embChapter /bb163/bb: /bbAfter /bAll, We Were bOnce /bMates /em

embChapter /b163: After All, We Were Once Mates /em

emb(/bGod’s POV) /em

emVictoria ckwood watched her usually proud son be so mncholic over a she–wolf, her bfeelings /bdeeply conflicted. She couldn’t bear to see her son pay with his life for Elena’s sake again. /em

emMeanwhile, Isabe ckwood returned home with a sour expression. Her face was twisted with bdisgust /bband /b/em

emdisappointment. /em

emDiana ckwood noticed her daughter’s mood immediately. “How did your meeting with the Whitmore /em

emfamily’s youngdy go?” /em

emIsabe threw herself onto the sofa dramatically. “Mother, that girl is absolutely hopeless!” /em

emShe rubbed her temples in frustration. “Not only is she ignorant, but she’s also incredibly foolish. Shecks /em

emany semnce of a proper Luna’s demeanor.” /em

emDiana’s eyebrows rose with concern. “What exactly happened?” /em

em“She had the audacity to im she was Marcus ckwood’s savior!” Isabe’s voice rose with outrageb. /bb“/bbShe’s /battempting to usurp Elena’s position!” /em

emIsabe paced around the room angrily. “Can you believe such delusion? She actually thinks Marcus will /em

emchoose her once Elena is gone!” /em

emDiana ckwood was taken aback by this revtion. She had expected the Whitmore family’s daughter to be inexperienced, but this was far worse than she had imagined. /em

em“She’s suffering from delusions rather than mereck of worldly experience,” Dianá murmured thoughtfully. /em

emDespite her shock, Diana maintained her pragmatic stance. “Regardless of Sandy’s ws, she would still be your sister–inw as the Whitmore family’s biological daughter.” /em

emShe leaned forward with calcting eyes. “Having a foolish sister–inw might actually be beneficial. We could easily manipte her and use her connections to the Whitmore Pack.” /em

emDiana revealed her deeper motivations. “Since Margaret ckwood favors the main family line, we need to secure our own position before the matriarch passes away.” /em

em“Once Victoria ckwood takesplete control of the ckwood family, we’ll have no chanceb,/b” she added /em

emgrimly. /em

em(Elena ckwood’s POV) /em

emAt a restaurant, I received an unexpected phone call from Hugo Ashworth while dining with Adrian bWhitmore/b. The familiar ringtone made me smile despite everything that had happened. /em

em“Elena, how are you feeling?” Hugo’s voice carried genuine concern through the phone. /em

em“I’m fine,” I replied, trying to sound more cheerful than I felt. “Just having dinner with my bbrother/bb./bb” /b/em

emHugo’s tone became yful, “I’ve be /bto the Northern Territory to check bon /bbyour /bbcondition following /bbrecent /b/em

emevents.” /em

emb /bChapter 163 After All We /em

emI bwas /bbsurprised/b. “bYou’re /bhereb? /bbIn /bthe Northern bTerritory/bb?/bb” /b/em

emb“/bbI’m /bactually outside your restaurant right now,” Hugo said with amusement bin /bhis bvoice/b. /em

emWithin minutes, Hugo appeared at our table. He was impably dressed as always, not ba /bbwrinkle /bin bsight/b. /em

emAdrian stood to greet him politely. “You must be Dr. Ashworth. I’ve heard Elena bmention /bbyou/bb./bb” /b/em

emHugo extended his hand with a warm smile. “And you’re Adrian Whitmore. Elena speaks of byou /bboften/bb. /b/em

emI was surprised to see Hugo, usually known for his sharp tongue and limited social circleb, /bbconversing /bbso /bnaturally with my brother. They seemed to findmon ground immediately. /em

em“Elena is fortunate to have such caring friends,” Adrian said genuinely. /em

emHugo nodded with approval. “She deserves all the support she can get.” /em

emAfter Adrian left to handle pack business matters, Hugo escorted me back to my hotel. His presence bwas /bforting after the emotional turmoil of recent days. /em

em“Why are you staying in a hotel rather than in a house provided by that Alpha fellow?” Hugo questioned bas /bbwe /b/em

emwalked. /em

emI stopped and faced him directly. “Only a house that truly belongs to me could be called home.” /em

emMy voice was firm with conviction. “Living in someone else’s property is no different from bstaying /banywhere /em

emelse.” /em

emHugo studied my expression carefully. “I understandpletely.” /em

emHe then made arrangements to stay at the same hotel. “I’d like a room on the same floor as Elenab, /bpleaseb,/bb” /bbhe /b/em

emtold the desk clerk. /em

em(God’s POV) /em

emBack at the Whitmore family vi, Jacob Hayes reported to Adrian that Isabe ckwood had visited to see Sandy Parker that day. His expression was troubled as he delivered the news. /em

emWhen Sandy greeted Adrian warmly upon his return, he ignored herpletely and went straight upstairs. His cold dismissal left her standing confused in the foyer. /em

emIn the study, Jacob had already informed Samuel Whitmore of his investigation results. The older man looked troubled as he processed the information. /em

em“I encountered her in Riverside City,” Adrian revealed to his father. “She’s been living there all along.” /em

emSamuel’s confusion was evident. “Why would she suddenly interfere with the paternity test? Given her hatred for our family following past events?b“/b, /em

emAdrian’s jaw tightened with determination. “We need to find out who’s behind this scheme.” /em

em(Elena ckwood’s POV) /em

emThat night, I stood outside Marcus’s hospital room, hesitating to enter, My bhand /bhovered bover /bbthe /bbdoor /bbhandle /bas conflicting emotions warred within me.. /em

emI reasoned that since he had protected me and we were now even, there was bno /bbneed /bbfor /bbme /bbto /bbvisit/bb. /bbThe /blogical part of my mind insisted I should just leave. /em

embJust /bbas /bbI /bwas babout /bbto /bbturn /bbaway/bb, /bAmber bStone /bbappeared /bbbeside /bbme/b. Her bsudden /bbpresence /bbstartled /bbme /bin the /em

embquiet /bcorridor. /em

em“Elenab,/b” she said gently. “Regardless of everything that has happened, byou /band Marcus bwere /bbonce /bbmates /b/em

emHer voice was soft but persuasive. “A brief visit wouldn’t hurtb./b” /em

emAfter a moment of silence, I finally pushed open the door to the hospital room. The hinges creaked bsoftly /bbin /b/em

emthe stillness. /em

emMarcusy pale and thin under the dim bedside light. His breathing was shallow and his brow bwas /bfurrowed /em

emeven in sleep. /em

emAs I reached to turn off the bedsidemp, Marcus slowly opened his eyes. /em