I didn’t respond.
Because he was right.
A few months back, we thought we loved Anita. We wanted her. Hell, we were practically competing for who she’d love more. But then everything changed the moment we realized Olivia was our mate. The woman we once despised turned out to be fated for us-and that shattered everything we had with Anita. We’d been so caught up in Olivia and her problems that we completely neglected Anita.
“She shouldn’t be alone… we should be taking turns spending time with her at least, Louis said.
?????
“I’ll stay with her, Levi offered. “She needs to wake up to someone by her side.”
Louis looked at him for a moment, then gave a short nod. “We’ll rotate. I’ll come after you tonight. Then Lennox in the morning
I didn’t argue.
I turned toward the door. “I’ll tell the kitchen to send something up in case she wakes hungry,” I said, and then left the room.
In the hallway, I stopped a staff member and asked her to prepare a meal for Anita. Then, I headed back to my room. Sitting on the edge of the bed, my thoughts drifted-straight to Olivia and the heated moment we’d just shared.
I hated it. I hated how much I loved it. I loved slamming my lips against hers. I loved hearing her moans. Fuck, I loved the feel of my fingers inside her. And when she moaned my name? It was everything.
“Fuck!” I growled, covering my face with my palm.
This was a woman who destroyed me… she hurt me. How could I be thinking of her this way?” My wolf stirred. “Perhaps you should have a talk with her… ask her why she hurt you,” my wolf suggested.
I dropped my hands from my face and stared blankly at the floor, jaw tight.
“No,” I muttered out loud.
There was nothing to talk about.
I didn’t need answers. I didn’t need her justifications. I didn’t need the pain to be dragged back to the surface all over again.
“She hurt me,” I whispered bitterly. “She broke me. Destroyed me. And now… now she walks around like nothing happened”
I ran a hand through my hair and stood abruptly, pacing across the room like a caged animal. The memory of her moaning my name echoed again in my head, her fingers digging into my back, her soft whimpers-damn it. My body ached just thinking about it, but my chest burned with pain.
I wasn’t supposed to want her. Not anymore.
“I have nothing to discuss with Olivia,” I said harshly, speaking more to myself than anyone else. “I don’t want her explanations. I don’t want her guilt or apologies or whatever the fuck she has to say. I don’t want to open old wounds.”
My wolf was quiet, but I felt him silently judging-or maybe understanding.
I continued, “Olivia nearly made me hate my brothers. She almost destroyed my bond with them. I could’ve seen them as enemies if I wasn’t smart. Fuck! Olivia was a bitch.”
My wolf stirred but said nothing.
“TI focus on Anita,” I said aloud, grounding myself. “I once desired her. I wanted her. It won’t be hard to want her again.” a mind link interrupted my thoughts.
“Alpha, Luma Olivia just left the mansion. She says she’s going into the woods to shift. Should we follow her?” a guard at the gate asked through the mind link.
I frowned, rising to my feet immediately. “Don’t,” I said, already heading for the door.
No need for the guards to follow her. Not when I could do it myself-and catch her red-handed. Maybe she was sneaking off to meet her lover. And God help them if I catch them together because if I do…
Olivia’s POV
“I need a glass of water, please,” I said to Nora, who walked in after Lennox left.
“Alright.” She bowed and left.
My heart was still shaken by what had happened earlier with Lennox. My heart wouldn’t stop racing, and my lips still tingled from the way he kissed me-rough, needy, possessive. It was wrong, but Goddess help me, I wanted more.
I hated myself for it.
Sighing heavily, I stood and began pacing the room, trying to calm the storm inside me when a soft knock came at the door.
“Come in,” I said, clearing my throat and composing my expression.
Lolita stepped in, eyes wide and voice hurried. “Have you heard? Lady Anita fainted.”
My brows pulled together immediately. “What?”
“She collapsed in her chambers. The healer is with her now-and the Alphas too. They rushed to her the moment they heard.”
I blinked, trying to process her words. Anita? Fainted? Just this morning, she’d been smiling over breakfast. Moments ago, she was here throwing threats at me.
“And they’re with her now?” I asked, my voice tight without meaning it to be.
