Alpha King Chases Abandoned Luna

The Alpha King is unavailable 68

She'd handed the phone back to me, her expression carefully composed despite the tears. I'd stepped into the

tepped into th hallway, my rage barely contained

"How dare you?" I'd hissed into the phone. "Your daughter is dying, and you can't spare even ten minutes?"

Ethan's voice had been cold, dismissive. "Stop with these games, Olivia. | know Lily isn't really sick. You're just

trying to manipulateaway from Victoria and Emma."

"She's hooked up to dialysis machines! She needs a kidney transplant! How can you possibly think I'm making

this up?"

she were truly ill Dr. Fletcher would have informedhe'd replied with infuriating confidence. I'm done with

your lies"

He'd hung up, leavingshaking with fury and grief.

When I'd returned to Lily's room, I'd found her curled on her side, quietly sobbing into her pillow She'd quickly

wiped her eyes when she saw me

"It's okay, Mommy, she'd said, trying to smile. "Daddy's just busy. He'll cnext time.

But there had been no next time. Lily had died three weeks later, still waiting for her father to visit

The memory faded, leavingcold with renewed grief and rage as | watched Ethan fuss over Emma's minor

wound with more concern than he'd ever shown our dying daughter.

Dr. Bennett finished bandaging Emma's arm and packed away his supplies. The silver in the blade caused the

initial burning sensation, but the Moonberry Fever Reducer should take care of that Change the dressing twice

daily and apply this salve. He handed Victoria a small jar "Callif there's any increased pain or redness"

"Thank you, Doctor," Victoria said, her voice trembling with perfectly calibrated maternal concern.

Ethan helped Emma to her feet, his arm protectively around her shoulders. "Let's get you settled on the couch,

princess. You can watch your favorite show while you rest."

| turned away, unable to bear another moment of this farce. | needed to leave before I said something | couldn't

take back. As | moved toward the door, Victoria's voice stopped me.

"our

| turned slowly to find her advancing on me, her face flushed with rage. Her perfectly manicured finger pointed

accusingly at my chest.

"You leaked the information about my healing crystal design being plagiarized and instigated this attack!"

Victoria's voice shook with barely contained fury. "You've always been jealous ofand Emma, and now you've

tried to harm us!"

| met her gaze calmly, too emotionally exhausted for another tic confrontation. "And what evidence do you

have to support that accusation?"

Victoria's eyes narrowed. "You were the only other person present when the plagiarism was mentioned at Amber

Crest Restaurant. Only you could have told that man about it!"

My lips curved into a sardonic smile. “Or perhaps you arranged this little performance yourself? It's quite

convenient how this ‘attacker appeared just when | was finally getting through to Ethan about Lily" Victoria's face

contorted with indignation. "How dare you! My daughter was injured! She could have been killed!"

She turned to Ethan, her voice dropping to a wounded whimper. "Do you see how she treats me? She's always

using Lily to compete for your attention, and now she's accusingof staging an attack on my own child!" At

the mention of my deceased daughter, something insidesnapped. Before | could stop myself, my hand

connected with Victoria's cheek in a resounding slap. The force of it sent her stumbling backward.

"Don't you dare mention Lily," | said, my voice low and dangerous. "Don't even speak her name."

Victoria pressed her hand to her reddened cheek, tears filling her eyes. "You see? This is exactly what | mean!

She's violent and unstable! She can't accept that Emma needs you too, Ethan. She's projecting her own

manipulative behavior onto mel

Ethan stepped between us, his cold gaze fixed on me. His frradiated anger, his judgment already made. "

should have known, he said, his voice hard with contempt. "You orchestrated this entire incident. You used Lily's

drawings to manipulate my emotions and keepfrom answering Victoria's call."

| stared at him, incredulous. "You can't possibly believe that."

But | could see in his eyes that he did. He had already judged me, already decided | was guilty. There was no

point in defending myself to a man who had never once taken my side over Victoria's.

| leaned against the door for support, my body weak from the confrontation but my spirit defiant. "And what

authority do you have to accuseof attempted murder without evidence?" | challenged, my voice steady

despite my exhaustion.

Victoria gaped at me, her hand still pressed tically to her cheek. “You still refuse to admit what you've

done? | was prepared to forgive you if you acknowledged your mistake!"

Her voice rose with righteous indignation. Tm a mother who has to watch her child suffer because of your

jealousy! That wound could have been fatal to a young wolf! And yet | was willing to drop the matter if you

simply admitted your wrongdoing!"

Victoria's voice trembled with emotion as she reiterated her willingness to forgiveif | confessed. "All | wanted

was for you to take responsibility for once, Olivia. Is that really too much to ask?"