(Olivia’s POV)

    Matthew’s words echoed in my mind, mixing with Theodore’s cruel taunts from the restaurant. “You can’t handle it,” Theodore had sneered. “You’re so fragile you could shatter at any moment. He’ll grow tired of you eventually.”

    The memory sent heat flooding through my cheeks as Matthew’s lips found the sensitive spot where my neck met my shoulder. His hands traced patterns along my skin, leaving faint marks that would fade by morning.

    He pressed me closer, his grip firm on my waist. My hand flew instinctively to my heart, but he caught it gently in his own.

    “Olivia.” His voice was rough with concern as he saw the panic in my eyes.

    He pulled me into his arms, and I copsed against his shoulder. Hot tears soaked through his shirt as the weight of everything crashed over me.

    “Is it ufortable here?” His hand rested over my racing heart, feeling its frantic rhythm.

    I shook my head, wrapping my arms around his neck. I pressed my face against his warm skin, feeling the steady pulse of his heartbeat beneath my cheek.

    He sighed, reining in his desire as he sensed my distress. “I’ll leave after having dinner with you and Aurora.”

    A knock interrupted us. I quickly wiped my eyes as Matthew straightened his shirt.

    Seraphina Kane stood at the door, holding an ornate thermos. Her smile was bright but strained.

    “Sister–inw! Mother Victoria sent this special herbal tea for you.” She bustled into the apartment without waiting for an invitation.

    At the dinner table, she poured the dark, bitter–smelling liquid into a delicate cup. “It’s from an ancient recipe.

    It nourishes the body and helps couples conceive pups sooner.”

    I reached for the cup, but Matthew’s hand intercepted mine. “All medicine has its toxins,” he said calmly. “She doesn’t need to drink it.”

    Seraphina’s smile faltered. “But it’s such a gentle form. Mother Victoria specifically-”

    “Auntie…” Aurora’s small voice cut through the tension. Her mouth was full of venison, making her words slightly muffled. “Papa… Papa said he doesn’t want more pups… only me…”

    Tears filled my eyes as I looked at Matthew. Did he really mean that? Or was he just protecting me from whatever was in that tea?

    He reached over and gently wiped a tear from my cheek. “Why don’t you believe me?” he whispered.

    Before I could respond, he took the cup from my hand and drank the entire bitter concoction in one gulp. His face didn’t even twitch at the taste.

    “Just say your sister–inw drank it,” he told a stunned Seraphina.

    She stared at him in amazement. “You… you really love her that much.”

    After dinner, Matthew retreated to the study with Gina Frost, Tasha, Commander Garrett Flint, and Beta Tristan. Their voices carried through the thin walls as they discussed territorial security.

    Seraphina lingered, fidgeting with her phone. Finally, she pulled me aside with desperate eyes.

    “Sister–inw, my birthday is tomorrow night.” Her voice was pleading. “Can you help me invite Alpha Theodore?”

    She thrust her phone at me, showing trending photos of Theodore with Audrey Vale. The headlines screamed about his new filmpany and their rumored mating announcement.

    “I can ept losing to you,” Seraphina’s voice cracked. “But why should I lose to this b***h?”

    My stomach churned. She still harbored feelings for Theodore. The thought of them together, of being one big family so I could see Leo more often, made me feel sick.

    I debated telling her about Theodore’s attempt on Matthew’s life. But that would only create more chaos.

    “I can’t help you with that,” I said gently.

    Her phone rang, and she answered with a bright “Hello, Ethan!”

    1 froze. Ethan Moonstone. My half–brother who wanted me dead.

    As she chatted, myptop screen caught my attention. The Minesweeper game I’d left open was ying by itself. Numbers shed across the grid in patterns only I would recognize.

    Someone was trying to hack my system.

    A loud “BANG” echoed from downstairs, shaking the entire building.

    I instinctively grabbed Aurora, shielding her small body with mine. Matthew burst from the study, his arms immediately wrapping around us both.

    “What happened?” His Alphamand filled the room.

    Commander Garrett Flint appeared behind him. “A kettle exploded in a downstairs unit, Your Majesty.

    Probably a gas leak.”

    I knew better. My hidden system had detected the intrusion, traced it back, and fried the hacker’s device. The explosion was the sound of their equipment being destroyed.

    I pressed closer to Matthew, whispering through our mate bond. “There’s a hacker nearby.”

    His arms tightened around me. “Gina will handle it,” he murmured back, his lips brushing my ear.

    (God’s POV)

    From across the room, Tasha watched their intimate exchange. Her heart clenched with a pain she could no longer deny.

    She’d loved Matthew for years, watching from the shadows as he built his kingdom. Now this she–wolf had waltzed back into his life and imed everything Tasha had dreamed of.

    The way he held Olivia, the way his entire body curved protectively around her and the pup – it was everything Tasha had imagined for herself.

    Outside the apartmentplex, Ethan Moonstone hurled his smokingptop out of the silver Bentley’s window. The device hit the pavement and shattered into pieces.

    “Sir?” His driver nced nervously in the rearview mirror.

    “She wasn’t even near aputer,” than snarled. “One of Kane’s experts must have blocked the attack.”

    But doubt gnawed at him. The counterstrike had been too precise, too personal. It felt like Cipher’s work.

    He couldn’t tolerate the existence of a rival who could match his skills. Not when he’d spent years perfecting his craft in the shadows.

    He waited until Seraphina and Matthew’s rage departed. The apartment building grew quiet, most residents settling in for the night.

    Ethan stepped out of the car, his ck suit blending seamlessly with the darkness. The silver–loaded pistol felt cold and familiar in his hand.

    He’d studied the building’syout for weeks. The security wasughably weak for someone supposedly under the Alpha King’s protection.

    The apartment door was unlocked – arrogant of them to feel so safe. He pushed it open gently, the hinges silent on well–oiled pins.