I hesitated, torn between my rage at Victoria and my love for Emma. Emma had


    just recovered from a serious kidney transnt.


    The stress couldpromise her health.


    "Please, Daddy," Emma begged, her wolf whining through our pack bond.


    I sighed deeply, then nodded. "Alright, Emma. I''ll help."


    I caught a sh of triumph in Victoria''s eyes before it was reced by grateful relief. Emma was her weapon against Olivia-


    against me.


    "Thank you, Daddy! I love you most!" Emma kissed my cheek.


    Victoria moved closer, releasing submissive pheromones to appeal to my Alpha instincts.


    I shifted away, putting Emma between us like a shield. My wolf growled softly in warning, making my cold distance clear.


    After Emma fell asleep, I stepped outside to make calls. I didn''t notice Victoria slipping her Alpha Phone onto a shelf, its


    recording function activated.


    I called James Knight. "Take down all trending topics about Victoria on the packworks. Arrange for elite enforcers to protect


    Emma."


    James was silent for a moment. "You''re protecting Victoria now? After everything?"


    "I''m protecting Emma," I corrected sharply. "She''s just an innocent pup." 2


    (Olivia''s POV)


    "That''s strange," I muttered, scrolling through my phone. "All the posts about Victoria have disappeared."


    My mother looked up, eyes narrowing. "What do you mean?"


    I showed her my screen. "The videos, the news about her detention-it''s all gone."


    Evelyn''s face darkened. "Ethan. He''s protecting her again."


    I didn''t contradict her, though I suspected Ethan was actually protecting Emma.


    Still, the result was the same-Victoria escaping


    ountability again.


    "Don''t worry about it, Mom," I said. "Focus on getting better."


    Inwardly, I steeled myself. I could no longer rely on Ethan for justice for Lily. I would have to do it myself.


    Later, I visited Connor ckthorn''s old den. Despite exhaustive searches, I found nothing proving Victoria''s involvement in


    Lily''s death.


    Outside, I found Victoria leaning against a ck car, waiting for me.


    "Still searching for evidence?" she taunted. "You won''t find any."


    I moved to walk past, but she blocked my path.


    +25 Bonus


    "Don''t think that just because Ethan knows you''re Little Orange, he''ll be biased toward you,” she said venomously. "We have


    Emma. You just weren''t as lucky; your daughter died so young."


    She showed me a video of Ethanforting Emma. "See how much Ethan loves Emma?"


    The tender scene was exactly what Lily had always longed for but never received. My heart clenched painfully.


    Victoria watched my reaction with satisfaction. "Emma will alwayse first for him. Not you, not your dead daughter-"


    The p caught her off guard, sending her stumbling backward. My emerald eyes shed dangerously. 1


    "If you ever act shameless in front of me again," I warned, "I''ll hit you every time."


    I walked away, but the encounter haunted me. Those tender moments between Ethan and Emma were a painful reminder of what


    Lily had been denied.


    Behind me, Victoria rubbed her cheek, a triumphant smile spreading across her face. Her wolf purred with satisfaction-she had


    sessfully wounded me emotionally.


    At the medical center, I found Lucas ckwood sitting beside my mother. He rose when I entered, his wolf projecting warm


    greeting pheromones.


    "You''re back early," I said. "How was the Twin Bridges Territory?"


    "Productive," he replied. "But I cut the trip short when I heard about Evelyn''s condition."


    The silent understanding between us reminded me of his promise-I owed him an answer about joining his pack.


    Evelyn watched with approval. "Why don''t you two go out for a while? I''m feeling better today."


    I hesitated, but nodded. "That sounds nice."


    My wolf weed the distraction from thoughts of Ethan and Victoria.


    (Lucas''s POV)


    I took Olivia to her favorite restaurant in neutral territory, then to the Moonlight Cinema.


    During a scene where a mother and child were separated, Olivia began silently crying.


    I wrapped an arm around her, my wolf projecting calming pheromones. The scene had clearly reminded her of losing Lily.


    As I held her, I thought about what I''d seen in Twin Bridges Territory—a young she-wolf who looked remarkably like Lily. Older, no longer sweet and smiling, but the resemnce was unmistakable.


    My wolf urged me to tell Olivia, to give her hope.


    +25 Bonus


    But I hesitated. What if I was wrong? Giving Olivia false hope would devastate her


    all over again.


    I decided to keep this secret until I had more certainty. My wolf whined softly at keeping secrets from the she-wolf I hoped would one day ept my courtship.


    After the movie, I offered to get Olivia some hot moonberry tea.


    While I stood in line, Olivia wandered into a wolf cub toy store. I watched her pick up a limited edition Ice Princess figurine, her expression softening with bittersweet memory.


    Just as she turned to pay, a small figure darted over and snatched it from her hand.


    "This is


    mine."