Chapter 4 Who is the Third Wheel?

• Madison's POV
• I raced through the hospital corridors, catching sight of Chad along the way.
• He seemed to be saying something, but I barely registered it; it was probably nothing pleasant.
• I brushed off his presence and focused on finding Penelope.
• Her exclusive ward was easy to spot, as it was the most opulent and secluded room in the hospital.
• I pushed open the door to find a group of doctors and nurses surrounding her, attentively inquiring about her discomforts.
• Upon seeing me, Penelope's eyes lit up, and her face broke into a delighted smile.
• "Madison, you're finally here. I hope you're not upset with me. I've been feeling so unwell, and I'm sorry for being such a bother. I was concerned it might be too much for you."
• I walked over, my expression cold and unyielding, and glared at the deceitful woman in front of me with a gaze that felt like it could burn through steel.
• I was itching to grab her, give her a thorough thrashing, and then reveal all of her treacheries to everyone.
• But I couldn't act on that impulse. I had no proof and had sworn not to reveal my rebirth to the Moon Goddess.
• After a brief pause, I opted for a different approach and said in a low, controlled tone, "You sent that message, didn't you?"
• Before she could respond, I delivered a sharp slap to Penelope's face.
• "Ah ... " Penelope gasped in surprise, clutching her cheek.
• Chad stormed in behind me, his face clouded with anger.
• "Madison! What on earth are you doing?" His voice was frigid and detached.
• So quick to react—he must be terrified of me harming Penelope.
• Penelope pouted, her expression desperate. Tears filled her eyes as she covered her face, casting a wounded look at Chad.
• "I haven't done anything, Madison. You must have misunderstood me."
• I smirked. "Don't play the innocent card. I know it's you."
• I approached Penelope and pulled out the printed photo of Chad that she had sent to me, slapping it down in front of them.
• "I'm here to settle the score. This is what you owe me, Penelope. People like you—who interfere in others' relationships—are the real third wheels. Only someone as shameless as you would attempt to shift the blame. I hope you and Chad find happiness together."
• I glanced at Chad, confused by his reaction. He looked genuinely stunned and bewildered, staring at Penelope with a puzzled expression.
• Penelope's face was now pale, looking like a complete fool.
• I stood silently to the side while smirking, watching as they prepared their act. "Yura, let's see how this drama unfolds."
• Yura snorted. It seemed that Chad, the Alpha, was too naive to see through Penelope's deception. In Yura's view, this Alpha was utterly clueless.
• Penelope had always preferred to present herself as frail and vulnerable. In today's world, even a weak werewolf could attract an Alpha's attention, whereas in the past, weak werewolves would have been cast out of the pack long ago.
• Chad's POV
• The photo left me stunned and disoriented. Instinctively, I turned towards Penelope, only to see her face turn a ghastly shade of white.
• I had been occupied all day yesterday, managing only a brief nap while visiting Penelope in the hospital. This photo, clearly secretly taken during that visit, was a snapshot from that exact moment.
• And during that time, Penelope had been the only person with me ...
• This realisation tightened my chest with unease, causing my expression to harden and become increasingly complicated.
• I observed Penelope as she clung to my sleeve, her face ashen and tears welling up in her eyes. "Chad, Madison must have misunderstood. I swear, I didn't do anything. I didn't take that photo; she must have orchestrated it to frame me!
• "Chad, I'm ready to apologise to Madison. If the kidney transplant is causing issues between you two, I can find another donor. I genuinely know nothing about that photo. I swear on George's name."
• The mention of George made my eyebrows twitch slightly. George had been a close ally, fighting by my side through many battles. He had entrusted me with Penelope's care before his passing.
• My stern expression softened just a touch. "Madison was simply too upset earlier; she shouldn't have hurt you. Should we get a doctor to attend to you?"
• Penelope, wincing as she touched her bruised face, shook her head. "No need."
• I nodded, glancing over at Madison, who had a mocking smirk on her face and an icy, indifferent look in her eyes. This stirred deep frustration within me.
• "Is this what's causing you to act out? It's a misunderstanding. Let's focus on the surgery first. I'll explain everything later."
• At this moment, completing the surgery was the priority. The photo, though troubling, held no real significance. It was possible that someone else had taken it. After all, as the Alpha of the Dark Shadow pack, my actions were constantly under scrutiny.