Amber Rain in the Moonlight
(Third–person’s POV)
Olivia Blackwood’s face was flushed with anger as she hung up the phone. She had just finished berating Amber Chase when Ethan walked into the living room, his expression grim.
“Mother, what have you done?” he asked, his voice tight with concern.
“I put that girl in her place,” Olivia snapped, tossing her phone onto the sofa. “After what she did to Melissa-”
“It wasn’t Amber’s fault,” Ethan interrupted, running his hands through his hair. “The accident… it was actually Melissa’s doing.”
Olivia stared at her son, confusion replacing her anger. “What are you talking about?”
“I spoke harshly to Melissa after a work dispute. She was upset, crying… not paying attention to the road.” Ethan couldn’t meet his mother’s eyes. “She hit Amber’s car, not the other way
around
The color drained from Olivia’s face as the implications sank in. “But Melissa said—”
“She lied,” Ethan said simply. “And now you’ve called Amber and accused her of something she didn’t do.”
Olivia’s phone began to ring. Ethan glanced at the screen and saw Amber’s name. “You need to answer that, Mother. You need to apologize.”
“I will not!” Olivia switched off her phone despite her son’s protests. “That girl has caused enough trouble in our family. I don’t care whose fault the accident was.”
Ethan’s phone chimed with a notification. His eyes widened as he read the message. “Dominic has created a new pack group chat… and Amber just posted a video of the accident.”
Olivia snatched the phone from her son’s hands, her face paling further as she watched the undeniable evidence of Ethan’s car rear–ending Amber’s. Beneath the video was Amber’s furious message, followed by Dominic’s demand for apologies.
“This is all Melissa’s fault!” Olivia exploded, throwing the phone back at Ethan. “That girl has ruined everything! Our standing
in the pack, your reputation—”
“Mother, please,” Ethan pleaded. “We need to make this right.”
“Make it right?” Olivia laughed bitterly. “That girl is Dominic’s partner now. Do you have any idea what that means for us? The future Luna of the Blackwood Pack, and I just accused her of endangering a pregnancy that she had nothing to do with!”
Ethan reached for his phone again, his fingers hovering over the keyboard. “I need to apologize.”
“Don’t you dare,” Olivia hissed. “We still have our pride, even if that manipulative little Omega has taken everything else.”
In her hospital room, Melissa James clutched her stomach as tears streamed down her face. The pain wasn’t physical–the doctors had assured her the baby was safe–but emotional, a deep ache of injustice.
“It’s not fair,” she whispered to the empty room. “If her car hadn’t been there, none of this would have happened.”
Her phone buzzed incessantly with notifications from the new pack group chat. With trembling fingers, she opened the messages and watched the damning video of the accident. Her breath caught in her throat as she saw herself clearly at fault.
“Ethan!” she cried out, a slight growl escaping with her voice. She was too emotional to control it, her Omega instincts flaring in distress.
The door burst open as Ethan rushed in, followed closely by an agitated Olivia.
“How could you?” Olivia demanded, advancing on Melissa’s bed. “You lied to me! You made me call that girl and humiliate myself!”
1/3
Amber Rain in the Moonlight
+25 BONUS
“I didn’t lie,” Melissa protested weakly. “It was her fault… indirectly.”
Ethan’s phone rang, interrupting the confrontation. “It’s Lucas,” he said, stepping into the hallway to answer.
“What the hell is this group chat?” Ethan demanded without preamble.
Lucas’s voice was calm, almost amused. “Dominic created it. The entire pack joined immediately–nobody wants to miss the drama.”
“He had no right to expose our private business like this!”
“He’s the future Alpha King, cousin. He has every right.” Lucas’s tone hardened. “And you’re in no position to challenge him. My advice? Apologize before you dig yourself deeper.”
Ethan gritted his teeth. “And if I don’t?”
“Then prepare to leave the pack,” Lucas replied simply. “Dominic won’t tolerate disrespect toward his Luna, especially not from
you.”
A crash from the hospital room interrupted their conversation. Ethan turned to see Olivia’s hand raised to strike Melissa again, the first slap having knocked over a water glass.
