OliviaI stepped into the dimly lit room, my heart pounding in my chest. Freya was seated on the edge of a simple cot, her back turned toward the door. Even in her human form, she exuded an aura of power and command that caused the hair on the back of my neck to stand on end.“Freya,” I said softly, my voice barely more than a whisper.
OliviaThe week and a half that followed was a whirlwind of intense training. Each day, Freya would guide me through various rituals and exercises, pushing me to tap into the ancient power that lay dormant in my blood.On the first day, we began with simple exercises—or rather, I would soon come to learn how simple they truly were.
OliviaMy heart pounded in my chest as I faced Nathan, the man I loved more than life itself, now tasked with using my newfound powers against him. His gaze was steady, betraying no hint of emotion as he sized me up, his body coiled like a spring, ready to strike at any moment.“Olivia,” Freya said, “as your final test, you must fight Nathan using your powers.”
NathanI stared at Olivia across the docks, my chest swelling with pride as I took in her confident stance, her eyes lit up with a newfound sense of determination.Just two weeks ago, she had been a novice, still learning to harness the incredible powers of the Ancient Wolf that flowed through her veins. But after witnessing her relentless training firsthand, I knew she had become a real force to be reckoned with.
OliviaThe water lapped against the sides of the small boat in a soothing rhythm. I leaned over the edge, looking down at the waves. The sea was calm and the sun was bright, and during any normal occasion, I might have been excited for a ride like this.But today, fear trumped excitement in a heartbeat.Soon, we would
NathanA cold gust of wind blew across the tarmac as I strode toward Dan’s private jet, my suitcase swinging at my side. I could see Dan’s tall and imposing form up ahead, waiting.He had been waiting all morning; or so he had said.“Nathan,” he said, stretching his arms out to the sides as I a
Nathan“I know you’ve been smuggling escorts out.”Dan’s voice, like a hiss in my ear, left me reeling. How did he know? I had been taking the utmost care to ensure that everything was done undercover; I had used only unmarked vehicles, smuggled them out in the dead of night, even checked for cameras and wore the most nondescript clothes I could possibly find in order to hide my identity.
OliviaAs the others slept peacefully around me, all I could do was stare up at the boarded window and wish that I could see the stars.One night. It was only supposed to be one night, and our plan felt just as bulletproof as this safehouse. But still, despite all of the emotional training I had undergone with Freya, no amount of meditation could cure my anxiety.
OliviaI gripped the edges of the podium, my knuckles whitening from the strain as I stared out over the sea of faces. All eyes were trained squarely on me, awaiting my words. But I was frozen.A tremor of nausea wormed its way up my throat as I stared out at them. What was I thinking—how could I have ever agreed to this? Speaking to crowds had never been my forte; that was Nathan’s arena, not mine. I was just the woman behind the scenes, the young mom who had never gone to college, the one who had been handed her job by her husband…Suddenly, a flicker of motion off to the side caught my eye—Nathan, standing just at the edge of the stage with his arms folded across his chest. Even from this distance, I could feel the weight of his steady gaze, that piercing Alpha stare that always seemed to see straight into the depths of my soul.He must have sensed my faltering because, slowly, deliberately, he offered me the faintest of smiles and a single, reassuring nod.And just like that, the
Olivia I looped my arm through Nathan’s as we stepped down from the podium, the applause from the crowd and the flashing of cameras having finally subsided after what felt like an eternity. “It’s over,” Nathan beamed, giving my arm a squeeze. “That wasn’t so bad.” I couldn’t help but grin back at him. “No, it wasn’t. You were great up there.” And he really had been great; the press conference had been an overwhelming success—any lingering doubts or trepidation we had harbored before had been utterly blown away by the sheer force of the crowd’s enthusiastic response. For so long, it had felt like we were fighting this battle alone, like the victims who had suffered under Dan’s horrific operation were little more than nameless, faceless casualties. But today, we had finally given them a voice. Their stories had reached the masses, had resonated and struck a chord with everyone who watched. Nathan had handled all of the questions that were thrown his way with poise and ease
OliviaI rapped my knuckles lightly on the door to Nathan’s office. A moment later, his voice called out, “Come in.”Stepping into the room, I placed my hands on my hips upon seeing the scene in front of me: Nathan was standing in front of the mirror, his shirt still untucked and his tie loosened. His desk was a mess of papers and folders, and it was clear that he had been checking over his notes last-minute before the press conference.
OliviaI wiped a bead of sweat from my brow, slowly turning to survey the progress that had been made in the park. The banners we had hung were a bold purple color, signifying our support of the women who had been affected by the trafficking ring.I couldn’t help but smile a bit as I looked at our progress. With the press conference today, followed by a festival to help raise funds for the shelter we were building, the park was bustling with activity as our pack members worked hard
NathanI leaned back in my chair with a weary sigh, pinching the bridge of my nose in a futile attempt to stave off the encroaching headache. Spread out on my desk was an array of file folders, legal pads scrawled with notes, and printed transcripts—a minefield of information that would need to be carefully navigated on the day of the upcoming press conference.It had been two weeks since Dan and Montgomery’s bodies were found in the confinement pit, and it had been a dizzyin
OliviaMy hands shook uncontrollably as I stepped up to the edge of the pit, clutching the metal grating until my knuckles turned white. A thick, cloying stench wafted up from the darkness below—the unmistakable reek of death and decay.Despite the waves of nausea already roiling in my gut, I leaned forward for a closer look.
OliviaThe air coming through the open windows smelled like the fresh sea breeze as we made our way from room to room, touring every nook and cranny of the newly completed cottage. It was perfect—cozy and quaint, while still boasting all the modern amenities one could want. But more than that, it was a sanctuary, a haven.A fresh start.
OliviaThe sound of power tools outside streamed in through the window while I folded the laundry, a distant backdrop to my swirling thoughts. I had grown used to the sound, and actually kind of enjoyed it. It was a reminder that life went on, that our family was growing.It had been a couple of weeks since I had made the decision to take a temporary leave from work in order to really focus on my family—on rebuilding that long-severed bond with my mother—and I was glad I did.
NathanI couldn’t stop the rage from simmering just beneath the surface as I made my way through the darkened forest toward the confinement pit. No one knew I was here—I was coming under the cover of night, my hair and face concealed by a hood.But I had to come. I couldn’t stop thinking about Dan and Montgomery, and I needed to see them.