Chapter 115: Painful Revelations
Chapter 115: Painful Revelations
(Ethan’s POV)
I couldn’t tear my eyes away from the scene unfolding in Lucas Blackwood’s room. Through
the partially open door, I watched as Olivia tenderly fed him from her thermal container. The
same container she used to bring me food when I was ill.
Her slender fingers wiped a drop of stew from the corner of his mouth with such gentleness
that my chest constricted painfully. The intimacy of the gesture was unmistakable.
“You need to eat more,” I heard her say, her voice carrying a warmth I hadn’t heard in years.
“The herbs will help your fever.”
Lucas’s eyes never left her face as he accepted another spoonful. “It’s delicious,” he
murmured. “Thank you for coming, Olivia.”
The way he said her name–with such reverence–made my wolf howl in agony inside me.
This tenderness, this care… it used to be mine. Olivia used to look at me that way, used to
touch me with that same gentle concern. Now her emerald eyes softened only for him.
A realization hit me with the force of a physical blow: Olivia Winters didn’t love me anymore.
She truly wanted to give up on me.
The pain of this thought eclipsed even what I’d felt when Victoria had temporarily left me years ago. This was different–deeper, more devastating. I was losing someone irreplaceable,
someone who had once been my entire world.
“Alpha Stone?” Dr. Samuel Wilson’s voice barely registered as he entered my room. “How are you feeling? Any discomfort from the poisoning?”
I remained silent, my gaze fixed on Lucas’s ward door, which had now closed, cutting off my
view of my wife caring for another man.
Maxwell Chen cleared his throat awkwardly. “Should I call Victoria? I’m sure she’d want to be
here with you.”
“No need,” I said hoarsely, surprising both men. “Olivia wouldn’t want to see Victoria. Calling Victoria and having Olivia see her will only make her sad.”
Dr. Wilson exchanged a confused glance with Maxwell. Neither understood that despite
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Chapter 115: Painful Revelati
everything, I couldn’t bear to cause Olivia more pain.
+15 Points>
“You need rest,” Dr. Wilson insisted, adjusting my IV. “Your body has been through significant
trauma.”
I closed my eyes, exhaustion washing over me. But even in darkness, all I could see was
Olivia’s tender smile directed at Lucas Blackwood.
Sleep claimed me eventually, but it offered no escape from the torment of knowing my mate
now reserved her gentleness for another.
Morning light filtered through the blinds when I awoke. My first instinct was to look toward
Lucas Blackwood’s ward. Both doors were closed.
“Good morning, Alpha,” Maxwell said, setting down a tray of breakfast. “How are you feeling?”
“Where is Blackwood?” I demanded, ignoring his question.
Maxwell hesitated. “He was discharged early this morning.”
Something in his careful tone told me he was omitting details. “And Olivia?”
“I believe she left as well,” he replied, suddenly very interested in arranging items on my
breakfast tray.
She had taken him home. The knowledge burned like acid in my stomach.
Dr. Wilson entered, clipboard in hand. “Good news, Alpha Stone. You’re recovering well from the poisoning. Your werewolf healing abilities are impressive, but you’ll need to take care with.
your stomach for a few days.”
I nodded absently, my mind still fixed on the image of Olivia leaving with Lucas.
“You should eat,” Dr. Wilson encouraged, gesturing to the tray Maxwell had brought. “Regain
your strength.”
The hospital food looked unappetizing–nothing like the healing venison stew Olivia had
prepared. Not for me, but for him.
“I’m not hungry,” I muttered, pushing the tray away.
Dr. Wilson frowned. “Alpha Stone, you need nourishment to-”
“I said I’m not hungry,” I growled, my eyes flashing amber.
The doctor wisely retreated, leaving me alone with my thoughts and the gnawing emptiness in
my chest.
