Chapter 382
Parker struggles internally as Silas’s ultimatum threatens the Williams family with severe consequences unless they disown Jenny completely. Once indifferent to Jenny’s fate, Parker now realizes that only she can save Lina’s life, creating a conflict between family loyalty and survival. He pleads with Freya to intervene on Jenny’s behalf, but Freya coldly rebuffs him, reminding him of his true identity and the pride he once held for their family.
Soon after, enforcers arrive to take Freya into custody for her role in the altercation. At the precinct, Freya calmly gives her statement until Victor Ashford, a high-profile legal counsel, unexpectedly appears to represent her. Despite Freya’s doubts about affording him, Victor insists on helping due to his connection with Lana, promising protection and hinting at his own personal stakes in the matter.
Tension escalates when Jenny’s jealousy flares upon seeing Victor, but Parker restrains her, warning of Victor’s legal power. Parker then apologizes to Freya, though she points out his apology is truly for their parents. Victor and Freya discuss Parker’s denial of his past and their determination to bring him to honor their family legacy despite his resistance.
Later, Parker receives a cold call from his father, Everett Williams, demanding Jenny’s presence. At the Williams estate, Everett delivers a harsh decree: Jenny is to be struck from the family registry immediately, severing all ties. Jenny is devastated, pleading against the decision, but Everett’s judgment stands firm, casting her out and leaving the family fractured under the weight of duty, loyalty, and unforgiving tradition.
Chapter 382
From a Third-Person Perspective
Parker’s lips pressed together tightly, forming a thin, pale line that betrayed the turmoil roiling beneath his calm exterior.
Silas’s ultimatum lingered in the air like a death sentence—unwavering, final, and utterly unchallengeable. The Ironclad Alpha’s words still echoed in Parker’s mind with chilling clarity: “Unless the Williams Pack disowns her completely, the Coalition will sever every connection p>
For the Williams family, who had long harbored ambitions to extend their influence into the Capital’s territories and secure vital trade relations with Whitmor’s Ironclad Coalition, this was no mere threat—it was a declaration of annihilation.
There was a time when Parker would have welcomed Jenny’s exile, letting her drown in the consequences of her recklessness without a second thought. But that time had passed. Now, he needed her alive.
Only Jenny had the power to save Lina’s life.
He turned toward Freya, studying her serene expression—too serene, perhaps—those golden-hazel eyes steady and unflinching, like a wolf bracing itself against an approaching storm. “Miss Thorne,” Parker began, his voice laced with quiet desperation, “Jenny barely said a word. She didn’t mean to—surely this punishment is too harsh. If you would speak on her behalf to Silas Whitmor, the Williams family would p>
Freya’s voice cut through his plea like a razor slicing through silk, cold and unyielding.
“If you don’t want me to hit you again, Parker, stop talking p>
The room fell into a heavy silence, thick with tension and unspoken threats.
She stepped closer, tilting her head to look up at him, her tone dropping to a quieter, more measured timbre—too steady to be anything but sincere. “I’d hate for you to one day remember who you really are… and realize how deeply you’d regret uttering these words p>
Her gaze locked onto his, sharp and unwavering. “Because the man I once knew—the man you used to be—would sooner die than stand silently while someone insulted our parents p>
For a fleeting moment, Parker’s breath caught in his throat.
Something ancient, fierce, and buried deep within his blood awakened—a fierce pride that pulsed beneath his ribs, aching to break free.
But just as suddenly as it came, that feeling shattered like ice cracking against stone, leaving behind only a hollow chill.
He turned away, jaw clenched tightly, as if afraid to confront the memories stirring within him.
Not long after, the enforcers arrived, their sleek black vehicles gleaming under the harsh glow of the Ironhold Tower’s lights.
Freya surrendered without resistance—there was no point in fighting; by law, she was the one who had thrown the first punch. Parker and Jenny accompanied her to the local precinct, each prepared to give their statements.
Inside the sterile, dimly lit office, Freya sat across from a uniformed officer, calmly recounting the events of the confrontation. She seemed almost too composed, as if she had grown accustomed to conflict. The faint scent of iron and ozone clung to her skin—a lingering trace of adrenaline.
Midway through her statement, the door opened.
A tall man in a charcoal suit stepped inside, his badge catching the light briefly. “I’m Victor Ashford,” he announced smoothly. “Here to represent Miss Freya Thorne as her legal counsel p>
Freya blinked, surprised. “Victor? What are you doing here p>
His fees alone could bankrupt a small pack. There was no way she could have afforded him.
“Lana called me,” Victor explained evenly. “Said you were in trouble p>
Freya frowned. “You didn’t have to come yourself. You could have sent one of your firm’s lawyers p>
“She asked me personally. And I don’t delegate matters that concern her,” he said firmly, leaving no room for argument.
Freya tilted her head, studying him with a mixture of curiosity and skepticism. “I can’t afford you, Victor p>
He smiled faintly, though there was something unreadable in his eyes. “Consider it a favor. You’re her friend p>
She crossed her arms. “You and Lana have a professional relationship. You don’t owe her that much. Why go so far p>
Victor’s expression hardened. “She told you p>
“She did,” Freya replied simply. “I don’t know what’s really between you two, but don’t hurt her. And when your year is over—if she wants to leave—let her go p>
For a moment, Victor’s eyes darkened with something deeper. His lips curled into a humorless smile. “Freya, you’re assuming she’s the one who might get hurt. But maybe,” his voice dropped to a low murmur, “it’ll be me p>
And as for letting go—though he didn’t say it aloud, Freya could feel the refusal in the quiet tension radiating from his wolf. He had no intention of releasing Lana when the time came.
