Alpha King Chases Abandoned Luna

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Chapter 123: Victoria's Despair

Chapter 123: Victoria's Despair

(Ethan's POV)*

The first thing | noticed was the pain. A searing, burning sensation in my abdomen that even my Alpha healing

couldn't fully suppress.

| forced my eyes open, blinking against the harsh fluorescent lights. My father's face swam into view, his

features contorted with rage.

"Where is she?" | rasped, my throat dry and raw.

"Who? That Omega b***h who tried to kill you?" Elder Richard snarled, his wolf close to the surface. "Don't worry,

son. I've called the enforcers. She'll pay for this."

Panic surged through me, givingstrength | didn't know | had. | grabbed my father's wrist, my grip

surprisingly strong for someone who'd nearly bled out.

"Call them off,” | ordered, my Alpha voice cutting through the room despite my weakened

state. "Now."

Victoria wheeled herself closer to my bed, her face a mask of concern. "Ethan, darling, you're not thinking

clearly. She stabbed you with a silver blade. She tried to kill you."

The sight of Victoria in a wheelchair momentarily distracted me. "What happened to you?"

"Later," she dismissed with a wave of her hand. "We need to focus on getting justice for you."

| turned back to my father, who was already on his phone. "Father, stop. Don't make things

difficult for Liv. This matter isn't her fault."

Elder Richard's eyes widened in disbelief. "Not her fault? She plunged a silver knife into your kidney! If Maxwell

hadn't found you when he did, you'd be dead!"

"I deserved it," | said quietly, memories of Olivia's tear-streaked face flashing before my eyes.

"You can't be serious," Victoria interjected, wheeling herself even closer. "No one deserves to be stabbed,

especially not by their mate."

| closed my eyes, exhaustion washing over me. "Father, please. Call off the

enforcers. This is a pack matter-my matter-and I'll handle it my way."

Elder Richard stared atfor a long moment, his jaw clenched so tightly | could hear his

teeth grinding. Finally, he nodded curtly.

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"Fine. It's your pack now, not mine. But if that woman comes anywhere near you again, | won't

be responsible for my actions." He stormed out of the room, the door slamming behind him.

(Victoria's POV)

The sight of him lying there, pale and weakened, sent conflicting emotions through me.

| said softly, moving to his bedside. "How are you feeling?"

Ethan's amber eyes focused on me, still dulled by pain medication. "Better. The silver's been

completely flushed from my system. My wolf is healing the damage now."

| reached for his hand, squeezing it gently. "I was so worried. When Maxwell called and said

you were in critical condition..."

"Victoria," he interrupted, his voice stronger than before. "What happened to you? Why are you

in a wheelchair?"

| lowered my eyes, letting tears gather. This was my moment-my chance to turn his guilt over

Lily into sympathy for me.

"| fell at Sacred Moonlight Cemetery," | explained, my voice trembling. “Olivia... she pushed me

off a cliff edge when | went to return Lily's urn to her."

Ethan's brow furrowed. "You had Lily's urn? How?"

| hesitated, calculating my response. "I found it discarded near the Stone Estate gardens. |

thought Olivia would want it back, so | called her to meet me."

"And she pushed you?" Ethan asked, skepticism evident in his tone.

"We argued,” | admitted, deciding a partial truth would be more believable. "I said sthings

| shouldn't have, about Lily. She got angry and shoved me. | lost my balance and fell."

| gestured to the wheelchair. "The doctors say I'm paralyzed from the waist down. Permanently."

Ethan's expression softened with genuine concern. "Victoria, I'm sorry."

"It's not your fault," | said quickly, squeezing his hand again. "But Ethan, | don't understand. Why are you

protecting her after what she did to you? To us?"

His eyes darkened with guilt. "Because | deserved it, Victoria. What we did to Lily... what |

allowed to happen..."

"What are you talking about?" | asked, feigning confusion.

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"The kidney donor," he said flatly. "The one that was redirected from Lily to Emma. You told

Olivia about it, didn't you?"

| flinched, not entirely acting. "I... yes. | was angry. She slappedat Emma's ceremony, humiliatedin front

of everyone. | wanted to hurt her back."

"By telling her | was responsible for our daughter's death?" His voice was quiet but sharp with

accusation.

| let the tears fall freely now. "I was wrong, Ethan. So wrong. | was jealous and hurt, and | lashed out. | really

didn't expect that she would impulsively seek revenge on you for Lily."

| moved my wheelchair closer, placing my hand on his arm. "But Ethan, you have

to see that she's dangerous. She tried to kill you. She pushedoff a cliff. How can you still defend her?"

"It'swho owes them, mother and daughter," he said softly, his gaze distant. “I failed them

both."

"And what aboutand Emma?" | pressed, injecting a note of desperation into my voice.

"Don't you owe us anything? Emma needs her father-especially now that I'm...” | gestured helplessly at my

useless legs.

Ethan's expression clouded with conflict. "Of course I'll take care of you and Emma. You know

that."

| hesitated, then asked the question that had been burning inside me. "Do you love her?

Olivia?"

He was silent for a long moment, his amber eyes unreadable. "No," he finally said. "But | owe

her. For Lily."

Relief washed through me, though | was careful not to show it. "I understand," | said softly. "You're a good man,

Ethan. Too good, sometimes."

| leaned forward, pressing a gentle kiss to his forehead. "Rest now. I'll cback tomorrow."

(Olivia's POV)

The house was too quiet without Lily. Even after all this time, | still caught myself listening for her laughter, her

footsteps, the sound of her calling "Mommy" from her bedroom.