Chapter 4

Amanda Robinson returned to the Silver Moon Pack mansion after spending the day at her father's funeral, still wearing her black dress and carrying the grief she could not hide. Her eyes were swollen from crying, and Darcy, her inner wolf, remained silent inside her, as if even her wolf understood that there were no words capable of easing the pain in Amanda's heart.

She stepped through the mansion doors and immediately heard soft laughter coming from the living room. Amanda stopped walking when she recognized Louis Jones's voice, and when she looked inside, her heart tightened at the sight before her.

Louis was sitting comfortably on the couch while Francine rested beside him, wrapped in a soft cashmere blanket. Amanda recognized it immediately because Alpha Richard had personally chosen that blanket for her birthday and had proudly told her that he had spent hours looking for something warm enough for his daughter.

Francine smiled sweetly as she leaned closer to Louis. “Louis, you always know how to make me feel better whenever I'm upset.”

Louis looked at her with a tenderness Amanda had not seen from him in a long time. “You don't need to thank me, Francine. I hate seeing you sad.”

Francine lowered her eyes and smiled shyly. “Sometimes I wonder what I would do without you.”

Louis gently held her hand. “You'll never have to find out. I'll always be here whenever you need me.”

Francine looked at him with affection. “You promise?”

“I promise,” Louis replied without hesitation.

Their words sounded like something spoken between true mates, and Amanda stood frozen in the doorway as every sentence cut deeper than the last. She had once believed Louis would speak to her that way, but now another woman was receiving the tenderness that should have belonged to his Luna.

Behind Amanda, Lia had stopped in the corridor and was secretly watching them. Her face was filled with anger, and her eyes were already shining with tears.

Another maid quietly touched Lia's arm. “Lia, don't make that face. If Alpha Louis notices how angry you are, you'll only bring trouble upon yourself.”

Lia lowered her head, trying to control her emotions. “How can I not be angry? They are hurting Luna Amanda right in front of her.”

The other maid glanced toward Amanda and immediately fell silent when she realized that their Luna had heard them.

Amanda turned around.

“Lia?” she asked softly.

Lia quickly wiped her tears and forced herself to smile. “Luna Amanda, you're back.”

Amanda studied her carefully. “Why are you crying?”

“I'm not,” Lia answered quickly, although her trembling voice betrayed her.

Amanda stepped closer. “Don't lie to me. I know you.”

Lia looked toward the living room, then back at Amanda. “It's nothing, Luna. Please don't worry about me.”

Amanda gave a tired smile. “All right.”

She turned toward the living room again, and this time Louis noticed her standing there.

His gentle expression disappeared immediately.

“Amanda,” Louis said, sitting straighter. “You're back.”

Francine also looked toward her and quickly stood from the couch, clutching the cashmere blanket around herself. “Luna Amanda, I didn't realize you had returned.”

Amanda's eyes fell on the blanket.

“Why are you wearing that?”

Francine looked down as if she had only just noticed what she was holding. “This?”

“Yes,” Amanda replied.

Francine glanced at Louis before answering. “I was feeling cold, and Louis told me I could use it.”

Amanda looked at Louis. “That blanket belonged to me.”

Louis frowned. “It's just a blanket, Amanda.”

“My father gave it to me,” she replied quietly. “He personally chose it for my birthday.”

Francine immediately looked guilty. “I'm sorry. I truly didn't know it was your father's gift. If I had known, I wouldn't have touched it.”

Amanda stared at her. “You knew.”

Francine's eyes widened as tears quickly formed. “Why would I lie about something like that?”

Louis immediately stepped closer to Francine. “Amanda, enough.”

Amanda's heart sank as she watched him protect Francine again.

“You don't have to defend her every time,” Amanda said.

Louis's expression hardened. “Because you're always looking for a reason to attack her.”

Francine gently touched his arm. “Louis, please don't fight with Luna because of me. I'll return the blanket.”

“No,” Louis replied softly. “You can keep it.”

Amanda's fingers curled tightly at her sides.

That blanket had been one of the last gifts her father had given her.

And Louis had just given it away without even caring what it meant to her.

Lia's eyes filled with tears as she watched from the corridor.

The other maid whispered, “Lia, please. Don't cry here.”

Lia covered her mouth and looked away. “They don't even care what Luna is going through.”

Amanda heard her but pretended she did not.

Louis walked toward Amanda and looked at her black dress. “Why are you dressed like this?”

Amanda remained silent.

“You disappeared for hours, came back wearing black, and now you're acting like everyone has wronged you,” Louis continued. “What exactly are you trying to prove?”

Amanda looked at him with tired eyes. “Nothing.”

“Then explain yourself.”

“There is nothing to explain.”

Louis's jaw tightened. “Amanda, don't test my patience.”

She stared at him. “I'm tired, Louis.”

“Then stop making problems.”

Amanda's heart ached. She had just buried her father, yet her mate was more concerned about Francine's feelings than hers.

Louis reached for her wrist. “Are you ignoring me?”

Amanda immediately pulled her arm away. “Don't touch me.”

His expression darkened. “I'm talking to you.”

“And I'm telling you that I'm tired.”

“If this is about your father's company, then say it,” Louis snapped. “If you want my help, you should stop acting stubborn and learn how to speak to me.”

Amanda looked at him in disbelief.

“You still want to talk about the company?”

“Of course,” Louis replied. “Your family's finances are still a disaster, and without my support, everything your father built will disappear.”

Amanda lowered her eyes.

She had already spoken to Sandro Bruce.

The company would be liquidated.

There was nothing left for Louis to save.

“You don't have to worry about it anymore,” she said quietly.

Louis gave a mocking laugh. “You think you can handle everything without me?”

Amanda said nothing.

Francine stepped forward with her usual gentle expression. “Louis, maybe Luna Amanda just needs some time alone. Please don't be angry with her.”

Louis immediately softened. “You always think about everyone else.”

Francine smiled. “I just don't like seeing you upset.”

Amanda watched them silently.

Once again, they sounded like mates. And Alpha Louis forgot that his luna was standing right in front of him.

Then his phone rang.

Louis pulled it from his pocket and looked at the screen. He answered immediately. “Dexter, what is it?”

Dexter's voice sounded unusually serious. “Alpha Louis, I need to tell you something about former Alpha Richard.”

Louis frowned. “What about him?”

“There has been a confirmation from the hospital and the pack authorities.”

Louis looked toward Amanda. “Tell me.”

Dexter took a deep breath, “Former Alpha Richard slipped and fell from the rooftop of his company three days ago. The funeral was this morning.”