Chapter 5: Bring Her Back at All Costs

The moment Clara Thorne finalized the medical deposit and hurried back to the recovery ward, Leo happened to open his eyes.

"Mommy, Leo wants... to find... Dad... dy!"

His large, midnight-dark eyes locked firmly onto Clara's face, breaking his long silence by uttering a complete sentence for the first time in memory.

"Leo, you finally spoke to me!"

Clara wept with pure joy, her hands trembling violently as she pulled Leo into a fierce embrace, her tears flowing unchecked.

Ever since that catastrophic event years ago, she could scarcely remember the last time she had heard her pup articulate a full thought.

Standing beside them, Hazel’s face lit up with excitement as she swiftly retrieved her communication device. "I am linking Arthur Sterling immediately; we must get Dr. Alyssa Cole here this instant!"

Arthur was Hazel’s elite classmate from the pack's top tier legal academy, sharing her razor-sharp intellect.

His partner, Dr. Alyssa Cole, had recently been decorated with an international award for rare contributions to child psychology and was rumored to be the final, hand-picked disciple of the legendary human professor, Dr. Lisa, making her fame skyrocket overnight within the territories.

Securing Alyssa's specialized mind-healing talent for Leo was the single, absolute reason Clara had hazarded a return to this sector.

Otherwise, Clara had vowed never to step foot inside this territory again.

The dark events that transpired four years ago...

Even to this day, they routinely broke through her defenses, manifesting as absolute nightmares in her sleep.

She lived in lethal terror that the dominant beast from her past would discover her presence, tearing Leo away and destroying her entire world.

"They are already en route to our coordinates!" Hazel announced gleefully as she severed the call, reaching out to gently pinch Leo’s soft, flushed cheek. "My brave little pup, you did beautifully! Come, say hello to your godmother."

"God... mother..."

Leo’s soft, compliant tone triggered a fierce wave of maternal instinct inside Hazel, causing her to pull him close and smother his face in kisses.

"Oh, my perfect sweet pup! The exact hour the pack medics clear you for discharge, your godmother is roasting the finest game for you!"

Meanwhile, within the sprawling, secure perimeter of a luxurious estate at the city’s heart.

A powerful matriarch clothed in a deep jade-green velvet gown sat perfectly centered upon an ancient, intricately carved throne chair.

Her silver hair was swept back with regal precision, her age hovering around seventy cycles.

Though her silhouette carried the soft fullness of late years, she exuded a supreme, untouchable aura of pure aristocracy and absolute command.

She was none other than Matriarch Evelyn Vance, the ultimate authority holding the supreme bloodline shares of the Vance Empire.

"Silas. This elusive relic hunter, Serena... is she truly verified within our border limits at this hour?"

Standing dead opposite her with absolute, unwavering deference was her loyal Beta, Silas.

He had marched alongside the formidable Matriarch since the fiery days of their youth, executing her expansion campaigns across the regions with flawless, unyielding fidelity.

He was far more than an advisor; he was her most trusted confidant.

"My Matriarch, I have personally verified the tracking logs. Serena crossed our terminal threshold earlier today."

"Furthermore, my intelligence web has unearthed her authentic birth name. It is Clara Thorne."

A sharp, predatory spark ignited deep within Matriarch Evelyn’s eyes.

"Excellent. You must bring her into my presence at all costs."

As the command left her lips, she released a crushing, suffocating wave of dominant aura that could only be projected by an entity accustomed to absolute rule over entire packs.

Even though Silas had survived her presence for decades, his muscles instinctively locked tight under the sheer weight of her authority. "By your command, my Matriarch. I shall execute the retrieval immediately."

It wasn't long before Arthur Sterling arrived at the medical facility.

He possessed sharp, academic features and a deeply polite, refined bearing, looking thoroughly apologetic as he entered the ward. "I am incredibly sorry, Clara. Alyssa was intercepted by an urgent consultation with a high-ranking pack elder; her arrival will be delayed."

Clara found his diplomatic, respectful manner quite reassuring, offering a soft smile. "It is no trouble, Arthur. However, when Dr. Cole arrives, I would prefer to debrief with her in absolute privacy first. Would that be acceptable?"

Arthur’s brows knitted slightly, answering with absolute sincerity that he could not guarantee her terms; it entirely depended on Alyssa’s professional boundaries.

"You soft-hearted wolf, you're dropping the chain at such a critical moment," Hazel couldn't resist cutting in with a sharp tease. "The elders whispered that you were completely henpecked by your woman, but seeing it in person is truly magnificent."

Arthur’s face flushed with pure embarrassment as he endured Hazel's playful badgering, completely paralyzed from uttering a single counter-argument.

In truth, aside from his demanding partner Alyssa, the fierce female lawyer standing right in front of him was an entity he simply did not possess the courage to cross!