“I have to go,” Ethan said hurriedly, ending the call and rushing to place himself between his mother and his pregnant mate,
Amber’s phone buzzed continuously as the Blackwood Pack group chat exploded with activity. She watched in astonishment as Benjamin Blackwood, Ethan’s father, posted a formal apology.
*“On behalf of my wife and son, I offer my deepest regrets for this unfortunate situation. Amber, please accept our apologies for both the accident and the false accusations. I am prepared to make formal amends according to pack tradition.“*
Amber felt a twinge of sympathy, remembering that Benjamin had always been the most reasonable of the Blackwood elders. Before she could respond, Dominic’s message appeared.
“Formal amends will include emotional damages. My Luna has been distressed by these false accusations.“*
Benjamin’s response came swiftly: *“Of course. Amber, please provide your account details for the transfer.“*
Within minutes, Amber received a notification of a $100,000 deposit. She stared at her phone in disbelief.
Another message appeared in the chat, this one from Ivy Reed, Dominic’s sister–in–law:
*“Olivia should be ashamed! Our future Luna deserves respect, not baseless accusations. Amber, I’ve always admired your grace
under pressure.“*
Amber had barely spoken to Ivy before, making the sudden support both surprising and suspicious. But before she could dwell on it, more messages flooded in.
*“I’ve added another $10,000 for your trouble, Amber,“* wrote Evie, another Blackwood relative. *“Perhaps we should start a driving school for Omegas whose reflexes clearly aren’t suited for vehicles.“*
The thinly veiled insult toward Melissa didn’t escape Amber’s notice. She watched in amazement as one by one, the Blackwood women contributed additional “emotional damages,” each accompanied by flattering messages and subtle digs at Melissa and
Olivia.
*“I’m donating the money to establish a scholarship for young pack members, “* Amber wrote, uncomfortable with the sudden windfall. *“Education should be accessible to all wolves, regardless of status.“*
Her message was met with a flurry of praise, further cementing the divide between her supporters and Olivia’s dwindling faction.
William Blackwood’s voice was stern as he spoke to his son over the phone. “Was the public humiliation necessary, Dominic? Pack matters should be handled privately.”
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Amber Rain in the Moonlight
+25 BONUS
“With all due respect, Father, Olivia made this public when she accused my mate without evidence,” Dominic replied, his tone respectful but firm. “Amber showed remarkable restraint in her response.”
“The money-”
“Will be put to good use,” Dominic interrupted. “Amber has already donated it as a scholarship fund for the younger generation. Her generosity only highlights Olivia’s pettiness.”
William was silent for a moment. “You’re protecting her fiercely.”
“She is my Luna,” Dominic said simply, his blue eyes glinting with the authority of an Alpha. “Any attack on her is an attack on me, and I will not tolerate it not even from family.”
“And Benjamin’s payment? Was that necessary?”
“It saved face for everyone involved,” Dominic explained. “Benjamin maintains his dignity by making formal amends, Olivia is properly chastised without further damaging pack relations, and the matter is closed quickly.”
William sighed, recognizing the wisdom in his son’s approach. “Very well. Handle it as you see fit.”
Benjamin Blackwood ended his call with his brother and turned to face his son. “You will apologize on behalf of your mother and Melissa,” he said, his tone leaving no room for argument.
Ethan’s face flushed with anger. “Why should I be the one to apologize? Dominic has humiliated us enough!”
“Because your Alpha has given you an opportunity to salvage what’s left of your standing in this pack,” Benjamin said sharply. He could have demanded much worse.”
“But-”
“No buts, Ethan. This is not a request.” Benjamin’s eyes hardened. “Dominic is offering us a way out with minimal damage to our position. Take it before he reconsiders.”
Ethan reluctantly picked up his phone, glancing at Melissa who had finally fallen asleep, one hand protectively covering her stomach. Despite his resentment, he understood what was at stake
His new family needed protection, even if that meant swallowing his pride before the future Alpha King. With a deep breath, he began typing his apology into the group chat, each word a bitter pill to swallow.
