spanng="EN"(Olivia’s POV)

spanng="EN"Theodore continued, “I won’t let you down again.”

spanng="EN"As his words fell, a flood of reporters surged in, their cameras shing incessantly. The bright lights blinded me momentarily, and I raised my hand to shield my eyes.

spanng="EN"Then I saw him. Matthew Kane stood behind the crowd of reporters, his tall frame unmistakable even in the  chaos.

spanng="EN"My heart lurched. For the sake of his political career, I couldn’t let this scandal touch him.

spanng="EN"I forcefully pulled my hand free from Theodore’s grip and took a step back. “How could I possibly leave my mate?” I dered, my voice firm and clear enough for every microphone to catch. “Alpha Redgrave, you’re  overthinking it.”

spanng="EN"Without another nce at Theodore, I turned and walked towards Matthew. He stood silently behind the crowd, his golden eyes fixed on mine.

spanng="EN"The reporters parted to let me through, their cameras tracking my every movement. I reached Matthew and confidently linked my arm with his.

spanng="EN"The cameras turned on us immediately, capturing the moment as whispers erupted among the press.

spanng="EN"“So it’s the ex–mate who can’t let go,” one reportermented.

spanng="EN"“The Alpha King and his Luna seem very much in love,” another added.

spanng="EN"Seizing the moment, Gamma Joric te stepped forward from behind Matthew. “Alpha King, let’s go home.”

spanng="EN"I held onto Matthew’s arm as we walked into the lobby, leaving the reporters blocked by pack enforcers who had materialized from nowhere.

spanng="EN"As we passed Theodore, he reached out desperately. “Olivia…”

spanng="EN"Before his fingers could touch me, Matthew pulled me protectively into his embrace. His arm wrapped around my waist, solid and reassuring.

spanng="EN"Matthew shot a cold, dismissive nce at Theodore before guiding me into the elevator.

spanng="EN"Nora entered behind us, cradling Aurora in her arms. The baby slept peacefully, unaware of the chaos outside.

spanng="EN"Gamma te stood guard at the elevator entrance, his imposing frame blocking Theodore from following.

spanng="EN"“Alpha Redgrave, this entire floor is upied by only you and our King,” Gamma te said with pointed sarcasm. His voice carried a mocking edge. “For the safety of our King and his Luna, you’ve been very  thoughtful.”

spanng="EN"He gestured toward the other elevator before pressing the close button.

spanng="EN"Theodore’s eyes met mine through the narrowing gap, fury zing in their depths. “Matthew Kane!” he roared, mming his fist against the wall.

spanng="EN"The elevator doors glided shut with a soft ding.

spanng="EN"Inside my apartment, Gamma te and Theodore left quietly, taking Aurora to the nursery. The sterics that followed felt heavy and suffocating,

spanng="EN"Matthew stood by the window, his hands sped behind his back.

spanng="EN"*Is there any water?” he asked, breaking the quiet.

spanng="EN"I quickly poured a ss from the kitchen and handed it to him. My fingers brushed his as he took the cup.

spanng="EN"I watched his long, elegant fingers close around the ss. His throat moved as he drank, and I found myself staring.

spanng="EN"“I’ll stay for half an hour, then we’ll leave, he said, cing the cup down on the coffee table. You can go about your business.”

spanng="EN"I nodded quietly, but then panic struck. Myptop was still open on the dining table, its screen visible from where he sat.

spanng="EN"I hurried over and shut it quickly, unable to focus with his overpowering presence filling the room.

spanng="EN"Suddenly, Matthew spoke again. “Is this for dinner?”

spanng="EN"He was looking at the pizza box Theodore had brought earlier. The cardboard container sat innocuously on the counter.

spanng="EN"“No,” I said, trying to put it away.

spanng="EN"But he had already reached over and opened it. The message written in sauce was clearly visible: Mom, I love you. From Dad and Leo.

spanng="EN"My cheeks burned with embarrassment.

spanng="EN"“Leo’s homework?” Matthew asked mildly, his gaze meeting mine.

spanng="EN"There was something unreadable in his expression. “Aren’t you going to try some?”

