Alexander's POV**As I entered the hotel lobby. My mind was a storm of thoughts, each tinged with urgency. I had to make sure Olivia was alright, yet the haunting reminder of Derek's body weighed heavily on me. I climbed the stairs two at a time until I reached Olivia's floor.Pausing briefly at her door, I took a deep breath before knocking lightly. It swung open to reveal Olivia, Lydia, and Victor all seated in a circle, their faces a mix of concern and anticipation. Lydia's eyes were still red from crying, and Victor’s protective aura enveloped them both.Victor was the first to notice me. As our eyes met, he stood up and made his way toward me. His glance was layered with gratitude and an unspoken understanding.“Alexander,” he greeted softly, “can we talk outside?”Without a word, I followed him into the dimly lit hallway. The tension hung heavy. As soon as the door closed behind us, sealing Olivia and Lydia inside, Victor turned to me.“Thank you,” he began, his voice thick with
Olivia’s POV The night was an unbearable maze of restlessness and anxiety. Alexander stayed with me, watching over me. In the dim light of my room, he was a fortress of strength. I couldn’t remember when I’d last felt so vulnerable, so dependent on someone else's protection. His arms wrapped around me like a protective cocoon, warding off the relentless tidal waves of dread that kept crashing against my consciousness. Closing my eyes, I nestled closer into his chest, feeling the rhythmic beat of his heart—a calming counterpoint to my own erratic pulse. Despite the comfort his presence offered, an insidious worry gnawed at my insides. Could he really protect me? Not just from external threats, but from the demons of my own making? Alexander’s fingers traced gentle patterns on my back, and his breath was warm against my ear. "It's going to be alright, Olivia," he murmured, his voice a soothing balm to my frayed nerves. "I know," I whispered, though my voice quivered with uncertainty
Alexander's POV Two days had passed since Derek's demise, and I had been on high alert. Standing in the hall with all the alphas, I turned my head as someone walked in through the doors. My heart quickened as I realised it was Derek's Beta, Adam. He walked with a determined stride, his eyes scanning the room with an unwavering focus. I knew what he was here for, and it made my stomach twist into knots. I kept a discreet distance, listening carefully as Adam approached the elders. He exchanged nods with them before getting straight to the point. "Elders, we need to talk. Alpha Derek is missing, and I need your help to find him." The elders exchanged worried glances. One of them, a grizzled old wolf named Samuel, responded solemnly, "Very well, Adam. We'll bring everyone together and ask if anyone knows of his whereabouts." A surge of panic coursed through me. I couldn't let that happen. I turned on my heel and quickly made my way over to Victor, who was standing talking to Reed.
Olivia’s POV My heart pounded as we hurried to Lidia's room. We had little time to prepare for the confrontation that awaited us in the hall. I needed to be strong, not just for myself but also for Lidia. "Lidia," I called softly as I gently pushed open the door. She sat on the edge of her bed, looking like a fragile doll about to shatter. Her eyes, still red from crying, met mine. "Olivia," she whispered, her voice trembling. "We need to go. Now."Lidia sat there staring at me, her eyes wide with fear as she began to shake her head. “No, no, I can't face anyone. They’ll know that I had something to do with it.”Closing the distance between us, kneeling down in front of her, I took her hands in mine. “Listen to me, Lidia. You did nothing wrong, and I know you're not ready to face anyone, but we don’t have a choice.”She stared at me, her eyes still holding so much pain. “I don’t know if I can hold it together.”Standing up, I pulled her to her feet. “We don’t have a choice. But I
The air felt electric with tension as Victor’s words reverberated through the room. I could feel Lidia press closer to me, her trembling fingers digging into my arm. There were so many eyes on us, judgement and suspicion palpable in every glance. Taking a deep breath, I stepped forward, feeling the weight of the room shift onto me. “Victor is right. We need to remain focused,” I said, my voice surprisingly steady. “Lidia has been with me, and if anyone doubts that, I’m willing to swear on it.” Adam's eyes narrowed further. “And why should we believe you, Olivia? She is your sister, and of course, you would lie for her.” Adams's eyes burned into mine, but I refused to let him get to me. There was too much at stake here.Adam's voice took a darker turn. "Let's not pretend Lidia is innocent. Derek was pursuing her, and everyone knew it. Maybe she got tired of his advances and decided to—” “Enough!” I cut him off, my own voice surprising me with its strength. “Lidia has been with me th
Victor's POV The atmosphere in the hall was charged as the split second before lightning struck. I could see the strain on Olivia’s face, the fear in Lidia’s eyes, and Alexander’s towering form, a rampart guarding them both. But my own frustration surged like a raging inferno. I could not allow Beta Adam to speak about my family this way. Stepping forward, I injected all the authority I could muster into my voice. “Elders, esteemed pack members, you know me as a leader who values fairness and justice above all. If we descend into accusations and violence, we risk everything. We’ve already lost one leader. Let’s not lose our unity.” Adam snarled, looking like he might leap at me, but Samuel interjected again. “Victor speaks with wisdom. We must approach this with clear heads.”“Wisdom?” Adam sneered. “Or cowardice? Hiding behind words while the truth is buried in lies.” “Adam,” I growled. “This is not about cowardice. It's about keeping our pack whole. If you believe so fervently
Olivia’s POV As we left the hall, my heart pounded in my chest as I relived killing Derek over and over again in my head, and the same question played on replay in my head: could I have done it differently and not killed him?The fresh air hit my face, washing a calming feeling over me, but I knew that I needed time to myself. “I'm going to go for a walk,” I said to Victor and Lidia, who both looked at me with wide eyes.“With everything going on, I don’t think you should go anywhere alone, Olivia,” Victor said.“I'll be okay. I just need some time alone.”Victor stood there for a second, thinking, before finally nodding and taking Lidia's hand in his. I stood there, watching them walk away before turning and heading the other way.As I walked away from the hall, intending to find some peace, the tension from inside still clung to me like a second skin. The night air should have been a balm to my frayed nerves, but it was thick with unease. As I took a few steps further, another pr
Alexander's POV Watching Olivia walk away with Reed tugged painfully at my chest. Rage seethed beneath my calm facade. Reed's arm wrapped around Olivia was a reminder of how much I'd risked losing her. But now was not the time to make a scene. I had to focus on the bigger picture. “Alexander, what a cruel twist of fate!” Cassandra’s voice came from behind me, wrapping her slender arm through mine. “Alpha Derek's disappearance is simply dreadful.” She leaned in closer, her breath hot on my neck. I let out a sigh, eyes still fixed on Olivia and Reed disappearing into the distance. Cassandra always had a way of intertwining herself when I least wanted it. "It wouldn't surprise me if all of them had something to do with it," she whispered conspiratorially, her eyes gleaming. Annoyance flared inside me, and I pulled my arm free from her grip. “You heard what Victor said. If you know what’s good for you, you’ll keep your opinions to yourself.” I strode off, putting as much distance be