Chapter 721: Foolish Blood Ties
Hayley’s POV:
“Mom, you said before that Peter’s accident was Freya’s fault. What makes you so sure?” I looked at her seriously.
Virginia’s eyes suddenly reddened with tears.
“What’s wrong?”
“It’s nothing. It’s just… you finally called me ‘Mom.’ I got a little emotional.” Virginia wiped her tears and smiled at me with motherly affection.
Hearing her say that, something tugged at my heart, and even my wolf, Hera, howled with joy inside me.
I calmed Hera and turned my attention back to Virginia.
She composed herself and began to explain, “Peter was supposed to stay home with me these past couple of days. But somehow, he heard that Freya was fighting for a piece of land in Riverton. If she got it, the pack elders would back her even more than before.
“So Peter drove to Riverton in the middle of the night, planning to snatch the land and stop that woman. But as soon as he left town, he got into that accident. There’s no way Freya isn’t involved!”
At this point, she suddenly grabbed my hand, her voice trembling with urgency. “Freya is insane. Witch blood runs in her veins–she was born our enemy. Michelle, stay out of this. I’ll get justice for Peter. He’s already like this; I can’t let anything happen to you too.”
“Mom.” I gripped her hand firmly, my gaze determined. “The one who’s going to get hurt isn’t me–it’s the one who hurt Peter. Watch over him. I’m going to the Sanders Residence.”
“No.” Virginia clung to me, refusing to let go. “I won’t let you go there. Your dad’s already under her spell. How can you possibly fight them alone?
“Michelle, I’m begging you–stay here. Don’t go anywhere; don’t do anything. Please?”
“Do you really think if we do nothing, she’ll just leave me—and all of you–alone?” I sighed helplessly.
“I know she won’t…” Virginia’s eyes suddenly hardened with resolve, her voice steady. “But Michelle, this isn’t your burden to bear. Just wait. I’ll take care of everything.”
Something felt off. “What are you planning?”
No sooner had I spoken than Hera, excited by a familiar scent, began to roar inside me.
I looked up and saw Benjamin walking out of the hospital room.
“I heard everything you just said. Mrs. Sander, you should trust that Hayley knows what she’s doing.”
Benjamin spoke gently, trying to reassure Virginia, “I’ll go with her. You can rest easy.”
Virginia was silent for a moment, then finally nodded in agreement.
Benjamin and I exchanged a glance and, without another word, headed outside together.
Once the car had left the hospital behind, Benjamin broke the silence.
“When we get to the Sanders Residence, what’s your plan?”
I rested my hand on the window, propping up my chin, staring blankly at the passing scenery. “I’ll play it by ear. I honestly have no idea what’s waiting for us.”
“What if your father sides with Freya?” Benjamin asked, his tone low.
The question made me fall silent.
The truth was, for all these years, Alan had only ever seen Freya as his daughter. Their bond had long since surpassed anything he had with me, his real daughter.
I’d thought about what Benjamin was saying, just never expected to face it so soon.
But there are some things you simply can’t run from.
I never intended to pick a fight with them. To be brutally honest, as long as Freya didn’t go after the people cared about, she could have the whole Sanders fortune, the pack’s power, even Alan as a father–I wouldn’t care.
But now that Freya had gone this far, hurting someone I loved, I had to get to the bottom of it. She would pay for what she’d done.
As for Alan… I’d seen firsthand how much Benjamin had suffered because of his own parents, Odessa and Axel.
As an Alpha, my pride and dignity wouldn’t allow me to make the same mistakes.
The only thing I worried about was that foolish, uncontrollable softness in my heart that came from blood ties.
“Freya hurt Peter. No one–no matter who they are—can protect her now!” I raised my voice, half speaking to Benjamin, half trying to hypnotize myself, warning myself not to go soft.