Chapter 78: Blood Rivals
Chapter 78: Blood Rivals
(Lucas’s POV)
I felt my fist connect with Ethan Stone’s jaw, the impact sending a satisfying jolt up my arm. Blood trickled from the corner of his mouth, but the Silvercrest Alpha barely flinched.
His amber eyes flashed with fury as he lunged at me, his wolf surging forward with territorial rage. I braced myself, absorbing the impact of his attack before shoving him back.
“What the hell do you think you’re doing?” I growled, grabbing his collar. “Forcing yourself on Olivia Winters?”
My gray eyes flashed with protective fury. I could still smell her distress pheromones lingering in the night air.
Ethan’s lip curled into a snarl. “She’s my mate. This is none of your business, Blackwood.”
“Your mate?” I laughed coldly. “Is that how you treat your mate? By assaulting her in your car?”
I tightened my grip on his collar, my wolf bristling beneath my skin. “Olivia is my girlfriend now. My scent is on her. Stay away from her.”
The lie came easily, my wolf instinctively wanting to protect her from this man who had caused her so much pain.
Ethan’s eyes widened, his wolf howling with rage at my claim. “You’re lying.”
“Am I?” I challenged, deliberately letting my scent mingle with the air around us. “Why don’t you ask her yourself?”
(Ethan’s POV)
My wolf howled with jealous rage at Lucas’s claim. The thought of another Alpha–especially Lucas Blackwood–touching my mate sent primal fury coursing through my veins.
I attacked him again, my fists connecting with his chest. “She’s mine!” I roared, my amber eyes glowing with dominance.
The sound of a car door opening caught my attention. Olivia had finally exited my damaged Midnight Maybach, her emerald eyes wide as she witnessed our confrontation.
She looked exhausted, her slender frame swaying slightly. Despite this, determination flashed across her face as she reached for her Crystal–Studded Designer Handbag.
< Chapter 78 Blood Rivals
Before I could react, she hurled it at me with surprising force. It struck me squarely in the
back.
“Leave!” she shouted, her voice hoarse but firm. “Just leave, Ethan!”
+8 Points
Her emerald eyes flashed with determination, though I could sense her wolf was weakened from our earlier struggle.
Both Lucas and I rushed toward her, but she deliberately stepped away from me. Instead, she leaned into Lucas’s arms, her wolf seeking his protection.
The sight of her choosing another Alpha over me sent a wave of cold fury through my body. My wolf howled in anguish, refusing to accept what was happening.
“Take me home,” she whispered to Lucas, her voice barely audible but carrying the weight of
her decision.
I stood frozen, watching as my mate chose another wolf over me. The imprint of her hand still
burned on my cheek, a physical reminder of her rejection.
(Olivia’s POV)
Lucas guided me into my apartment at Maple Grove, his strong arm supporting my waist. My
legs felt weak, my wolf still agitated from the confrontation with Ethan.
“Sit,” Lucas commanded gently, leading me to the couch. “I’ll make you some tea.”
I watched as he moved efficiently around my small kitchen, finding the moonberry tea and
honey without needing direction. His powerful Alpha presence filled my apartment, but unlike
Ethan’s suffocating dominance, Lucas’s energy felt protective, respectful.
“Thank you,” I said as he handed me the steaming mug. “For everything.”
My hands trembled slightly as I reached into my pocket and pulled out several dark strands of
hair. “I managed to pull these from Ethan’s head during our struggle in the car.”
Lucas raised an eyebrow, his gray eyes curious but not judgmental.
“I need you to arrange a blood test between Ethan Stone and Emma Frost,” I explained, my
voice steady despite my exhaustion.
I didn’t elaborate further, and to his credit, Lucas didn’t ask for explanations. He simply
nodded, his wolf responding to my need with protective loyalty.
“Consider it done,” he said, his deep voice reassuring.
He studied my face, noting my evident exhaustion. My wolf’s energy was clearly depleted, my
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< Chapter 78: Blood Rivals
body running on the last reserves of adrenaline.
+8 Points
“You need to rest,” he said, rising from the couch. “I’ll handle everything. We’ll talk tomorrow.”
I nodded gratefully, too tired to argue. “Thank you, Lucas.”
As he moved toward the door, I called after him. “Be careful. Ethan won’t give up easily.”
Lucas’s lips curved into a confident smile. “Neither will I.”
(Lucas’s POV)
Downstairs, Ethan Stone was waiting by his Shadow Ghost, smoking one of his Midnight Cigarettes. The blue–tinged smoke curled around him, his wolf’s agitation evident in his rigid
posture.
I walked past him, deliberately keeping my distance to avoid another confrontation. My wolf was still on high alert, ready to defend if necessary.
“She’ll always be my mate,” Ethan’s voice cut through the night air, his wolf’s possessive claim
unmistakable.
I stopped but didn’t turn around. “She’s not your possession, Stone. She’s a person who deserves respect and kindness–things you’ve failed to give her.”
I turned to face him, my gray eyes cold in the moonlight. “You’ve already lost her.”
Ethan took another drag of his cigarette, his amber eyes reflecting the glowing tip. “You don’t
understand the bond between us.”
“I understand enough,” I replied. “I understand that you’ve hurt her repeatedly. I understand
that she called for my help, not yours.”
I got into my vehicle but didn’t immediately drive away. Through the window, I observed Ethan,
who continued to stare up at Olivia’s apartment.
His Alpha Phone vibrated repeatedly with Victoria Frost’s distinctive ringtone, but he ignored it,
his attention fixed on the window where Olivia’s silhouette was visible.
I contemplated his words, my wolf’s intuition questioning how the Silvercrest Alpha could
have lost his true mate so completely. Something didn’t add up in their story.
Both of us remained outside Olivia’s building until dawn broke over the horizon, our wolves
keeping silent vigil before finally departing in opposite directions.
I had a blood test to arrange.
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< Chapter 78. Blood Rivals
(Lucas’s POV)
+8 Points >
I went directly to the Silvercrest Pack Medical Den, using my status as an Alpha to gain immediate access. Dr. Jonathan Rivers was already on duty, his experienced eyes widening slightly at my unexpected appearance.
“Alpha Blackwood,” he greeted me with a respectful nod. “What brings you to our territory?”
I pulled out the strands of Ethan’s hair that Olivia had given me. “I need an expedited blood
compatibility test. Compare this sample with Emma Frost’s blood type.”
Dr. Rivers raised an eyebrow, clearly surprised by the unusual request. “Emma Frost? The
Alpha’s-”
“The child he claims as his daughter,” I interrupted, my gray eyes serious. “I need this handled with absolute discretion and priority.”
The doctor hesitated, his professional ethics clearly at war with the gravity of my request.
“You owe me a favor,” I reminded him quietly. “For your son’s treatment at Moonstone Medical Center last year.”
His expression softened with recognition. “Yes, of course. I’ll handle it personally.”
“How soon can I have the results?” I asked.
“This afternoon,” he promised. “I’ll call you myself.”
True to his word, Dr. Rivers contacted me just after lunch. His voice was carefully neutral as
he confirmed the test was complete.
I drove immediately to Maple Grove, the sealed envelope burning a hole in my pocket. Olivia
answered her door quickly, her emerald eyes alert despite the dark circles beneath them.
“You have it?” she asked without preamble.
I handed her the envelope. “See for yourself.”
Her fingers trembled slightly as she tore it open, her wolf’s anticipation palpable in the air
between us.
I watched her eyes scan the document, widening as they confirmed what she had suspected:
Emma Frost was not Ethan Stone’s biological daughter. Their blood types were completely
incompatible, making it genetically impossible for him to be her father.
4/5
