(Ethan''s POV)


    "Liv, I beg you, don''t give Lucas a chance, don''t be with him, give me another


    chance, okay?" I softened my tone, humbling myself before her.


    My wolf whined pitifully inside me. The arrogant Alpha I once was had


    disappeared the moment I discovered she was my Little


    Orange. Pride meant nothing now. All that mattered was keeping her from Lucas ckwood.


    "Please, Liv," I whispered, my voice breaking. "I''ll do anything."


    Olivia stared at me with those emerald eyes that once held such warmth. Now they were cold, distant-looking at me like I was a


    stranger.


    "Anything?" she repeated, her voice hollow. "Can you bring Lily back?"


    The question hit me like a physical blow. I had no answer that could satisfy her.


    "I can''t bring her back," I admitted, my voice thick with regret. "But I can spend the rest of my life making it up to you. Please,


    Liv."


    I dropped to my knees before her, something no Alpha would ever do. My wolf howled in distress, but I silenced it. Nothing


    mattered except winning her back.


    "Hit me," I begged, taking her hand. "Scold me, punish me however you want. Just don''t reject me."


    I pressed her palm against my cheek, then used it to p myself hard across the face. Again and again, I struck myself with her hand until her palm was red and stinging.


    Despite the pain, I gently brought her hand to my lips and blew on it softly. "I''m sorry, Liv:"


    Olivia yanked her hand away, her expression unchanged. "My love for you died with Lily."


    The words cut deeper than any physical wound. I surged forward, wrapping my arms around her slender frame, holding her


    against me.


    "You''re mine, Liv," I dered desperately. "Only mine. I won''t let you go."


    She remained stiff in my embrace, unresponsive. Her heart was as still as a frozenke against my chest. I felt her stillness and


    trembled, yet I couldn''t release her.


    The sudden ringtone of my phone shattered the silence between us. Maxwell''s name shed on the screen.


    I hesitated, not wanting to break this moment, but I couldn''t ignore my Beta. I answered on speakerphone, making no effort to


    hide the call from Olivia.


    "What is it, Maxwell?" I asked, my voice rough with emotion.


    "Alpha Stone," Maxwell''s voice came through clearly. "Victoria Frost is on the line. She says it''s urgent-about Emma."


    +25 Bonus


    Before I could respond, Victoria''s voice reced Maxwell''s. "Ethan! Thank


    goodness. Emma''s having a terrible nightmare. She''s


    calling for you, and I can''t wake her up."


    I heard Emma''s distressed cries in the background. Victoria switched to a video


    call, and the screen showed Emma thrashing in


    her bed, tears streaming down her face.


    "Alpha! Alpha!" Emma cried out, her small body shaking with sobs.


    Victoria''s face appeared on screen, her expression frantic. "Please, Ethan. She''ll listen to you. I''ve tried everything."


    I looked at Olivia, torn between my duty to Emma and my desperate need to fix things with Liv.


    "I''ll be right there," I said finally, my voice heavy with concern.


    Olivia scoffed, stepping away from me. "Of course you will. Your precious Emma needs you.''


    "Liv, she''s just a pup-"


    "And what was Lily?" she cut in, her voice sharp as a de. "Your kindness to


    Emma is a disservice to Lily, especially after the


    lies Emma told today."


    Her eyes shed with anger. "Get out. Now."


    "Liv, please, let me exin-"


    "There''s nothing to exin. Leave!"


    I stood frozen, caught between two impossible choices. Emma''s cries continued


    from the phone, while Olivia''s cold rejection cut


    through me like ice.


    "I have to go,” I said finally. "But I''lle back. We''re not finished, Liv."


    "We were finished the day Lily died," she replied, her voice devoid of emotion. "Now get out."


    I moved toward the door, pausing with my hand on the knob. "I''ll exin everythingter."


    "Don''t bother," she said, turning away from me.


    (Third person''s POV)


    "Get out!" Olivia shouted, unable to bear the sight of him any longer.


    Ethan, his heart torn between the two females who needed him, finally left. Olivia mmed the door shut behind him and locked


    it with trembling hands.


    She touched the crystal pendant around her neck, the one containing Lily''s


    ashes. “It''s okay, baby,” she whispered. "Mommy''s


    here."