Chapter 69: Damage Control

Lewis could have ended it with a single word. One look, one command, and his men would have torn the mess apart.He didn’t.

He stood there instead, silent and still, letting the shame soak in. Letting every sound, every ugly moment, burn itself into memory. It felt deliberate. Like he wanted everyone involved to feel it deep under their skin. He wanted everyojne to see the kind of people they were and no room for falsifications of events. No one could deny anything cos they were so many eyes on them.

Then, with a faint sigh, he said flatly, "This is blocking the view. Theo, close the door."

"Yes, sir."

Theo pulled the door shut. The noise vanished at once, sealed behind thick wood and darkness. Whatever was happening inside was no longer meant for public eyes.

Lewis turned back to the guests. His posture straightened. Calm settled over him like a second skin.

"My apologies for the disturbance," he said smoothly. "Tonight was meant to mark the official registration of my mateship and marraige with Riley. An unfortunate incident disrupted that, which we all saw and withnessed. And of that I am deeply sorry. When the formal ceremony takes place, I hope you’ll all will be gracious enough join my beautiful wife and I again."

The tension lifted immediately.

Smiles returned. Polite words followed.

"Congratulations, Alpha. Hale."

"You make a wonderful pair."

"Wishing you a strong and lasting union."

As people spoke, whispers slipped through the room.

"Doesn’t Luna. Hale resemble that Morrigan girl who died?"

"It’s eerie. Almost too similar."

Lewis didn’t react. He simply nodded once. "It’s late. We have family matters to attend to and I Am sure after all the activities today, You all are tired. Thank you for coming. Do have awonderful evening"

That was all.

Everyone understood.

The gathering ended there.

The guests left one by one, satisfied, buzzing with fresh stories and half-formed theories. When the last of them disappeared, silence fell heavy and thick.

The shed door opened again.

Inside, chaos still reigned.

Camilla was completely out of control. James and Nolan struggled to hold her down as she kicked and thrashed, teeth snapping wildly. She lunged toward Nolan’s arm, snarling nonsense, eyes unfocused and feral.

Lewis watched without emotion.

"She’s unwell," he said evenly. "Take her to a room. Call the doctor."

"Yes, sir."

Staff stepped in quickly.

The Morrigans were escorted out soon after. No shouting. No excuses. Just clenched jaws and bitter silence as they left the grounds in disgrace.

Only the Ashbournes and the Hudsons remained.

Lincy broke down completely.

She sobbed and screamed, striking Yenik again and again, every slap full of pain and fury. "I gave you everything! I trusted you! How could you do this to me, you lying bastard?!"

Yenik didn’t fight back. He just stood there, taking it.

Grant snapped.

He grabbed Yenik by the collar and struck him hard across the face. The sound echoed.

"This is how you repay us?" Grant roared. "You filthy disgrace!"

I watched it all quietly. Soaking it in

And suddenly, I remembered.

I remembered the night Riley found out Yenik had cheated on her before. How her hands had shaken. How her eyes went empty. How close she’d come to breaking completely. How she had spet hours crying and expecting some sort of justice

Back then, no one stood up for her.

And yet... I remembered what Grant had said back then.

"He’s just a man. Stop making a scene. Why fight your sister over him? She wants him, so let her have him.She is a much better match for him that you are anyway so stop misbehaving and making s fuss"

Not a single word for Riley. Not a shred of defense.

To him, she hadn’t mattered. His own daughter didn’t matter

Tonight, though? He was ready to tear the room apart for Lincy.

Step on toes for her or even start a park war just to get justice for his precious daughter.

So yes he did care about his daughter. Just not the one who had needed him most.

Not the one who begged for scrapes of fatherly affection

I stayed quiet near the wall, letting the noise wash over m, Soaking everything slowly. Then a familiar warmth closed around my hand.

My mother.

She looked at me closely, like she could hear the thoughts I hadn’t spoken. She squeezed my fingers. "Are you alright?"

I nodded, forcing a small smile. "I am. Just... what a night."

My chest tightened anyway.

I finally understood Riley’s pain. We lived different lives, walked different paths, but the hurt was the same. I could feel her still, calm and steady inside me. Watching. No longer crying.

Yenik, red-faced and shaking, suddenly snapped. He pointed straight at me. "She’s the one who tempted me! She set this up!"

The room turned.

Lincy’s tear-soaked face twisted, fury lighting her eyes. She needed a target. Someone to tear apart.

Just like before.

She rushed me again, screaming, "You filthy snake! I knew this was your doing!"

My mother stepped in front of me without thinking, arms raised, ready to shield me.

But she didn’t have to.

A shadow moved.

Theo caught Lincy’s wrist mid-swing, stopping her cold. His grip was firm, unyielding. She might as well have hit stone.

"Let go of me!" Lincy shrieked.

Theo didn’t react.

He stood there, tall and still, blocking her completely. There was no anger on his face. No expression at all. Just quiet pressure. The kind that made people remember their place without a single word spoken.

The room seemed to shrink around him.

Then Lewis spoke.

He didn’t raise his voice. He didn’t even look her way.

"In my home," he said calmly, "no one raises a hand without approval. Especially not an Ashbourne."

Finally, he lifted his gaze, eyes sharp and cold. "Did you truly believe you could strike my mate without asking me first?"

The air went tight.

And for the first time that night, Lincy looked afraid.