He gave a small shrug and added, “She’s just protective.”
I nodded slowly. “I understand.”
And I did-his excuse made sense. A protective sibling. I would have felt the same iff were in her shoes.
But still… something didn’t feel right.
Deep down, I felt it.
That same little whisper in my chest that had been bothering me since I got here. Something about yesterday’s conversation. The look on Abigail’s face. The words Gabriel hadn’t said. D
What is he not telling me?
I forced a small smile and lowered my eyes back to my plate. “Okay,” I said quietly.
??/p>
Gabriel smiled warmly, clearly relieved. But the worry in me remained.
After the meal, Gabriel excused himself to attend to some duties while I went back to my room. Feeling bored, I lay on the bed and my thoughts drifted to the triplets. I thought of what they might be doing now… have they marked Anita yet? Of course, they should… at least to save the lives of their pups.
My chest tightened painfully at the thought.
They’re not yours anymore, I reminded myself. That was your decision.
But then, my wolf spoke. “You still love them,” she whispered. “Even without the mate bond.” (2)
-I didn’t answer.
Because she was right.
Even without the pull of the bond, even after everything… I still loved the
I had loved them before the bond ever existed.
They were my first everything-my first love, my first heartbreak, my first home.
They were the first ones who made me feel what it meant to be cherished.
To be protected.
To be seen.
To be adored.
They taught me what love was. Real love. Messy, wild, painful-but beautiful.
They pampered me, cared for me, made me feel like I was the only girl in their world.
But that was long ago…
Back when I was still just a teenage girl with stars in her eyes, believing that love was enough to fix anything.
I closed my eyes, a tear slipping down my cheek.
I didn’t realize when I finally drifted off to sleep. One minute I was lying on the bed, lost in thoughts of the past… the next, everything around me-faded.
Then I heard it-a soft voice, gentle but firm.
“Wake up.”
My eyes fluttered open.
And I froze.
Standing at the edge of the bed was… her.
The same woman from the rooftop.
The one who looked exactly like me.
Same hair. Same eyes. Same face..
I slowly sat up, heart pounding. “You… What are you doing here?”
She tilted her head and gave a small, tired smile. “This is a dream, Olivia.”
I blinked, trying to understand.
“A dream?” I repeated.
She nodded. “But it doesn’t mean it isn’t real.
I stared at her, confused. But before I could say anything more, her expression turned serious.
“Why are you so stubborn?” she asked, stepping closer. “Why didn’t you listen to me?”
I opened my mouth, but no words came out.
“I told you not to leave the Full Moon Pack,” she said, her voice sharp with disappointment. “I warned you.”
I swallowed hard. “Who are you?” I asked, finally finding my voice.
But she didn’t answer. Her lips parted slightly, like she wanted to speak… then closed again.
“Even coming to you like this, I’m breaking the rules,” she muttered. “I’m not supposed to interfere.”
I furrowed my brows. “Rules? What are you talking about?”
She looked me straight in the eyes.
“You made a choice,” she said calmly. “Leaving the Full Moon Pack will come with punishment.”
“Punishment? What are you talking about?” I asked, feeling cold all of a sudden.
She stepped back. “You’ll see soon enough. Be ready.”
And just like that-I shot up from the bed, gasping.
My heart was racing. My hands were shaking.
The room was dark now. The sun had already set. The only light came from the small lamp beside the bed.
I looked around, but no one was there.
Just me.
Alone.
But that dream… it felt too real to ignore.
What did she mean by punishment?
And who was she?
My chest tightened as fear slowly crept in.
Side Story Is Now Available. Go to The homepage. scroll down and you will see it.
O
Olivia’s POV
Dalia and Miren walked into my room, carrying a dress on a hanger and a box of shoes in their hands.
“Alpha Gabriel said we should help you get dressed in this,” Dalia muttered.
I swallowed hard, staring at the beautifully embroidered dress they held. It was stunning-fit for a queen. Maybe I should’ve felt excited, but I wasn’t. The dream I had a few minutes ago still lingered in my mind. I didn’t know who that lady was or why her words were still echoing in my head.
What did she mean when she said I would be punished? Was this some sort of game? And why was she able to speak to me through my dreams too?
At first, when she appeared on the rooftop, I convinced myself it was one of the triplets’ tricks. But now… now I wasn’t so sure. There was something about her- something I couldn’t explain.
“Are you okay?” Dalia asked gently, pulling me from my thoughts.
“Yes,” I lied. I was far from fine.
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.