(Third–person’s POV)

    When Ethan’s gaze fell on theptop in Olivia’s hands, he was deeply astonished. His eyes widened behind his sses as he recognized the familiar coding patterns shing across her screen.

    He abruptly turned his head, sensing danger in that instant. The shadows where his rogue mercenaries should have been waiting were empty.

    Just as everyone’s attention shifted from Ethan, a squad of Alpha King’s Royal Guards marched in uniformly, their synchronized footsteps echoing through the darkened hall. Their silver armor gleamed under the emergency lighting, drawing all eyes.

    Ethan’s astonishment deepened. Where were his rogue mercenaries? His carefullyid trap had been dismantled before it could spring.

    A tall, slender figure emerged from the ranks of the Royal Guards and walked towards Olivia. The shifting light yed across his handsome face, making him look like a deity descending from the heavens.

    Matthew Kane had indeed anticipated everything. His intelligencework had tracked Ethan’s movements, intercepted his hired rogues, and positioned his own forces perfectly. Amidst the crowd’s shock, Olivia shook off Theodore’s protective hand and went to meet Matthew. She linked her arm with his, her face glowing with triumph.

    She stood on her tiptoes and whispered excitedly, “My protection system is a sess! It actually withstood the Zero hacker. It’s even more powerful than I expected.”

    Matthew bent down to listen, his gaze fixed on her face, flushed with excitement. Her eyes sparkled with the pure joy of a creator whose work had exceeded all expectations.

    Realizing the inappropriateness of the setting, Olivia lowered her hands, though her happiness remained palpable. The destroyed exhibition hall around them seemed forgotten in her moment of victory.

    He gently took her hand. “Congrattions, my Queen.”

    His voice was soft, yet he felt calling her “my Queen” at this moment wasn’t quite right. She was her own person–confident, radiant, and proud in her achievement.

    But he only wanted her to be his Queen. The possessive thought surprised him with its intensity.

    “No, no, you should call me Cipher,” she corrected yfully. Her voice carried the confidence of someone who had just proven their worth beyond doubt.

    Her gaze shifted to Matriarch Morwenna Mooncrest, who looked disheveled and was being supported by an assistant. The old woman’s face was filled with evident disgust and grudging respect.

    Olivia, however, was no longer mncholic. The earlier pain of seeing her mother’s image ndered had transformed into fierce determination.

    “One day, I will be more brilliant than her,” she dered, her beautiful eyes sparkling with mischievous light. “I’ll defeat her before she dies.”

    Matthew whispered back, “I hope she lives a long life, to give our Cipher more time.” His words coaxed a bright smile from her, the kind that made his chest tighten with emotion. Beta Tristan stepped forward and announced that everyone present was a suspect in the recent cyberattacks. His voice carried the authority of the Alpha King’s court.

    “All attendees must cooperate with an investigation at the pack enforcement facility,” he dered formally.

    The announcement caused an uproar among the tech experts. Voices rose in protest and confusion throughout the damaged hall.

    “What?! Suspect us?” Lydia Miles eximed, her face flushed with indignation. She argued that as a victim of hacking herself, it was impossible for her to be involved.

    Theodore’s sorrowful eyes moved from Olivia and Matthew’s joined hands to her face. He gave a faint “Mm” of agreement to the investigation.

    He was lost in a memory of her long–forgotten excitement. There had been a time when she would work all night on herputer projects, her face glowing with the same passion he saw now.

    He had discouraged her from those all–night sessions out of concern for her health. That decision now felt like the greatest mistake of his life.

    Lydia pointed an using finger at Olivia. “Why doesn’t she have to be investigated? That’s theputer she was just using.”

    Olivia confidently walked to herptop, her movements graceful despite the chaos around them. “I’m not a hacker. This is a protection system I developed.”

    She revealed that the attacker was the top–tier dark web hacker, Zero. Her system had sessfully defended the “resurrection” project fromplete destruction.

    The other experts were shocked and skeptical. Their faces showed disbelief that someone could create such advanced protection so quickly.

    But a quick check of their own systems revealed they had indeed been infiltrated. Every device showed signs of the devastating attack, proving her right.

    Ethan’s eyes, hidden behind his sses, glinted darkly. He couldn’t believe “Cipher” had grown so powerful as to block him with a system she developed herself.

    (Olivia’s POV)

    Matriarch Morwenna Mooncrest approached, her face grim but no longer dismissive. The destruction around us had forced her to acknowledge reality.

    “It was her,” she admitted, her voice barely above a whisper. The words seemed to pain her, but she couldn’t deny what everyone had witnessed.

    I immediately unplugged my USB drive, making the protection system vanish from theptop screen. The demonstration was over, but my point was made.

    “If you want my protection for your research, I’ll be the first customer for the projection system,” I demanded. My voice carried new authority born from proven sess.

    “And I want permission to view the code,” I added. The Al resurrection technology was too important to leave in hostile hands.

    Can Mooncrest tried to mediate, stepping between his grandmother and me. “Perhaps we

    can discuss terms-”

    Matriarch Morwenna coldly refused the offer, cutting him off with a sharp gesture. “I only need the pack enforcement to catch the hacker.”

    Her pride wouldn’t allow her to ept help from someone she’d just tried to humiliate. The irony wasn’t lost on me.

    Before leaving with the investigators, she turned to Matthew. Her ancient eyes held decades

    of political calction.

    “You mated with the wrong she–wolf,” she said, her voice carrying the weight of prophecy. “Cynthia is the one who suits you.”

    She nced at me with obvious distaste. “She… is a lot of trouble.”

    Matthew’s response was cid, his voice carrying quiet certainty. “Life is short.”

    He acknowledged that a mate like Cynthia Mooncrest would bring him a smooth political alliance. Such a partnership would eliminate manyplications.

    But such a life would be “truly uninteresting,” he continued. His eyes found mine as he spoke.

    “She is my weakness, and my trouble. She is mine. And that’s enough.” The possessive deration sent warmth through my chest.

    As the experts were led away by the Royal Guards, Ethan approached Matthew.

    “Your mate’s skills are truly impressive,” he said, feigning admiration. His voice carried just the right note of respectful awe.

    Matthew’s gaze was cold and piercing. “You knew my guards were lying in wait here?”

    His voice was low and dangerous, repeating Ethan’s earlier confident words. The temperature in the room seemed to drop several degrees.

    Ethan deflected by mentioning his desire to mate with Seraphina Kane. “My interests lie elsewhere, Your Majesty.”

    “Is that so?” Matthew’s voice was t, devoid of belief. “But it seems you’re more interested in my mate.”

    The unspoken Alpha pressure in his gaze made Ethan’s brow twitch.

    While I was enthusiastically pitching my new system to the remaining tech experts, Theodore’s voice cut through the chatter. “It’s needed.”

    He walked toward me, his steps measured and deliberate. The crowd parted before him instinctively.

    “I’ll buy out your protection system. Name your price.” He stood before me, his dark eyes filled with tender emotion.

    “Crimson Pack will provide full support for its subsequent development and upgrades,” he

    continued. His voice carried the weight of unlimited resources.

    “We’ll provide the manpower and financial resources to make your protection system amon product, affordable for everyone.” He remembered my old dream, a shield to protect everyone from digital threats.

    “Let me help you achieve it,” he said, taking my hand. His touch was warm, familiar, carrying memories of shared dreams.

    And at this moment, the past swirling in my mind grew increasingly blurry, and I took his hand.

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