After ending the call, James knelt beside me, taking my hands in his. "Hey, don''t look so worried. It''s not a big deal."


    "Not a big deal?" I whispered, my voice breaking. "James, you''re one of the fastest wolves in the Northern Territory. Losing a Iddney could affect your speed, your strength..."


    James shrugged, his trademark easy smile spreading across his face. "The territory-wide race is still months away. I''ll have plenty of time to recover."


    "You never told me you registered as a donor," I said softly.


    "After what happened with Lily..." His voice trailed off, and pain flickered in his eyes. He''d loved my daughter like his own. "I figured if I could prevent another family from going through that, it would be worth it."


    "But your racing career-


    "This was going to be myst season anyway," he interrupted gently. "I''ve been nning to focus more on pack business."


    He ruffled my hair affectionately, just as he''d done since we were pups. "Losing a kidney won''t affect me much with our healing abilities, but it can save a family. That''s worth it, right?"


    I nodded, unable to speak. James had always been this way-selfless, kind, putting others before himself. It was one of the reasons I loved him so dearly.


    "Do you know who the recipient is?" I asked finally


    James shook his head. "They don''t tell donors that information unless both parties consent after the surgery."


    I squeezed his hand, overwhelmed with gratitude for his friendship. "You''re a good wolf, James Knight."


    (Ethan''s POV)


    "Hold still, Emmy," I instructed gently, my powerful hands carefully weaving Emma''s soft blonde hair into an intricate braid.


    "Is it pretty?" Emma asked eagerly, trying to turn her head to see.


    "The prettiest," I assured her, gently guiding her head back into position. "But I need you to stay still so I can finish."


    Emma giggled, her blue eyes sparkling with delight. "You''re the best at braids, Daddy. Even better than Mommy."


    My heart clenched at her words. Though I wasn''t Emma''s biological father, she had always called me "Daddy." My wolf whined softly beneath my skin as thoughts of Lily surfaced unbidden. (2


    What would Lily''s hair have looked like at seven? Would she have wanted braids too? What kind of father-daughter rituals would we have developed if I''d been there for her?


    "All done,”nnounced, securing the end of the braid with a small stic band


    10415 Bon


    Emma immediately reached for the hand mirror on her bedside table, admiring my handiwork with obvious pleasure.


    "It''s beautiful!" she eximed, turning her head from side to side. "None of the other girls at the Crescent Moon Training Den


    have braids this pretty,"


    Her innocent boasting carried an undercurrent that only I could hear-pride that she had imed what Lily never could: my


    attention, my time, my love.


    The door burst open suddenly, and Victoria wheeled herself in, her face alight with excitement despite the bruises from her


    confrontation with Olivia.


    “Ethan, Emma is saved!" she eximed, her scent broadcasting tion.


    I rose from Emma''s bedside, my wolf instantly alert. "What do you mean?"


    Victoria''s eyes shone with tears of relief. "Dr. Simon Harper just confirmed it. They''ve found a suitable kidney donor for Emma.”


    Emma squealed with delight, pping her hands together. "Does that mean I can go back to school soon?"


    Victoria nodded, wheeling herself to Emma''s bedside and taking her small hand. "Yes, sweetheart. Very soon."


    Ovee with emotion, Victoria turned to me and copsed against my chest, her shoulders shaking with sobs. I wrapped my arms around her instinctively, my wolf responding to her relief with protective instincts.


    "Thank the Moon," I murmured, stroking her hair. "This is wonderful news."


    After Victoria hadposed herself, I gently asked, "Do we know who the donor is? I''d like to express my gratitude."


    Victoria hesitated briefly, her scent shifting subtly. My wolf sensed her calction, making me instantly wary.


    "It''s James Knight," she finally answered, watching my reaction carefully.


    The name hit me like a physical blow. James Knight-Olivia''s closest friend since childhood. My amber eyes widened in shock as


    the implications sank in.


    My first thought was of Olivia. She despised Victoria and Emma for taking Lily''s kidney donor. If she learned that James Knight''s


    kidney was being given to Emma..........


    My wolf paced anxiously beneath my skin. This situation could further damage


    my already fractured rtionship with my true


    Luna.