hapter 170


    Third Person’s POV


    Two more steps and she could cross the threshold, but the mark on the back of her neck suddenly red with pain.


    Her nail–hardened ws dug deep into the doorframe, instantly leaving five silver–blue bloodstreaks on the ironwood panel.


    From the living room wafted Mallory’s pheromones–a mix of chicory and ambergris, the oppressive aura of a high–ranking Alpha that made her wolf ears tten involuntarily.


    She heard Valentine entertaining Mallory, whose deep and authoritative voice gave only curt replies.


    As Adide adjusted her breathing, a faint wolfish whine escaped her throat.


    After several attempts toposed herself, she finally appeared at the entrance to the living room.


    Upon entering, she kept her eyes downcast and greeted him, “Mr. Pahari.”


    Mallory rose, nodded in acknowledgment, and replied, “Miss Davidson, how have you been?”


    The deliberately formal address hung between them,den with awkwardness.


    “I’ve been managing,” Adide said, her voice trembling slightly. “Please, have a seat.”


    Mallory gestured for her to sit as well.


    Once they were both seated, Beta Valentine retreated to the doorway, where the ring sunlight suddenly stabbed <i>at </i>his eyes.


    Omega servants dared not appro


    ach, leaving the two of them alone in the living room, engulfed in an uneasy silence.


    Both struggled to quell the surging emotions and dispel the visions of bloodshed- a pain that would likely haunt their families forever.


    Mallory broke the silence first, “I spotted you at the royal banquet after the victory parade the other day. Hardly recognized you at first.”


    Adide recalled that day–she’d gone straight from the parade to the pce celebration without changing her dirt–streaked clothes.


    She smiled, but tears dropped onto her hand as she cast her eyes down, her voice strained. “I must have been a sight to behold.”


    “Your father and brothers…” Mallory inhaled sharply, his throat clogged as if with cotton, his voice deep and muffled, “Everyone in the Davidson family would be proud of you.”


    Adide’s hands, resting on her knees, clenched into fists. She swallowed past the lump in her throat and


    turned her <b>face </b>away, her voice choked as she acknowledged his words.


    Mallory, witnessing her distress, instantly regretted his visit. Perhaps neither family was ready to face each


    other so soon.


    Even a grown man like him struggled to hold back tears, let alone an eighteen or neen–year–old girl.


    Though she had tasted battle and in enemies with her own hands, she remained the most vulnerable in front of her kin.


    Once the cherished jewel of her family, she now stood alone.


    Though she had grown wings strong enough to shield herself from external foes, deep within, she still felt the ache and the hurt.


    Mallory rarely allowed himself to revisit that day, too afraid of the memories.


    But perhaps it was time to confront the past; otherwise, the pain would forever linger, as if his heart were perpetually soaked in blood.


    His voice, when he spoke again, had lost its usual intonation, “The past is the past. One must look forward. I heard you’re engaged to Alpha Lance. Congrattions are in order, though I haven’t had the chance to extend them yet.”


    Adide lowered her eyes and whispered, “Thank you.”


    He coughed a few times, clearing his throat, and continued, “We only learnedter that you and Ulrik had dissolved your mate bond. Our former Luna wished to send regards but feared upsetting you…”


    “I understand,” Adide said, her voice muffled as if stuffed with cotton.


    Theypsed into silence once more until Mallory broached the main topic, “Rumors have been circting these past few days, using you of forming a mate bond with Ulrik during your mourning period. The public outcry against you has been fierce. However, the police have since rified matters and made several arrests. The detainees have implicated an omega from Madison’s estate as the mastermind behind the smear campaign.”


    “I’m here to ask whether you wish to address this publicly or resolve it privately.”


    He paused and added, “Given your impending mate bond with Alpha Lance, you’ll soon have to refer to Madison as a maternal figure. It’s up to you whether to strain that rtionship. Rest assured, our police force will not shy away from confronting Madison’s influence if you’re amenable.”


    Adide raised her eyes to meet Mallory’s gaze, sighed gently, and said, “May I still address you by your name as before? Thank you foring in person–it means a great deal to me, Mallory. As for the case, I leave it in your hands. I trust this isn’t Madison’s doing. Perhaps it was Wanda–I did have a sharp exchange with her at the birthday party. I suspect she might hold a grudge and seek to tarnish my reputation.”


    Mallory acknowledged, “Understood. Publicly exposing this won’t harm Madison in the least. They’ll likely sacrifice a lowly omega as a scapegoat. I’ll have someone look into Wanda’s involvement.”


    “I appreciate your efforts,” Adide said, rising and nodding in gratitude.


    “It’s my duty,” Mallory replied, also standing. “I’ll take my leave now.”


    “Valentine, see Mallory out,” Adide instructed.


    Valentine stepped forward with aposed smile and bowed slightly. “Mr. Pahari, allow me to escort you


    out.”


    At the doorway, Mallory nced back at Adide, wanting to say so much but settling on a simple, “Take


    care.”


    Adide inclined her head slightly and watched him depart.


    She sat in the living room for a long time, lost in silence.


    Outside the living room, on the steps where Mallory had once cradled that severed head, it seemed the old bloodstains still lingered.