บททั้งหมดของ Ice Claimed: The Alpha’s Obsession: บทที่ 61 - บทที่ 70

The spring rain was thick, but the chill didn't reach my bones. Spring in the Kingdom of Valeria was a time of waking, a season of sharp hope. I traced my hand over my stomach, praying this pup was as sturdy as Layla and Hayden. If the heartbeat stayed strong, I’d bring him into this world regardless of the cost.As for Ethan Carter’s opinions? They had ceased to matter. Standing in the downpour had cleared the fog; Ethan’s path and mine were two parallel tracks on the ice. I just needed to glide forward with a clear conscience.When I stepped back into the Starry River lodge, I left the umbrella dripping by the timber door. The raised voices from the den hit me immediately."You're nearly crushing my windpipe!" Brandon Hayes’s sharp voice cut through the air."Pipe down!" McQueen hissed. "You'll wake Collins!"I heard Brandon’s heavy, agitated breathing. "Why did you drag me to the lodge? Take me back to the city now."I heard McQueen drop onto the leather sofa with a sigh. "I’ve had

I stared at the screen, my pulse thrumming. That last message from Ethan was like a physical snarl. He was clearly sleep-deprived and itching for a fight.I forced my racing heart to settle and typed out a patient response. [It’s nearly six. Put the tablet down and sleep! I’m heading back to bed for an hour too.]I dropped the phone on the furs and lay back. Ethan didn't fire back. I suppose I won that round. In the pack hierarchy of a broken bond, the one who initiates the contact is usually the one who loses.At half-past seven, the heavy reinforced gates of the Carter manor groaned open. Patricia Bennett was adjusting her coat, preparing to head into the village for supplies.Isabella Reed emerged from the side entrance, her eyes tracking Patricia. When the older woman heard the crunch of snow behind her, she stopped."Isabella, I have errands to run this morning. I won't be long. Be a good girl and wait for your tutor in the library, alright?"Isabella shook her head. Since the in

Once the line connected, I didn't waste time. I briefed the pack doctor on Isabella’s sudden lucidity and asked point-blank, "Is it possible for her mind to stitch itself back together without another round of surgery?"On the other end, the physician hesitated. "It’s a remarkable sign, Ethan, but I can’t guarantee a full cognitive recovery. What I can say is that her physical vessel is exhausted. Pushing for more invasive procedures now would likely do more damage than good."I knew he was right. Isabella had already endured two major cranial surgeries after the initial trauma. I had flown in specialists from across the Kingdom, and every procedure felt like a gamble with her life. I was at a crossroads."Have you consulted with Dr. Harris lately?" the doctor asked."No.""Well... if you’re looking for a fresh perspective outside our usual circle, you might want to reach out to Collins Parker. I’ve been studying Charles Whitaker’s recovery stats since he returned to the ice. It’s not

Maybe the collective anticipation of the room was simply too potent, because as the pack had feared, the atmosphere fractured.'Ding!'The alarm on the pulse tracker strapped to Ethan’s wrist shrieked. His heart rate had vaulted from eighty to a sharp hundred and twenty in seconds.Ethan Carter, the Alpha who hadn’t flinched at high-definition footage of sirens, rival enforcers, or the rawest instinctual displays, had lost total mastery over his own pulse within two minutes of Collins sitting within his reach."Well, that’s telling!" a guest whispered, the surprise rippling through the crowd like a shockwave.The piercing alarm hit Ethan and Collins like a physical blow.Mortified, Collins buried his face in his hands, unable to meet the eyes of the pack members. Ethan, on the other hand, ripped the monitor from his wrist with a snarl and hurled it across the room.To hell with that piece of junk! he cursed internally.Ethan’s face was a mask of cold fury and raw embarrassment. While

Tammy had secured an elite squad of stylists, and I was subjected to the full works by a master of the craft.They had swept my hair up in a way that felt sharp yet refined, and the finish was clean, giving me an air that felt both approachable and dangerously polished."You look like a prince, Papa! Who fixed your hair?" I picked up my daughter, but the sudden weight sent a ripple of nausea through my core. I remembered my condition and lowered Layla to the floor immediately."Uncle McQueen did it," she chirped.I turned my focus back to McQueen, my suspicion flaring. "McQueen, what was really happening on that screen? Who were you trying to track?"McQueen blinked those bright blue eyes, radiating feigned innocence. "Nothing! No tracking. I was just... re-imaging the OS.""Really? You brought a high-end rig to a wedding to run a system restore?" I sat down beside him, unconvinced."I keep the hardware in the truck! I was losing my mind because we beat the rush. Your pups were awake