(Olivia’s POV)

    Hearing Den’s usation, I turned back to look at Theodore in shock. My voice cut through the air like a de, slicing into his heart.

    “Why do you hate me so much? Why must you destroy everyone I care about?”

    Theodore met my gaze, which held no love, not even disgust, only a towering rage. “Livvy, I love you. I would never hurt you, let alone the people you care about.”

    He grabbed my hand desperately. “Den is lying.”

    I violently shook his hand off. My body trembled with fury as I stared at him.

    “Theodore, have I ever done anything terrible to you?”

    “No! It’s not like that, Livvy!” Theodore panicked, his heart clearly aching. “You haven’t, you’re so good.”

    “That’s right, I haven’t.” My voice grew colder with each word. “I’ve never wronged you, Theodore, but you’ve hurt me time and again, hurt the people I care about, and trampled on my heart.”

    I took a shuddering breath. “You’re the one who’s done terrible things, Theodore. This time, you finally can’t

    escape. You can finally disappear from my world. As if you never existed. I’ll just pretend I never knew you.”

    An image surfaced in my mind: at sixteen, after a severe illness that nearly cost me my wolf, I was brought to

    Stonehaven City for treatment. Lifelessly, I sat by the window, leaning my body out, when a voice called to me.

    “Little sister, it’s dangerous to sit there.”

    He had gently entered my world, giving me warmth. Now, the image of the eighteen–year–old Theodore

    vanished from my eyes, as if he had never been there at all.

    (God’s POV)

    “Livvy, Livvy…” Theodore embraced her, desperate to exin, to win back her heart. Olivia could feel his panic, his fear that if he let go now, she would be gone forever.

    “Livvy, it’s not like that…”

    His hands were instantly seized by pack enforcers. One stepped forward, his voice firm and official.

    “Theodore Redgrave, we are enforcement officers from the Sovereign’s Citadel. A witness has testified that you are a suspect in the mating ceremony shooting case.”

    The officer continued. “We are now summoning you for investigation based on the case’s progress. This is not a conviction. You have the obligation to answer questions truthfully, and the right to state your case and defend yourself. Pleasee with us.”

    Theodore held onto Olivia’s trembling body, watching her look at him with nothing but hatred. More enforcers swarmed in, prying his hands away.

    He clenched his fists, veins popping on his forehead. He watched helplessly as she was pulled from his arms and into Matthew’s protective embrace.

    Olivia could see the mad jealousy in his eyes, the regret. His bloodthirsty gaze gradually cooled, and he looked at her with his old, gentle expression.

    “Livvy, I will cooperate with the investigation and prove my innocence to you.”

    Olivia didn’t look at him again. Matthew’s arms around her felt like the only safe ce in the world,

    By Olivia’s feet, Aurora red at Theodore with fierce determination. She flung sand from her shovel at him and yelled, “Bad uncle, go away!”

    Leo stood frozen in shock and fear. At eight years old, he understood what the enforcers were saying: his father had hired a killer to kill Uncle Matthew.

    He couldn’t believe his father would do such a thing. He feared Olivia would hate him too.

    Olivia saw him wanting to take her hand but being too scared of rejection. Suddenly, Aurora’s soft little hand reached out and held his.

    “Brother, don’t cry,” she said, wiping his tears with her free hand.

    Leo realized she was his real sister, not some distant rtive. He held her hand tightly as Theodore was led away.

    In the interrogation chamber at the Sovereign’s Citadel, Theodore sat silently. He brushed the sand Aurora had thrown on his pants, listening as hiswyer and the pack enforcers debated over the twenty million transfer receipt provided by Den Shaw.

    Nora took Aurora and Leo to wash their hands. Matthew carried Livvy to a nearby pavilion and sat her on hisp.

    She was still trembling, but her anger copsed as she watched Leo’s small, retreating figure. Matthew held her close, letting her rest her head on his shoulder.

    “I’m sorry,” she whispered, her voice filled with guilt. “If it weren’t for me, your safety wouldn’t be threatened.”

    She couldn’t bear the thought of someone targeting Matthew with a gun because of her. Her hands unconsciously wrapped around his neck, her face pressed against his warm skin.

    Matthew held her tighter, caressing the back of her neck. “How could it be your fault?” he murmured. “The people who want to kill me are more than just Theodore. And he can’t hurt me. Am I not perfectly fine?”

    She quieted in his arms, realizing what a huge trouble she had brought him. He should take a simple, beautiful, younger she–wolf as his mate, not be entangled with herplicated past.

    After a long silence, Matthew whispered, “Take the pups and go back to the estate. Get some good rest.”

    She didn’t respond immediately. Instead, she looked up at him, her soft gaze meeting his intense one, and kissed his lips.

    He was stunned for a moment before cupping her face and kissing her back. The kiss was deep and meaningful, a true meeting of hearts.

    Nora quickly covered the pups‘ eyes, though Aurora peeked through her fingers with a wide, knowing smile. Livvy’s body trembled slightly in his embrace, and he held her tighter.

    She could feel his heart pounding with sweet, uncontroble joy. He intertwined their fingers, whispering lovingly, I’lle to you tonight.”

    She didn’t reply, burying her face in his chest with aplex expression swirling through her mind.

    (Matthew’s POV)

    I arranged for them to be sent back to the Kane Estate. My mood was bright all day, better than it had been in a long time.

    When I finished my work and returned to the estate, I found the door ajar. Something cold settled in my stomach.

    In that instant, I strode inside. In the living room, Aurora’s pink tent, scooter, and pink bunny doll were all gone.

    Everything belonging to them had vanished. A storm gathered in my previously calm eyes.

    I called her through our mate bond, but felt only emptiness where our connection should be. The silence was deafening.

    I tried her phone with trembling fingers. The call connected.

    Olivia’s voice came through, distant and final. “Matthew, I don’t want to be your mate. I don’t want to see you again.”