Chapter 242: I Give Up
Chapter 242: I Give Up
(Third person’s POV)
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Summer laughed brightly, her water–blue eyes sparkling with mischief. “Who is Hearts A? Come out quickly!”
The yacht lounge fell into an uncomfortable silence. Connor’s ice–blue eyes turned glacial, his Alpha aura radiating dangerous displeasure that made the air itself feel heavy.
Miranda pursed her lips and slowly revealed her card. The Hearts A gleamed under the lounge lighting, its slightly raised edge visible to those who looked closely.
The assembled werewolves sensed Connor’s barely controlled fury. No one dared to speak or even breathe
too loudly.
Suddenly, Olivia let out a cold sneer. Her Luna authority surfaced like a rising tide, making lesser wolves instinctively want to submit.
When she looked at Summer, her amber eyes were laced with a cold light that cut through the pretense. “Miss Summer, you really know how to pick your targets for this little scheme.”
Summer made a defiant face and met Olivia’s gaze with a smile. Her own wolf refused to back down despite
the Luna’s obvious displeasure.
“Isn’t this just a wonderful coincidence?” Summer’s voice carried false innocence that fooled no one.
Miranda looked at Olivia with deep embarrassment. Her wolf whimpered at the tension crackling between two powerful females.
“Olivia, I’m sorry. My friend didn’t know you and Connor had reconciled. I apologize on her behalf.”
But Olivia remained unimpressed by the weak apology. Her response carried the cutting precision of a future
Luna.
“I don’t see any genuine remorse in Miss Summer’s expression.”
Summer’s facade cracked as she defended her actions. Her voice rose with righteous indignation that rang
hollow in the charged atmosphere.
“I’m helping you! Who in Harbor City doesn’t know you’ve been pining for Alpha Connor for years?”
F
The public exposure hit Miranda like a physical blow. Her face went white with humiliation.
“You’re not going to seize such a perfect opportunity to claim what you want?” Summer continued relentlessly.
Miranda’s composure finally shattered. She grabbed Summer’s arm with bruising force, her wolf snarling with
rage and betrayal,
“How dare you!” Miranda’s voice/cracked with pain and fury.
She dragged a protesting Summer toward the lounge exit. Their friendship fractured audibly under the weight of pack politics and unrequited bonds.
“Miranda, wait! I was just trying to help-” Summer’s protests fell on deaf ears.
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Chapter 242. I Give Up
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“You’ve helped enough!” Miranda’s voice echoed through the yacht’s corridors as they disappeared.
Their heated argument could be heard even after they left the lounge. Miranda’s voice carried back, pained
but resolute with finality.
“From today on, I, Miranda Blackwood, no longer harbor any feelings for Alpha Connor Rivers. I give up my
pursuit.”
The declaration resonated with ancient pack tradition. The formal renunciation marked the end of years of
hope and longing.
An awkward silence filled the room after their departure. The remaining werewolves processed the dramatic
confrontation with uncomfortable awareness.
Ethan Quinn cleared his throat, his jovial nature attempting to restore pack harmony. “Well, that was intense.
How about we head to the main deck for the feast?”
His suggestion offered everyone an escape from the suffocating tension. Several pack members nodded
eagerly at the distraction.
Lily moved closer to Olivia, her expression filled with supportive concern. “Don’t let that manipulative she–wolf
get to you, Olivia.”
Rebecca Frost nodded in agreement. “Summer’s actions were nothing more than a malicious attempt to
cause discord between destined mates.”
Connor pulled Olivia into his arms without hesitation. His Alpha instincts demanded he comfort and protect
his intended mate after the challenge to their bond.
His voice was firm with Alpha authority as he addressed her concerns. “Olivia, if you’re uncomfortable remaining on this vessel, we can leave immediately.”
“I’ll have Frank arrange for our helicopter to retrieve us,” he continued, his protective instincts fully engaged.
Olivia shook her head, her Luna strength showing clearly. She refused to be driven away by petty pack
politics.
“I know you would never dishonor our mate bond by participating in such games with her. So I’m truly fine.”
Connor pressed a gentle kiss to her forehead. His wolf purred at her trust in their bond, the sound rumbling through his chest.
“I will never do anything that would risk losing you, my Luna,” he whispered against her skin.
Seeing the tender display of their mate bond strengthening rather than weakening. Lily gestured for the others to give the couple privacy.
Ethan Quinn, Rebecca, Tyler Davis, Gabriel Andrews, and a somber Adrian Sinclair quietly exited the lounge. They left the Alpha and his intended Luna alone to reinforce their connection.
Later that evening, Miranda’s birthday celebration officially began in the yacht’s main ballroom. The space had been transformed with moonlight–themed decorations befitting a werewolf elite gathering.
After the traditional pack dances and socializing, Miranda took the stage. She had changed into a stunning midnight black slip dress with dramatic smoky makeup that emphasized her supernatural beauty.
She thanked everyone for attending her celebration. Then her gaze found Olivia in the crowd of assembled
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< Chapter 242: I Give Up
pack members.
“Tonight, I want to publicly thank one person. Her name is Olivia Winters.”
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The crowd murmured with interest. Many were unaware of the incident that had bonded the two she–wolves
despite their rivalry.
“Without her intervention, you might never have seen me again. Olivia saved my life, and I am deeply grateful
to her.”
Miranda’s expression turned serious as she prepared to make the most important declaration of her adult life. Her wolf was steel–spined with resolve despite the pain.
“Here, before this gathering of our packs, I want to formally announce something.”
Her voice carried the authority of her Blackwood bloodline. It filled the ballroom with supernatural resonance
that commanded attention.
“Alpha Connor Rivers and I are merely friends and business associates. Connor and Olivia are destined
mates.”
She paused, letting the words sink in before continuing with unwavering determination.
“I will no longer tolerate anyone making inappropriate suggestions about Connor and myself.”
Her voice remained clear and strong as she invoked ancient werewolf tradition. “I admit, I once harbored deep feelings for Alpha Connor, but that chapter of my life is permanently closed.“.
“I have released any claim I might have had. I hope no one, under the pretense of helping me, will do anything to put me in a compromising position.”
She concluded with fierce protectiveness for the mate bond she could never claim. “Or damage the sacred mate bond between Connor and Olivia.”
A wave of surprised whispers spread through the crowd of werewolves. Pack members began discussing the shocking public renunciation with hushed excitement.
They whispered about Miranda’s past pursuit of Connor. Recent rumors connecting him with famous actress Layla Lawrence also surfaced in their conversations.
One well–informed pack elder clarified the situation for those confused by celebrity gossip. “Layla Lawrence is her stage name for human entertainment.”
“Her real name is Layla Rivers. She’s the second daughter of the Lawrence pack in Silvercrest and Connor’s
distant cousin.”
The elder continued with insider knowledge. “The romance rumors were a deliberate cover story to protect his true mate bond with Olivia.”
Lily was stunned by Miranda’s courage, then deeply impressed. She gave an approving nod that showed her respect for the other she–wolf’s sacrifice.
“Miranda really has the strength of her bloodline. I admire her courage in making such a public declaration!” Rebecca agreed, her own wolf recognizing the honor in Miranda’s actions. “I suspected her motives during that Brandon Cole incident before, but it seems I completely misunderstood her character and intentions.”