Chapter 111

Richard's POV

The sight of her blood ignited something primal inside me.

I sprinted across the garden, pushing past onlookers until I reached her crumpled form. The stranger who'd been talking to her stood frozen, shock written across his face.

"Elena, you wake up, Elena!!" I shouted, gathering her limp body into my arms.

"Jesus Christ," the man muttered, staring at Elena's blood-soaked face. "I didn't expect her to be so... extreme. That spot on the forehead can break the hypnotic suggestion, but the risk of hemorrhage is—"

"Shut up," I growled, cradling Elena closer. My hand trembled as I brushed blood-soaked hair from her face. The silver pin had fallen to the ground beside her, its ornate tip now crimson.

"So you're the one she was protecting." The man surveyed me. "You're that psychiatric patient?"

His words reignited my fury. Something inside me snapped. One moment I was holding Elena; the next, I had handed her to the doctors and grabbed the man by his throat. My fingers closed around his neck with inhuman strength.

"Richard, no!" My father's voice came from somewhere behind me, but it was too late.

With one savage twist, I broke the man's neck. His body went limp instantly, dead eyes still holding that look of academic fascination.

Chaos erupted among the guests who had followed the commotion outside. Women screamed, men backed away. I stood there, the dead man at my feet, feeling nothing but cold satisfaction.

"Everyone inside, now!" Gerald barked at the stunned crowd. "Brad, secure the scene. No one leaves, no phones, no cameras."

My father's security team moved with practiced efficiency, herding guests back inside while others secured the perimeter. Two men quickly moved to collect the body.

As they carried Elena away, I stood motionless, blood staining my hands.

Gerald approached me slowly, his eyes hard. "Richard, get yourself under control."

I said flatly, "I told you back then. You should have killed me."

My father's face hardened. "People don't live just for themselves, Richard!" His voice rose to a thunderous roar. "Your life isn't just yours! Your life was bought with others' lives! Those people died protecting you!"

His words hit me like physical blows.

"And now," he continued, gesturing toward where they'd taken Elena, "even she would rather hurt herself than reveal your secret. What are you doing? Wallowing in self-pity?" His eyes flashed dangerously. "The woman who bore your children just wounded herself to protect you. Shouldn't you be protecting her and your children instead?"

The mention of them snapped something back into place inside me. My racing thoughts settled, my breathing steadied.

"I understand," I said quietly.

I turned and walked away without another word, following the path they'd taken with Elena.

---

Gerald's POV

I watched my son walk away. The garden was now empty except for Brad and myself.

"Clean this up," I told him, gesturing to the blood-stained grass. "Make sure there's no evidence."

"Already being handled, sir," Brad replied, ever efficient. "But there's something that concerns me."

"What is it?"

"How did Elena know about Richard's condition?"

I frowned, considering this question. "Elena's father brought her to our estate when she was a child. They stayed for some time."

Brad's eyes widened slightly. "That would have been around the time of Richard's first transformation."

"Yes. Richard lost control and killed a hunting dog when he was ten. Elena happened to witness it." I remembered that day clearly—the blood, the screams, and the terror in my son's eyes when he realized what he'd done.

"But sir," Brad hesitated, "Richard's condition occurred when he was eleven, when he accidentally killed... Elena shouldn't have been present."

I stopped short. "You're right. Her father rarely let her come over to avoid her seeing something like that again. Elena couldn't have known what Richard did." A chill ran down my spine. "So how does she know about his condition?"

We exchanged troubled looks.

"Sir, if she knows Richard's secret..." Brad left the implication hanging.

"She's a greater threat than I realized," I finished grimly. "An unstable, uncontrollable wolf can never lead the Nightfall pack. If word gets out..."

Everything the Blackwood family had built would crumble. Richard's position as Alpha would be challenged. The pack would fracture.

"Keep eyes on her," I ordered. "I want to know everything she does."

---

Max's POV

The hospital waiting room was too bright and smelled like chemicals and fear. I hated it. I hated that Mom was hurt again. I hated that we came here.

"It's all Dad's fault," Lily said, swinging her legs back and forth on the big chair. "Why didn't he save Mom faster?"

Kathy sat across from us, not saying anything. Her eyes looked sad, and she kept fidgeting with the sleeve of her fancy dress.

"He's not a good dad," I said angrily. "A good dad would protect Mom. He doesn't let bad things happen."

"Since he can't protect Mom properly, we shouldn't have him as our dad," I continued.

Kathy looked up sharply at that.

Before she could say anything, Ethan walked in with juice boxes for all of us. "Hey, kids. Your mom is stable now. The doctors are taking good care of her."

"When can we see Mommy?" Lily asked.

"Soon," Ethan promised. "She's sleeping right now."

I crossed my arms. "Dad didn't protect Mom."

Ethan crouched down to our level. "You know, that's not entirely fair. Your father didn't know what was happening. He came as soon as he saw she was in danger."

"But—" I started to argue.

"Remember when Victoria hurt Lily and your mom?" Ethan asked gently. "Who saved them then?"

I frowned. I didn't want to remember, but the images came anyway.

"Dad saved me and Mom," Lily admitted quietly.

I still wasn't convinced. "But Mom keeps getting hurt because of him."

Ethan sighed. "Grown-up relationships are complicated, Max. But I know your father cares about all of you very much."

Lily and Kathy seemed to accept this, but I couldn't. "I still don't like him," I insisted. "Mom always gets hurt when he's around."

Ethan stood up. "You all need some time to rest. It's been a long day, and when your mom wakes up, she'll need to see you healthy."

As he led us out of the waiting room, he bent down and whispered just to us: "Let your father have some space. He needs time to think."