Claimed by the Alpha's Love (Tori and Lucas) novel Chapter 176

Chapter 176

Morgan’s eyes narrowed. “Tori doesn’t need to do anything she doesn’t want to.”

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“Oh, I understand.” I looked down at my son, stroking his soft hair. “I suppose some people just… aren’t comfortable around babies. Especially

when they belong to their used to love.”

The temperature in the room seemed to drop.

“What’s that supposed to mean? Morgan demanded.

I widened my eyes, the picture of innocent confusion. “Nothing, dear. Just that Tori and Ethan were so close once. It must be difficult, seeing

him move on, start a family…”

Tori’s jaw tightened, but she said nothing. That infuriating calm held.

Elizabeth’s voice cut through the tension like a blade. “That’s quite enough”

We all turned. Elizabeth stood in the doorway, her expression thunderous. How long had she been there?

“Fiona, Elizabeth said, her voice cold enough to frost glass. “I think you need rest. You’re clearly overtired.”

“I was just-

“Overtired,” Elizabeth repeated, each syllable precise. “And confused. Because surely you weren’t suggesting that

harbors inappropriate feelings for your mate.”

The emphasis on “future daughter-in-law” made my blood run cold.

“Of course not,” I managed. “I would never-”

my

future daughter-in-law

“Good.” Elizabeth moved into the room with predatory grace, her eyes swepping over me and the baby with cool assessment. “Because I’ve been meaning to discuss something with you, Fiona. About the child’s upbringing.”

The words hit like a physical blow. “What? No-he’s my son. He

He needs his mother.”

“Does he?” Elizabeth’s eyebrow arched delicately. “Or does he need an environment free from… questionable influences? We wouldn’t want him learning the wrong lessons, would we?”

She’s taking him. She’s taking my only leverage.

“You can’t do this,” I said, my voice rising despite myself. “A child belongs with his mother. That’s-that’s pack law.”

The baby whimpered, sensing my distress.

The front door opened. Ethan appeared in the doorway, travel bag still in hand.

Elizabeth noticed Ethan first. “Darling, you’re back. Come, I want your opinion on something.”

Ethan didn’t move. His eyes were locked on Tori with an intensity that made my stomach churn.

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Chapter 176

No. No, no, no.

“Ethan,” Elizabeth said again, her tone sharpening. “I asked you a question about the baby.

That broke his trance. He blinked, turning to his grandmother. “What?”

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“The baby’s care. Your son.” Elizabeth’s expression was carefully neutral, but I caught the steel beneath. “We need to discuss his upbringing Fiona seems to think she’ll be his primary caregiver, but I have concerns.

My arms tightened around the baby instinctively. “What concerns?”

Elizabeth’s gaze swept over me with cool assessment. “A child needs stabilty, proper guidance. Not a mother who she paused delicately, “-

with ill intentions.”

“I’m his mother,” I said, my voice rising despite myself.

“Yes, Elizabeth agreed. “But that doesn’t mean you’re fit to raise him.”

Ethan’s eyes flickered to Tori again, then back to me and the baby.

“He should be with his mother, Ethan said finally.

Relief flooded through me. “Thank you-

I couldn’t help myself. I shifted the baby to one arm and threw the other around Ethan, pressing close. Over his shoulder, my eyes found

Elizabeth’s disapproving face, then swept to where Tori stood with Morgan in the garden doorway.

See? I wanted to shout. He chose me. He’s choosing us.

Ethan’s hand came up, settling on my head with what might have been tenderness. His fingers threaded through my hair, and for one perfect

moment, I felt like I’d finally won.

“Don’t worry,” he said softly, his voice carrying just enough to reach the others. “No one’s going to take your child away from you.”

Something in his tone made me pause. The words were right, reassuring, at there was an edge beneath them-something cold and sharp that

didn’t match the gentle touch of his hand.

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