Chapter 12: Claws and Consequences 

Chapter 12: Claws and Consequences 

(Olivia’s POV) 

I stumbled backward as Ethan released me, my heart pounding against my ribs. James was still on the floor, blood trickling from the corner of his mouth. I rushed forward, placing myself 

between the two men. 

“Move,” Ethan ordered, his voice dropping to that dangerous Alpha tone. 

I stood my ground, emerald eyes flashing with determination. “No. This ends now.” 

Ethan’s amber eyes turned icy cold. The muscle in his jaw twitched as he clenched his teeth. 

“I said move, Olivia.” His voice was barely above a whisper, but the threat was clear. 

“And I said no.” I planted my feet firmly, refusing to budge. 

My protectiveness toward James seemed to enrage Ethan further. His nostrils flared as he 

inhaled sharply, his powerful hands clenching into fists. 

Without warning, he yanked me aside with his Alpha strength. I gasped as his fingers dug into 

my arm, certain they would leave bruises. 

As Ethan turned toward James, a sudden gust of wind slammed the door to Lily’s sanctuary 

shut. The sound echoed through the room like a gunshot, but Ethan didn’t seem to notice. 

He advanced on James, who rose to his feet, hazel eyes defiant despite his injuries. I lost my 

balance from Ethan’s forceful shove and fell hard to the ground. 

“Liv!” James called out, moving to help me. 

Ethan intercepted him with frightening speed, delivering a sharp kick to his shin. James 

dropped to one knee, wincing in pain. 

“You think you can touch what’s mine?” Ethan growled, twisting James’s arm behind his back 

at an unnatural angle. 

James’s face contorted in agony, but he refused to cry out. 

“I should remind you of your place,” Ethan continued, applying more pressure. “One more twist 

and your arm breaks.” 

“Stop it!” I scrambled to my feet, panic rising in my chest. “Ethan, please!” 

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12 Cows sig 

Ethan’s grip tightened, causing James to finally let out a pained gasp. 

“He needs his hands for work,” I pleaded desperately. “His motorcycle repair business is all he 

has! 

Ethan’s lip curled into a sneer. “What about Victoria’s hands? Her healing crystal designs?” 

The accusation hung in the air between us. He truly believed I had intentionally scalded 

Victoria. 

“Fine,” I said, my voice hollow with resignation. “I’ll apologize to her. Just let him go.” 

James’s head snapped up, his hazel eyes wide with disbelief. “Liv, no! You didn’t do anything 

wrong!” 

“Shut up, James,” I said quietly, my eyes conveying what I couldn’t say aloud. 

We’d survived the orphanage together. We knew when to fight and when to yield. This was a 

moment to yield. 

“Listen to her, Knight,” Ethan said, slowly releasing James’s arm. “She knows I’m right.” 

James rubbed his shoulder, his eyes never leaving mine. The unspoken communication between us–forged through years of shared trauma and survival–was something Ethan could 

never understand. 

“This isn’t over,” James muttered, but he stayed down. 

An hour later, I sat silently in Ethan’s luxury SUV, staring out the window. The tension between 

us was suffocating. 

“You’re to stay away from Knight,” Ethan said, breaking the silence. “That man is dangerous.” 

I almost laughed at the irony. James had never hurt me. Not once in all the years I’d known. 

him. 

“We’re just friends,” I said quietly. “We survived the orphanage together.” 

Ethan’s hands tightened on the steering wheel. “I saw how close you were on that motorcycle.” 

I turned to look at him, suddenly realizing we weren’t heading toward the Silvercrest Pack Medical Den. The familiar trees of Imperial Gardens flashed by outside. 

“Where are we going?” I demanded. 

“Just answer me,” Ethan growled, ignoring my question. “What exactly is your relationship with 

Knight?” 

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Chapter 12 Claws and Conse 

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His jealousy was as transparent as glass. It had nothing to do with concern for my safety and everything to do with his possessive nature. 

“I told you. We’re friends,” I repeated, my patience wearing thin. “Nothing more.” 

Ethan scoffed, his amber eyes flashing as he glanced at me. “Friends don’t hold each other 

that way.” 

Something inside me snapped. “Don’t project your own filth onto others. I’ve seen how you 

touch Victoria.” 

The SUV screeched to a halt, tires protesting against the pavement. Ethan turned in his seat, 

his powerful body looming over mine as he pressed me against the car door. 

“You’re my mate,” he growled, his face inches from mine. “Not his.” 

He leaned in, clearly intending to kiss me–to mark me as his. I turned my head away. 

“Take me to apologize,” I insisted, my voice firm despite my racing heart. “That’s what you 

want, isn’t it?” 

Ethan stared at me for a long moment, his amber eyes searching mine. Finally, he released me and put the car back into drive, changing direction toward the Silvercrest Pack Medical 

Den. 

The Medical Den was the most advanced facility in the Northern Territories. As we walked through its pristine corridors, I couldn’t help but notice the luxury surrounding us. 

Victoria had been given a private room–the best the den had to offer. Outside her door stood Dr. Nathaniel Blackwood, the renowned neurological specialist whose services cost more than 

most wolves made in a year. 

“How is she?” Ethan asked, his voice softening in a way it never did for me. 

Dr. Blackwood smiled reassuringly. “The burn is superficial. No real damage has been done.” 

I bit back a bitter laugh. Of course there wasn’t. Victoria had barely touched the hot water. 

When we entered the room, Isabelle Stone–Ethan’s cousin and Victoria’s loyal friend- immediately turned her attention to me. Her perfectly styled hair swung as she tossed her 

head. 

“Well, look who’s here,” she said, her voice dripping with disdain. “The jealous mate.” 

I ignored her, focusing instead on Victoria, who lay in the bed looking far too comfortable for 

someone supposedly in pain. 

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“Ethan has secured Victoria’s spot in the Pack Healer’s Crystal Competition through sponsorship,” Isabelle continued, clearly delighting in delivering this news. “She’ll be 

competing against you.” 

Victoria’s eyes widened dramatically as she caught sight of me. She clutched her bandages hand protectively against her chest. 

“Why is she here?” she whimpered, looking at Ethan with those big, pleading eyes that seemet 

to always work on him. 

“She’s here to apologize, Ethan stated firmly, his hand pressing against my lower back 

I stepped forward, my face expressionless. “I’m sorry for what happened in the Moonlight 

Refreshment Room.“. 

The words were cold, mechanical. My emerald eyes remained hard as I stared directly at 

Victoria. 

“But we both know, I continued, my voice dropping to a whisper, “that your hand was perfectly fine when you were clinging to my husband outside Lunar Tower 

Victoria’s face paled slightly before she recovered, tears filling her eyes on cue. “Ethan, she’s threatening me!” 

I turned to leave, having said what I needed to say. But Isabelle grabbed my arm, her fingers 

digging into my skin. 

“You think you still have a chance with him?” she taunted, her voice low. “Everyone knows Victoria is his true love. And as for that weak child of yours-” 

Something in me shattered at the mention of Lily. Before Isabelle could finish her sentence, my hand connected with her face in a resounding slap. 

The force sent her stumbling backward, a perfect red handprint blooming on her pale cheek The room fell silent, everyone–even Ethan–momentarily stunned by the fierce protective instinct of a mother defending her deceased child’s memory.