bChapter /b157: bConfrontation /bband /bbTruth /b

Chapter 157: Confrontation and Truth

(Elena ckwood’s POV)

Isabe approached me with Oliver Rivers beside her, both wearing expressions that made my stomach clench with foreboding. The evening breeze carried tension as thick as the jasmine scent from bthe /bgardens.

“Oliver, say hello to Aunt Elena,” Isabe encouraged with false sweetness.

The young pup immediately hid behind Isabe’s skirt, refusing to acknowledge ime/i. His small hands gripped the fabric tightly.

Isabeughed with mock embarrassment. “Oliver is spoiled by Alpha Marcus. He only speaks to people within the Shadow Moon Pack’s inner circle.”

She leaned down to stroke Oliver’s hair with theatrical affection. “Isn’t that right, little one?”

My jaw tightened as I recognized her maniption tactics. This wasn’t a casual encounter.

Isabe’s voice turned provocatively sweet. “Elena, how would you feel about bing Oliver’s stepmother if Marcus adopted him?”

The question hit like a p. I kept my expression neutral despite the anger building inside me.

“Oliver,” Isabe continued her performance, “would you want Elena as your mother?b” /b

The pup’s voice rang out with fierce determination. “I have a mother!”

His deration echoed across the stone terrace. Isabe’s smile faltered for just a moment.

I saw through her gamepletely. She wanted to create difort, to make me jealous of Marcus’s

attention to another woman’s child.

“I have no interest in helping others raise pups,” replied coldly. “Unlike Marcus, who seems to enjoy being a

father to other wolves‘ children.”

Isabe’s eyes shed with triumph. “Using reverse psychology won’t work on me.”

She stepped closer, her voice dropping to a whisper. “You’re clinging to Marcus while talking about severing your mate bond.”

I turned to face her fully, my patience finally snapping. “Why don’t you ask Marcus directly who’s refusing the

bond severance?”

Without waiting for her response, I walked away in frustration. The sound of my footsteps echoed against the

manor’s stone walls.

(Marcus ckwood’s POV)

I stood by the window in the Shadow Archives, smoking as I watched the entire confrontation unfold below.

My enhanced Alpha senses caught every word exchanged on the terrace.

Isabe burst through the door momentster, her face flushed with indignation.

“Marcus, is it true that you’re refusing to sever the mate bond with Elena?” she demanded.

Chapter 157 Cordrentatio

I took another drag from my cigarette, not bothering to turn around. “You deliberately brought bOliver /bto her

Isabe’s voice rose defensively. “I was just trying to help you see reason!”

She began pacing behind me, her heels clicking against the hardwood floor. “Despite Elena’s beauty, she

“She bcan’t /bmatch your status as Alpha,” Isabe continued her argument. “A mating alliance with bthe /b

Whitmore family’s newly found daughter would be more advantageous.”

I finally turned to face my cousin, crushing the cigarette in the crystal ashtray. “You should meet the Whitmore daughter first before making such judgments.b” /b

Isabe’s brow furrowed with confusion. “What do you mean?”

I smiled cryptically, saying nothing more. Some truths were better discovered than exined.

(Elena ckwood’s POV)

Back at Darkwood Lodge, I copsed onto the plush sofa in my suite. The confrontation had drained me

emotionally.

I pulled out my phone andposed a text message to Marcus – the first I had sent him in months.

“I’m not feeling well and left early. Please make my excuses to Margaret.”

My finger hovered over the send button before I pressed it. The message felt strange after so much silence

between us.

Almost immediately, my phone buzzed with a message from Adrian Whitmore. “When will you return to

Riverside City?”

I typed back quickly. “Why do you ask?”

“One of your patients is looking for you,” Adrian replied. “Someone with the surname Parker.”

My pulse quickened with interest. “William Parker?”

“The same,” Adrian confirmed. “He told me about the ‘real and fake daughter‘ situation.”

His next message carried a hint of humor. “Quite the identity confusion surrounding our family’s lost pup,

wouldn’t you say?”

I stared at the screen, my heart racing. Adrian was clearly aware of the truth about Sandy Parker’s false

identity.

(Marcus ckwood’s POV)

The dinner atmosphere at the ckwood Ancestral Manor was suffocating with tension. Margaret ckwood sat rigidly in her chair, refusing to touch her food.

“This meal was prepared for Elena, she stated coldly. “Whom Isabe drove away with her actions.”

Isabe’s face reddened with frustration. “I don’t understand what’s so special about her!”

Margaret’s eyes zed with fury. “Your small–minded scheming brings shame to our ancient lineage!”

She turned her wrath toward Diana ckwood. “I know about your pathetic scheme involving bthe /bWhitmore family’s heir.

Diana’sposure finally cracked under the verbal assault. “My harsh treatment due to my humble pack origins made me determined to secure a better future for my daughter!

Her voice broke with years of suppressed pain. “You have no idea what it’s like to be looked down upon

constantly!

Margaret dismissed her justifications with a wave of her hand. “Such methods only bring disgrace to the

ckwood name.”

The elderly matriarch stood abruptly, her chair scraping against the floor. I’ve lost my appetitepletely”

She left the dining room in anger, her footsteps echoing down the hallway. The remaining family members

sat in ufortable silence.

(Marcus ckwood’s POV)

While the ckwood family dealt with internal conflict, Elena was enjoying herself at a street food stall She sat on a stic stool, eating barbecue skewers with obvious pleasure.

Amber Stone spotted her while driving me back from the ckwood Consortium. “Alpha, isn’t that Elena?”

I looked through the tinted window and felt my chest tighten. Elena wasughing and chatting with two young werewolves who were clearly asking for her contact information.

Jealousy consumed me like wildfire. I got out of the car before Amber could stop me.

The young males immediately sensed my Alpha authority as I approached. Their casual confidence evaporated instantly.

“She’s my mate,” I dered coldly, my voice carrying unmistakable possession.

Both wolves apologized hastily and fled the scene. Elena looked up at me with a mixture of annoyance and

resignation.

I sat down beside her ion /ithe empty stool, ignoring the curious stares from other customers.

“You could have ordered iroom /iservice at the lodge,” I said, concern evident in my voice.

Elena set down her skewer and faced me directly. “Why are you interfering?”

I met her gaze steadily, my golden eyes reflecting the streetlight. “I’m worried about you.”

We locked eyes, the unspoken emotions of our failing mate bond hanging heavy between us.

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