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The sudden ring of her phone broke the silence. Olivia turned away from the window and reached into her purse, pulling out her phone. She glanced at the screen before answering.

"Hello?” Her voice was soft, controlled despite the emotional turmoil I knew was raging inside her.

I watched as her expression shifted, a flicker of something-pain? hope?-crossing her features.

"Yes, Clara. I understand. I'll come right away," she said, her voice catching slightly. "Thank you for calling."

She ended the call and stared at her phone for a moment, her knuckles white from gripping it too tightly.

"Is everything alright?" I asked, keeping my voice gentle.

"That was Clara Wilkins from the Howling Clay Pottery Studio," Olivia explained, her emerald eyes meeting mine briefly. "She said Lily's... Lily's mug is ready for collection."

I noticed how her voice trembled when she mentioned her daughter's name. The raw grief was

still so fresh.

"Would you like me to take you there?" I offered, already signaling to Thomas Griffin to change

our route.

Olivia nodded, her wolf's scent shifting with a complex mixture of emotions-grief, longing, and something like determination.

"Yes, please," she whispered. "I'd like to go now."

(Olivia's POV)

The bell above the door of Howling Clay Pottery Studio chimed softly as we entered. The

familiar scent of clay and glazes filled my nostrils, bringing with it a flood of memories-Lily's

small hands covered in clay, her tongue poking out in concentration as she worked.

Clara Wilkins looked up from behind the counter, her kind face lighting up with recognition.

way with the pups who

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+8 Points

on her apron as she approached. "Where's our little artist today? Not with

course she didn't—I hadn't been back

haven't picked her up yet," I lied, unable to bring myself

my pain as she reached beneath the counter. "Two whole months she worked

for her father's birthday.

and slightly lopsided, clearly made by a child's inexperienced hands. The

on the side-three stick figures holding hands. A family of three. And

had spent two months making this for

Victoria and Emma to even

smiling at the memory. "Said her daddy

my shoulder, steadying me as I swayed

of

precious mug.

thanked Clara and guided me toward the

back soon!" Clara called after us.

the cool evening air hit my face,

in my chest. I clutched the wrapped mug

to

him," I whispered, my

And he

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finally broke free. I wept openly, my wolf howling in shared

today—a child who isn't even his-while our daughter, his flesh and blood, died

hesitated only briefly before drawing me into his arms. His embrace was warm, protective, offering comfort

against

(Ethan's POV)

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