(Olivia’s POV)

    I grabbed Matriarch Morwenna Mooncrest’s withered hand before it could strike my face. My grip was firm, my gaze ice–cold.

    “Don’t you dare nder my mother.”

    Can Mooncrest stepped forward quickly, his face rmed. “Grandmother, please. There’s been a misunderstanding.”

    He turned to me with an apologetic expression. “Sister, my grandmother heard some rumors and misunderstood the situation.”

    But Matriarch Morwenna was unyielding. She scoffed, her ancient eyes zing with hatred.

    “Misunderstanding? I knew my own daughter better than anyone.”

    She pulled a thick photo album from her bag and thrust it toward me. “This will show you the truth about your mother’s character.”

    Can tried to stop her. “Grandmother, this isn’t the ce-”

    “Don’t dream of entering the Mooncrest pack and basking in our glory,” she spat at me. “You’re just like her, a promiscuous homewrecker.”

    I had never been spoken to with such disrespect. My voice turned cold as winter.

    “My surname is ckwood. I’m not a member of your Mooncrest pack.”

    I straightened my shoulders. “I was invited to this tech exhibition today, not to see you.”

    Matriarch Morwenna’s face twisted with rage. “Security! Throw this woman out!”

    I looked at her with sharp intelligence. “If you detest my mother so much, why would Mooncrest Global use her Al image for your presentation?”

    The question hit its mark. Her face flushed with embarrassment and fury.

    The confrontation escted as Can tried to salvage the situation. “Sister, you founded Shield Chain Technology. Your contributions to our field are remarkable.”

    Matriarch Morwenna dismissed his words with a wave. “Theputer field is low–ss work for rogues.”

    In a fit of pique, she threw the photo album at my feet. It fell open, revealing photos scattered across the floor.

    My breath caught in my throat. The images showed a young Lyra at various social events, mingling with different male wolves.

    I stared in shock, my mind reeling. These couldn’t be real.

    As I bent to retrieve the album, Ethan appeared beside me. He picked it up first, his movements smooth and controlled.

    “Matriarch, this behavior is unprofessional,” he chided her calmly.

    But my gaze was fixed on my mother’s AI projection across the hall. The holographic image of Lyra stood there, beautiful and serene.

    Matriarch Morwenna saw my unwavering stare and sensed an opportunity. Her voice turned sickeningly sweet.

    “If you leave Matthew Kane and return him to Cynthia Mooncrest, I’ll acknowledge you as my granddaughter.”

    She leaned closer, her breath hot against my ear. “I’ll give you the source code for the Al resurrection technology. I’ll even ept you as my personal disciple.”

    Theodore watched from several meters away. I could feel his intense gaze burning into me.

    He knew how deeply this offer would resonate. My profound love for my mother was no secret.

    The host’s voice boomed across the hall. “Ladies and gentlemen, please wee Matriarch Morwenna Mooncrest to the stage!”

    Apuse filled the air. Amidst the noise, I spoke quietly but firmly.

    “Matthew Kane is not an object that belongs to me. He belongs to himself.”

    My voice carried clearly to those nearby. “He doesn’t love Cynthia Mooncrest. No one can force him.”

    Matriarch Morwenna was momentarily stunned.

    Sheposed herself and ascended the stage with Can’s help.

    (God’s POV)

    The Al demonstration began, bringing Lyra’s image to life. The holographic projection moved gracefully, speaking with the remembered voice that had once sung lubies.

    Olivia’s eyes filled with tears. Her beloved mother stood before her, seemingly alive again through technology.

    The crowd watched in fascination as the Al Lyra began to tell her life story.

    Suddenly, the presentation took a malicious turn. Matriarch Morwenna announced a new phase of the technology.

    “Now witness theplete integration of historical data,” she dered triumphantly.

    The screen shed with the same nderous photos from the album. They were now incorporated into the Al’s narrative, painting Lyra as promiscuous and unfaithful.

    Olivia rushed forward in horror. “Stop this!”

    At that moment, Ethan emerged from the shadows. His fingers flew across a hidden device, unleashing his fury through cyberspace.

    As a powerful hacker seeking revenge against his half–sister, heunched a devastating attack on the Mooncrest Global systems.

    Computers throughout the hall began to explode. Smoke filled the air with the acrid scent of burning electronics.

    The crowd panicked and fled toward the exits. In the chaos, Theodore grabbed Olivia to protect her.

    Matriarch Morwenna was struck by shrapnel from an explodingptop. Her frail form crumpled to the stage floor.

    She screamed for her top engineer. “Loric Steele! Stop this attack!”

    Loric, along with Lydia Miles and other tech experts, desperately tried to counter the intrusion. Their fingers flew across keyboards, but their efforts were futile.

    Olivia instantly recognized the attack pattern through her enhanced senses. “He’s using a devouring algorithm!”

    Her voice filled with urgency. “His attack system absorbs your countermeasures to be stronger! You’re not fighting it, you’re feeding it!”

    She struggled against Theodore’s protective hold. “Don’t engage directly! Reinforce the defensive firewalls!”

    But in the pandemonium, her warnings were ignored by the panicking technicians.

    “Let me go!” she pleaded desperately. “He’s going to destroy my mother’s image!”

    Theodore held her tighter, desperate to protect her secret identity. “You can’t expose yourself! It’s just data, it can be rebuilt!”

    “Do you know how long it takes to develop a system like this?” she retorted, her voice breaking with anguish. “Matriarch Morwenna will never be able to create another one!”

    In a final, desperate act, Olivia bit, kicked, and wed at Theodore with her enhanced strength. She broke free from his grasp and snatched a nearbyptop.

    Theodore caught her again, but she had already fallen into his arms with her hands flying across the keyboard with supernatural speed.

    In seconds, she entered the system. She deployed a powerful protective shield around the Al projection just as she cut the power.

    The chaotic hall plunged into dead, deste silence.

    It was then that Ethan stepped out from the shadows. He had found her system signature, the digital fingerprint of “Cipher.”

    He had waited a long time for this moment. To finally erase his only rival and half–sister who had overshadowed him.

    He rolled up to Olivia, his eyes dark behind his sses. “No one is leaving today, dear sister.”

    Instantly, shadowy rogue wolves emerged from their hiding ces in the darkened hall, surrounding the trapped attendees.