© Chapter 77. A Celd Night
Chapter 77: A Cold Night–1
Chapter 77: A Cold Night
(Ethan’s POV)
The sight of Connor Rivers standing in Olivia’s doorway wearing nothing but a towel sent waves of rage through my entire body. My wolf clawed beneath my skin, desperate to break free and tear into the rival Alpha. The love bites marking his muscled torso were like daggers to my heart–visible proof that Olivia had been intimate with him.
These weren’t ordinary marks. They were deep enough to remain visible even on an Alpha werewolf, whose healing abilities should have erased them within minutes. The only explanation was that they had been made with intense passion–the kind that comes from true mates.
My stomach twisted painfully at the thought. The scent of their lovemaking hung heavy in the air, an unmistakable mixture of Connor’s dominant Alpha musk and Olivia’s sweet fragrance.
“She’s mine,” I growled, my voice barely recognizable as my wolf pushed forward.
Connor’s smirk only fueled my rage. “Not anymore.”
The casual confidence in his voice, the way he leaned against the doorframe as if he belonged there–it was more than I could bear. With a snarl that ripped from deep in my chest, I lunged toward him, my fists clenched and my blue eyes flashing with the dangerous light of a challenged Alpha heir.
My wolf howled with jealous rage inside me, demanding blood, demanding retribution. How dare he touch what was mine? How dare he mark her and be marked by her?
Connor moved with supernatural speed, dodging my attack as if I were moving in slow motion. His fist connected with my jaw before I could react, the impact sending shockwaves of pain through my skull. Before I could recover, his foot slammed into my chest, sending me staggering backward into the hallway wall. The plaster cracked behind me from the force of the impact.
“What right do you have to challenge me?” Connor asked, his ice–blue eyes cold with disdain. “What right do you have to come here and disrupt Olivia’s life again?”
I pushed myself away from the wall, my wolf refusing to submit despite the pain. “I have every right. She was
mine first.”
Connor’s laugh was devoid of humor. “I gave you a chance,” he said, his voice carrying the unmistakable authority of a true Alpha. “Three years ago, when Livvy went with you, I convinced myself that as long as she was happy, I would let you be together.”
His words hit me like physical blows, momentarily stunning me more effectively than his fist had.
“But what about you? How did you treat her?” Connor continued, advancing toward me with predatory grace. “You treated her like a replacement for Cassandra. You made her feel second–best every single day.” My wolf retreated slightly as the truth of his words penetrated my anger. Had I really done that to Olivia?
“I love her,” I insisted, though my voice lacked its earlier conviction.
“Love her?” Connor’s eyes were filled with disdain and mockery, as if he were looking at a stray omega. “Eve..
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Chapter 77 A Cold Night–1
your wolf would howl with shame at your version of “love”
The accusation stung because part of me recognized its truth. My wolf whimpered in confusion, caught between defending its pride and acknowledging its failures.
“You don’t know anything about my feelings for her,” I said, desperately trying to regain my footing in this
confrontation.
“I know you kept a photo of Cassandra in your wallet, Connor replied, his voice cutting. “I know you called Olivia by Cassandra’s name more than once. I know you compared them constantly.”
Each accusation landed like a physical blow. How did he know these things? Had Olivia told him everything?
“That’s not “I began, but Connor cut me off.
“Not what? Not true?” His lip curled in disgust. “Don’t insult her by lying now”
My wolf pushed forward again with renewed determination, refusing to be dismissed so easily. “I made mistakes,” I admitted, my voice rough with emotion. “But I love her. I’ve always loved her.”
Connor scoffed, the sound dripping with derision. “You loved the idea of her. You loved having someone who adored you unconditionally while you pined for someone else,”
Before I could respond, a new scent reached me–fresher, closer. Olivia’s scent, tinged with anger and something else… contentment?
She emerged from the bedroom wrapped in a silk robe, her honey–brown hair still damp from the shower. The sight of her stole my breath away, just as it always had. But the marks on her neck and the flush in her cheeks confirmed everything Connor had said about their intimacy
“What
are
you doing here, Ethan?” she demanded, her amber eyes widening before narrowing with fury. The coldness in her voice was like a physical blow. My wolf whimpered in pain, finally understanding what true heartbreak felt like. For three years, I had taken her love for granted, assuming she would always be there waiting for me.
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