spanng="EN"An unsettling feeling washed over me. He seemed angry, yet his expression was unnervingly calm, making him impossible to read.

spanng="EN"“I’ll go cut it,” I offered, reaching for the box.

spanng="EN"Matthew caught my hand before I could touch it. With a firm pull, he drew me into hisp.

spanng="EN"I should have refused. I should have pulled away. But I didn’t.

spanng="EN"“Let Matilda continue to stay with you,” he said softly, his breath warm against my ear.

spanng="EN"“And don’t eat junk food. You’ve lost so much weight.”

spanng="EN"His words of concern made my emotional defenses crumble. The careful walls I’d built around began to c***k. “This incident,” I began, my voice trembling slightly. “Can you handle it?”

spanng="EN"He looked at me, and I caught a hint of relief in his eyes from my question.

spanng="EN"“No,” he answered honestly.

spanng="EN"The simple, word hit me like a physical blow. “Will it affect your territories in Europe?” I pressed.

spanng="EN"He exined that because he was young but his territories were growing rapidly, he various alphas. His opponents would use increasingly ruthless methods to stop his expansion-

spanng="EN"As he spoke, his hand gently adjusted the hem of my dress. The simple gesture made me forget to protest.

spanng="EN"I realized I couldn’t let him be affected by my mess. Not when he had so much at stake,

spanng="EN"I began, my gaze locking with his. “I can’t let you move in, but I can cooperate with you,I rationalized that it was only for twenty–five days. Just twenty–five days of pretending.

spanng="EN"Remembering my own past regrets of sacrificing my career for Theodore, I urged him, “When an opportunityes, you have to seize it so you won’t have regrets.”

spanng="EN"Matthew looked at me, a hint of admiration flickering in his golden eyes. “Okay,” he agreed.

spanng="EN"He brought up Matilda again, insisting she stay with me for protection.

spanng="EN"I opened my mouth to refuse, but suddenly, a sharp pain seized my abdomen. I gasped, my face turning pale as I copsed against his chest.

spanng="EN"The pain was intense, radiating through my lower body.

spanng="EN"Matthew immediately held me tighter, his hand resting on my lower stomach. “To the pack infirmary?” he  asked, his voiceced with urgency.

spanng="EN"“No, don’t, it’s…” I gasped, trying to pull his hand away.

spanng="EN"He ignored my protests, scooping me into his arms effortlessly. “You’re not allowed to eat randomly outside anymore,” he said sternly. “Matilda muste tomorrow.”

spanng="EN"Another wave of pain hit, and I gripped his arm, struggling to stop him from carrying me out.

spanng="EN"“It’s… it’s…” I stammered, mortification flooding through me.

spanng="EN"He leaned down, his face close to mine. “What is it?” he prompted.

spanng="EN"I caught a flicker of realization in his eyes, as if he already suspected.

spanng="EN"My face flushed a deep red as I finally managed to whisper, “I’m on my period.”

spanng="EN"(God’s POV)

spanng="EN"Matthew’s expression shifted immediately. Understanding reced concern, and something else flickered across his features.

spanng="EN"He carried her into the master bedroom and ced her gently in the en–suite bathroom before retreating  without a word.

spanng="EN"When Olivia emerged in her nightgown, she found a steaming cup of moonlight herb tea waiting on the coffee table. A piece of honey candy was ced on a sticky note beside it.

spanng="EN"His elegant handwriting read simply: “Drink it.”

spanng="EN"She drank the strange–tasting brew, the bitter herbs coating her tongue. The honey candy helped mask the  aftertaste.

spanng="EN"Returning to her room with herptop, she waspletely unaware that the pizza box had vanished from the  table.

spanng="EN"At that moment, Matthew rang the doorbell.

spanng="EN"The door opened to reveal Theodores, who looked from Matthews back to the dead con

spanng="EN"Anger twisted Theodore’s lips. “Cast out by my Luna?”

spanng="EN"At that moment, Matthew rang the doorbell of the apartment across the hall.

spanng="EN"The door opened to reveal Theodore, who looked from Matthew’s face to the closed door behind him.

A sneer twisted Theodore’s lips. “Cast out by my Luna?”