Chapter 21: A Challenge to the Alpha’s Claim
Chapter 21: A Challenge to the Alpha’s Claim
(Olivia’s POV)
I gathered my remaining strength and kicked Ethan hard in the shin. He grunted in pain, mentarily losing his balance
Taking advantage of his surprise, I shoved him with all my might. He fell backward onto the toilet seat, his amber eyes widening with shock.
Before he could recover, I wrenched the stall door open and fled. My heart hammered against
my ribs as I rushed out of the restroom.
Behind me, I heard Ethan’s growl of frustration. I didn’t dare look back, knowing he would
follow soon enough
My fingers trembled as I smoothed down my disheveled clothing. My lips fell swollen from his
brutal kiss, a physical reminder of his possessiveness.
As I hurried through the corridor, I didn’t notice Victoria lurking in a shadowed corner. Her eyes narrowed as she watched me pass, taking in my flushed face and rumpled appearance,
I returned to our table where Lucas waited patiently. His gray eyes flickered to my swollen lips,
then politely away
“I apologize for the delay” I said, sliding back into my seat. My voice sounded strained even to
my own ears
Lucas nodded graciously. “No problem at all. I took the liberty of ordering our main course,”
The waiter arrived with our venison, perfectly timed. I picked up my fork, grateful for the
distraction.
“About the crystal design,” Lucas continued smoothly, allowing me to regain my composure, “I’m particularly interested in how you achieved stability with the moonstone configuration.”
I explained the technical aspects of my design, speaking quickly between bites. The normalcy of business discussion helped calm my racing pulse.
*Fascinating approach,” Lucas commented. “Few healers would think to arrange the crystals
in that pattern.”
As we finished our meal, I noticed Lucas checking his watch. “Shall we go? I have an early
Chapter 21 A Challenge to th
meeting tomorrow.”
Relief washed over me. I wanted nothing more than to escape this restaurant before Ethan
reappeared.
We stood to leave, Lucas signaling for the check. That’s when I felt it–a shift in the
atmosphere, a prickling sensation across my skin.
Ethan materialized beside our table, his commanding presence filling the entire restaurant. His amber eyes burned with cold fury.
Without warning, his hand clamped around my upper arm. “She’s my wife,” he growled at
Lucas, his territorial claim unmistakable.
Lucas’s eyebrows rose slightly, but he made no immediate move to interfere. Ethan didn’t wait
for a response.
He pulled me away from the table, his grip painfully tight. I stumbled alongside him, too shocked to resist initially.
“Ethan, stop!” I hissed, aware of the curious stares from other diners. “You’re making a scene!”
He ignored me completely, dragging me toward the exit. His fingers dug into my flesh, certain
to leave bruises.
Finally, I dug in my heels. “Let me go, Ethan!” I demanded, my emerald eyes flashing with
defiance.
Instead of loosening his grip, he tightened it until I winced in pain. His face remained
impassive, as though my discomfort meant nothing to him.
“How pathetic,” I spat, fury replacing my fear. “Displaying such possessiveness towards a wife
you’ve all but abandoned. What would your precious Victoria think?”
His jaw tightened at my taunt, but he continued pulling me through the restaurant. I fought
against his iron grip, my petite frame giving me little advantage.
Behind us, Victoria’s voice called out, deliberately soft and vulnerable. “Ethan, please!”
He paid her no attention, his focus entirely on restraining me. I could see the frustration.
building in Victoria’s eyes as she realized she was being ignored.
Desperation flashed across her perfect features. Suddenly, she clutched her chest
dramatically, her legs buckling beneath her.
The performance was masterful. Victoria swayed, her eyes rolling back as she began to
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thest to stand but awapant tisstly, the shock and pain overwhelming me. TROR SHARON, teas slipped ons an under my buses and the other around my back
The lifted me effortlessly cradling me against the chest. “Y’m taking her to the Swvercres Medical Center he announced, his tone leaving no room for argument.
Through tear blumed vision, I saw Ethan standing frozen, Victoria still clinging to hum diamatically. The face darkened with rage ne tuene camed me //
Lucas’s diver opened the car door before we even reached it. “Tastest route to the mAACH center‘ Lucas instructed as he settled me carefully in the backseat
The journey passed in a blur of pain and anxiety Lucas maintained a respectul stance, Becasionally offering reassurance when he noticed my distress
At the medical center, Dr. Marcus Fletcher was walling His familiar face broug
measure of comfort as he examined my injured hand
“The cuts are deep” he observed, cleaning the wounds carefully “But that’s no permanent damage to tendons of nerves. You were lucky, Mrs. Winters?
I nodded numbly, watching as he meticulously removed tiny crystal fragmenes from my patho Each piece extracted sent fresh waves of pain through my summ
Daniel Reed appeared in the doorway, his face expressionless as always, Ethan’s Beta handen the admission paperwork with cool efficiency, never once meeting my ga78.
“Thank you for your assistance; Lucas said to the doctor then he turned to me, his gray syss unreadable. “I wish you a swift recovery, Mrs. Winters
< Chapter 21 A Challenge to th
With a final nod, he departed, leaving me alone with the sterile smell of antiseptic and the
throbbing pain in my hand.
The night passed slowly in the hospital room. Despite the medication Dr. Fletcher had administered, I slept fitfully.
Nightmares plagued me–shattered crystal turning to broken promises, blood seeping into moonstone designs. I tossed and turned, tangling the thin hospital sheets around my legs.
Through the haze of medication, I sensed a presence beside my bed. A familiar cologne-
sandalwood and something uniquely Ethan–teased my senses.
I struggled to open my eyes, but the sedatives held me under. Was he really there, or was my
mind playing cruel tricks?
By morning, the room was empty. If Ethan had visited, he’d left no trace of his presence.
I discharged myself against Dr. Fletcher’s advice. The last thing I needed was to be trapped in a place where Ethan could easily find me.
“Mrs. Winters, I strongly recommend you stay for observation,” Dr. Fletcher protested, frowning at my bandaged hand.
“I’ll be fine,” I insisted, signing the release forms with my uninjured hand. “I need to get back to
work.”
As I gathered my belongings and headed for the corridor, a slender figure stepped into my path. Victoria stood blocking my way, her perfect makeup unable to hide the shadows under
her eyes.
Her manicured nails tapped rhythmically against the wall. “You’re still playing these games,”
she hissed, her voice low and venomous.
I tried to step around her, but she shifted to block me. “Don’t you understand? Ethan will always choose me. I’m the one he truly loves–you were nothing but a convenient plaything.”
Her words struck at my deepest insecurities, reopening wounds I thought had scarred over. For a moment, I almost believed her.
Then I remembered Ethan’s possessive kiss in the restroom. The way his eyes had darkened with desire–for me, not Victoria. The realization gave me strength.
Without warning, my uninjured hand cracked across Victoria’s face. The slap echoed through the corridor, leaving a perfect red imprint on her flawless skin.
