spanng="EN"(Matthew’s POV)

    spanng="EN"I wrapped my arm around Olivia’s waist and lifted her small face. Her eyes were red–rimmed, tears threatening to spill.

    spanng="EN"“What happened?” I asked in a low voice.

    spanng="EN"She pressed against my hand, trying to dodge it as she rested her face against my arm. “It’s nothing,” she said weakly, trying to pry my hands from her waist. “Let go of me.”

    spanng="EN"I held firm, refusing to let go. Instead, I tried to lift her face again.

    spanng="EN"Olivia’s eyes grew redder. Her voice, thick with tears, choked out, “You can’t hold me. We’re separated. You’re bullying me.”

    spanng="EN"She thought for sure I would let go after she said that. Instead, I instantly lifted her face, my gaze searching hers.

    spanng="EN"From this close, I could see each of her eyshes. Just like in the photo Theodore had sent to te.

    spanng="EN"As Olivia blinked, a tear fell onto my hand. I reached up to wipe it away, but she turned her head.

    spanng="EN"After a tense moment, my heart softened. Just as I was about to release her, the door was suddenly pushed open.

    spanng="EN"I instinctively pulled her back into my arms.

    spanng="EN"Gamma Joric entered with a group of people, led by a young woman,my cousin Sara Fenris.

    spanng="EN"“Cousin, the moonlight ceremony is starting, let’s go to the shore,” Sara said.

    spanng="EN"Seeing Olivia’s tear–streaked face, she eximed, “Matthew, did you bully your mate?”

    spanng="EN"I nced at Olivia. “Did I?”

    spanng="EN"Olivia shook her head.

    spanng="EN"Sara thenined loudly about the guests my grandmother had invited. “Especially that celebrity Audrey, who’s always trying to mingle with the powerful Alphas,”

    spanng="EN"Hearing the name Audrey, Olivia looked toward me. My gaze had been on her the whole time.

    spanng="EN"Our eyes met, and I seemed to realize something Is she jealous because I was just talking to Audrey? She still cares about me.

    spanng="EN"We strolled to the coastline, and under the night sky, Aurora rolled around on the beach, giggling, her body covered in sand.

    spanng="EN"“Baby, your mom and dad are here. Let’s clean you up,” Nora said as she saw us approaching, and began wiping the sand off Aurora.

    spanng="EN"Aurora cooperated with Nora’s movements, and when she saw me walking over, she immediately reached out her hand, “Daddy.” I knelt and finished wiping her face and hands before lifting her into my arms.

    spanng="EN"We sat on a driftwood log away from the growing crowd. Moonlight ceremony fireworks began to bloom over the sea.

    spanng="EN"As Aurora squealed with delight, I watched Olivia. She leaned back, her face illuminated by the explosions in the sky, still looking unhappy.

    spanng="EN"I took her hand. She immediately tried to pull away, but I held it tightly against my chest.

    spanng="EN"“Let me guess why you’re angry,” I began, my voiceced with amusement. “Is it because of Audrey? You saw me talking to her and got angry?”

    spanng="EN"My words hit their mark. Flustered and annoyed that I was teasing her, she tried to pull her hand back and sit up to leave.

    spanng="EN"(Olivia’s POV)

    spanng="EN"Just as I freed my hand, Matthew swiftly pulled me onto hisp.

    spanng="EN"“It was business,” he whispered in my ear. “Do you believe me?”

    spanng="EN"I retorted, “You don’t need to exin to me. Even if it were a private matter, it would be normal. After all, we’re already separ-”

    spanng="EN"Before I could finish the word “separated,” Matthew captured my lips in a deep kiss.

    spanng="EN"The sky erupted in color. The sounds of cheers filled the air.

    spanng="EN"My mind went nk. My heart felt as if it were exploding with the fireworks.

    spanng="EN"I was terrified of a repeat of the other night. Afraid I would kiss him back and lose control.

    spanng="EN"The image of him talking to a shy, smitten Audrey shed in my mind. A tear escaped my eye.

    spanng="EN"Feeling my tear, Matthew broke the kiss and held me close. His voice was hoarse with a passion I’d never heard before. “I’ll have Audreye and exin to you.”

    spanng="EN"Burying my face in his chest, I began to sob uncontrobly.

    spanng="EN"“You can’t bully me like this,” I murmured, pushing him away.

    spanng="EN"My eyes, filled with tears, met his intense gaze. “Alpha King, I can’t help you anymore,” I said, my voice trembling. “Let’s not see each other again. I want to go home. Let me and Aurora go home.”

    spanng="EN"A shadow fell over Matthew’s face. “Fine,” he replied.

    spanng="EN"When his hand brushed my back, I flinched as if stung. He dared not touch me again.

    spanng="EN"The ride back to the apartment was silent, save for Aurora’s cheerful chatter. After a proper goodbye, I watched his car leave before taking the caregiver Nora and Aurora inside.

    spanng="EN"Only to find Dr. Aris Lowell waiting at the door.

    spanng="EN"Instantly, I thought of Evelyn Croft, my once–best friend. “You’re not wee here,” I said coldly, unlocking the door and preparing to shut it after Nora and Aurora were inside.

    spanng="EN"Dr. Aris stopped the door, her expression pained. “Olivia, I swear I haven’t done anything to hurt you. I didn’t betray you. I didn’t tell Alpha Theodore that Aurora is his daughter.”

    spanng="EN"Hearing this, I frowned. If Dr. Aris had told Theodore, he wouldn’t be this quiet.

    spanng="EN"“Olivia, I just thought Theodore could help cure you.”

    spanng="EN"I let her in. As we sat on the sofa, Dr. Aris pleaded, “I’m sorry, I should have told you the truth sooner. I won’t contact Alpha Theodore again, please let me continue treating you.”

    spanng="EN"Before I could answer, Nora cried out in rm. She rushed from the room with Aurora in her arms.

    spanng="EN"“Luna, it’s not good!”

    spanng="EN"Aurora’s body was red and burning hot. Panicked, I held my daughter, felt her forehead, and immediately called for an ambnce.

    spanng="EN"(God’s POV)

    spanng="EN"As the ambnce sped away from the building, Theodore watched from a distance, his eyes filled with worry.

    spanng="EN"He tried calling Dr. Aris, but she kept hanging up.

    spanng="EN"A deep, obsessive fear spread through him as he ordered his head bodyguard Captain Ryker, “Bring ra Thorne. We’re going to the hospital, now.”