Olivia’s POVThe noise of the party greeted us as the elevator doors slid open, a stark contrast to the silence we’d left behind. My heart had settled somewhat during the ride down, but with Alpha Ryan walking just ahead of me, my chest felt tight again. It wasn’t fear or anxiety—at least not the kind I could explain. It was… something else.As we stepped back into the ballroom, the ambient glow of chandeliers and the low hum of music wrapped around us. The crowd seemed livelier now, and laughter filled the air. Ryan didn’t say anything as we moved further in, his strides purposeful and confident.I followed, keeping a careful distance behind him. He was so close, yet I couldn’t help feeling the space between us. It was almost unbearable. Why did I feel like this? Why did I care so much?He paused to greet someone, his head inclined slightly, but his tone still carried that cold, polite authority. I stood back, pretending to adjust the cuff of my dress when I noticed them—two girls ma
Olivia’s POVThe moment my eyes landed on the post, I felt my breath hitch. Emily was rejected by Ryan. My fingers hovered over the screen for a heartbeat, then I clicked on it, drawn to the headline like a moth to a flame.The comment section was already buzzing, speculations flying left and right. Most people dismissed it as a baseless rumor, but my heart raced as I stared at the screen. Emily—beautiful, confident, perfect Emily—rejected? By Ryan?I hated how much satisfaction surged through me at that moment, a cruel little voice whispering, She deserved it. My mind drifted back to all the times Emily had gone out of her way to belittle me, to make me feel like I was nothing.Without thinking, I typed into the comment section. My fingers moved faster than my thoughts: "She didn’t deserve to be Luna anyway. This rejection is exactly what she deserves."The moment I hit post, I felt a pang of guilt mixed with exhilaration. Was that too much? My wolf, Alice, growled in approval."You
Olivia’s POVI stared at the phone in my hand, heart pounding as the caller's rough voice sent a chill down my spine."Well, well, isn’t it the Omega piece of trash herself?" the man sneered. His tone was mocking, dripping with malice. "How does it feel, Olivia? Knowing you're just a mistake of your pathetic bloodline?"I froze, my knuckles whitening as I gripped the phone tighter."What—who is this?" My voice came out shaky, barely above a whisper.His laughter was low and sadistic. "Does it matter? Everyone knows what you are. A waste of space, a disgrace to your pack. Did you think you could just crawl into your shell and avoid this? Oh no, little Omega. We see you, and we're laughing."Tears stung my eyes, but I forced them back, refusing to give him the satisfaction of hearing me break."You’re wrong," I managed to say, though my voice wavered.He only laughed harder. "Am I? Go check your social media. The truth is right there. Oh, and Olivia? Try not to cry too hard. It’s unbeco
Olivia's POVThe walk was quiet, the sound of our footsteps blending with the rustling leaves. Ryan’s pace was steady, his presence grounding. Every so often, he glanced back at me, as though silently checking if I could keep up. The air was fresh, carrying a faint floral scent that made the tense knot in my chest loosen slightly.“We’re almost there,” he said, his voice calm.I nodded, still unsure where “there” was. My thoughts swirled with the bullying, the calls, the cruel words. It was all too much. But Ryan’s decision to take me out for a walk had been an unexpected balm. It was a distraction, pulling me out of my spiraling thoughts.After a few minutes, we rounded a corner, and my breath caught. Before us stood a sprawling mansion, even grander than the one we lived in. It loomed proudly within the vast estate, its high windows shimmering in the sunlight.“This is my family’s house,” Ryan said, gesturing toward it.The path led to a manicured lawn that seemed untouched by time.
Ryan's POVI watched Olivia, her face lighting up with every step she took. She ran her fingers over the books she came across with on the mantle, her eyes scanning the room like it held every answer she’d ever wanted. The way her lips parted in awe, the faint gasp when she spotted the glass doors overlooking the woods—it was like watching sunlight break through after a storm.And I couldn’t look away.A strange warmth settled in my chest, one I couldn’t quite place. Was it sympathy for everything she’d been through? Admiration for how she carried herself despite it all? Or was it something deeper, something I wasn’t ready to name yet?I leaned against the doorway, crossing my arms as my gaze lingered on her. Olivia was… special. Different. But with every moment, the lines between sympathy and something more were blurring, and it was getting harder to convince myself otherwise.Yesterday, I thought I had it all figured out. I thought keeping my distance was the right thing to do—for h
Olivia POVRyan walked back into the library, his gaze immediately finding mine. He gave a small, almost apologetic smile as though he felt guilty for leaving me alone for even a few minutes. Checking his watch, he said, “It should be about time your private teacher gets here.”I blinked, confused. “My teacher?”He nodded casually, leaning against the edge of the nearest bookshelf. “I arranged for someone to start giving you lessons. We talked about this yesterday, remember?”The words hung in the air, and my surprise must have shown on my face because he raised an eyebrow. I couldn’t believe it. How had he arranged for a teacher so quickly? We’d only mentioned it in passing yesterday.Before I could voice my disbelief, the doorbell echoed through the house. Ryan straightened, motioning for me to stay put as he strode toward the door. Moments later, footsteps approached, and when Ryan returned, I froze.“Stephanie?” My voice came out louder than intended.Standing next to him was Step
Olivia’s POVRyan looked intrigued. “Really?"Stephanie nodded, her expression turning uncharacteristically serious. “Yes. It’s because the child felt the environment he was living in wasn’t safe. So, he called out to his father, in sleep, asking for protection—for both himself and his mother.”My hand instinctively moved to rest on my stomach, a wave of wonder and disbelief washing over me. I glanced at Ryan, who stood frozen, his usual composure cracking just a little.“You’re saying…” Ryan’s voice was steady, but there was an edge of disbelief to it, “that my child—our child—called to me? In his sleep?”Stephanie nodded again. “It’s rare, incredibly rare. But it’s a sign that this baby is special. Not just any unborn child can communicate like that, especially at such a young stage. It also means…” she paused, her eyes darting between the two of us, “that the bond between the three of you is already stronger than most.”Ryan exhaled sharply, running a hand through his hair. He look
Olivia’s POV The night had crept in, quieter than I had anticipated. I found myself standing in front of Ryan’s room again, much like the night before. The faint glow of the moon filtered through the partially drawn curtains, casting a soft light over the space. My heart thumped a little faster, unsure of what to expect as I pushed the door open.Emma was there, seated by the corner of the room, surveying it after she just arranged the bed, looking up at me with a sly smile. “Oh, you’re back,” she said, her tone laced with amusement. “I figured you two had a fight or something. That’s why you’ve been sleeping apart.”I froze, unsure of how to respond. “A fight?” I thought that she seemed to misunderstand our relationship.But I was about to correct her—tell her that we didn’t have a fight, that we simply slept in separate rooms—before I could, Emma reached into her pocket and pulled out a bottle of perfume.“For later,” she said, handing it to me with a wide grin. “To make sure toni
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