Alpha King Chases Abandoned Luna

(Ethan's POV)

This night was extremely long.

I knelt before Olivia's door, my Alpha pride cast aside as each passing second became an agonizing torment. My wolf whined beneath my skin, exhausted and remorseful.

The cool night air carried Olivia's scent from inside the cottage. So close, yet unreachable. My mate was just beyond this door, but the distance between us felt infinite.

My knees ached against the hard ground, but the physical discomfort was nothing compared to the weight of my guilt. I deserved far worse for what I had done to Olivia and Lily.

Hours passed. The moon traveled across the sky, casting shifting shadows around me. Still, I remained, head bowed in shame.

Dawn approached, painting the horizon with pale light. Birds began their morning songs, oblivious to my suffering.

I had been here since 3 AM, and now the sun was rising. My body was stiff, my muscles protesting, but I wouldn't move. Not until Olivia acknowledged me.

My wolf, usually so proud and dominant, lay subdued within me. We both knew we deserved this penance and much more.

(Olivia's POV)

I woke to the soft ping of my phone. A message from Lucas Blackwood.

Rubbing sleep from my eyes, I opened it to find a video. The timestamp showed it was from last night.

The footage showed Ethan's Shadow Ghost parked outside Victoria Frost's residence at Rosewood Haven. Despite myself, I felt a pang seeing his car there.

Today was both Lily's death anniversary and Emma's birthday. Of course he would be with her.

The video continued. Ethan's car pulled away from the house, engine revving as he accelerated down the private road.

Then something unexpected happened. Emma appeared in the frame, wearing only thin nightclothes, barefoot in the cold night.

after Ethan's car, her desperate cries

leave me! I'm sorry!" Emma's wolf's desperate whines echoed in the night as she begged

Even when Emma fell, her knees

crying on the ground, blood

in sending me this. He wanted me to see Emma's downfall, to witness her suffering as

was retribution. Victoria and Emma deserved every moment of pain for what she had

the ultimate punishment

phone. The security system alerted me to

alerts from as early as 3 AM showed Ethan kneeling outside my cottage for almost

enough that even the security system had registered it. I

the truth about Emma. Perhaps he finally

message to Lucas, thanking him for the video and inviting him for breakfast. Then I prepared to

have ignored Ethan completely.

the harm he and Emma had caused

hands, I unlocked the door

amber eyes bloodshot. He looked like

he croaked, his

scent projected genuine remorse as he continued, "I was blind. I trusted Victoria and Emma. I believed

swallowed hard, his shoulders slumped in defeat. "I let them use me to hurt you and Lily.

eyes, something I'd never seen before. The mighty Alpha King,

am so sorry to you, and

past. "I remember

made that coffee mug for me

was never there for her. I chose Emma

recognizing the damage done to our mate bond.

lifetime trying to make it up to you, Liv. But

reach now. Her spirit has already passed to

My emerald eyes