In the next second, my mother''s pupils suddenly dted. Her chest heaved violently as she red at Ethan with a fury I''d never seen before.


    "You..." she rasped, her voice trembling with rage. The monitor beside her bed began beeping frantically as her heart rate spiked.


    She tried to continue, to curse the man standing in the doorway, but her words caught in her


    throat as she gasped for air.


    "Mom!" I shouted, panic seizing my chest. "Doctor, quickly check on my mother!"


    Dr. Harrison Fletcher had just turned to leave, but at my cry, he spun around. His expression


    shifted from professional calm to urgent concern in an instant.


    "Get her back in!" he ordered the nurses, who immediately began wheeling my mother''s bed


    back toward the emergency room.


    Thest thing I saw was my mother''s face, contorted with hatred as she stared at Ethan. Then


    the double doors swung shut, cutting her from my view.


    I whirled around to face Ethan, rage boiling through my veins. His presence had triggered this.


    His very existence had nearly killed my mother.


    "Get out!" I hissed through clenched teeth, my hands balled into fists at my sides.


    Ethan''s amber eyes widened slightly. For once, the mighty Alpha King looked taken aback,


    perhaps even guilty.


    "If there''s anything I can help with, call me anytime," he said quietly, his deep voicecking its


    usualmanding tone.


    I didn''t answer. I just stared at him, letting all my hatred and pain show in my eyes. My wolf snarled beneath my skin, wanting to lunge at the man who had brought us nothing but


    suffering.


    He held my gaze for a moment longer before turning away. I watched his broad shoulders disappear down the corridor, my body trembling with fury and fear.


    Only when he waspletely gone did I allow myself to copse into the nearest chair, my


    ~ Chapter 131 A Mother''s Reco


    +9 Points >


    head falling into my hands as tears threatened to spill over.


    Lucas was beside me in an instant, his arm wrapping around my shoulders. The gentle


    pressure of his hand as he patted my back was the only thing keeping me from falling apart


    "This is my fault," I whispered, voice breaking. "I should have known she would recognize him."


    "You couldn''t have predicted this," Lucas said softly. "None of us considered it."


    I shook my head, guilt crushing my chest. "She nearly died because I let him near her."


    "Liv, listen to me," Lucas said firmly, turning me to face him. "Your mother is strong. She''s


    going to pull through this."


    His gray eyes held mine, steady and reassuring.


    An hourter, Dr. Fletcher emerged from the emergency room, looking tired but relieved.


    "She''s stable again," he informed us. "We''ve moved her to a private recovery room."


    Relief washed over me like a wave. "Can I see her?"


    He nodded. "Briefly. She needs rest, but she''s asking for you."


    My mother looked fragile against the white hospital sheets, but her eyes were clear when I


    entered. The machines monitoring her vital signs beeped steadily, reassuringly. "I''m sorry," she whispered as I took her hand. "I didn''t mean to frighten you."


    "Don''t apologize," I said, squeezing her fingers gently. "I should have warned you he might be


    here."


    She shook her head slightly. "That man... after what he did to you and Lily..."


    "Shh," I soothed, not wanting her to upset herself again. "Don''t think about him now. Just focus


    on getting better."


    The night grewte, and nurses came to check on my mother regrly. I refused to leave her


    side, settling into the ufortable chair beside her bed.


    "Go home, sweetheart, my mother urged, her voice weak but insistent. "You need proper rest."


    "I''m not leaving you," I said firmly.


    She smiled faintly. "You''re as stubborn as I am. But Lucas is waiting, and I''ll just


    be sleeping. Come back in the morning when I''m more awake."


    I hesitated, torn between staying and acknowledging that she was right-I was exhausted, and


    there was little I could do while she slept.


    +8 Points >


    "Promise you''ll call if anything changes?" I asked the night nurse, who nodded reassuringly.


    "Of course, Miss Winters. We have your number as the primary contact."


    With reluctance, I kissed my mother''s forehead and prepared to leave. Lucas was waiting in


    the corridor, his tall frame leaning against the wall.


    "How is she?" he asked as I approached.


    "Stable," I replied. "She''s insisting I go home and rest.''


    He nodded. "Smart woman. Come on, I''ll walk you to your car.''


    (Ethan''s POV)


    I waited in my Midnight Maybach in the lower level of the medical den parking garage, my


    fingers drumming impatiently against the steering wheel. My wolf paced restlessly beneath my skin, agitated by the events of the evening.


    Evelyn Winters'' reaction to me had been unexpected but not iprehensible. Of course she


    would hate me after everything that had happened with Lily. Still, seeing that raw hatred in her


    eyes had struck something deep within me-a ce I usually kept carefully guarded.


    Movement at the entrance caught my attention. Lucas ckwood emerged with Olivia, his


    arm wrapped protectively around her shoulders. They paused at the bottom of the steps, and I


    watched as he pulled her into an embrace.


    From my angle, it looked like they were kissing. My vision went red.


    A growl rumbled in my chest as my wolf surged forward, furious at the sight of another Alpha


    touching my mate. My fingers crushed the leather of the steering wheel, leaving permanent


    indentations.


    Mine, my wolf snarled. She is MINE.


    I forced myself to remain in the car, though every instinct demanded I go tear them apart. Instead, I watched as they separated and walked toward the parking area, disappearing from


    my view.


    Once I was certain they had left, I exited my vehicle and strode purposefully back


    into the


    medical den. The staff straightened as I passed, sensing my barely contained


    rage.


    I found Dr. Harrison Fletcher reviewing charts at the nurses'' station.


    "Alpha King," he greeted, bowing his head respectfully.


    < Chapter 131: A Mother''s Reco....


