I felt Ethan stiffen beside me. His amber eyes darkened dangerously as he
watched the video, shock and rage building in his
expression like a gathering storm.
"That''s-that''s not what it looks like," I stammered, my mind racing for an
exnation. "Emma was being difficult. I was just
teaching her discipline. You know how spoiled she can be-"
The front door opened with perfect timing, interrupting my desperate exnation.
Emma walked in from her day at the Crescent
Moon Training Den, her backpack slung over one shoulder.
"Daddy!" she called out happily, spotting Ethan among the adults.
She ran straight into his arms, not noticing the tension crackling in the room.
Ethan caught her automatically, his expression
softening slightly as he looked down at her innocent face.
Connor watched from the floor, his eyes filled with unbearable sorrow. This was
his biological daughter, his flesh and blood, yet
she ran to another man, calling him "Daddy" with such love.
The bond he''d never been allowed to form with Emma was evident in the pain that crossed his bloodied face. Seven years of
fatherhood stolen from him by my lies.
Emma finally noticed Olivia standing nearby. Her small face hardened slightly, and she deliberately snuggled closer to Ethan,
wrapping her arms tightly around his neck.
It was a small act of defiance that revealed herplicated feelings toward the true Luna. I''d made sure to poison Emma against
Olivia from the beginning.
(Ethan''s POV)
I held Emma close against my chest, my mind reeling from what I''d just witnessed on Olivia''s video. The sweet child in my arms
couldn''t possibly be the same one I''d seen standing barefoot in the snow, begging Victoria to let here inside.
I needed to know the truth once and for all.
Gently, I set Emma down on her feet and knelt to her level on the plush carpet. I took her small hands in mine, noticing how she
avoided looking at Connor on the floor, though her eyes darted to him with confusion.
"Emma, sweetheart," I said softly, deliberately keeping my voice gentle to avoid frightening her. "I need you to tell me the truth
about how your mother treats you when I''m not around."
Victoria stepped forward quickly, panic shing across her face. "Ethan, she''s just a child. She doesn''t understand what''s happening here-"
"Be quiet," Imanded, not bothering to look at her. My Alpha voice made the windows rattle slightly.
From the corner of my eye, I saw Victoria''s panicked expression crumble. She couldn''t coach Emma with me watching so closely.
+30 Bonus
Still, she attempted to use her eyes to threaten Emma into silence, shooting the child a warning re that promised punishment
I caught the look and silenced Victoria with a warning growl. "Leave the room," I ordered my security team with a sharp gesture. "Take him to the car," I added, nodding toward Connor. "But don''t harm him further until I''ve sorted this out."
The guards hesitated, looking between me and Victoria, thenplied, dragging Connor to his feet. He winced in pain but kept
eyes fixed on Emma, a mixture of love and regret in his gaze.
his
"Be brave, Emma," he whispered as they pulled him toward the door.
Once they were gone, I turned back to Emma, brushing a strand of hair from her face. "It''s just us now," I assured her, my voice
gentle. "You can tell me anything, and no one will be angry with you."
Emma looked up at me withplete trust in her eyes. She nodded solemnly, her small shoulders straightening. "I promise to
tell the truth, Daddy," she said, her voice small but determined.
Victoria stood frozen by the window, her face pale as moonlight. I could almost
see the cold dread spreading through her body as
she realized Emma might reveal everything.
Her carefully constructed world was bncing on the words of a child.
I looked directly into Emma''s eyes and asked the question Victoria had been
dreading since the moment Olivia yed that
damning video.
"Emma, has Victoria ever hurt you when I wasn''t there?"