Chapter 4

Olivia's POV

When I opened my eyes, the world came into focus slowly, hazy and unfamiliar. I blinked a few times, trying to orient myself. The room I was in was unlike any I’d ever seen—a blend of elegance and comfort. Black, white, and gold dominated the decor, from the silk sheets beneath me to the intricate patterns on the wallpaper. Soft floor lamps cast a warm glow, and the faint scent of lavender hung in the air. My body felt stiff, and as I looked down, I noticed my palms and knees were carefully bandaged, evidence of wounds I barely remembered getting.

The events before I fainted rushed back to me—my father, the chase, and collapsing on the road. Anxiety tightened my chest. Where was I? Who had brought me here?

The door creaked open, and I instinctively tensed. A plump, kind-looking woman entered, carrying a tray laden with food and a glass of water. Her face lit up when she saw me awake.

“Oh, good! You’re awake,” she said, setting the tray down on the bedside table. Her voice was warm and reassuring. “You gave us quite a scare, fainting like that.”

I sat up cautiously, wincing at the soreness in my limbs. “Where am I?” I managed to ask, my voice hoarse.

“You’re safe,” she assured me, fluffing the pillows behind me with practiced ease. “You fainted due to low blood sugar. I brought some food—eat a little, dear. It’ll help.”

Her presence was oddly comforting, her demeanor calm and almost maternal. As she reached over to adjust the covers, I noticed a tattoo on her wrist—a crescent moon entwined with vines. Recognition sparked in my mind.

“You’re Stephanie,” I blurted out before I could stop myself. “The sorceress. I attended one of your lectures at the training camp.”

Stephanie raised an eyebrow, clearly surprised. “Well, I wasn’t expecting that. Why didn’t you take my course directly if you were so interested?”

Embarrassment warmed my cheeks. “I’m just an omega,” I admitted quietly, fiddling with the edge of the blanket. “Getting into the training camp at all was already a stretch. I didn’t have the privilege to choose my focus.”

Stephanie’s expression softened, a flicker of pity crossing her face. She pulled up a chair beside the bed and sighed. “You omegas are always so hard on yourselves. You’ve got the heart of a healer, I can tell.”

Her words touched something deep inside me, but before I could respond, she leaned closer, her tone turning serious. “Olivia, do you know you’re pregnant?”

The question hit me like a bolt of lightning. My hand instinctively went to my stomach, trembling. “Pregnant?” I whispered, my voice barely audible.

Stephanie nodded, her expression heavy. “Yes. And I need to be honest with you—your long-term malnutrition has made your body fragile. Pregnancy will be... difficult for you. You won’t heal as quickly as before when you’re injured. You need to be careful.”

Her words settled over me like a storm cloud. My mind raced, the implications overwhelming. I clutched my stomach, a protective gesture that surprised even me. My throat tightened, and tears pricked the corners of my eyes.

“Is there...” I hesitated, swallowing the lump in my throat. “Is there a way to terminate it?”

Stephanie’s expression faltered, regret shadowing her features. She didn’t answer immediately, and the silence stretched between us like a chasm. My fingers dug into the blanket, my heart pounding as I waited for her response, dreading what she might say.

The bandages on my palms and knees felt tight as I shifted slightly on the bed. Stephanie’s words about my pregnancy swirled in my head, loud and relentless. My hands trembled as I clutched the edge of the blanket. I didn’t know how to feel—angry, scared, or overwhelmed. Probably all three.

“Why?” Stephanie’s voice broke through my haze, sharp and probing. Her steady gaze pinned me down. “Why not go to a proper hospital if this is what you wanted?”

Her question made me stiffen. I couldn’t tell her the truth, not about Ryan. My voice wavered as I avoided her piercing eyes. “I... I can’t go to a regular hospital. It’s not an option.”

Stephanie’s expression darkened, a mix of anger and conflict crossing her face. Her lips parted, no doubt to press for more, when the door opened behind her.

My head whipped toward the sound, and I froze. Standing in the doorway was Ryan.

Tall and commanding, he filled the room effortlessly. His dark, curly hair looked slightly tousled as though he’d run his hands through it one too many times. His sharp green eyes locked onto me, unreadable but piercing. In his hands, he held a bowl of steaming herbal soup. The light behind him highlighted the broad lines of his shoulders and the deliberate confidence in his stance.

For a moment, I forgot to breathe. His presence was overpowering, magnetic, and I felt my heartbeat hammer against my ribs.

Stop staring, Olivia. My inner voice screamed at me. I snapped out of it, my hands clenching the blanket as though that would shield me from the sudden storm in my chest.

His gaze softened just a fraction, but he didn’t smile. Instead, his jaw was tight, and his voice was low as he said, “Stephanie, is she eating yet?”

Stephanie stood, her arms crossing over her chest. “No, not yet, because your timing is impeccable.” She stepped aside, giving him a clear path to the bedside table where he set the bowl.

Ryan glanced at me briefly, his expression impossible to read. “You should eat something. It’ll help.”

I swallowed, my throat dry. “You brought me here?” I asked, my voice barely above a whisper.

He didn’t look at me as he adjusted the tray beside the bed. “You ran into my car,” he said flatly. “It was either leave you in the middle of the road or bring you here.”

Embarrassment flared, warming my cheeks. I wanted to sink into the bed and disappear. “I... I didn’t realize it was your car,” I muttered, my gaze dropping to my lap.

Stephanie, who had been watching the exchange with a curious eye, suddenly broke in with a sharp tone. “Ryan,” she said, her voice dripping with accusation, “what exactly are you doing here with her? Don’t tell me you brought her here for an abortion!”

I gasped, my head snapping up to look at Stephanie, then at Ryan. The words hung in the air, heavy and suffocating.

Ryan’s reaction was immediate. His hand jerked, nearly spilling the soup he held. His green eyes widened slightly, and he looked at Stephanie like she’d just spoken in a foreign language.

“What?” he said, his voice rising slightly.

Stephanie’s arms uncrossed, her hands now planted firmly on her hips. “You heard me,” she said, her tone unwavering. “You’re an Alpha. It’s your responsibility to protect lives, not end them! And as a witch, I can’t casually take an innocent life without risking the Moon Goddess’s wrath. You should know better.”

I didn’t expect Stephanie to put the pieces together so quickly, but there it was. My secret—our secret—laid bare in a single assumption. My breath hitched as I watched Ryan’s expression shift from startled to something I couldn’t quite place.

His eyes flicked to me, sharp and focused. For a second, I thought he might be angry, that he might yell or regret ever saving me. Instead, he set the bowl down with deliberate care and turned to face me fully.

His voice was steady but carried an edge of authority that sent a shiver through me. “Who told you to get rid of the baby?”