Alpha King Chases Abandoned Luna

The Alpha King is unavailable 70

doubt? Confusion? It vanished too quickly to identify.

He nodded slightly to Maxwell Chen, who stepped forward immediately.

Maxwell took over from Victoria, roughly pinning Derek to the ground. His foot pressed deliberately into the

man's ribs - the sribs Ethan had broken moments earlier.

"Talk!" Maxwell commanded, applying more pressure.

"Ah! Ugh!" Derek's scream was cut short as Maxwell stuffed a nearby towel into his mouth, muffling his cries of

agony.

| watched the man's body tremble, the madness that had animated his features earlier fading rapidly. He'd

clearly been putting on an act, and now the mask was slipping.

The pain was evidently too intense. His eyes bulged as he struggled to breathe around the gag.

“Ugh... I talk... | talk..." he stammered when Maxwell finally removed the towel,

Maxwell eased the pressure from his foot slightly, allowing Derek to catch his breath. The man convulsed in pain,

his hand shaking as he reached into his pocket and pulled out a phone.

"...I don't know who it was," he gasped, his voice ragged. "They contactedthrough an old social media

account."

chapter ho

My heart began to pound uncomfortably in my chest. Something about this felt wrong deeply, terribly

Wrong

"They used voice calls, voice changer, Derek continued, wincing as he shifted position. "I couldn't even tell if

they were male or female. They toldthey were also a victim."

His eyes darted nervously around the room, avoiding direct contact with anyone. "They knew | didn't have much

tleft. They offereda million dollars to kill the mother and daughter, so | could leave something for my

wife and kids"

A million dollars? For a moment, | was stunned by the amount. Who would pay that much to harm Victoria

and Emma?

"I didn't want to kill anyone, Derek insisted, his voice breaking. "But | really wanted my family to have an easier

life after I'm gone...

His trembling fingers unlocked the phone and opened a social media application. Maxwell snatched the device

from his hands and passed it to Ethan,

| watched Ethan's expression as he looked at the screen. His face darkened instantly, amber eyes flashing with

recognition- and rage.

Before Ethan could take a closer look, Victoria lunged forward and grabbed the phone from his hands. She spun

toward me, her face contorted with vindictive triumph.

"Olivia Winters, you wanted evidence, didn't you?" she demanded, thrusting the screen in my face. "Now the

evidence is conclusive. What else do you have to say?"

| froze when i saw what was displayed on the screen-my own social media account. My profile picture, my name,

my posts... all there, communicating with this stranger about harming Victoria and Emma.

Shock renderedmomentarily speechless. This wasn't possible. | hadn't used that account in months, not

since...

"Olivia, | never thought you not only wanted to vent your anger, you actually wanted to kill Emma and me!"

Victoria's voice rose hysterically. "How could you be so vicious..."

My mind raced to make sense of what | was seeing. Someone had hacked my account. It had to be that. But

arguing that point now, with Ethan's fury practically radiating heat in the room, would be futile.

| took a deep breath, forcing myself to regain composure. "Conclusive? Victoria, if you want to convict me, let a

judge decide. Call the police!"

My calm response clearly wasn't what Victoria had expected. She glanced nervously at Ethan, perhaps worried

that my lack of hysteria might make him question the evidence.

"Olivia, you're terrifying, she pressed on, each word carefully chosen to provoke Ethan. "How can you be so

brazen? is it because Matriarch Evelyn is back, you have someone to back you up, so you think you can act with

impunity?"

Victoria's eyes filled with fresh tears as she turned to Ethan, her expression a perfect blend of fear and disbelief.

| was still processing her words about Matriarch Evelyn. The elderly woman had been kind toonce, before.

her memory becfixed in the past. Could Victoria be right? Was | unconsciously counting on her

Chimes 50 Evidence and

protection?

My thoughts were interrupted by Ethan's voice, cold and final.

7 won't let her off lightly for hurting Emma."

The words hitlike a physical blow. He believed it. Without question, without investigation, he had already

convicted me.

Ethan looked down at me, his amber eyes glacial. That single sentence had sealed my guilt in his mind.

Victoria seemed momentarily confused, but understanding dawned on her face when Ethan grabbed my arm and

began draggingtoward the door that led to the basement.

| saw the flash of satisfaction in her eyes as she realized what was happening. Isabelle must have told her about

my first days in the Stone household - how she had lockedin the basement as "punishment" for some

imagined slight. How she had instructed the servants to release rats and insects inside, knowing my

terror of them.

That basement had becmy personal hell, a nightmare I'd fought to forget. "Ethan Stone, letgo!" |

struggled against his iron grip as he pulleddown the hallway.

My heart hammered against my ribs, panic rising in my throat. | couldn't believe | had been foolish enough to

think, even for a moment, that Ethan might trust me.

"Letgo!" | repeated, digging my heels into the floor, but his strength was overwhelming.

He didn't even look atas he draggedtoward my nightmare.