Ryan POVI stared at Olivia's empty hand as she walked away. A strange feeling settled in my chest, an odd mix of regret and something else—something I couldn’t quite place. She was leaving, and while I felt sorry for her, there was this tiny, nagging sense of disappointment that I couldn’t shake. I had learned so much about her from the school records, how happy she was at camp, how she thrived there. It was rare, I thought, that someone like Olivia could find something they truly loved, something they excelled at. But now, that spark seemed to be fading, and I couldn’t help but feel responsible for it.I wasn’t sure how long I sat there, watching the space she’d just occupied, but eventually, I heard the low hum of voices from the meeting still going on behind me. I turned my attention back to the screen in front of me, trying to ignore the thoughts of Olivia that lingered in the back of my mind. My friends—well, they couldn’t see me, thanks to the settings I’d adjusted, but they co
Olivia POVI felt as if I had just woken from a dream—a strange, vivid dream where I wasn’t rescued. The images were jumbled, but the fear was unmistakable. I had been running, fighting with everything I had left, trying to escape. And then, the men from the casino had found me. I had struggled against them, feeling my body weaken, the exhaustion threatening to pull me under. Just as I was about to be dragged back into their control, someone grabbed my hand, and with a sudden force, they led me away.My breath had caught in my throat as I was pulled through the maze of streets, hiding in alleys, the sounds of footsteps echoing behind us. We had found safety, or at least it felt like it. In the dim light of the alley, the stranger pulled me close, his arms wrapping around me tightly, as if to protect me from the world, from everything that was after me. His body was solid, strong, and I could feel the heat radiating off of him. He kissed me deeply, his lips pressing against mine in a w
Olivia POVThe warm water cascaded down my back, soothing and steady, as I ran my fingers through my damp hair. Each droplet seemed to wash away the haze of sleep, sharpening my senses for the day ahead. My thoughts drifted as I rubbed the soap against my skin, the faint scent of lavender enveloping me. I lingered, letting the steam fill the bathroom and momentarily forgetting the unfamiliarity of the packhouse.Pulling myself out of my reverie, I quickly rinsed off and wrapped myself in a towel. The chill of the air against my damp skin sent a shiver up my spine, urging me to hurry. I slipped on a light dress, one I hoped struck the balance between casual and presentable, and headed out.The soft clinking of utensils guided me to the dining area, where Alpha Ryan sat at the head of the table. His posture was relaxed yet commanding, a contrast that always left me slightly unsettled. “Good morning,” I greeted softly, sliding into the chair opposite him. It was a bit silly to greet him
Olivia POVHer question hung in the air, and I struggled to find the words, my heart pounding as the weight of her assumptions pressed down on me.The rack of elegant clothes loomed in front of me, every gown, dress, and jumpsuit shimmering under the soft glow of my room’s light. Emma, clearly proud of her display, stood expectantly, her eyes practically sparkling with excitement despite my rejection. My heart raced as I looked from the rack to her and back again."Well, Olivia?" Emma asked, holding up an emerald gown that sparkled with an almost otherworldly brilliance. "This would look divine on you. Imagine the heads you'll turn at the reunion!"I bit my lip, trying to form a coherent response. The truth swirled in my mind, too complicated to put into words. This party wasn’t some grand occasion; it was a casual farewell for my boot camp class. Showing up in a gown meant for a royal gala would be ridiculous.“I don’t think…” My voice faltered. “I mean, the party’s mostly for regula
Olivia’s POVZara grinned, her eyes sparkling with mischief as I teased her about her heavy padded jacket. “What are you hiding under there?” I asked, folding my arms and raising an eyebrow.With a dramatic flourish, Zara unzipped the jacket and shrugged it off, revealing a stunning outfit that made me gasp. She wore a sleek black halter top that hugged her figure perfectly, paired with a high-waisted leather skirt that flared just enough to make her look effortlessly stylish. Her boots, knee-high and laced, added an edge to the ensemble. Zara twirled playfully, the fabric catching the light and shimmering slightly.“This,” she announced with a proud smirk, “is my real outfit. Perfect for the send-off party tonight.”I tilted my head knowingly. “And this wouldn’t have anything to do with Loren, would it?”Zara’s smirk turned into a wide grin, and she leaned in conspiratorially. “Okay, fine. Maybe it has everything to do with Loren. I considered it and confessed my love to him first.”
