The Alpha King is unavailable 58
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1. Chapter 14 Hitter Waters
| tried wrenching my arm away again, suddenly disgusted by his touch. After watching him with Victoria, his
fingers on my skin felt like betrayal.
This the released me, either sensing my revulsion or anticipating what cnext a violent wave of nausea
that haddoubling over.
| stumbled to a nearby stone bench, collapsing onto it while trying desperately to keep the contents of my
stomach where they belonged. The cool night air helped slightly, but my head still spun like a carousel.
| fumbled for my phone, determined to call James. He would cfor me, no questions asked.
As | struggled with the screen, | noticed Ethan pull out his own device. He tapped at it for a few moments before
sliding it back into his pocket
Seconds later, my phone buzzed with a notification. Opening it, | found a bank alert that made my eyes widen
in shock.
The string of zeros seemed to stretch forever. It was a transfer from Ethan Stone
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a sum so substantial it made my head spin worse than the wine.
"What is this?" | asked, looking up at him in confusion.
"Double the prize money for first place in the Pack Healer's Crystal Competition," he replied matter-of-factly. as if
discussing the weather.
Understanding hitlike a slap. He was payingoff. Buying my silence about Victoria's behavior and her
purchased victory.
A bitter laugh escaped my lips before | could stop it. "So that's why you're here. Not to check if I'm okay, but
to make sure | keep quiet."
His expression remained impressively impassive. Take it however you want."
| stared at the number on my screen again, the irony cutting deep into my heart. This single transfer was more
than he had provided for Lily andduring our entire five years together.
"Do you know what this tells me, Ethan?" | asked, my voice barely above a whisper, it tellsexactly how fa
you'll go for Victoria. You never spared a fraction of this for your own daughter's medical bills, but for Victoria's
reputation? No expense spared."
A muscle in his jaw twitched violently, but he remained silent as stone.
Despite my disgust, | didn't reject the transfer. | needed that money for Lily's burial site at Sacred Moonlight
Cemetery. My pride wasn't worth denying my daughter her final rest.
"I'll take you home." Ethan said after a moment, his tone making it clear this wasn't a request but an Alpha
command.
"No," | refused, standing up shakily. "Im not getting in a car with you."
The thought of being trapped in an enclosed space with him after everything made my skin crawl. I'd rather
crawl hon my hands and knees.
| took a determined step forward, still dizzy from Victoria's wine attack. My foot caught on an u
stone, and | began to fall.
paving
Ethan moved with inhuman speed, his hand catching my elbow before | could hit the ground. His touch was
gentle but firm, instinctively protective despite everything between ut
Irecoiled violently, pushing him away with all my strength. "Don't touch me
The sudden movement threwcompletely off balance. | stumbled backward, falling widy as tred
to find something to grabi
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Instead of solid ground, my feet suddenly met nothing but air fell backward with a started ory plunging directly
into the Moonlit Reflection Pool adjacent to Amber Crest Restaurant
The shock of icy water hitlike a physical blow | gasped involuntarly, the cold penetrating my dothes instantly.
The freezing temperature seemed to cut straight to my bones as | struggled to pull myself so
Strong hands gripped my arms before | could manage it, haulingfrom the water with effortless trenge
Ethan's face showed a mix of concern and frustration as he quickly pulled my soaked coat away from my
body.
| shivered uncontrollably, my teeth chattering loudly as the night air hit my wet clothes. Without hesitatio
Ethan removed his Black Alpha Overcoat and wrapped it around my shoulders
me-pine,
His scent immediately surrounded- pine, amber and something uniquely Ethan. | tried to struggle
against it, to push the coat away despite my freezing state.
He stoppedwith a single stern look, his eyes flashing with unmistakable Alpha command
*Still causing trouble?" he asked, his voice cutting through my protests like a knife.
The authority in his voice temporarily silencedas | stood there, pathetically dripping and shivering. wrapped
in his coat like a child.