bChapter /b23 The p

bChapter /bb23/bb: /bbThe /bbp /b

Chapter b23/bb: /bThe p

b(/bElena’s POVb) /b

I slept peacefully in the Shadow Wing Guest Suite that night. For the first time in months, bI /bbdidn’t /bblie /bbawake /bwondering when Marcus would return home.

The next morning, I encountered him at breakfast in the Great Hall. He looked tired and bhaggard/bb, /bbhis /busually pristine Alpha presence showing rare signs of fatigue.

Dark circles shadowed his golden eyes. His perfectly styled hair was slightly disheveled, as if he’d run bhis /bhands through it repeatedly.

Catherine Hayes brought breakfast with her usual efficiency. She nced between us expectantly, clearly waiting for me to help serve Marcus as I always had.

But I remained seated, calmly eating my own meal. I didn’t ask about his sleep or inquire about his preferences for the day.

Catherine’s eyebrows rose slightly in surprise. She sensed the subtle tension between us, wondering if we had quarreled.

Marcus noticed my indifference immediately. His jaw tightened as he watched me ignore his presencepletely.

I could feel his irritation radiating across the table. But I continued eating without acknowledging him.

Catherine approached Marcus hesitantly. “Alpha, is the breakfast not to your taste this morning?b” /b

“I have no appetite,” he said curtly, pushing back from the table.

He left abruptly without another word. His footsteps echoed harshly against the marble floors.

Catherine watched him go with worried eyes. “Oh dear, I hope I haven’t done something wrong with the

cooking.”

She turned to me anxiously. “Do you think he’ll dock my wages?”

“The Alpha’s mood has nothing to do with your food quality,” I reassured her gently.

Catherine lingered beside my chair, clearly wanting to say more. Her maternal instincts were getting the

better of her discretion.

“Miss Elena, if I may speak freely…” she began carefully.

I looked up from my te, giving her permission to continue.

“I can see the Alpha cares about you. Otherwise he wouldn’t be so angry when you don’t show concern.”

Her words made me pause mid–bite. Catherine had worked for the ckwood family for years and observed

our dynamics closely.

“Previously, you would always ask about his sleep and meals during breakfast,” she continued bsoftly/b. “His displeasure today stems from yourck of attention.”

Chapter 23. The p

I breflected /bon bher /bobservation. bThose /bbreakfast bmoments /bused bto /bbbe /bbmy only /bbchance /bfor intimate time

Marcusb. /b

I bwould /bcarefully gauge his mood and btry /bbto /bmake conversation. But I always seemed bto /bsay bthe /bbwrong /bthing band /bruin the atmosphere.

Now that I had stopped revolving my life around him, why wasn’t he happy? Wasn’t this bwhat /bbhe /bbwanted/bb? /b

I chose not to respond to Catherine’s well–meaning advice. I didn’t want to harbor any more bunrealistic /bfantasies about our mate bond.

At the Northern Territory Central Healing Institute, Pack Nurse Rachel approached me with a professional smile.

“Healer Elena, Senior Healer Rivers wants to see you in her office,” she informed me.

I nodded and made my way through the familiar corridors. The antiseptic smell of the healing institute bfilled /bmy nostrils.

Upon entering Sophia’s office, I was immediately sprayed with water. Oliver Rivers stood behind his mother’s desk, wielding a bright blue water gun.

“Got you, bad woman!” heughed gleefully, pumping the toy weapon for another shot.

My white shirt was soaked through, clinging ufortably to my skin. The cold water dripped down my arms onto the floor.

I felt the urge to discipline the unruly child. But I restrained myself, knowing any reaction would be twisted against me.

Sophia approached with a handkerchief, her expression perfectly crafted to show maternal concern.

“Oh my, Oliver! That’s not how we treat guests,” she scolded gently, though her eyes sparkled with

satisfaction.

She extended the handkerchief toward me. “I’m so sorry about his behavior, Healer Elena.”

“No need,” I declined, pulling tissues from my pocket instead.

I dabbed at my wet shirt while Oliver continued giggling behind the desk. His childishughter grated against

my nerves.

When I turned to leave, Sophia’s voice stopped me cold.

“Healer Elena, I hope you remember that I’m your supervisor now,” she said with deliberate emphasis.

Her tone carried the authority Marcus had granted her. The reminder of my demotion stung like a fresh

wound.

Oliver suddenly perked up with excitement. “Mommy, can the bad aunt buy me a moonberry cake?b” /b

Sophia’s smile turned predatory. “What a wonderful idea, Oliver.”

She looked directly at me, her eyes gleaming with malicious intent. “Elena, would you mind bbuying /bba /bbcake /bbfor /b

me and Marcus’s son?”

The emphasis on “Marcus’s son” was deliberate and cutting. She was unting their brtionship /bbas /bba /bfamily unit in front of the legitimate Luna.

Chapter 23. The p

Her words were designed to humiliate me by highlighting my childless status. The implication that she bhad /bgiven Marcus what I couldn’t was crystal clear.

Rather than being affected by her provocation, I remained calm. “Buying a cake is no trouble at all”

Myposed response clearly frustrated her. She had expected anger or jealousy, not indifference.

I left her office and returned to my own workspace. Instead of personally fetching the cake, I simply ordered

delivery from a dessert shop using my phone.

(Sophia’s POV)

When the delivery arrived at my office an hourter, I realized Elena had outsmarted me again. She had the cake delivered rather than personally fetching it.

My frustration boiled over as I stared at the innocent dessert box. “Oliver, why did you have to ask for cakeb?/bb” /b

Oliver looked confused by my sudden anger. “But Mommy, you said it was a wonderful idea.”

I took a deep breath, forcing myself to calm down. Getting angry at my son wouldn’t solve anything.

A more sinister n began forming in my mind. Elena’s cleverness was bing a real problem.

“Oliver,e here,” I called softly, my voice taking on a conspiratorial tone.

He approached eagerly, always excited when I included him in grown–up conversations.

“Do you want to help Mommy prevent the bad aunt from stealing your daddy?”

(Elena’s POV)

That afternoon, I was making rounds with several intern healers. We stopped at the bedside of an elderly stroke patient whose condition required careful monitoring.

“Watch his vital signs closely,” I instructed the young healers. “Any sudden changes in blood pressure or heart rate need immediate attention.”

The interns nodded seriously, taking notes on their tablets. Their eagerness to learn reminded me of my own early days at the institute.

“The recovery period is critical,” I continued. “Even small improvements should be documented thoroughly.”

Suddenly, I heard my name called with unmistakable anger. “Elena!”

I turned to see Marcus striding toward me, his face dark with barely controlled rage. His golden eyes zed with fury I had never seen before.

Before I could react or speak, his hand struck my cheek with a sharp c***k. The p echoed through the recovery ward.

Though not particrly forceful, the blow was enough topletely chill my heart. The physical pain was nothingpared to the emotional devastation.

I slowly turned to face him fully. My eyes showed first shock, then deep disappointment, and finally settled

into calm indifference.

The intern healers gasped in horror. Several patients in nearby beds turned to stare at the unprecedented

scene.

Chapter 23 The p

Marcus stood before me with clenched jaw and dark eyes filled with barely controlled rage. His chest rose and fell with heavy breathing.

“Elena, you’ve really gone mad,” he used, his voice low and dangerous. “You can even be so ruthless to a

pup?”

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