I heard Victoria''s satisfied exhale. "Good. The money will be in your ount by


    morning."


    "What if they suspect something?" I asked, anxiety creeping into my voice.


    "They won''t. You made it look like an ident, didn''t you?"


    I nodded, though she couldn''t see me. "Yes. I stayed downwind so they couldn''t catch my scent."


    "Perfect. Now act normal. Pretend you''re devastated."


    The call ended, and I leaned against the wall, letting the reality of what I''d done sink in. The initial guilt I''d felt had faded,


    overshadowed by thoughts of what I could do with such arge sum.


    "It''s not my fault," I muttered to myself. "That Olivia Winters is so stingy with her tips anyway. And the old woman was already


    sick."


    I straightened my uniform and applied scent-neutralizing lotion to mask any lingering anxiety. Taking a deep breath, Iposed


    my features into an expression of appropriate grief.


    Time to return to the ward and y my part.


    (Olivia''s POV)


    I awakened to the steady beep of monitors. For a moment, I was disoriented, then the doctor''s words came rushing back.


    "Mom," I whispered, tears streaming down my face as I looked at her unconscious form.


    Shey still, connected to life support, her wolf barely perceptible beneath her pale skin. The sight broke something inside me.


    A warm hand touched my shoulder. I turned to see Ethan watching me, his amber eyes filled with concern.


    "Don''t," I said, pushing his hand away. My wolf was still wary of his touch, despite his recent acts of kindness.


    The door opened, and Sarah entered, her face a mask of concern. "Oh, Ms. Winters, you''re awake! How are you feeling?"


    I stared at her, my emerald eyes narrowing with suspicion. "What happened to my mother? She was stable when I left."


    Sarah''s expression shifted to one of hurt. "I don''t know! I was just doing my job, checking her vitals like I always do."


    "You were the only one with her," I pressed, my voice hardening.


    "Are you using me of something?" Sarah''s voice rose indignantly. "First themp, now this? Maybe I should just quit if you


    don''t trust me!"


    Something in her performance felt off. I remembered the Concealed Pinhole Surveince Camera James had insisted on installing


    after the first "ident" with the Fallen Bedside Lamp.


    "My phone," I said, turning to Ethan. "Give me my phone."


    +15 Bonus


    He handed it to me without question. I quickly installed the surveince monitoring app, my fingers trembling with urgency.


    Sarah continued her act, gathering her belongings. "I don''t need this kind of treatment. I''ve been nothing but dedicated to your


    mother''s care!"


    The video loaded on my screen. My body began to tremble with rage as I watched Sarah deliberately disconnect my mother''s


    oxygen, then stand back and observe her struggle to breathe.


    My wolf surged beneath my skin, protective fury making my vision sharpen. I felt Ethan move closer, looking over my shoulder at


    the damning evidence.


    His face darkened, amber eyes shing with Alpha rage. "Sarah," he growled, the sound freezing the woman in her tracks.


    She turned slowly, her face paling as she saw our expressions. She copsed to her knees, suddenly aware she was trapped in a


    room with two enraged werewolves.


    "I-I didn''t... it wasn''t..." she stammered.


    "We have it on video," I said, my voice deadly calm as I turned the phone toward her. "You deliberately disconnected her oxygen


    and watched her suffer."


    Sarah lunged forward, trying to snatch the phone from my hand. Ethan moved with lightning speed, intercepting her before she


    could reach me.


    I grabbed her wrist, applying just enough pressure to make her wince. "Who put you up to this? Who paid you to hurt my


    mother?"


    Ethan''s brow furrowed in confusion, then understanding dawned. "You think someone ordered this?"


    "Of course someone did," I snapped. "She has no personal motive."


    "Victoria was at Rosewood Haven," Ethan said defensively. "She couldn''t have been involved."


    Sarah''s eyes darted between us, sensing Ethan''s protectiveness toward Victoria. For a moment, I thought she would remain


    silent.


    I tightened my grip on her wrist, ignoring Ethan. "Tell me who paid you, or I swear by the Moon Goddess, I will make you regret it."


    My wolf''s growl rumbled in my throat, making Sarah tremble with primal fear. Humans might not have wolves, but they instinctively recognized the threat.


    Ethan stepped forward, his expression conflicted. He could see my determination, and something in his eyes told me he feared for my already fragile state.


    With deliberate slowness, he ced his foot on Sarah''s instep, applying just enough pressure to make her cry out.


    "Tell her," hemanded, his Alpha voice impossible to resist.


    Sarah broke, tears streaming down her face as she gasped: "It was Ms. Frost!"