Chapter 723 Right and Wrong

Hayley’s POV:

I paused on the stairs but didn’t look back, my voice cold. “That’s only what you think. I’ve never acknowledged having a sister.”

With that, I lifted my foot and started up the stairs.

“If you’re going to go after Freya without a shred of proof, you’ll have to get through me first!”

Alan shifted instantly, taking his wolf form in a flash and bounding over to block my path at the top of the stairs, looming over me.

I stepped back, tilting my head up to meet his gaze, my own eyes flashing wolf-gold. My tone was as sharp as a blade. “So you’ve made up your mind to protect her, no matter what?”

Alan didn’t answer.

“Do you realize Peter is as good as dead right now?” I demanded, my stare unwavering.

“He’s not dead,” Alan insisted, almost obsessively. “He’s my son—I know him. He’s a high-ranking wolf, strong as they come. He won’t die so easily.”

“Won’t die so easily?” I gave a bitter laugh. “Have you forgotten those years you spent at Greenhill Hospital? When the nurses wiped the blood off Peter, you couldn’t see it—so you pretended he couldn’t feel pain, is that it?”

Alan looked away, dropping his gaze in silence.

“You may have already made your choice, but I’m going to ask you one more time.” My voice was steely, final. “Either you hand Freya over to me right now, or I walk out of here and make the Sanders my enemy from this day forward. You decide.”

“This is outrageous!” Alan snapped, throwing up his hands in frustration.

“Outrageous? I don’t do outrageous. And I don’t joke around.” My expression was stone-cold. “So that’s your answer? You’d rather cling to Freya and turn your back on me.”

Alan had no rebuttal.

The house staff’s words echoed in my mind, leaving behind nothing but disappointment and frustration. Sometimes, stupidity is just as deadly as malice.

Alan had lived this long, managed multiple packs as a high-ranking wolf, yet his judgment was much poorer than Virginia’s or Laurel’s.

Even they could see that Freya was dangerous, that keeping her close would only bring disaster in the end—but Alan continued to trust her blindly.

If that’s his decision, then he can pay the price for his so-called fatherly love—and his foolishness.

I glanced up the stairs and saw Freya clearly, hiding behind a column, avoiding my gaze.

“Since you’ve heard everything, then remember this,” I called out, my voice echoing up the stairwell. “From today on, you are my enemy!”

I swore, by the Moon Goddess herself, that I would make my enemies pay.

Without another glance at Alan, I turned and walked out.

“You’ve made another mistake,” Benjamin said sharply, tossing the words over his shoulder before following me out.

We hadn’t gone far before I saw Laurel waiting for us ahead.

Despite my mood, I didn’t avoid her. I walked straight up to the old woman.

“Michelle.” Laurel’s eyes were full of concern as she looked at me. “It’s been so long since I last saw you."

“You’re exaggerating. It’s only been a little over a month,” I replied with a faint smile.

“It’s not the same. It’s just not.” Laurel stepped forward, taking both my hands in hers.

Her wrinkled hands squeezed mine, rubbing them gently. “Back then you were Ms. Carson, and now you’re my precious granddaughter. If you add it all up, it’s been nearly 15 years since I truly saw you.”

I didn’t say anything.

I had no idea how Laurel was counting the years. Whether I was Hayley or her granddaughter Michelle, it had only been a month since we last met. But seeing her so moved, tears shining in her eyes, I let it go.

After a moment, Laurel wiped her tears away and held my hands tightly, her voice earnest. “Don’t be angry with your father. He has his reasons.”

“So you want to persuade me too? Tell me not to go up against Freya?” I almost blurted out what had happened to Peter, but remembering Laurel’s health, I swallowed the words.

“I’m not trying to talk you out of it. There are things you don’t understand. Your father has to think about more than just what’s in front of him.” Laurel’s expression was complicated, as if there was more she wanted to say but couldn’t.

“I have no interest in understanding that,” I replied coolly. “I’ll do what I believe is right and stand by the people who deserve it.”

“But in this world, right and wrong are rarely absolute. What you see might only be what someone wants you to see,” Laurel said, her gaze deep and meaningful.