I felt Olivia trembling behind me, her fury radiating in waves as Ethan''s Alpha
coercion.
My heart ached for her. I tightened my grip on her hand when she tried to pull away, responding to Ethan''smand.
"Liv, don''t go. Let me handle this. I won''t let anything happen to your mother," I promised, my eyes locked on hers.
I was genuinely concerned that Ethan''s pressure would cause her illness to
rpse-the same condition that had nearly imed her after Lily''s death. I couldn''t bear to see her suffer that
way again.
(Olivia''s POV)
I looked at Lucas with tearful eyes, feeling utterly powerless against Ethan''s influence over Silvercrest territory. I hadn''t anticipated his continued harassment after returning to Shadow Creek, especially given the rumors about him and Victoria.
"How can you be so shameless?" I spat at Ethan, my voice trembling with rage.
Lucas squeezed my hand reassuringly. "Trust me," he said, his gaze gentle yet firm.
I held his hand tighter, silently conveying my trust. Deep down, I believed Lucas wouldn''t jeopardize my mother''s health the way Ethan had.
Ethan noticed our interaction, his amber eyes narrowing dangerously. "I won''t ask again," he said, his voice growing colder.
Just then, his phone rang. He ignored it at first, but when it rang a second time, he reluctantly
checked the screen.
"What is it, Maxwell?" he answered sharply.
I watched his expression change as he listened to whatever Maxwell Chen was saying. His jaw tightened visibly.
"What do you mean the project is halted?" he demanded. "Who authorized that?"
< Chapter 134: Territorial Dispu....
Lucas''s lips curved into a subtle smile beside me. I realized he must have used his
connections against Ethan.
After ending the call, Ethan red at Lucas with barely contained fury. "This isn''t over," he warned before storming out of the medical den.
Lucas led me to my mother''s room without further interference. I was grateful for his protection, but worried about the consequences of challenging the Alpha King so openly.
+3 Puntos
Over the next few days, Lucas became busy with ckwood Pack Enterprises matters. Ethan
didn''t appear in front of me again, which was a relief.
I spent most of my time at the medical den, watching over my mother. Her condition seemed to be stabilizing, which eased my anxiety somewhat.
Dr. Harrison Fletcher appeared ufortable whenever I was around. He avoided meeting my eyes directly, as if he felt guilty about something.
"How is she really doing?" I asked him during one of his examinations.
He hesitated before answering. "Her vitals are improving. The postponement of the surgery might actually be beneficial."
I narrowed my eyes suspiciously. "Why the sudden change in medical opinion?”
Dr. Fletcher busied himself with checking my mother''s charts. "Sometimes new informationes to light that changes our approach."
I didn''t believe him, but I couldn''t argue with my mother''s improving condition. Whatever was happening, at least she seemed to be getting better.
After my mother fell asleep that evening, I left the medical den, exhausted from another long day of worry. A sleek ck car pulled up in front of me as I stepped outside.
Bernard Sheppard emerged, his dignified manner unchanged as he bowed slightly. "Miss Winters, Mrs. ckwood requests your presence."
My wolf immediately grew cautious. "Lucas''s mother?"
Bernard nodded. "She''s waiting at the Whispering Tea Parlor."
I hesitated, then quickly sent Lucas a text message before getting into the car.
Whatever Margaret ckwood wanted, I needed to face it directly.
The Whispering Tea Parlor was as elegant as its name suggested, with soft lighting and tasteful décor. Margaret ckwood sat at a corner table, her posture perfect as she sipped
her tea.
+8 Puntos >
She didn''t stand when I approached, merely indicating the chair across from her with a slight
gesture.
"Miss Winters," she greeted, her refined voice barely masking her disapproval. "Thank you for
I sat down cautiously. "Mrs. ckwood."
She studied me with critical eyes. "I''ll be direct. You are unworthy of my son."
The bluntness of her statement took me by surprise, though I shouldn''t have been shocked.
"When I heard you had jumped into the Moonstone River, I was relieved," she continued coldly. "Your reappearance has been... disappointing."
I felt my wolf bristle defensively. "I never asked for Lucas''s attention."
Margaret''s perfectly manicured hand waved dismissively. "My son is the Alpha of
the
Moonstone Pack. His actions now affect both ckwood Pack Enterprises and Stone Pack
Enterprises."
Her eyes narrowed slightly. "I understand you spent the night at Ethan Stone''s residence
recently."
I stiffened. "Nothing happened between us."
"That hardly matters," Margaret replied. "The appearance of impropriety is enough. Lucas is risking everything for a woman who still runs to her mate when called."
Her words stung because they contained a kernel of truth. I had gone to Ethan''s apartment,
even if it was under duress.
