Chapter 144: The Alpha’s.
Chapter 144: The Alpha’s Remorse
Chapter 144: The Alpha’s Remorse
(Olivia’s POV)
I opened the driver’s seat door of my modest BMW sedan and slid inside. The familiar leather interior felt cold against my skin as I fastened my seatbelt with mechanical precision.
My amber eyes remained cold as I pulled out my phone. My slender fingers began rhythmically tapping the steering wheel while I scrolled through my contacts.
I found the number I needed and pressed call. The phone rang twice before a professional voice answered.
“Morrison Investigations, this is Detective Sarah Morrison speaking.”
“This is Olivia Winters,” I said, my voice sharp with determination. “I need a comprehensive investigation conducted immediately.”
Detective Morrison’s tone became more attentive. “What kind of investigation, Miss Winters?”
“I want everything on Ethan Grey and Grey Holdings,” I instructed. “Financial records, business partnerships, personal associations. Leave no stone unturned.”
My wolf’s instincts demanded I uncover the full extent of his betrayal. The need for truth burned in my
like fire.
“I also need you to investigate any connections between Grey Holdings and a man named Samuel Blackwood,” I continued. “And any ties to Frederick Warner or his criminal network.”
Detective Morrison was taking notes. “This sounds like a complex case. What’s your timeline?”
“As soon as possible,” I replied coldly. “Money is no object. I want results.”
“Understood. We’ll begin immediately and have preliminary findings within forty–eight hours.”
chest
I ended the call and started the engine. The BMW purred to life as I pulled out of the Grey Holdings parking
garage.
The evening traffic was heavier than usual. Cars crawled along the main thoroughfare at a snail’s pace, giving me unwanted time to think.
My mind kept returning to Grace’s terrified face. My little sister was somewhere out there, probably scared and confused.
The guilt gnawed at me. If I hadn’t gotten involved with Connor Rivers, would Frederick Warner have targeted our family?
My phone rang, interrupting my dark thoughts. Connor’s name appeared on the screen.
I hesitated for a moment before answering. This call might be about Grace.
“What is it?” I said coldly, not bothering with pleasantries.
Connor’s voice was strained with exhaustion. “Olivia, I have an update on the rescue operation.”
My grip tightened on the steering wheel. “Tell me.”
Chapter 144 The Alpha’s
“Law enforcement in both Riverdale and Blackmoor Territory are coordinating a joint operation, he explained. “They’ve identified several possible locations where Frederick might be holding Grace.”
Hope flickered in my chest. “When will they move?”
“Tomorrow morning,” Connor replied. “But Olivia, I need you to understand something. They cannot guarantee
success.”
The hope died as quickly as it had appeared. “What do you mean?”
“Frederick is desperate and dangerous,” Connor said quietly. “If he feels cornered, he might…”
He couldn’t finish the sentence, but I understood. Frederick might kill Grace rather than let her be rescued.
“Is there anything else?” I asked, my voice hollow.
Connor was silent for a moment. “Olivia, I want to apologize for my grandmother’s behavior today. Her words about you not being worthy of the Rivers pack were completely out of line.”
I felt nothing at his apology. The damage was already done.
“It doesn’t matter,” I said dismissively. “I wasn’t planning on our arranged mating proceeding anyway.”
“Olivia, wait-”
I hung up before he could say another word. I couldn’t handle his attempts at reconciliation right now. The traffic finally began moving, and I drove through the familiar streets toward the Winters Family Estate. The journey felt longer than usual, weighed down by the day’s revelations.
I arrived at the estate at nine PM. The grand mansion looked eerily empty in the moonlight.
Most of the windows were dark. Richard was still at the hospital with Natalie, and Grace… Grace was still
missing.
I parked in the circular driveway and walked to the front door. My key still worked, though I hadn’t lived here
in years.
Agnes Turner appeared in the foyer as I entered. The elderly housekeeper’s face showed relief at seeing me. “Miss Olivia,” she said warmly. “I’m so glad you’re safe. We were all worried sick.”
“Thank you, Agnes,” I replied softly. “How is everyone holding up?”
Agnes’s expression grew somber. “Your father hired a special cook to prepare meals for Mrs. Natalie at the hospital. He hasn’t left her side since the incident.”
I nodded, understanding his need to protect what remained of his family.
“The house feels so empty without little Grace,” Agnes continued, her voice breaking slightly. “She always filled these halls with laughter.”
My chest tightened at the mention of my sister. “Any word from the authorities?”
“Nothing yet,” Agnes replied. “But your father is in constant contact with the enforcement teams.”
I climbed the familiar staircase to the second floor. My childhood bedroom was exactly as I had left it years
ago.