Lolita nodded. “Yes. They’ve been in her chambers for a while now.”
I bit the inside of my cheek hard enough to taste blood. I didn’t say anything, just nodded and waved Lolita off. She gave me a concerned look before slipping the door.
I stood frozen in place, staring at the wall, until the bitterness became too much to swallow. Jealousy burned through me, fast and hot, before I could stop it. I hated the feeling. Hated that it even existed. But I couldn’t deny it. I couldn’t pretend I didn’t care.
I shook my head.
I needed air. I needed space.
I grabbed a jacket, not even bothering to change from my simple clothes, and slipped out the door.
At the gate, the guards wanted to accompany me, but I ordered them not to, and then I left, making my way straight to the woods.
NO Clothes
The moment I walked into the woods, I undressed, folded my clothes, and kept them on a tree. and then I shifted into my wolf. Without wasting a second, I sprinted.
I raced through the thick woods, trying my best to wipe off the memory of them. Why can’t I just hate them like I wanted to? Why am I here feeling miserable and jealous just because they are with Anita? Fuck! Moon Goddess, help me hate them! I pleaded, still racing through the woods, the afternoon breeze hitting me.
Realizing that the sprinting wasn’t helping. I raced back to my four-legged form. my clothes in
Racing back in my wolf form, I was surprised to find Alpha Lennox waiting for me. What was he doing here? Wasn’t he supposed to be taking care of his favorite concubine?
Halting before the tree, I took a moment to catch my breath, only to notice something unusual. Lennox was leaning casually against a tree, one hand shoved into his pocket, the other gripping my clothes and belongings.
A growl of frustration escaped me. Why is he holding my things?
I padded closer, letting my wolf eyes lock onto his smug face. Lennox smirked, clearly entertained by my predicament.
“Shift back, his voice drawled, smooth and taunting. “Unless, of course, you’re comfortable staying like that.”
I bared my teeth in irritation but couldn’t hold the shift for much longer. With a frustrated huff, I relented. My wolf receded, fur melting into skin, bones cracking as I shifted into my human form.
The cold air pricked at my bare skin, and I immediately crossed my arms over my chest, glaring at him.
“Give me my clothes,” I demanded through gritted teeth.
Lennox chuckled lowly, the sound soft but annoying. He didn’t move. Instead, he raised clothes higher, just out of my reach.
“Why don’t you come and take them yourself, mate?”
My checks flushed red from the chill and his shameless teasing.
“Lennox, this isn’t funny” my
“Oh, but it is,” he countered, his sharp eyes gleaming as he ran his lustful gaze over my naked form. “You left the mansion without guards and ran off. Consider this… punishment.
I took a step closer, every nerve in my body screaming at me to snatch the fabric from his hands, but his challenging stance stopped me. He wanted me to get angry, to lash out. Or perhaps he was just in the mood to play, which I wasn’t.
“Lennox,” I spat, irritated. “I’m freezing.” I lied.
Lennox tilted his head as if considering my words, but the smirk on his lips didn’t falter.
“Beg for it, mate,” he said, his voice dropping an octave. “Ask nicely”
His words made my blood boil. Beg for it? Was he out of his mind? Yet, as much as his taunts infuriated me, there was a flicker of something new in his tone-a playfulness I hadn’t seen for a long time.
I narrowed my eyes, studying him carefully. His posture wasn’t as rigid as usual. His smirk wasn’t cruel but almost… teasing. This wasn’t the cold, merciless Alpha who tormented me. This was the Lennox I grew up knowing, grew up loving.
“Lennox,” I grumbled, “this isn’t the time for games.”
He shrugged nonchalantly, clearly enjoying himself.
“Oh, I think it’s the perfect time for games, mate.”
The word “mate” made my stomach twist in irritation. I stepped closer, my bare feet sinking into the cold forest ground. The closer I got, the higher he raised my clothes, just out of reach.
New Book: Back Home to Marry Off Myself
Loredana’s father left the family for his mistress, leaving them to fend for themselves abroad. When life was at its toughest, her father showed up with “good news” after 8 years of absence: To marry off Loredana to a paralyzed son of the wealthy Mendelsohn family.