Chapter 13 Predator and Prey 

(Olivas POV) 

babelle Stone stared at me in shock, her hand slowly rising to touch the red mark blooming on her cheek Her eyes widened with disbelief before narrowing into furious slits. 

Olivia Winters you dare to hit me!‘ she shrieked, raising her hand to strike back. 

caught her wrist mid–air with surprising strength, my fingers digging into her skin. The room 

felt silent as everyone watched our confrontation. 

sabelle Stone” I hissed my voice dropping to a dangerous whisper, “let me hear you insult 

Lity again and Il tear your mouth apart! 

My emerald eyes blazed with maternal fury. The chilling rage emanating from me was 

palpable, making tsabelle instinctively step back. 

“You’re crazy,” she whispered, but I could see the fear in her eyes. 

I released her wrist with a shove, unable to bear staying a moment longer. The pain of hearing Isabelle’s casual disrespect toward my deceased daughter cut deeper than any physical 

wound 

What hurt even more was Ethan’s indifference. He stood there, silent and unmoved, as his 

cousin insulted our daughter’s memory. 

Without another word, I turned and walked out, my heart shattering all over again. 

Behind me, I heard Isabelle’s voice rise in a dramatic wail. “Cousin…” 

I didn’t stay to hear more. The hospital corridor stretched before me like an escape route, and I 

took it. 

As soon as I left, I heard a sharp slap followed by a thud. The sound made me pause briefly, but I forced myself to keep walking. Whatever was happening behind those doors no longer 

concerned me. 

Outside, the cool night air hit my face, stinging my skin. I took a deep breath, trying to steady my shaking hands. 

I checked my phone and saw six missed calls from James. There were also several worried 

messages. 

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Chapter 13 Predator and Prey 

“Are you okay? Call me when you can.” 

“Liv, I’m worried. Please respond.” 

“If I don’t hear from you in an hour, I’m coming to find you.” 

I dialed his number immediately, guilt washing over me for making him worry. 

* Points > 

“Liv!” James answered on the first ring, his voice tight with concern. “Are you alright? What 

happened?” 

“I’m fipe,” I assured him, though the words felt hollow even to my own ears. “Just heading 

home now.” 

“I can come get you-” 

“No,” I cut him off gently. “I need some time alone. I’ll text you when I get home.” 

I hung up before he could protest. The last thing I needed was for James to get into another 

confrontation with Ethan. 

The walk to Maple Grove felt longer than usual. Every shadow made me jump, every sound put 

me on edge. 

It was almost 10 pm when I finally reached the familiar territory. The streets were quiet, most 

residents already retired for the night. 

True to my word, I sent James a quick text: “Made it home safe. Talk tomorrow.” 

I put my phone away and walked toward my residence, my steps heavy with exhaustion. The emotional weight of the day’s confrontations hung around my shoulders like a lead cloak. 

The area between buildings was poorly lit. Shadows stretched across the pathway like 

grasping fingers. 

As I passed a dark alley, a hand suddenly shot out from the darkness. Before I could scream, it 

clamped over my mouth. 

Strong arms dragged me backward into the shadows. I struggled violently, kicking and 

clawing at my attacker. 

“Stop fighting,” a gruff voice ordered in my ear, his breath hot against my skin. 

Panic surged through me, but I forced myself to think. My hand found the pepper spray in my 

pocket. 

Without hesitation, I aimed it over my shoulder and pressed the button. The spray hit him 

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Chapter 13 Predator and Prey 

directly in the eyes. 

“Ah!” The man screamed in agony, releasing me as he clawed at his burning eyes. 

I broke free and ran, my heart pounding against my ribs. “Help!” I screamed, “Somebody help 

me!” 

My cries echoed uselessly off the buildings. The streets were deserted, windows dark and 

silent. 

I ran faster, desperate to reach the safety of my home. My lungs burned with each breath. 

As I rounded a corner, my ankle twisted painfully on an uneven patch of pavement. I stumbled 

and fell hard, the impact knocking the breath from my lungs. 

Pain shot through my ankle as I tried to stand. Before I could rise, a hand grabbed my hair, 

yanking me backward. 

The man from the alley loomed over me, his eyes red and watering from the pepper spray. His 

face was contorted with rage. 

“b***h, you asked for it!” he snarled, raising his hand. 

His palm connected with my face in a vicious slap that left me seeing stars. The force of the 

blow knocked me back to the ground. 

I lay dazed, my cheek throbbing with pain. The metallic taste of blood filled my mouth. 

The man’s lips curled into a predatory smile as he looked down at me. “Be good, and you’ll 

suffer less,” he promised. 

His words sent ice through my veins. I tried to crawl away, but he caught me easily. 

He lunged at me, his weight pinning me to the ground. I couldn’t move, couldn’t breathe under 

his crushing weight. 

“Let me go,” I pleaded, trying to sound calm despite my terror. “I can give you money.” 

The man sneered, his yellowed teeth gleaming in the dim light. “Money? Money isn’t as good 

as a beautiful woman.” 

He leaned down, pressing his lips against my cheek. The smell of him–stale cigarettes and cheap moonlight wine–made my stomach turn. 

I struggled beneath him, trying to buck him off. But he was too strong, his body effectively trapping mine. 

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His rough hands tore et my clothes, ripping the fabric of my blouse 1 fele the cool night aro my exposed skin. 

“Get off Don’t touch me I screamed, fighting with renewed desperation 

His hands were everywhere, invasive and violating. I felt him fumbling with his belt, and sey consumed me completely 

“No!!” i oned in despair, knowing what would come next 

Suddenly, the weight on top of me disappeared. I heard a sickening thud followed by a groan of paid 

i blinked, trying to focus my vision through tears. A tall figure stood over my attacker, radiating 

cold fury 

Ethan 

He had kicked the man with such force that my attacker had crashed into the wall several feet sway. The man slumped to the ground, spitting blood, 

Before he could recover, Ethan was on him like a predator on prey. He lifted him by the throat, his powerful hand squeezing as he delivered punch after punch to the man’s face 

“You dare touch my mate?” Ethan growled, his voice barely human. 

Blood sprayed with each impact. The sound of bone breaking echoed in the quiet street 

Ethan didn’t stop. He continued his assault until the man hung limp in his grasp, his face 

unrecognizable. 

I stared at Ethan’s tall, imposing figure silhouetted against the night sky. His broad shoulders 

heaved with each breath. 

The scene triggered a vivid memory from when I was fourteen years old. 

I had been walking home late from school when three rogue wolves comered me in an alley. They pinned me down, their intentions clear in their hungry eyes. 

Then Ethan appeared, seemingly out of nowhere. He moved with lethal grace, beating them unconscious with precise, brutal strikes. 

When it was over, he had pulled me to my feet with surprising gentleness. 

“Go” he’d said simply, his amber eyes unreadable. 

I had stared at him in confusion, not understanding what he meant. 

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< Chapter 13 Predator and Prey 

“Hit,” he clarified, nodding toward one of the unconscious attackers. 

48 Points > 

had shrunk back, afraid of the violence he was suggesting. Violence had been used against me my whole life in the orphanage. 

Ethan frowned, pulling me forward. “What are you afraid of? Olivia Winters, in the future, if anyone dares to bully you, hit them to death. If you beat them to death or cripple them, I’ll be 

there for you.” 

That moment had connected us long before we became a couple. It was the first time anyone had encouraged me to fight back, to stand up for myself.