(Olivia''s POV)


    The moonlight cast long shadows across Sacred Moonlight Cemetery as I approached Lily''s grave. Each step felt heavier than the


    I''de here seeking sce, but found only more pain. Connor ckthorn had promised evidence against Victoria, yet hours


    had passed with no word from him. Had Victoria''s maniptive suicide attempt worked? Had Ethan''s blind loyalty to her won


    again?


    My fingers trembled as I knelt before Lily''s Moonstone Tombstone. The polished stone gleamed in the moonlight, my daughter''s smiling face captured forever in the embedded photograph.


    "I''m sorry, Lily," I whispered, my voice breaking as I traced her name with my fingertips. "I''ve failed you again.”


    My wolf howled silently within me, mourning the pup we couldn''t protect in life or avenge in death. The weight of my failure pressed down on me like a physical burden.


    The cool night air carried the scent of venison and moonberry wine from nearby pack celebrations. Life continued for everyone else while I remained trapped in this endless cycle of grief and rage.


    "What more can I do?" 1 asked the silent tombstone. "Victoria has Ethan wrapped around her finger. Connor has disappeared. I''m alone in this fight."


    My wolf bristled at the admission of weakness, but it was true. I had no pack support, no allies powerful enough to challenge the Alpha King''s favored female.


    A familiar scent suddenly cut through the night air-pine, leather, and that distinctive Alpha musk that belonged only to Ethan


    Stone. My wolf immediately tensed, both yearning for and resenting our mate''s approach.


    I didn''t turn as his footsteps crunched on the gravel path behind me. I wouldn''t give him the satisfaction of acknowledging his


    presence.


    Ethan approached with measured steps, his powerful aura washing over me even before he came into view. He stopped beside Lily''s grave, setting down a small basket of fresh fruits and a tiny birthday cake-Lily''s Graveside Memorial Offerings.


    The gesture surprised me. I hadn''t expected him to remember what foods Lily had loved.


    "You shouldn''t be out here alone at night," he said, his deep voice breaking the cemetery''s silence.


    I kept my eyes fixed on Lily''s photograph. "I''m exactly where I should be."


    Ethan sighed, removing his ck Alpha Overcoat and draping it over my shoulders with unexpected gentleness. The warmth of it enveloped me immediately, carrying his scent


    "You''ll catch your death out here," he murmured, his amber eyes reflecting genuine concern when I finally looked up at him.


    +30 Bonus


    My wolf bristled at his touch, at the presumption that he could still care for me after everything. I shrugged the coat off violently, letting it fall to the ground between us.


    "Don''t pretend to care now," 1 spat.


    Undeterred, Ethan picked up the coat and wrapped it around me again, his


    movements firm but careful. His voice took on that


    Alpha timbre that made wolves instinctively obey.


    "Don''t neglect your health. The pack still needs its Luna,"


    The hypocrisy of his words ignited my fury. I stood abruptly, throwing the coat to the ground and deliberately stepping on it with


    my boot.


    "The pack needs its Luna?" Iughed bitterly. "Since when have you treated me as your Luna? You''ve made it clear that Victoria is


    your chosen female."


    s in his


    Ethan''s jaw tightened, his wolf growing defensive beneath his skin. I could see the golden flecks in his eyes brightening with


    emotion.


    "That''s not true, Olivia."


    "Isn''t it?" I challenged, stepping closer to him. "Where is your loyalty, Ethan? You still blindly trust Victoria despite Connor''s


    usations!"


    The memory of Victoria''s maniptive disy at the hospital made my blood boil. The way she''d pressed that silver knife to her


    own wrist, creating a wound serious enough to distract from Connor''s evidence.


    "I need concrete evidence before condemning anyone," Ethan replied, his voice steady despite my fury. "That''s what being Alpha


    means-justice, not vengeance."


    "Justice?" I echoed incredulously. "Where was justice when our daughter needed a kidney donor? Where was justice when that donor mysteriously disappeared?" Ethan''s expression darkened, but he didn''t back down. "I promise you this-if ckthorn''s ims prove true, Victoria will face


    pack justice. No one harms a Stone pack pup without consequences."


    I was about to retort when my phone rang, the distinctive tone indicating Connor ckthorn was calling. My heart raced as 1 fumbled to answer it, hope surging through my bond with my wolf.


    "Olivia," Connor''s voice came through clearly despite sounding strained. “I''m bringing you the evidence today."


    Tears of relief welled in my eyes as I ended the call. I turned to Ethan, my posture straightening with renewed purpose.


    "Connor is delivering the evidence," I announced, my voice steady with conviction. "I expect justice for our daughter, Ethan.


    Don''t you dare interfere.


    My wolf snarled beneath my skin, challenging the Alpha despite pack hierarchy.


    It was dangerous to challenge an Alpha this way, but I no longer cared about consequences.


    +30 Bonus:


    Ethan''s amber eyes held mine, unwavering. "If Victoria is guilty of harming Lily, I won''t protect her. You have my word as Alpha


    King."


    The solemnity in his tone suggested he was making not just a promise to me, but


    a sacred vow to our deceased daughter. Despite


    everything, I believed him in that moment.


    I nodded once, then turned to press a kiss to Lily''s photograph on the tombstone. "Soon, my sweet pup," I whispered. "Soon you''ll have justice."


    With renewed determination, I left for the Silvercrest Pack Medical Den, aware of Ethan''s powerful presence following closely


    behind me.


    The drive to the medical den was tense with unspoken words. Ethan insisted on driving me in his vehicle, and I was too focused on theing confrontation to argue.


    My mind raced with possibilities. What evidence did Connor have? Would it be enough to convince Ethan? Would it be enough for packw to punish Victoria?


    As we entered the medical den, staff members bowed their heads respectfully to their Alpha King, while casting curious nces at


    1. me. It had been a long time since Ethan and I had appeared anywhere together.


    We made our way to Victoria''s private room, my heart pounding with anticipation and dread. This confrontation had been years


    in the making


    Victoria was sitting up in bed when we entered, her bandaged wrist prominently disyed on top of the pristine white sheets. Her face, pale from blood loss, contorted with hatred when she saw me.


    "You conniving bitch!" she snarled, her voice rising despite her supposed fragile condition. "Conspiring with that rogue wolf to destroy me!"


    Her wolf projected aggressive pheromones, attempting to intimidate me. I ignored herpletely, pulling out my phone to call


    Connor again.


    Victoria''s eyes darted between me and Ethan, her panic barely concealed beneath her rage. "Ethan, you can''t let her do this! She''s


    trying to frame me!"


    Ethan''s arrival had diverted her attention, and she immediately shifted her demeanor. Her wolf whimpered pathetically as she


    reached for him with her bandaged wrist.


    "Ethan," she pleaded tearfully, "you know I''m innocent. They''re trying to frame


    me!"


    I turned my back on her theatrics, focusing on dialing Connor''s number again. Where was he? Had Victoria somehow gotten to


    him?


    Just as the call connected, a phone rang from the doorway. All heads turned to see Connor ckthorn standing there,


    ckthorn''s Evidence Phone in hand, his expression grim but determined as he stepped into the ward.