(Olivia’s POV)

    As the malfunctioning security drones powered down andnded safely, the crowd’s panic began to subside. But then Lydia Miles’s sharp usation cut through the air like a de.

    “Who are you?” she demanded, snatching myptop before I could react. “Why did you invade the drones‘ system?”

    Angry gazes turned toward me. People who had been grateful moments before now looked at me with suspicion and fear.

    Loric Steele, the lead engineer from Thorne Industries, came down from the demonstration stage with disbelief written across his face. His eyes were wide as he stared at me.

    “She was operating herptop right after the drones began attacking!” Lydia shouted, holding my device above her head like evidence. “She’s the hacker!”

    Killian immediately stepped between us, his ice–blue eyes shing with protective fury. “This is not your property!” he said firmly. “You yourself said that she used theputer after the drones malfunctioned. It wasn’t her who caused the ident.”

    Loric tried to push past Killian to grab myptop, but the professor blocked him with surprising strength for his lean frame.

    Ignoring Killianpletely, Loric managed to open myptop. His confident expression faltered as he stared at the screen.

    It waspletely nk. A pristine blue screen, as if the device were brand new.

    I watched understanding dawn in his eyes. He wasn’t looking at the hacker who had caused the chaos. He was looking at someone far more skilled–someone who had invaded the system afterward and shut down the malfunction in mere seconds.

    His face went pale as realization hit him. During the malfunction, he had felt two forces battling in the system. One had been blocked by another, more powerful presence.

    That more powerful presence had been me.

    “It’s not her! How could it be her!”

    The cold, familiar voice made my blood freeze. I looked up to see Evelyn Croft pushing through the crowd toward me.

    My former friend’s face was twisted with malicious glee. She had found her moment to strike.

    “I’ve known Olivia for over a decade,” Evelyn announced loudly, making sure everyone could hear. “Her degree from Crestwood University was bought with a donation from Theodore Redgrave. She has no real skills!”

    The crowd murmured, hanging on her every word.

    “Her previous victories against Lydia must have been through cheating,” Evelyn continued, her voice dripping with venom. “She was nothing but a figurehead consultant for the Crimson Pack’s corporate empire. A pretty face with no substance!”

    My hand trembled with fury as she dragged my reputation through the mud. This woman I had once considered a friend was destroying me in public.

    I couldn’t take it anymore.

    I strode forward and delivered a sharp p across Evelyn’s face. The sound echoed through the shopping

    Center.

    “You have no right to nder my name,” I said, my voiceced with ice.

    Evelyn touched her reddening cheek, but her sneer only widened. “nder? I grew up with you in the rogue camps. You think I don’t know what you’re capable of?”

    She stepped closer, her eyes zing with jealousy and hatred.

    “Everyone indulged you because of Theodore. Now that you’ve found another powerful Alpha, do you think everyone will still bow to you? Dream on!”

    Her voice rose to a shriek. “This is the Sovereign’s Citadel! No one can cover the sky with one hand here!”

    “Who dares bully my sister?”

    A cold voice interrupted our confrontation. The crowd parted as Can Mooncrest appeared, his wheelchair rolling directly toward us.

    To everyone’s shock, he positioned himself at my side.

    Evelyn’s face lit up, thinking he was there to support her. She tried to approach him, but he gestured for his bodyguard to block her path.

    “My sister’s abilities are beyond doubt,” Can said, examining me with calcting eyes. “Olivia is my aunt’s daughter. My aunt ran away from home years ago. We have just gotten to know each other.”

    He turned to me with what he probably thought was a charming smile. “I’d like to invite you to meet our family elders.”

    Another calcting rtive trying to exploit my reputation. I had dealt with enough of these parasites.

    “I have nothing to do with you,” I said firmly, “and I’m certainly not your sister!”

    I grabbed the stunned Killian’s arm and pushed through the crowd, desperate to escape.

    But Evelyn wasn’t finished with me.

    She caught up as we reached the edge of the crowd, her face twisted with rage at being rejected and

    humiliated.

    “You b***h!” she snarled, swinging her hand toward my face.

    Killian instinctively moved to protect me, taking the p meant for me across his own cheek.

    Something inside me snapped.

    Added to the library

    My wolf, Zoe, snarled beneath the surface. The sight of my men being hurt because of me unleashed a fury I hadn’t felt in years.

    I turned on Evelyn with predatory grace.

    The first p sent her stumbling backward. The second knocked her to the ground.

    “You warn me?” I said, looking down at her sprawled form. “It’s Can who’s pestering me! If you have the ability, make him stay away from me.”

    Killian gently took my hand, his touch warm and concerned. I noticed blood seeping through the bandage on my finger where the silver wound had been treated. The force of my ps had reopened it.

    A camera sh suddenly lit up the area.

    Evelyn scrambled up from the floor, her phone in hand. The screen disyed a photo of Killian holding me during the initial drone chaos.

    “You jump from one Alpha to another,” she threatened, waving the phone like a weapon. “I really feel sorry for your second chance mate.”

    Her smile was vicious. “I’m sure the pack media would be very interested in these photos.”

    I reached for the phone, but arge, cold hand grasped my wrist before I could grab it.

    In an instant, I was lifted into a broad, strong embrace. The familiar scent of pine and earth enveloped me like a protective cocoon.

    I looked up into Matthew Kane’s handsome but indifferent face. His golden eyes werepletely unreadable.

    At Matthew’s subtle signal, Beta Tristan appeared and confiscated Evelyn’s phone. He presented it to the Alpha King with practiced efficiency.

    As Matthew scrolled through the photos, I felt an inexplicable tension radiating from his powerful frame. His jaw was set in a hard line.

    I wrapped my arms around his neck, burying my face in his chest. His familiar scent calmed my racing heart.

    “I can exin,” I mumbled against his shirt.

    Without a word, Matthew carried me to his armored SUV. He settled me on hisp, facing him, my legs straddling his powerful thighs.

    He took the heavyptop bag from my shoulders and set it aside with careful precision.

    From the vehicle’s first–aid kit, he retrieved moonlight herb salve and wrapped it around my bleeding finger.

    His touch was gentle despite the tension I could feel coiled in his muscles.

    Then he loosened his tie and unbuttoned the top buttons of his shirt, revealing the strong column of his throat.

    He pinned my injured hand gently behind my back, pulled me closer with his other arm, and lifted my face to meet his gaze.

    His breath lingered near my lips, warm and intoxicating. His golden eyes held a jealousy and desire I had never noticed before.

    “Then exin it well,” he whispered.The moment my lips parted to speak, Matthew imed them in a possessive kiss that stole my breath and scattered my thoughts like leaves in a storm.