The pale blue walls were decorated with photos from my youth. My old desk still held books from my
Chapter 144 The Alpha’s
university days.
But it was Grace’s crayon family portrait drawing on my nightstand that broke my composure. The colorful stick figures showed our blended family – Richard, Natalie, Grace, and me.
Grace had drawn us all holding hands with big smiles on our faces. She had written “My Family” in her childish handwriting at the bottom.
Tears began streaming down my face as I picked up the drawing. My wolf whimpered with grief, sensing my emotional pain.
“Grace… little sister…” I whispered, my voice breaking.
The innocent pup had been caught in this dangerous game through no fault of her own. She was paying the price for adult conflicts she couldn’t understand.
I sank onto my old bed, clutching the drawing to my chest. The weight of responsibility crushed down on me.
If something happened to Grace, I would never forgive myself.
(Third person’s POV)
Meanwhile, Ethan Grey sat alone in his office at Grey Holdings. The spacious room felt suffocating as the weight of his actions pressed down on him.
His ice–blue eyes were bloodshot from stress and guilt. Empty coffee cups littered his desk, evidence of his sleepless night.
The realization that he had been manipulated by Vanessa Reed consumed his thoughts. He had nearly caused harm to the woman he claimed to love.
His wolf howled with remorse, pacing restlessly within his mind. The beast understood what his human side struggled to accept – he had become a tool in someone else’s revenge.
Ethan picked up his phone and dialed Olivia’s number for the tenth time that evening. The call went straight to voicemail again.
“Olivia, please,” he said into the phone. “I know you hate me, but I need you to know that I never meant for any of this to happen.”
His voice cracked with emotion. “I was trying to protect you, not hurt you. Please call me back.”
He ended the call and immediately tried again. The result was the same – voicemail.
The office door opened, and Cassandra Evans entered without knocking. Her green–gold eyes showed concern, but Ethan could barely stand to look at her.
“Ethan, you need to eat something,” she said softly, approaching his desk. “You’ve been here all night.” “Get out,” Ethan said coldly, not looking up from his phone.
Cassandra ignored his dismissal and moved closer. “I brought you some soup from that place you like-”
“I said get out!” Ethan roared, his Alpha authority filling the room.
The sudden outburst made Cassandra stumble backward. Her carefully composed expression cracked, revealing the calculation beneath.
“Ethan, I’m just trying to help-”
< Chapter 144. The Alpha’s
He stood abruptly and shoved her away with enough force to make her lose her balance. His control was fraying as quilt consumed him.
“Don’t touch me,” he snarled. “Don’t even look at me.”
Cassandra fell to the ground, her designer dress rumpling around her. For a moment, coldness flashed in her green–gold eyes as her wolf snarled with wounded pride.
But she quickly masked the expression with tears and vulnerability.
“I don’t understand,” she whispered, looking up at him with feigned hurt. “What did I do wrong?”
Ethan turned away from her, unable to bear her presence. “Just leave me alone.”
Cassandra slowly picked herself up from the floor, smoothing down her dress. Her mind was already working, calculating how to use this rejection to her advantage.
“Fine,” she said quietly. “But don’t blame me when you realize what you’ve lost.”
She left the office with measured steps, her expression shifting the moment she was out of Ethan’s sight.
Later that night, Cassandra sat in her apartment preparing for a live broadcast. She had spent an hour perfecting her makeup, highlighting her ethereal beauty with subtle touches.
Her green–gold eyes were rimmed with just enough redness to suggest recent tears. Her blonde hair fell in soft waves around her shoulders.
She positioned her phone camera at the perfect angle and began the livestream. Within minutes, hundreds of her werewolf followers had joined.
“Hello, everyone,” she said softly, her voice trembling with emotion. “I know it’s late, but I needed to talk to
someone.”
amoti port.
Comments began flooding the screen, expressing concern and support.
“I don’t usually share personal things,” Cassandra continued, allowing a single tear to roll down her cheek. But I’m going through something really difficult right now.”
She paused for effect, watching the viewer count climb higher.
“There’s someone interfering between Ethan and me,” she said, her voice breaking convincingly. “Someone who claims to care about him but only brings chaos into his life.”
The comments exploded with outrage and support for Cassandra. Her followers demanded to know who was hurting their beloved actress.
“I won’t name names,” Cassandra said, playing the role of the noble victim. “But this person has manipulated Ethan into believing lies about me,”
More tears fell as she painted herself as the innocent party in a complex love triangle.
“All I’ve ever done is love him,” she whispered to the camera. “But some people can’t stand to see others happy.”
The livestream continued for another hour, with Cassandra carefully crafting her narrative of victimhood and betrayal.