Alpha King Chases Abandoned Luna

The Alpha King is unavailable 40

"Olivia, I'm so sorry," she said, her voice trembling. "I was just so worried about Emma that | spoke without

thinking. | didn't mean it.”

Though her words were directed at me, her performance was clearly for Ethan's benefit. | watched his

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expression soften slightly, accepting her flimsy explanation without question.

He glanced at me, his eyes sending a clear message: Drop it. Let it go. Don't make a scene.

A cold fury swept through me. After everything that had happened - the false accusations, the humiliation in the

Stone Ancestral Hall, the physical punishment - Victoria thought a simple "sorry" would erase it all?

Lignored Ethan's warning look and stepped forward. Victoria's eyes widened as | approached, uncertainty

flickering across her perfect features.

The sound of my palm connecting with her cheek was sharp and satisfying. Before she could recover, | struck her

again on the other side.

"Victoria, I'm so sorry," | said, perfectly mimicking her insincere tone. "I didn't mean it."

"Olivia V

Winters!" Ethan roared, grabbing my wrist before | could strike again.

His grip was tight, almost painful, but I didn't flinch, | met his gaze steadily, challenging him to defend her

again.

Victoria, perhaps emboldened by Ethan's intervention, forgot herself completely. Her mask of contrition

vanished, replaced by raw fury.

"Olivia Winters, you dare hit me!" she shrieked, raising her hand to retaliate.

Before her palm could connect with my face, a cane struck her arm with surprising force. Victoria recoiled with a

cry of pain, clutching her forearm.

"You dare touch Olivia!" Matriarch Evelyn bellowed, her small frame

on with an

Victoria's eyes widened in shock "Grandmother, Olivia hitfirst!" she protested, gesturing to her reddened

cheeks.

"Even so, you wronged her first," Matriarch Evelyn stated firmly. "Olivia is not one to cause trouble."

Tears pricked at my eyes, unexpected and unwelcome. After years of standing alone against Victoria's

manipulations, someone was finally taking my side without question.

"And don't callGrandmother," Matriarch Evelyn added, her voice sharp as a blade. "Who are you to call me

Grandmother?"

Victoria flinched as if physically struck again. Her carefully constructed place in the Stone family was crumbling

before her eyes.

"But I've always called you-" she began.

"That was my mistake," Matriarch Evelyn cut her off. "1 allowed too much familiarity from someone who

hasn't earned it."

Victoria's face crumpled. She looked to Ethan, clearly expecting him to defend her against his grandmother's

harsh words

Ethan's jaw tightened, caught between his grandmother's authority and Victoria's expectations played out across

his features as he struggled with his response.

conflict

| watched him with a strange detachment. Once, his indecision would have hurtdeeply. Now, | found | didn't

care which way he leaned

lo<

"Grandmother," Ethan finally said, his voice carefully measured. "Victoria has been a close friend of our family

for many years."

"Friend," Matriarch Evelyn repeated, emphasizing the word. "Not family. Not your mate. A friend"

Victoria's eyes filled with genuine tears now. The distinction was clear and cutting.

"As for you," Matriarch Evelyn turned to me, her expression softening. "My dear Luna, what other injustices have

you suffered in my absence?"

Luna. The title rang through the room like a bell. Matriarch Evelyn had deliberately used it to remind everyone of

my position not just as Ethan's wife, but as the female Alpha of the Silvercrest Pack.

1-1 began, uncertain how to summarize five years of isolation and mistreatment.

"She's been through quite enough today," Matriarch Evelyn declared, placing a protective arm around my

shoulders. "Bernard, prepare the cast wing for Olivia. She will stay there tonight, away from those who have

harmed her."

Bernard bowed deeply. "Yes, Matriarch."

"But Grandmother, Ethan protested, "Olivia's place is-"

"Her place," Matriarch Evelyn interrupted firmly, "is wherever she feels safe. And clearly, that is not by your

side at present."

The rebuke silenced Ethan immediately. His grandmother rarely criticized him directly, making her words all the

more powerful.

Victoria, sensing an opportunity, stepped closer to Ethan. “Emma needs comfort after her ordeal," she

murmured. "Perhaps | should-"

"You should leave," Matriarch Evelyn stated flatly. "Take your daughter and go home. You've caused enough

trouble in this house for one day."

Victoria's face flushed with anger. "You can't just-

"lI can and | have," Matriarch Evelyn replied. "This is still my home, and you are not welcin it tonight."

Victoria turned to Ethan again, her eyes pleading. "Ethan, please. Emma is frightened."

Ethan hesitated, clearly torn. "Grandmother, Emma is just a child. She shouldn't be punished for-

"For deliberately jumping into the reflection pool to frOlivia? Matriarch Evelyn finished for him. "That child

needs discipline, not coddling."

Victoria's face darkened with hatred as she glared at me. "This isn't over," she whispered, too quietly for anyone

butto hear.

"You dare touch the Luna!" Matriarch Evelyn bellowed. "And don't callGrandmother, Who are you to call me

Grandmother?"