Before she could respond, Parker and Jenny emerged from another room, having finished their statements.
Jenny’s eyes blazed with venom the moment she spotted Freya. “You p>
“Don’t,” Parker snapped sharply, catching Jenny’s wrist before she could step forward. “Do you want to spend the night in custody? The man standing beside her,” he nodded toward Victor, “is Victor Ashford—the top legal counsel in the Capital. He could bury you under legal paperwork before dawn p>
Jenny froze, her fury crumbling into stunned disbelief. “Victor… Ashford p>
Freya said nothing, simply watching as jealousy twisted the girl’s expression.
It was almost amusing. Jenny couldn’t fathom why powerful men like Silas or Victor would stand by Freya’s side, even briefly. She couldn’t grasp that it wasn’t charm or beauty that earned their loyalty—it was something older, quieter: strength, dignity, bloodline.
Parker stepped toward Freya, his voice low and sincere. “Today… I’m sorry p>
Freya met his gaze. “You’re not apologizing to me,” she said softly. “You’re apologizing to our parents p>
He flinched at her words, as if they had struck a deep chord within him—something like guilt, or perhaps a grief long buried. He said nothing more, turning away and leading Jenny out of the precinct.
Victor waited until they were gone before breaking the silence. “He’s your brother, isn’t he p>
Freya nodded once. “He is. He just doesn’t want to remember p>
Victor’s brow furrowed slightly. “I’ve heard the story. You found him weeks ago. You’re sure p>
“I’d stake my life on it,” Freya said, her voice trembling with quiet determination. “Whether he accepts Eric Thorne or not, I will bring him to the Hall of Martyrs. He will stand before our parents’ names—and he will remember p>
Outside, Parker’s car idled beneath flickering streetlamps.
The moment they climbed inside, his WolfComm device buzzed. He glanced at the caller ID. Everett Williams.
“Father,” Parker answered, his voice taut with tension.
“Is Jenny with you?” Everett’s tone was measured, cold.
“She is p>
“Bring her to me p>
There was no explanation, no warmth—only command.
Parker hesitated. “Understood p>
Once the call ended, Jenny turned toward him, panic flashing in her eyes. “He wants to see me? He knows what happened today, doesn’t he p>
Parker’s knuckles whitened on the steering wheel. “We’ll find out soon enough p>
She gripped her skirt so tightly her nails turned white. “I can’t be cast out, Parker. I just can’t p>
He said nothing, focusing on the road as he drove them through the night toward the Williams estate.
When they arrived, the grand stone manor loomed before them, its windows glowing faintly in the darkness. Inside, Everett Williams sat on a leather sofa, head bowed, prayer beads slipping through his fingers.
Neither Parker nor Jenny dared to break the heavy silence.
The stillness stretched long enough to feel suffocating. Parker’s gaze drifted to the beads—he remembered them from childhood. They were a relic Everett had brought back from a mountain monastery decades ago, after his sister disappeared. He had never once taken them off.
Finally, Everett’s eyes opened—sharp, amber, like a predator who had already decided the fate of his prey.
His voice was calm, but carried the crushing weight of judgment.
“Prepare a statement for the press in the C-Region,” Everett commanded. “Effective immediately, Jenny Williams is struck from the family registry. From this day forward, all her actions bear no connection to the Williams Pack p>
Jenny’s breath caught in her throat, her face draining of color until it was as pale as paper. “No… please—Alpha Everett, you can’t p>
This chapter delicately unravels the complex web of loyalty, pride, and sacrifice that binds the Williams family, revealing the deep emotional scars that simmer beneath their stoic facades. Parker’s internal struggle, torn between duty and a newfound compassion for Jenny, highlights the painful cost of honor in a world ruled by unyielding power. Freya’s unwavering strength and quiet dignity stand in stark contrast to the harsh judgments and cold threats surrounding them, embodying the resilience needed to face such relentless storms.
As the chapter closes, the weight of exile looms heavily over Jenny, underscoring the brutal consequences of choices made in the shadow of family and legacy. Yet amidst the tension and heartbreak, there remains a fragile thread of hope—woven through Freya’s determination and Parker’s silent torment—that promises redemption and remembrance. The characters’ intertwined fates continue to pulse with raw emotion, leaving the reader suspended between despair and the possibility of reconciliation.
The next chapter promises to delve deeper into the fractured dynamics within the Williams family, as Jenny faces the devastating consequences of her exile. The emotional weight of Everett’s decree will ripple through the pack, forcing characters to confront loyalties, betrayals, and the painful cost of power. Parker’s internal struggle between duty and compassion will become even more pronounced, setting the stage for tense confrontations and difficult choices.
Meanwhile, Freya’s role as both protector and mediator will be tested, especially with Victor Ashford’s unexpected involvement adding layers of complexity to the unfolding drama. The delicate balance between past grievances and present alliances hints at simmering conflicts that could either mend or further fracture the bonds between these intertwined lives. Readers will be left wondering how far each character is willing to go to safeguard those they love—and what sacrifices they might have to make in the shadows of their shared history.
Florence
Florence is a passionate reader who finds joy in long drives on rainy days. She’s also a fan of Italian makeup tutorials, blending beauty and elegance into her everyday life.