spanng="EN"(Olivia’s POV)

spanng="EN"“Stop hitting me, Mom, I’ll talk,” Caleb cried out in pain from the silver–tipped whipping. His back was already covered in angry red welts.

spanng="EN"“This pup is actually for me to raise on behalf of…” Before he could finish, Theodore’s deep voice cut him off like a de.

spanng="EN"“Caleb, who are you saying you’re raising the pup for?” His tone was dangerously low.

spanng="EN"Seeing Theodore and me walk in, Caleb was terrified and stammered, “I–I didn’t say on behalf of anyone. I meant I was securing an heir for our Thorne family.”

spanng="EN"“Evelyn refused to ept my mating proposal, and my parents were pressuring me, so I had ra give me a pup.” He desperately pleaded with his parents, his voice breaking.

spanng="EN"“It was for the family’s sake, I swear!”

spanng="EN"But Elder Thorne saw through the charade instantly. Her son was clearly taking the fall for Theodore.

spanng="EN"Disgusted, she threw down the silver whip with a tter. “Fool!”

spanng="EN"The Elder of the Thorne family, furious but needing to save face, could only mutter to his guests. “We’re making fools of ourselves.”

spanng="EN"Then he turned to Elder Thorne, saying he would give a generous wedding gift. I offered a generous dowry of fifty million dors and was willing to cooperate with the Thorne pack on a territory opening project.

spanng="EN"This puzzled Theodore. He couldn’t understand why I, who should despise ra, would be so magnanimous.

spanng="EN"He looked at me questioningly, his amber eyes searching my face for answers.

spanng="EN"However, Elder Thorne was unmoved. “No,” she firmly refused.

spanng="EN"“Years ago Ophelia was expelled from our pack for destroying someone else’s mate bond. Now we will not allow ra to re–enter the Thorne pack with her mother.”

spanng="EN"“Our Thorne pack may not be as wealthy as the Crimson Pack, but we don’t stoop to epting charity.”

spanng="EN"I yed the part of a gentle and benevolent Luna, taking the older she–wolf’s hand. “Elder Thorne, we don’t mean to force a marking,” I said softly.

spanng="EN"“But they are fated mates and have a pup. We just want to see them happy.”

spanng="EN"My words, however, did not fool Elder. She saw the pain behind my performance.

spanng="EN"“Child,” she said pointedly, “when you love someone too much, your reason is blinded by the mate bond, you…”

spanng="EN"Thement struck a raw nerve. My eyes instantly reddened with unshed tears.

spanng="EN"At Theodore’s signal, Caleb knelt and begged his mother for her blessing. His knees hit the cold infirmary floor with a dull thud.

spanng="EN"With his son still willing to be the scapegoat, the Elder of the Thorne family sighed in defeat. “Fine, let’s decide it this way,” he conceded.

spanng="EN"He asked Theodore to help boost the Thorne family’s pack standing in return.

spanng="EN"Elder Thorne added a stern condition. “I’ll say this now. If she mates into our Thorne family, she bes one of us.”

spanng="EN"“How I discipline someone of such poor character will be my business.”

spanng="EN"I readily agreed, my voice steady despite the turmoil in my chest.

spanng="EN"As we were leaving, Caleb, his back covered in raw welts from the silver whip, thanked us. He invited us to the uing mating ceremony.

spanng="EN"Seeing his injuries, I felt a pang of regret. In my quest for revenge, I had implicated the innocent Thorne family and tarnished their reputation.

spanng="EN"I felt I might have gone too far. But Theodore protectively wrapped his arm around me and led me away before I could voice my doubts.

spanng="EN"The next day, Gina Frost, Killian’s assistant, arrived at the manor. She was a sharp–eyed woman with an efficient demeanor.

spanng="EN"“The professor told me to infiltrate the enemy’s ranks,” she exined with a smile.

spanng="EN"I took her to the study. Gina is a very skilledputer expert.

spanng="EN"During a break, a video call came through on a secure channel Gina had set up. She assured me it was a private line to Killian.

spanng="EN"She discreetly left the room, closing the door behind her.

spanng="EN"I answered, but instead of my former colleague, I was greeted by the bright face of his daughter, ra. “Pretty Auntie, Ellie misses you so much!” she chirped.

spanng="EN"Her innocent voice was like a balm to my weary heart.

spanng="EN"“Pretty Auntie, let me show you my dad’s room!” ra eximed, grabbing the camera.

spanng="EN"She led me on a virtual tour down a hallway and pushed open the master bedroom door. I gasped.

spanng="EN"The walls were covered with portraits of me from various stages of my life. Even a painting of me in formal Luna attire hung prominently.

spanng="EN"The paper on some was worn and curled. Evidence they had been painted years ago.

spanng="EN"I was stunned.

spanng="EN"“Auntie, look, Dad really loves you,” ra whispered, picking up the Luna portrait. “This is Dad’s favorite. He even hugs it to sleep.”

spanng="EN"Just then, Killian’s clear voice came from the doorway. “Ellie, aren’t you chatting with Auntie Olivia? Are you done?”

spanng="EN"Unaware the camera was still on, Killian walked further into the room. “Dad, Dad, do you love Auntie?” she asked with innocent determination.

spanng="EN"Killian, flustered, blushed and stammered. “Little pup, what do you know about love?”

spanng="EN"The camera shook as ra pressed it against her father’s chest. I could hear a heart pounding furiously through the speaker.

spanng="EN"ra persisted until Killian finally whispered. “Dad… loves your pretty auntie. But, this is a secret. You can’t tell anyone.”

spanng="EN"ra’s eyes widened in panic. “Ah! But Pretty Auntie already knows!” she shouted.

spanng="EN"She shoved the camera towards her father’s face. “Dad, Pretty Auntie heard and saw everything! What do we do? The secret is out!”

spanng="EN"Killian’s handsome face burned bright red as he froze. He stared into the lens, utterly exposed.

spanng="EN"My own heart hammered against my ribs. My hand trembled as I frantically clicked to end the call, my mind reeling.

spanng="EN"As I looked towards the door, my blood ran cold. Theodore stood there, his dark eyes zing with a cold, terrifying fury I had never seen before.

spanng="EN"He had heard everything.

spanng="EN"He strode towards me, his movements sharp and menacing like a predatory Alpha. He yanked me into his arms, holding me so tightly I could barely breathe.

spanng="EN"As if I would vanish if he let go.

spanng="EN"He tilted my pale face up to his. His hot breath engulfed me as his trembling lips crashed down on mine.

spanng="EN"“Livvy,” he growled, his voice thick with possessive rage, “you are mine.”