. Harold Bet at Crescent Moon Medical Center. The elderly healer reviewed Evelyn Winters'' medical records with careful attention.


    “I''d like to examine her personally before making any definitive rmendations," Dr. Bet said, his voice kind but professional. "Can you arrange for her transfer?"


    Olivia nodded, relief evident in her expression. "Yes, of course."


    "I''ll handle the arrangements," Lucas offered. "A specialized medical team and private flight. We''ll have her here within days."


    Olivia squeezed his hand gratefully. "Thank you, Lucas. I don''t know what I would


    have done without you."


    After Evelyn''s transfer and thorough examination, Dr. Bet developed a


    surgical n. However, Evelyn''s condition required a period of hospitalization to strengthen her before the procedure.


    "She''s too weak for immediate surgery," Dr. Bet exined. "We need to build her strength first."


    Olivia nodded, epting the reality of the situation. "How long?"


    "At least three weeks," the doctor replied. "Possibly longer."


    That evening, Lucas showed Olivia to his private residence near the medical


    center. "You''ll stay here," he said, his tone brooking no argument. "It''s close to your mother, and I have plenty of room."


    Later, he pressed a credit card into her hand. "For expenses. Whatever you


    need."


    Olivia tried to refuse. "Lucas, you''ve done enough-"


    "Please," he interrupted. "After everything you''ve been through, let me do this


    much."


    She reluctantly epted, though she had no intention of using it except in emergencies.


    +15 Points >


    That night, Olivia approached Lucas with another request. "I have these crystal


    design blueprints," she exined, showing him her work. "Could you deliver them to Gwendolyn Pierce?"


    Lucas raised an eyebrow. "The fashion icon? Head of the Pierce family?"


    Olivia nodded. "Her patronage couldunch my career as a designer. I heard Victoria Frost is the frontrunner this year, but...''


    "Consider it done," Lucas promised.


    At Gwendolyn Pierce''s celebration at Moonlit de, Ethan Stone stood beside Victoria Frost''s wheelchair. Despite her physical limitations, Victoriamanded attention in her elegant gown, her crystal jewelry catching the light.


    Gwendolyn Pierce, regal in her bearing, approached the gathering. After exchanging formal greetings, she raised her ss.


    "The crystal pieces I''ll be wearing for my celebration this year will be entrusted to


    Olivia Winters."


    Victoria, who had wheeled herself closer in anticipation of hearing her own name, froze. She turned slowly, her face a mask of shock.


    There, standing across the room, was Olivia Winters-the woman everyone


    believed had died two years ago.


    Ethan stared, his amber eyes wide with disbelief, his face draining of color as if


    he''d seen a ghost.


    As Olivia approached, the reality sunk in: Olivia Winters had returned.