<b>Chapter </b><b>140</b><b>: </b><b>The </b><b>usation </b>
<b>Chapter </b><b>140</b><b>: </b>The usation
<b>(</b><b>Third </b><b>person’s </b><b>POV</b>)
<b>As </b>soon as Connor Rivers‘ words came out, everyone present in the Rivers Pack Mansion was <b>stunned</b>. <b>The </b>usation hung in the air like a silver de, cutting through the family bonds <b>that </b>had held <b>them </b>together
<b>for </b><b>decades</b>.
William Rivers stepped forward, his ice–blue eyes shing with indignation. “Connor, what are you <b>implying</b><b>? </b>That someone in our own family would betray you?”
His voice carried the authority of an Alpha who had led the Rivers pack for over twenty years. The suggestion that his household harbored traitors struck at the very foundation of pack loyalty.
Eleanor Rivers‘ face flushed with anger, her wolf stirring beneath the surface. “I followed your instructions exactly, Connor. I told no one about your n, and I certainly didn’t contact any authorities.”
Her voice trembled with hurt and fury. The matriarch of the Rivers pack had never been questioned about her loyalty before, especially not by her own grandson.
Richard Winters‘ amber eyes zed as he faced the assembled Rivers family. “I can vouch for myself and Natalie. We would never do anything to endanger Grace’s life.”
His Alpha presence pressed against the room, matching the Rivers family’s energy with his own territorial authority. The Winters pack leader would not be cowed in his defense of his family.
Katherine Rivers shook her head, her expression troubled. “This has to be a misunderstanding, Connor. No
one here would deliberately sabotage your rescue operation.”
Her voice carried the wisdom of a Luna who had navigated pack politics for decades. She could sense the dangerous undercurrents threatening to tear apart the alliance between their families.
Vanessa Reed’s violet eyes widened with apparent shock and hurt. “Maybe one of Olivia’s friends or colleagues inadvertently revealed the information? Sometimes people talk without realizing the
consequences.”
Her suggestion seemed reasonable on the surface, but there was something calcted in her tone. She watched Connor’s reaction carefully, gauging his response to her deflection.
Before Connor could respond, Olivia’s bitterugh <b>cut </b>through the tension like a knife. Her amber eyes fixed
on Vanessa with deadly certainty.
“It was you,” Olivia said, her voice cold and usatory. “You’re the one who told Ethan Grey.”
The words dropped into the silence like stones into still water, creating ripples of shock throughout <b>the </b>room.
Vanessa’s face went pale, her violet eyes filling with tears. “How can you use me of such a thing? I would
never-<b>” </b>
Her protest was cut short as Olivia’s hand connected with her cheek in a resounding p. The sound echoed through the mansion like a gunshot.
“Olivia Winters, you are really uneducated!” Vanessa cried out, her hand flying to her reddened cheek. <b>Tears </b>
O
Chapter 140. <b>The </b><b>usati </b>
<b>streamed </b><b>down </b><b>her </b><b>face </b><b>as </b><b>she </b><b>turned </b><b>to </b><b>Eleanor </b><b>Rivers </b><b>for </b>protection.
<b>Eleanor’s </b><b>face </b><b>contorted </b><b>with </b><b>fury </b>as <b>she </b>witnessed <b>the </b>assault <b>on </b><b>her </b><b>foster </b><b>granddaughter</b>, How dare you <b>strike </b><b>a </b><b>member </b><b>of </b>this <b>family</b><b>! </b>Your <b>breeding </b>shows through <b>your </b><b>actions</b><b>!</b><b>” </b>
<b>Her </b><b>voice </b>carried the sharp <b>authority </b><b>of </b>a pack matriarch defending her own. <b>The </b>insult <b>to </b><b>Olivia’s </b>upbringing was deliberate and cutting.
William Rivers‘ expression darkened as he stepped protectively toward Vanessa. “This <b>behavior </b>is <bpletely </b><b>uneptable</b>. Vanessa is a member of our family, and she deserves <b>respect</b>.”
His Alpha energy pressed against Olivia, attempting to cow her into submission through <b>sheer </b><b>dominance</b>.
Connor immediately moved to shield Olivia from his family’s anger, his ice–blue eyes zing <b>with </b><b>protective </b>fury. “Don’t you dare threaten my mate.”