"The ckwood bloodline has maintained its territory for over a century," she reminded me.
"One woman''s drama should not jeopardize generations of stability."
I retreated slightly in my chair, suddenly understanding the gravity of the situation. Lucas wasn''t just risking his reputation for me-he was risking his pack''s standing. Before I could respond, the door to the tea parlor opened. Lucas strode in, immediately filling
the room with his presence.
"That''s enough, Mother," he said, his voice carrying the quiet authority of an Alpha.
Margaret''s expression remainedposed, but I could see the tension in her shoulders.
< Chapter 134: Territorial Dispu
"I don''t appreciate you involving Olivia in pack politics," Lucas continued, moving
to stand
beside my chair.
He took my hand gently. "We''re leaving."
+8 Puntos >
Outside, Lucas tried tofort me. "I''m sorry about my mother. Please ignore
what she said."
I pulled my hand from his grasp. "Lucas, you need to stop whatever you''re doing
against
Ethan."
"Why?" he asked, genuinely confused.
"Because your mother is right," I insisted. "You''re risking too much for me. The
ckwood
Pack-"
"Will be fine," he interrupted firmly.
I pressed him further. "You''re damaging pack alliances. That affects everyone
under your
protection."
Lucas sighed, running a hand through his hair. "Yes, there''s some risk to the pack.
I won''t deny
that."
"Then why?" I demanded. "Why would you do this?"
"Because you deserve better," he said simply. "And I won''t abandon you the way
he did."
I shook my head, emerald eyes reflecting my concern. "It''s not worth it, Lucas."
"It is to me," he replied, reaching for my hand again and holding it tightly. "I''m not
letting go,
Olivia."
I resolutely pulled away, unwilling to be the cause of trouble for him and his pack.
As I turned
to leave, Ethan''s Shadow Ghost pulled up beside us.
He rolled down the window, his amber eyes cold as ice. "Get in," he ordered. Overwhelmed by anger and frustration, I grabbed my Crystal-Studded Designer Handbag and
threw it at him with all my strength.
Ethan caught the bag with ease, opened the car door, and waited for me with the patience of a predator. "Don''t make this more difficult than it needs to be."
I ignored him and stepped to the curb, hailing a passing taxi. As I climbed in, I saw
Ethan''s car
turn to follow.
Suddenly, there was a loud crash. Lucas had deliberately rammed his Armored
SUV into the
< Chapter 134: Territorial Dispu
side of Ethan''s Shadow Ghost.
+8 Puntos 3
Through the taxi window, I saw Ethan, who hadn''t been wearing his seatbelt, hit
the steering wheel hard. Lucas got out of his vehicle calmly.
He tossed something into Ethan''s car-a check, I realized-before returning to his
SUV. "Sorry about that," he called out. "Complete ident."
The taxi driver, witnessing the confrontation between two powerful Alphas, quickly
pulled
away from the scene.
"Where to, miss?" he asked nervously.
"Shadowfall Tavern," I replied, needing a drink more than ever.
The tavern was dimly lit and rtively quiet when I arrived. I found a corner booth
and ordered
the strongest moonlight wine they had.
I was halfway through my second ss when James Knight slid into the seat
across from
1. me. His hazel eyes were filled with concern.
"Lucas told me what happened," he said, signaling the bartender for a drink of his
own.
I didn''t respond, just stared into my ss as if it held answers to questions I
hadn''t even formed yet.
James didn''t push me to talk. He simply sat there, offering silent support as he recognized my need forfort without pressure.
By my fourth ss, the emotional walls I''d built began to crumble. Tears slid down my cheeks as everything-Lily''s death, Ethan''s betrayal, my mother''s illness, Lucas''s risk-taking, Margaret''s cold assessment-crashed down on me at once. "I''m so tired, Jay," I whispered, using his nickname from our childhood. "I''m tired
of fighting."
James moved to sit beside me, putting his arm around my shoulders as I leaned against him.
"I know, Liv. I know."
I broke downpletely then, crying on his shoulder as the alcohol lowered my
defenses. James held me through it, not offering empty titudes, just steady presence.
I didn''t notice the tavern door opening or the sudden hush that fell over the room.
But I felt
James tense beside me.
Looking up through tear-blurred vision, I saw Ethan standing a few feet away. His
amber eyes were fixed on me, filled with an emotion I couldn''t name.
< Chapter 134: Territorial Dispu......
+8 Puntos >
There was a small cut on his forehead from the earlier collision, but he seemed
otherwise
unharmed. His gaze shifted from me to James, narrowing dangerously.
"Get your hands off my mate," he growled.
James''s eyes shed with protective fury. Without warning, he grabbed a bottle
from the table
and struck. Ethan over the head with it, the ss shattering on impact.