    +8 Points>


    "I need to speak with you," I said, my voice low and controlled despite the storm


    raging inside me. "Privately."


    He led me to his office, closing the door behind us.


    "How can I assist you, sir?" he asked, his professional demeanor firmly in ce.


    "Evelyn Winters'' surgery," I began, fixing him with a hard stare. "I understand you''re scheduled


    to perform it."


    Dr. Fletcher nodded cautiously. "Yes, sir. It''s aplex procedure, but necessary for her


    recovery."


    "You will withdraw from the case," I stated, making it clear this was not a request.


    His eyes widened slightly. "Sir, with all due respect, Mrs. Winters needs this surgery. Without it


    11


    "I''m aware of the implications," I cut him off. "But you will find a reason to recuse yourself. Cite


    a conflict of interest, scheduling issues-I don''t care. Just make sure you''re not the


    one


    performing that surgery."


    Dr. Fletcher''s professional mask slipped for a moment, revealing his confusion


    and concern.


    "May I ask why, Alpha King?"


    I leaned forward, my voice dropping to a dangerous whisper. "You may not. Just


    know that


    thises directly from me, and I expect my orders to be followed without question."


    He swallowed visibly, then nodded. "As you wish, Alpha King."


    "Good," I straightened, adjusting my suit jacket. "And Dr. Fletcher? This


    conversation never


    happened."


    (Olivia''s POV)


    Before I got into my car, Lucas reached into his pocket and pulled out a small ss vial.


    "Here," he said, pressing it into my palm. "It might help you sleep tonight."


    I examined the vial, filled with a clear liquid that shimmered slightly in the parking


    lot lights.


    "What is it?"


    "Moonflower Sleep Essence,” he exined. “Put a few drops on your pillow. It''s infused with moonstone essence-should help calm your mind."


    I uncapped it and inhaled the gentle, soothing scent. "Thank you, Lucas. For


    everything."


    416


    +8 Points >


    He smiled, the expression warming his usually serious face. "Get some rest, Liv.


    I''ll check on your mother first thing tomorrow if you''d like."


    Back at my cottage, I followed Lucas''s suggestion, cing a few drops of the essence on my pillow. The subtle fragrance filled my bedroom, easing some of the tension from my body.


    I sent Lucas a quick message: "The essence is wonderful. Thank you again for


    being there today."


    My phone buzzed almost immediately, but it wasn''t Lucas. Ethan''s name shed


    on the screen, sending a jolt of anger through me.


    "Break all ties with Lucas ckwood immediately. This is not a request."


    I stared at the message, my fingers hovering over the keyboard as I contemted


    a scathing reply. Instead, I simply turned off my phone and ced it on my


    nightstand.


    The moonflower essence worked its magic, and despite the day''s turmoil, I fell into a deep, dreamless sleep.


    Morning came too quickly. I hurried to the medical den, eager to check on my mother and discuss her uing surgery with Dr. Fletcher.


    I found him at the nurses'' station, reviewing charts. He looked up as I approached, and something in his expression made my stomach tighten with apprehension.


    "Miss Winters," he greeted, his professional smile not quite reaching his eyes. "I


    was hoping to speak with you."


    "How is my mother this morning?" I asked.


    "Stable," he replied. "But I need to discuss her surgery with you."


    He led me to a quiet consultation room and closed the door behind us.


    "I''m afraid I won''t be able to perform your mother''s procedure," he said without


    preamble.


    I stared at him, uprehending. "What? Why not? You''re the best healer for


    this type of surgery."


    Dr. Fletcher avoided my gaze. "A scheduling conflict has arisen. I''ve


    rmended several


    colleagues who are qualified to-"


    "This is because of him, isn''t it?" I interrupted, my voice shaking with anger.


    "Ethan did this."


    The doctor''s silence was all the confirmation I needed.


    < Chapter 131: A Mother''s Reco...


    +8 Points >


    "Dr. Fletcher, please," I implored, desperation creeping into my voice. "My mother


    needs this


    surgery. You know you''re the best person to perform it."


    "I''m sorry, Miss Winters," he said, still not meeting my eyes. "My decision is final."


    I left the consultation room in a daze, fury and fear battling within me. Without


    thinking, I


    called Lucas.


    "Liv? What''s wrong?" His voice was instantly alert.


    "It''s Ethan," I said, struggling to keep my voice steady. "He''s interfered with my


    mother''s surgery. Dr. Fletcher has withdrawn from the case."


    Lucas cursed under his breath. "I''ll try to speak with Fletcher."


    "Thank you," I whispered, grateful for his support.


    "In the meantime, I''ll look into other options," he promised. "There are other skilled


    healers


    who might be willing to help, though they''re limited."


    I ended the call, knowing what I had to do. I couldn''t take risks with my mother''s


    life, not even


    to spite Ethan.


    With grim determination, I drove to Moonlight Manor. The imposing gates opened


    as I


    approached–Ethan was expecting me.


    I found Ethan standing by the window, his broad shoulders silhouetted against the


    morning


    light. He turned as I entered, his amber eyes unreadable.


    Without hesitation, I strode across the room and pped him hard across the


    face.


    "How dare you?" I hissed, trembling with rage. "Killing my daughter isn''t enough,


    are you going


    to kill my mother too?"


    Ethan didn''t react to the p. He simply regarded me with those infuriating amber


    eyes.


    He gestured toward the hallway, "Change the shoes, Olivia. Then we''ll have


    dinner."


    In a surge of defiance, I began unbuttoning my blouse, my fingers working quickly


    down the


    front.


    Ethan''s eyes widened in shock as I shrugged the garment off my