Alpha King Chases Abandoned Luna

The Alpha King is unavailable 114

is she?"

Maxwell's expression was grim. "Stable, but badly injured. Three broken ribs, a fractured wrist, severe bruising."

| nodded, my jaw tight. "And Blackwood?"

"Still at the hospital," Maxwell replied, his tone careful. "He hasn't left her side."

+15 Points >

The thought of Lucas Blackwood comforting my mate sent a surge of jealousy through me. | had no right to feel

possessive-not after abandoning Olivia for Victoria-but the emotion cunbidden nonetheless.

"Let's go," | said, heading for the door. "I need to see her."

The drive to Silvercrest Pack Medical Den was silent, my thoughts consumed by what awaitedthere. How

would Olivia react to seeing me? Would she forgivefor leaving her alone in Desolate Hollow?

Deep down, | knew the answer. Sbetrayals cut too deep for forgiveness.

When we arrived at the medical center, | made my way directly to Olivia's room. Through the partially open door,

| could hear her voice-soft, broken, desperate.

"It contains Lily's ashes," she was saying, her voice catching on our daughter's name. "It's all | have left of her."

| peered through the gap to see Olivia lying in the hospital bed, her small form dwarfed by the white sheets. Her

face was bruised, one eye swollen, her lip split. Lucas Blackwood sat beside her, his large hand covering hers.

"I'll find it," Lucas promised, his gray eyes unusually warm as they gazed at my mate. "Whatever it takes."

The intimacy of the scene made my blood boil. | pushed the door open fully, standing in the doorway with my

hands clenched at my sides.

Olivia's emerald eyes found mine, and the warmth in them instantly vanished, replaced by a cold fury that

chilledto the bone.

"Leave,” she commanded, her voice flat with barely controlled anger.

Lucas rose to his full height, his imposing frblocking my path to Olivia's bed. "You heard her, Stone."

| ignored him, my eyes fixed on Olivia's battered face. Without a word, | reached into my pocket and pulled out

Lily's Ashes Crystal Pendant.

Olivia's eyes widened, her gaze locked on the pendant dangling from my fingers. For a moment, the hatred in

her eyes gave way to desperate hope.

"Lily," she whispered, reaching for the pendant with trembling hands.

In her eagerness to reclaim our daughter's ashes, Olivia lunged forward too quickly. Her weakened body

betrayed her, and she began to fall from the bed.

| moved instinctively, catching her before she hit the floor. Her small form felt fragile in my arms, her body warm

against my chest despite the coldness in her eyes.

Olivia struggled against my hold, her hands pushing ineffectively against my chest. "Letgo," she hissed, her

emerald eyes flashing with defiance.

| tightened my grip, refusing to release her. Instead, | turned slightly, positioning myself so that my back was

111

2/4

< Chapter 72 The Memory..

to Lucas Blackwood.

"Don't want the pendant anymore?" | whispered, my breath warm against her ear.

Olivia stopped struggling, her emerald eyes meeting mine with undisguised anger. | held her gaze, challenging

her to continue fightingwhen | held what she wanted most.

+15 Points >

Over her head, | looked at Lucas, my expression deliberately provocative. This was my mate, regardless of my

failings as her partner.

"Tell him to leave," | whispered in Olivia's ear, low enough that only she could hear. "Or you'll never see this

pendant again."

Olivia's body stiffened in my arms. "You're despicable," she whispered back, her voice trembling with rage.

But she complied.

"Lucas," she called, her voice suddenly polite despite the fury in her eyes. "Would you mind giving us a moment

alone?"

Lucas hesitated, his gray eyes seeking confirmation from Olivia. "Are you sure?"

Olivia nodded, though the movement clearly caused her pain. "Yes. Thank you for everything, but | need to

speak with Ethan privately."

Lucas's jaw tightened, but he respected her wishes. With a final warning glance at me, he left the room, closing

the door behind him.

(Olivia's POV)

The moment Lucas left, | tore myself from Ethan's grasp. My body screamed in protest at the sudden movement,

but my fury overrode the pain.

"Givemy pendant," | demanded, my hand outstretched.

Ethan's amber eyes were unreadable as he studied my face. "Lie down first," he ordered, his tone leaving no

room for argument.

| wanted to refuse, to stand my ground, but my legs were already trembling from the effort of standing.

Reluctantly, | returned to the hospital bed, my emerald eyes never leaving the crystal pendant in Ethan's hand.

To my surprise, Ethan walked to the door and locked it. The sound of the lock clicking into place sent a chill down

my spine.

"What are you doing?" | asked, watching warily as he approached the bed.

Without answering, Ethan reached for the buttons of my hospital gown. His fingers worked methodically, undoing

the first three buttons before | realized his intent.

| grabbed his wrist, stopping him. "What do you think you're doing?"

Ethan's amber eyes flashed with annoyance. "I want to see your injuries."

"No," | refused, tightening my grip on his wrist. "Givemy pendant and leave."

Ethan ignored my protests. With a simple twist, he freed his wrist from my grasp and continued unbuttoning my

gown. His strength easily overpowered my weakened state as he forced my hand away.

The hospital gown fell open, revealing the full extent of my injuries. Dark bruises covered my ribs and

3/4

Chapter 72. The Memory...

+15 Points >

abdomen where Darius Reed had kickedrepeatedly. The skin was mottled purple and black, with patches

of sickly yellow at the edges.

Ethan's sharp intake of breath was the only indication of his shock. His face remained impassive as his eyes

traveled over my battered body.

"This is what you endured for a worthless trinket?" he asked, his voice tight with barely controlled anger.

His dismissal of Lily's remains felt like a physical blow. Without thinking, | slapped him with all the strength |

could muster. The sound echoed in the quiet hospital room.

"Shut up!" I yelled, my voice breaking with emotion. "You have no right to talk about this pendant! It's priceless

to me. Give it back!"

I lunged for the crystal pendant in his hand, desperate to reclaim my daughter's remains. Ethan's face darkened

with rage, his with fury at my defiance.

r eyes glowing

In one swift motion, he turned and flung the pendant out the open window.

"No!" | screamed, watching in horror as the crystal caught the sunlight before disappearing from view.

| scrambled to the window, ignoring the pain shooting through my body.

| stared in horror at the rippling water where my daughter's remains had disappeared.