Alpha King Chases Abandoned Luna

The Alpha King is unavailable 48

The welts from the discipline rod were still visible across her pale skin. Angry red lines marring what should be

perfect. Something twisted painfully in my chest at

the sight.

Olivia suddenly tensed, sensing my presence. She whirled around, emerald eyes widening in shock and alarm.

Water droplets clung to her lashes, making her eyes seem even more vibrant

"Ethan!" she gasped, immediately reaching for a towel to cover herself. "Matriarch Evelyn is waiting for me!" |

blocked the doorway with my body. "Grandmother is already asleep, she doesn't want to be disturbed." Her eyes

narrowed dangerously. She clearly didn't believe me.

She tried to push past me, but | remained solid as stone. Her frustration was evident in the flush rising to her

cheeks.

"Letgo," she demanded, her voice low and threatening.

When | didn't respond, she raised her foot, clearly intending to stomp on mine. | reacted instantly, lifting her

completely off the ground with ease.

Her wet skin slid against my clothes as she struggled. "Putdown!" she hissed, twisting in my grasp.

The sudden sharp tone of Victoria's ringtone cut through our struggle like a knife. | froze, immediately

recognizing the sound.

| released Olivia, letting her feet touch the floor as | reached for my phone. | kept one arm loosely around her

waist to prevent her escape.

"Victoria," | answered with sharp impatience. "What is it?"

Olivia continued to struggle against my hold. | pressed my hand over her mouth to silence her protests.

Victoria's voice cthrough the line, but her words barely registered. Something about Emma acting up again.

Nothing urgent.

10

"I'm busy. I'll call you back," | snapped, ending the call abruptly.

| tossed my phone onto the counter and turned my attention back to Olivia, who was glaring atwith

undisguised hatred. Before | could speak, the phone rang again.

Victoria's nflashed brightly on the screen. I ignored it, focusing on the woman in front of me.

But the ringing continued, persistent and demanding as Victoria herself. On the third ring, Olivia reached for the

phone, likely to silence it permanently.

| caught her wrist mid-air, snatching the phone myself. "What?" | growled, not bothering to hide my irritation.

Victoria's voice cthrough, high-pitched and frantic. "Ethan... what should | do? Emma has been having

nightmares since she fell in the Moonlit Reflection Pool today."

My body tensed immediately, all thoughts of Olivia vanishing.

*She keeps crying for you, and | can't soothe her," Victoria continued, her voice breaking with emotion. "I'm so

worried. | want to take her to the Silvercrest Pack Medical Den, but the rain is too heavy... what should | do?"

In the background, | could hear Emma's voice, small and frightened. "Daddy... | want Daddy..."

The sound of her distress twisted something deep inside me. Emma needed me. Nothing else mattered.

"Don't panic," | told Victoria, already moving toward my closet. "I'm on my way." Olivia tried to pullback, her

fingers catching on my sleeve. “Ethan, wait-

| shook her off without a second thought and quickly changed into clean clothes. Emma's cries echoed in my

mind, drowning out everything else.

| left the bedroom without a backward glance, my face set with determination and worry. The door closed firmly

behind me.

(Olivia's POV)

| watched Ethan rush out, a bitter smile playing on my lips. Not even ten minutes alone withbefore Victoria's

call pulled him away like a puppet on strings

His devotion to her was almost impressive in its predictability. The moment Victoria called, nothing else mattered

not even his supposed desire for me.

One day, he would discover their true nature. And | would be there to witness his world crumble.

| returned to the bathroom to finish my shower, letting the scalding water wash away the lingering sensation of

his touch on my skin. Every place he'd touchedfelt contaminated.

After drying off, | dressed in the spare clothes I'd brought. Despite my exhaustion, sleep refused to come. My

mind raced with thoughts of Ethan, Victoria, and the twisted gwe were all trapped in.

| decided to go downstairs for a glass of water. The Stone Estate was eerily quiet at this hour, most of its

occupants already lost to dreams.

The cool water soothed my throat but did nothing for the restlessness spreading through my lin to move, to

channel this nervous energy before it consumed me.

I needed

The Private Training Room would be empty now. | could work through sof my frustration there, maybe find

speace in physical exertion.

219

| made my way down the plushly carpeted corridor, my footsteps soundless in the

darkness. As | approached Eleanor's wing, voices reached my ears.

| slowed my pace, not wanting a confrontation with Eleanor or Isabelle after today's events.

"You'd better not disappoint met Eleanor's sharp voice cut through the silence like a knife.

| froze instantly, pressing myself against the wall to avoid detection.

"Victoria Frost, | spent fifty thousand dollars to get you the first place in the Canis Enterprises competition, and

I've paved the way for you!"

My breath caught painfully in my throat. Eleanor had paid for Victoria's win? The competition | had worked so

hard for had been rigged from the start?

The call ended abruptly, and Eleanor's footsteps approached my hiding spot. | quickly ducked into a nearby

alcove, heart pounding as she passed by, heading toward the Private Training Room.

Once she was gone, | leaned against the wall, mind racing with this new information. It wasn't Ethan who had

stolen my first place for Victoria - it was Eleanor's manipulation all along.

Suddenly, Isabelle's taunts at the awards ceremony made perfect sense. "Do you really think you could win first

place?" she had sneered with such confidence.

| remembered the panic that flashed across Victoria and Isabelle's faces when Ethan appeared unexpectedly.

They weren't afraid he would overhear their cruelty towardthey feared he would discover their bribery

scheme.

A slow smile spread across my face. Eleanor had made a critical mistake, and now | had leverage | could use. For

once in this twisted gof power, | might have the upper hand.

A plan began to form in my

mind.