The Alpha King is unavailable 40

"Olivia, I'm so sorry," she said, her voice trembling. "I was just so worried about Emma that I spoke without thinking. I didn't mean it.”

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

O <

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 I approached, uncertainty flickering across her perfect features.

The sound of my palm connecting with her cheek was sharp and satisfying. Before she could recover, I struck her again on the other side.

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

"Olivia V

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

His grip was tight, almost painful, but I didn't flinch, I 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.

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

touch Olivia!" Matriarch Evelyn bellowed, her

on with an

hit me

cheeks.

her first," Matriarch Evelyn stated

years of standing alone against Victoria's manipulations, someone was finally

her voice sharp as a blade.

Grandmother?"

struck again. Her carefully constructed place in the

I've always called you-"

Evelyn cut her off. "1 allowed too much familiarity from

hasn't earned it."

face crumpled. She looked to Ethan, clearly expecting him to

harsh words

between his grandmother's authority and Victoria's expectations played out across his features as he struggled

conflict

a strange detachment. Once, his indecision would have hurt me deeply. Now, I found I didn't

III 0<

"Victoria has been

for many years."

word.

genuine tears now. The distinction was clear and

"My dear Luna, what

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

uncertain how to summarize five years

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