Olivia's POVThe moment I reached the far end of the hallway, I let the tears flow freely. My chest heaved with suppressed sobs, and I clutched the straps of my bag tightly to steady myself. My flat shoes echoed faintly against the tiled floor as I hurried, my vision blurred from the salty sting of tears. I just needed to get away—from the disappointment in Professor Susan’s voice, from the lingering questions I didn’t want to answer.“Olivia!” Zara’s voice rang out from behind me, her hurried footsteps closing the distance. She grabbed my arm and pulled me to a stop. “Why are you crying? What’s wrong?”I wiped my cheeks roughly, refusing to meet her eyes. “It’s nothing, Zara. Just… let it go.”Her silence was unnerving, and when I finally glanced up at her, her expression was a mixture of frustration and concern. She folded her arms, her jaw set. “Let me guess. Alpha Ryan’s been mistreating you, hasn’t he?”I blinked at her, startled by the accusation. “What?”Zara nodded to herself,
Olivia POVThe air felt stifling as I stared at Matt instead of giving him an answer to his request. I hadn’t expected to see him tonight, not after everything that had happened. A part of me had convinced itself that whatever fragile thread still connected us had been severed long ago.“Olivia,” Again, his voice was soft but carried a weight that made my chest tighten. “Can we talk? Just for a moment. Alone, please.”I wanted to say no. The words were right there, ready to escape my lips, but they caught in my throat when Zara gripped my arm and leaned close, whispering, “You should go. He looks like he really needs to talk to you.”I shook my head, panic bubbling beneath my calm facade. “Zara, I can’t—”“Of course, you can,” she interrupted, her tone light but firm as she began nudging me toward the door. “Don’t make the poor guy wait. Besides, it’s obvious he cares about you.”If only she knew the truth.I glanced back at Zara, trying to convey my desperation without words, but her
Ryan's POV The morning’s work was long and tedious, but my thoughts constantly drifted to Olivia. I tried to focus, yet the idea of her at the camp reunion gnawed at me. I wasn’t worried for her safety; Ric was with her. He was the best warrior I had, and I trusted him implicitly to protect her. But there was something unsettling about the idea of her being there, surrounded by her past, while I was here.Needing a change of scenery, I decided to head to the training camp. Maybe I could convince myself it was just routine inspection, but deep down, I knew it was more than that.As I stepped out of my car at the campgrounds, the crisp air filled my lungs, bringing with it a wave of memories from my own time here. The hum of activity from trainees and instructors echoed around me, but being in this environment only intensified my yearning to see her. I shook my head, pulling myself together. The superintendent of the camp and his staff rushed to greet me, their voices full of reverence
Ryan’s POVThe whiskey burned its way down my throat, the heat doing little to numb the tension curling in my gut. I slammed the shot glass onto the table, the sound sharp against the low hum of bar chatter. Across from me, Luke and Andrew stared, their expressions ranging from amused to intrigued.Andrew leaned forward, swirling the amber liquid in his glass. “Well, damn. You’re really throwing them back tonight.”Luke arched a brow. “Did something happen? It’s not every day our dear Alpha comes to drink his problems away.”I exhaled through my nose, rolling the empty glass between my fingers. The bar’s dim lighting cast flickering shadows, but it did nothing to erase the image burned into my mind—the way Olivia had looked in the tower earlier. Half-dressed, eyes wide with innocence. It had almost messed with my control. The goddess knew I was just a tiny bit close to losing it and grabbing her to kiss the hell out of her. I just had to leave the room at the moment to ease off a bit.
Olivia’s POVThe cool air kissed my skin, sending shivers down my spine as I stood there, half-naked, my body exposed under the dim bedroom light. My breath hitched as Ryan’s gaze darkened, his eyes scorching a slow path over my body—from my bare feet, up my trembling thighs, lingering at my curves before stopping at my shoulders.He swallowed hard, his Adam’s apple bobbing.A slow burn spread in my chest, warmth coiling deep inside my belly. My breath turned shallow. I knew that look.And then my gaze dropped—just for a second.My lips parted in shock.There, straining against his pants, was a sight I had no business staring at. A pulse of heat rushed between my thighs, and my heart pounded against my ribcage.Ryan stiffened. His jaw clenched like he was holding back something—something perilous. But instead of acting on it, he swiftly turned around and walked to the door.His voice, when it came, was shaky but firm. “Put on some clothes before you catch a cold.”The door shut behind
Olivia’s POVThe afternoon sun spilled through the wide windows of The Silver Oak, a clean, cozy bar that Zara had suggested. We sat around a polished oak table, its surface gleaming under the warm light. Zara was animated, chatting with Lydia, Tina, and Lola. It was great but surprising how she’d recently gotten acquainted with them since the hearing. Benjamin leaned back in his chair, his arms crossed, looking mildly amused at their excitement.While they discussed trivial matters, I discreetly reached into my bag and pulled out the album I had decided to gift Zara. It was a limited edition featuring her favorite band, X Band. The glossy cover displayed their group photo, each member looking effortlessly cool and rebellious. My heart warmed with anticipation at Zara’s reaction.“Zara,” I said, stretching the album toward her. “I’m gifting this to you.”The moment the girls saw the album, they gasped in unison, their eyes widening.“Is that—?” Lydia’s voice hit a higher pitch.“The X