<Chapter 115 Painful Revelati…
(James’s POV)
+15 Poirits >
“I heard Ethan’s in the hospital,” I said to Nathan Blackwood as we walked through the Silvercrest Pack Medical Den corridors. “Alcohol poisoning, of all things. Stupid move for a werewolf.”
Nathan nodded grimly. “He’s been through a lot lately. First his grandmother, then finding out about his daughter…”
I raised an eyebrow. “What daughter? You mean Emma?”
Nathan gave me an odd look but didn’t elaborate. “By the way, I heard Sophia’s back in town. Are you going to see her?”
My jaw tightened at the mention of her name. Sophia Blackwood, my supposed girlfriend, who’d disappeared without a word after our last fight.
“Why would I care?” I snapped, my amber–flecked eyes hardening. “She can do whatever she wants.”
“James, it’s been months. Maybe you should-”
“Whoever regrets is a dog!” I declared loudly, drawing startled looks from passing medical staff.
Nathan sighed. “You two are impossible.”
I patted my pockets, suddenly desperate for a cigarette. “I need a smoke. You go ahead.”
Without waiting for his response, I turned and headed for the exit, leaving Nathan to visit Ethan alone.
(Ethan’s POV)
The door to my room opened, and Nathan Blackwood entered. One of my oldest friends, he’d been by my side through countless challenges. But today, something about his presence made my wolf bristle with unease.
“Ethan,” he greeted, his expression somber. “I’m sorry about your grandmother. And about Lily too. I heard what happened.”
My blood froze in my veins. Lily? How did he know about Lily?
“What did you say?” I whispered, my voice dangerously quiet.
Nathan approached my bed, oblivious to the storm brewing within me. “I said I’m sorry about-
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< Chapter 115: Painful Revelati
+15 Points >
I lunged forward with a speed that belied my weakened state, my hand closing around his throat as I pinned him against the wall.
you
“Nathan Blackwood, you dare to say that?” I snarled, my fingers tightening. “Why didn’t tell me and made the decision yourself to give Lily’s kidney donor to Emma? Why?!”
The monitoring equipment beside my bed beeped frantically as my heart rate and blood pressure spiked with my rage.
Nathan’s eyes widened in shock, his hands clawing at mine as he struggled to breathe. “What… are you… talking about?” he gasped.
“My daughter!” I roared. “Lily! The kidney that was meant for her but went to Emma instead!”
Understanding dawned in Nathan’s eyes, followed by horror. I loosened my grip just enough to
let him speak.
“Ethan,” he wheezed, “I had no idea Lily was your daughter. Victoria came to me… said Emma needed the kidney urgently.”
My grip faltered. “What?”
“She said you would never agree to sacrifice another child for your stepdaughter,” Nathan continued, his voice strained against my grip. “She said she and Ethan only had this one daughter, and begged me, for Ethan’s sake, to give it to Emma, to save Ethan’s daughter.”
The words hit me like physical blows. I released Nathan and staggered back to my bed, my
legs suddenly unable to support me.
“You didn’t know?” I whispered, the full weight of my negligence crashing down on me.
Nathan rubbed his throat, watching me warily. “How could I? You never mentioned having a
child with anyone but Victoria. Everyone assumed Emma was your only daughter.”
I buried my face in my hands. My own secrecy, my own neglect of Lily, had contributed to her
death. I had failed to acknowledge her publicly, failed to make her a recognized part of my life.
“This is my fault,” I murmured, my voice breaking. “I killed my own daughter.”
Suddenly, a terrible realization dawned on me. I looked up at Nathan, my eyes wide with
horror.
“Victoria,” I said, my voice barely audible. “Was she there? Did she know who Lily was when
she asked you to redirect the kidney?”
Nathan hesitated, and in that moment of silence, I knew. If Victoria had been aware of Lily’s
<Chapter 115 Painful Revelati
+15 Points
identity when she diverted the kidney to Emma, then everything Olivia had accused her of was
true. Victoria had deliberately caused Lily’s death.
And I had defended her. I had chosen her over my own mate and child.
