He Doesn't Love You Anymore (Amber and Ethan) novel Chapter 63

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The Return of Sophia Winters

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The Return of Sophia Winters

(Lucas’s POV)

I sat beneath the old oak tree at the Blackwood pack house, my fingers idly tracing patterns in the dirt. This spot held so many memories from my childhood. Amber, Ethan, and I spent countless hours playing here, our laughter echoing through the grounds.

I could still picture Amber’s face lighting up when she smelled the wildflowers that grew nearby. Her amber eyes would sparkle with delight, and she’d gather handfuls to make crowns for us all.

“Lucas, catch me!” Her voice echoed in my memory.

She loved climbing this tree, scaling its branches with surprising agility for a young she–wolf. Ethan and I would position ourselves below, arms outstretched, ready to catch her when she jumped. Ethan was always so protective of her then, his eyes never leaving her as she climbed higher.

“If I fall, you’ll catch me, right?” she’d call down.

“Always,” Ethan would promise.

But things had changed so drastically. The three of us had grown apart, our childhood bond fractured by adult complications. Ethan had betrayed Amber’s trust, and I had watched helplessly as their relationship crumbled.

Now I was preparing to leave this familiar place. The thought made my heart ache with a strange sadness I couldn’t quite name.

I ran my hand along the rough bark of the oak tree, feeling its solidity beneath my fingers. This tree had witnessed our childhood joy, our adolescent confusion, and now our adult pain.

The setting sun cast long shadows across the lawn as I finally stood, brushing dirt from my clothes. It was time to return to the house, to face what was coming next.

I took one last look at the old oak tree, wondering if I would ever sit beneath its branches again.

I made my way back to the pack house, slipping through the darkened corridors until I reached my mother’s room. The door was slightly ajar, a thin strip of light spilling into the hallway.

“Mother?” I called softly, pushing the door open.

Rebecca sat in her armchair by the window, her face illuminated by the soft glow of a reading lamp. She looked up as I entered,

her expression softening.

“Lucas,” she said, setting aside her book. “What’s troubling you?”

I crossed the room and knelt beside her chair, suddenly feeling like a cub again seeking comfort. The weight of everything I knew pressed down on me, making it hard to breathe.

“Please,” I whispered, my voice breaking. “Please don’t hurt Amber.”

My mother’s hand came to rest on my head, her fingers gently stroking my hair. The familiar gesture that had comforted me through childhood nightmares now felt hollow.

“You’re overthinking things, my sweet boy,” she murmured. “Everything I do is with the best intentions.”

I looked up at her, searching her face for any sign of the mother I remembered from my childhood. “The cupcakes-

”

“There was nothing wrong with them,” she interrupted, her voice soothing but firm. “I simply wanted to share something I made with Dominic and his mate.”

I wanted desperately to believe her, but the knot in my stomach wouldn’t ease. Something in her eyes had changed over the years–a hardness that hadn’t been there before.

“Promise me,” I insisted. “Promise me you won’t do anything to harm her.”

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The Return of Sophia Winters

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Rebecca cupped my face in her hands, her thumbs brushing away ears I hadn’t realized I’d shed. “Everything will be as it should be, Lucas. Trust your mother.”

But as I leaned into her touch, I wondered if I could trust her anymore. Or if I ever truly had.

(Amber’s POV)

My phone rang just as I was setting the table for breakfast. Domine looked up from his coffee, one eyebrow raised in question.

“It’s Ivy,” I mouthed, surprised to see her name on my caller ID.

I answered, keeping my voice neutral. “Hello, Ivy.”

“Amber! I’m so sorry I didn’t get to your gift last night,” Ivy’s voice came through, unusually warm and apologetic. “I was chilling with someone else and completely forgot.”

I glanced at Dominic, who seemed equally surprised by this unexpected call.

“It’s fine,” I replied cautiously. “What gift are you talking about?”

“The venison, moonlight herbal tea, and healing crystals I left for you and Dominic,” she explained. “They’re the best quality- I selected them personally.”

I looked at the venison Dominic was currently enjoying. He nodded, confirming it was indeed excellent quality.

“Thank you, Ivy. That’s very thoughtful,” I said, still confused by her sudden generosity.

After a few more pleasantries, I ended the call and turned to Dominic. “What was that about? Since when does Ivy Reed give us gifts?”

Dominic dabbed his mouth with a napkin before answering. “She’s grateful that I entrusted a lucrative territory management project to her husband–my third brother.”

“And why did you do that?” I asked, taking a seat across from him.

His blue eyes met mine. “Because she came to your defense in the wolf pack chat. I reward loyalty to my mate.”

I felt a warm flutter in my chest at his words. This was how Dominic operated–clear consequences for actions, whether positive

or negative.

“So it’s all transactional,” I mused, cutting into my own portion of venison.

Dominic shrugged. “I prefer to think of it as maintaining balance.

As we continued our meal, an idea began forming in my mind. I had accumulated so many luxury items over the years—gifts from my father, designer clothes I rarely wore, jewelry that sat untouched in my safe.

“I’ve been thinking,” I said, setting down my fork. “I want to donate some things to your charity project for orphaned werewolf

cubs.”

Dominic’s eyes widened slightly. “What kind of things?”

“Luxury items from my father, designer clothes I never wear, some moonstone and diamond jewelry–things that could be sold to fund the project.”

A slow smile spread across Dominic’s face, one of genuine pride rather than his usual calculated expressions. “That‘ generous, Amber.”

He reached across the table and took my hand, his thumb tracing circles on my palm. “You know, you could do more than just donate items. We need an official photographer for the project.”

I tilted my head, considering. “Wouldn’t that look like favoritism because of our relationship?”

The Return of Sophia Winters

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“Let anyone try to make that accusation,” he said, his voice dropping to a dangerous growl. “I’ll handle them.”

The protective edge in his voice sent a pleasant shiver down my spine. “I’ll discuss it with Paige. See if it makes sense for the studio.”

Dominic nodded, satisfied. “I think you’ll find it does.”

Dominic’s phone rang, interrupting our moment. He checked the screen and frowned slightly.

“Ryan,” he explained before answering. “This better be important.”

I watched as his expression shifted from mild annoyance to serious concern. “I’ll be right there,” he said before hanging up.

“Urgent parcel matter,” he explained, standing quickly. “I need to handle this personally.”

After Dominic left, I finished my breakfast and headed to Moonlight Photography to meet with Paige. The studio was quiet when I arrived, with only Paige working at her desk.

“Morning,” I called, setting my bag down. “Got time to discuss a potential project?”

Paige looked up, her eyes brightening. “Always. What’s on your mind?”

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