His intervention sent a dagger through Vanessa’s heart. The wolf she had loved for years was choosing
another female over her, even when she was the victim of assault.
<b>you </b>
Richard Winters, initially stunned by his daughter’s violent action, quickly rallied to her defense. <b>“</b><b>Before </b>lecture my daughter about breeding, perhaps you should examine your foster daughter’s past behavior.
His amber eyes shed with Alpha authority as he faced Eleanor directly. “Vanessa has made usations against Olivia before, and now my youngest daughter is in the hands of kidnappers<b>.” </b>
His voice rose with paternal fury. “From the various behaviors of your foster daughter, Olivia’s p must <b>have </b>
her reason<b>!</b>”
The challenge was clear and direct, one Alpha defending his offspring against another pack’s criticism.
Eleanor’s chest heaved with indignation, her wolf pressing against her human form. “You–Richard Winters, you-<b>” </b>
She struggled to find words adequate to express her outrage. The suggestion that Vanessa was somehow responsible for Grace’s k<b>********</b>g was beyond herprehension.
William stepped forward, his voice tight with controlled anger. “Richard Winters, I respect you as an allied Alpha, and I am polite to you, but you publicly defend your daughter calling mine a schemer?”
The usation hung between the two Alphas like a challenge tobat. Pack alliances that had stood for generations trembled on the edge of copse..
Katherine Rivers sensed the dangerous esction and quickly intervened. “Please, everyone needs to calm down. We’re all under tremendous stress because of Grace’s situation.”
Her Luna instincts recognized the vtile mix of Alpha dominance and family loyalty that could explode <b>into </b>violence at any moment.
William nodded reluctantly, though his jaw remained tight with suppressed anger. “Katherine is right. We need to focus on finding Grace, not fighting among ourselves.”
His attempt at mediation was strained, but he recognized the necessity of maintaining <b>some </b><b>semnce </b><b>of </b>unity.
Connor’s ice–blue gaze fixed on Vanessa with unwavering Alpha authority. “Since grandmother <b>wants </b><b>to </b>call the enforcer, then call the enforcer.<b>” </b>
Chapter 140 The usati.
His voice carried themand of a <b>future </b>pack leader who would not be swayed <b>by </b>family <b>politics</b>. <b>You</b><b>, </b>stay here honestly and wait for the enforcer toe.”
<b>The </b>order was absolute, brooking no argument or negotiation.
Vanessa’s violet eyes filled with desperate pain as she looked at the wolf she loved. “Brother, you don’t believe me… Regarding your life and death, how could I leak secrets to outsiders…”
Her voice broke with genuine anguish, whether from guilt or heartbreak impossible to determine. The usation from Connor cut deeper than any physical wound.
Richard Winters crossed his arms, his expression grim with determination. “I’ll wait for the enforcer to reveal the truth. Let them investigate properly.”
His confidence suggested he had nothing to hide, unlike others in the room who seemed increasingly ufortable.
William continued his attempts to smooth over the growing rift. “Let’s all take a step back and think rationally about this situation.”
His diplomatic instincts were working overtime to prevent aplete breakdown of pack rtions.
Eleanor’s face remained flushed with anger as she pointed an using finger at Olivia. “I demand an apology from her to Vanessa. This assault cannot go unpunished.”
Her voice carried the authority of a matriarch who expected immediatepliance with her demands.
Olivia’s amber eyes zed with defiance as she met Eleanor’s gaze directly. “I will not apologize for defending my sister’s life.”
Her refusal was absolute, showing no deference to the older woman’s rank or authority.
William’s expression tightened with frustration. “Olivia, perhaps you should say less until we can sort this out
properly.”
His suggestion carried an undertone ofmand, expecting her to submit to pack hierarchy.
Olivia’s chin lifted with stubborn pride as she faced the assembled Rivers family. “I am Connor’s mate, not a member of your pack hierarchy. I don’t answer to your authority.”
Her deration sent shockwaves through the room, challenging the very foundations of werewolf social
structure.
Richard Winters pulled out his phone, his amber eyes shing with Alpha determination. “If you don’t call the enforcer, right? I’ll report it myself.”