Alpha King Chases Abandoned Luna

(Ethan's POV)

Emma knelt on her bed, her young face twisted into an expression I'd never seen before. Gone was the sweet,

obedient pup who gazed atwith adoration. In her place was something unrecognizable - her features

contorted with malice that no seven-year-old should possess.

In one hand, she clutched a small figure. In the other, a silver needle glinted in the moonlight streaming through

her window. With vicious precision, she stabbed the doll repeatedly while spitting venomous words.

"Stupid Lily," she hissed, driving the needle into the doll's chest. "Even dead, you still take my Daddy away. |

hope your spirit suffers forever!"

My wolf roared beneath my skin, nearly breaking free with rage. This was my daughter she was cursing - my true

daughter whose death | couldn't prevent, whose love I'd squandered. The daughter I'd failed so completely that

my only hope was that she might be reborn, that Olivia might forgiveenough to give us another chance.

And here was Emma, cursing Lily's very soul.

| kicked the door fully open, unable to contain my fury. "Emma Frost, what are you doing?!"

Emma froze mid-stab, her head whipping toward me. For a split second, her face remained twisted with hatred

before recognition dawned. Panic flashed across her features as she realized I'd caught her.

"Daddy?" she gasped, quickly trying to hide the doll under her moonlight thermal blanket.

In her haste, she accidentally drove the silver needle into her palm. She winced, tears immediately springing to

her eyes. | watched as calculation replaced pain in her expression.

"Daddy, you're finally here!" she cried, crawling towardwith outstretched arms. "Emma waited for you all

day! | thought you forgot my birthday!"

Her tears flowed freely now as she reached for me, expecting the comfort I'd always provided. But | remained

rooted in place, my amber eyes fixed on her bleeding palm before returning to her face.

"| asked you, what were you doing?" | repeated, my voice dangerously low.

Emma's eyes darted nervously. "Daddy, | wasn't doing anything! | was just bored and playing with a doll while

waiting for you!"

She spotted the Moonstone Bracelet gift box in my hand and lunged for it, clearly hoping to distract me. "Is that

for Emma? Thank you, Daddy!"

| tossed the gift aside, stepping closer to the bed. My Alpha presence filled the room as | demanded, "Take it

out."

More tears streamed down Emma's face as she clutched at my Black Alpha Overcoat. "Daddy, you're scaring me!

Don't look atlike that, I'm scared."

| recognized the act - the sinnocent, frightened pup routine that had always worked onbefore. But the

image of her cursing my daughter was burned into my mind.

Losing patience, | pushed her aside and reached for the blanket myself.

"Daddy, don't look!" Emma cried, desperately trying to stop me.

Her small hands were no match for my determination. | yanked back the blanket, revealing what she'd tried to

hide.

Emma knelt on the bed, trembling, her eyes wide with terror as she watched my reaction.

The doll was crudely made but unmistakable in its intent. Lily's nwas scrawled across it in childish

handwriting. Photos of my daughter - photos I'd never seen before, likely stolen from surveillance footage - were

pasted to its face and body. The doll was riddled with countless pinholes, evidence that tonight wasn't the first

tEmma had performed this ritual.

My heart clenched with anguish and rage. Even in death, Lily had suffered torment from this child I'd favored

over her.

"What kind of monster have | been coddling these past few years?!" My wolf snarled beneath my skin, furious at

this betrayal.

My hand shook as | picked up the doll, a storm of emotions overwhelming me. Pain for Lily. Anger at Emma.

Disgust at myself for being so blind.

Before | could stop myself, my hand lashed out, striking Emma across the face. | barely restrained my wolf's

strength, but the impact was enough to send her reeling.

"Emma Frost, why would you do this?!" | demanded, my amber eyes burning.

Memories flooded back, pieces

falling into place. The first tLily and Emma met. Emma's fall into the Moonlit Reflection Pool, which she

blamed on Lily. I'd believed her without question, punishing my own daughter and causing her to develop a high

fever.

| remembered watching security footage later - Lily crying in Olivia's arms, insisting she hadn't pushed Emma.

Her heartbroken question echoed in my mind: "Why doesn't Daddy believe me?"

How many other lies had Emma told? How many truths had | overlooked because of my misplaced faith in this

child?

"Daddy..." Emma whimpered, clutching her reddened cheek.

The slap hadn't been particularly hard - I'd seen Victoria hit her much harder - but Emma looked genuinely

shocked. Her wolf pup cowered deep within her, projecting distress pheromones.

| could see her struggling to find an explanation, but with the evidence in my hands, she resorted to tears and

pitiful glances. Her young wolf

attempted to project submit ne

pheromones, trying to triggermy protective instincts.

"Emma Frost, don't callDaddy anymore! | don't have a pup like you!" | declared, my voice cold and

merciless.

My wolf rejected her completely, no longer recognizing her as pack. The bond I'd thought we shared shattered

like glass.

"Daddy, don't say that!" Emma wailed, desperate now. "You promised you'd

always be my Daddy, that you'd never abandon me!"

Her wolf frantically tried to reestablish our pack bond, but I felt nothing but revulsion.

"My promise was to the obedient, kind Emma," | replied icily. "Emma Frost, is that you?"

The question made her weep harder, but no words came. For once, she had no manipulation ready, no act to

perform.

Suddenly, the sound of wheels on hardwood broke the tense silence. Victoria appeared in the doorway, her face

a mask of concern as she propelled her Raven-Trimmed Wheelchair into the room.

Without hesitation, she threw herself at my legs, clinging todesperately. Her wolf projected frantic

pheromones, but they only disgustedfurther.

| kicked her away instinctively, as if she were something repulsive. My wolf growled in disgust at her touch.

Victoria winced at the rejection but quickly recovered, her focus unwavering. "King, you've misunderstood

Emma!"

"It's all my fault!" she continued, her voice quivering with what seemed like genuine emotion. "I was jealous of

Olivia being your true mate and occupying your heart for so long, so | foolishly directed my anger at Lily."

She crawled closer, her eyes pleading. "I made the doll, and Emma just imitated me. She doesn't understand

anything, | led her astray."

Victoria reached for Emma, pulling her close protectively. "You know she's inherently good. I, as her mother,

failed to teach her properly. It's my fault, don't blEmma."

Her wolf projected what appeared to

be sincere remorse as she

ff

continued her plea. "She admires you so much, she listens to you, if you formally adopt her into the Stone Pack

and keep her by your

side, teaching her, she'll becas upright as you."

Victoria's eyes glistened with tears. "King, Emma is only seven years old, she's a blank slate. Give her another

chance, you can guide her."

She pushed Emma toward me, her intentions transparent. Even if she couldn't have me, she wanted Emma to

remain connected to the Stone Pack - to me.

"Please, King," Victoria begged, her wolf purring with satisfaction as she saw my hesitation. "For Emma's sake."