Olivia POVThe next morning, Ivy and I began packing my things. The room was a battlefield of half-opened boxes, ribbons, and paper. There were so many presents that even looking at them made my head spin. Some were still sealed, their contents a mystery, while others were fragile—vases, crystals, or delicate jewelry that demanded careful handling.“This is insane,” I muttered, shaking my head as I folded a delicate shawl into a box.Ivy, with a clipboard in hand, glanced at me. “I’m going to get the full list of gifts from the butler. It’ll make it easier to check for missing items and classify them. Some of these things need to be bubble-wrapped.”“Good idea.” I nodded, still trying to figure out how to pack the jewelry case without damaging it.When Ivy left, I stood amidst the chaos and let my mind drift. My thoughts wandered back to yesterday’s discussion with Ryan’s mother. Moon Lake Pack had been mentioned again, and something about it felt off. I couldn’t shake the feeling tha
Alex POVI did well to return home first before heading to the camp that evening. The plan was simple: grab my books and slip out quietly. As I pushed open the door, I immediately regretted not being more careful. My father’s booming voice echoed through the house.“Wow, our son is back, Maria!” He hollered from the living room. “Our dear spy.”I stiffened. I hated when he called me that, but arguing about it would only make it worse. My mother sat beside him, a stern expression already plastered on her face.“Oh, what took you all day?” my father pressed. “Did that family trap you there because they were receiving Olivia?”“No. I left after our meal,” I said, hoping to keep the conversation short.“Good. So, fill us in,” he demanded impatiently. “What happened there? How’s Olivia?”“She’s good.”“Good?” His eyebrows shot up. “That’s all you’ve got? Good?”Before I could respond, my mother interjected. “David, let him breathe.” She turned to me. “Did you see Diana? I heard she tested
Olivia’s POVI frowned, my fingers clenching slightly against my dress as I looked between Sarah and standing before me.Diana.I didn’t know her, had never even heard of her name before today. Yet, Ryan's mother's look sold off that Diana seemed like one to cause problem.Before I could ask any questions, Sarah turned to Ivy. “Go report back to Grandfather Moore.”Ivy gave a respectful nod and left the environment, her presence replaced by a weighted silence.“Who's Diana?" I asked her.She sighed. “She's Grandfather Moore’s granddaughter.“What? She's your….”"No. She's not my daughter. She's Kelvin’s elder stepbrother’s daughter.”"Huh?” I blinked.Sarah exhaled slowly before turning back to me. “Olivia, I think it’s time you learned more about the family.”My brows knitted. “More?”She nodded. “Grandfather Moore had some illegitimate children before he officially married Kelvin's mother. That, unfortunately, led to too many people trying to compete for the Alpha position.”I stiff
Olivia’s POVI hadn’t expected to run into Eva at the flower shop that day, and I certainly hadn’t expected to run into her here again. The last thing I wanted was another pointless argument, so I decided to ignore her and walk past as if she wasn’t there.But, of course, Eva wouldn’t let me go so easily.“Well, well, look who we have here,” she sneered, stepping in front of me to block my path. “The lowly omega who used a Gamma to cheat her way out of trouble.”I frowned, glancing around. Her guards now stood at a distance, they seemed uninterested in intervening. Maybe for now. I sighed and met Eva’s glare. “I didn’t cheat, Eva. And I certainly didn’t ‘escape’ anything. I didn’t do anything wrong.”Eva scoffed and took a step closer, her eyes flashing with barely contained fury. “Oh, really? Then why don’t you apologize for what happened that day?”I stiffened. “I have nothing to apologize for. I didn’t push you. I was trying to help you.”Eva’s lips curled in a twisted smirk, and b
Maid’s POVI stepped forward, firmly blocking the path as Diana halted in front of me. Her golden hair gleamed under the disappearing sun, and despite the gentle smile on her face, there was an underlying sharpness in her gaze.“I need to see my grandfather, Acacia,” she said, folding her arms. “Move away." I remained unmoved. “I’m sorry, Miss Diana, but you can’t go in right now.”Her eyes narrowed slightly. “Why? I walked despite my legs hurting to get here, and now you’re stopping me?”I met her gaze steadily, keeping my voice calm. “I have no personal reason to stop you, Miss. But your grandfather is receiving a special guest today—Alpha Ryan’s girlfriend.”Her lips parted slightly in surprise, then pressed into a thin line. “I heard Ryan was bringing her over today,” she muttered, more to herself than to me. “I think her name is… uhh, Olivia.”“That’s right, Miss Diana,” I confirmed, shifting my weight slightly.Her face twitched, and for a moment, she seemed genuinely concerned
Olivia's POVGrandfather Moore’s gaze was warm as he gestured toward the young woman standing beside him. "Olivia, this is Ivy. She’s one of the strongest female Gammas in our pack."Ivy gave a small nod, her short hair swaying slightly with the movement. She had sharp eyes, the kind that seemed to see everything without trying too hard. Yet, there was something calm about her—a quiet strength that didn’t demand attention but couldn’t be ignored either."It’s nice to meet you," I said with a smile. "You look really capable."Ivy smirked, crossing her arms. "I try."Grandfather Moore continued, "Given Celia’s… pregnancy experience, we thought it’d be easier for you to have a woman around rather than a man. Ivy’s one of our best, and she’ll be by your side to help when needed."I nodded. Now, I didn’t mind. In fact, I liked being around strong women like Ivy and Zara. There was something admirable about them—the way they carried themselves, the way they never seemed shaken.Ivy stepped