She stumbled back, clutching the cut.
The moment it happened, regret surged through me like ice water,
“Olivia-“I stepped forward.
“Don’t,” she said, her voice low but tight with pain.
Her eyes were wide-not with fear, but with disbelief.
And disappointment.
The kind I hadn’t seen before.
The kind I had feared more than anything.
What the hell have I done?
Olivia dropped the knife, and without saying a word, she began walking away, and without thinking, I followed her.
“Olivia… I’m sorry I said again, rushing after her, my chest tight with guilt.
She didn’t stop walking. Her arm was bleeding profusely, and she covered it with her other hand.
“Olivia, wait. Please-just let me take care of your wound.”
She paused for a second, then turned her head slightly, her voice calm but annoyed. T training, Lennox, Injuries happen.”
Her words sliced through me deeper than any blade. I took another step closer.
“I don’t care if it was training or a real fight; I said, my voice low. “You’re hurt. Let me help.”
She finally turned to face me fully, her expression unreadable but her tone sharp. “Care for your own wound, Lennox. That one’s bleeding worse than mine”
I shook my head, taking another step forward, stubborn. “I don’t care about mine.”
“Well, you should do,” she snapped, her eyes flaring. “You’re bleeding.”
“What the hell happened?”
A voice, furious and cold, echoed across the field.
I froze.
Levi.
He was standing a few feet away, his eyes blazing, his frown deepened, jaw tight. He took in Olivia’s arm, the blood running down her skin, and then he looked at me like he could rip me apart.
“You injured her?” he growled, voice thunderous.
I opened my mouth, guilt flooding me, but I couldn’t even speak before he spoke.
“You hurt her! Are you out of your damn mind, Lennox? You cut her?!”
I staggered slightly at the force of his rage. “It was a training fight-it got out of hand. I didn’t mean to-
“You didn’t mean to?” he snarled. “You’re more experienced. You’re supposed to know when to back out, and not injure her! What the fuck is wrong with you?”
Olivia stepped between us, her arm still bleeding. “Levi, calm down. It was training. I provoked it
Levi didn’t even look at her for a second. His eyes stayed locked on me. “You don’t get to hurt her-even if it’s training. You don’t get to lose control. Not with her.”
I clenched my jaw but said nothing.
Then Levi’s gaze softened as he turned to Olivia, gently taking her wounded arm into his hands. “Let me take care of this, he said quietly, but with a firmness that left no room for argument.
Olivia frowned. “I can take care of myself. She refused.
Levi shook his head. “It’s not up for debate, I’m doing it.”
She looked at me for the first time-really looked-but there was nothing warm in her eyes.
Then she nodded.
“Fine. You do it”
And just like that, I was dismissed.
Levi turned with her, guiding her away from me like I was a threat. I didn’t try to stop them. I didn’t say another word.
I just stood there, bleeding. Not just bleeding in my arm-but my heart was also bleeding.
Olivia’s POV B
“All done.” Levi sighed in relief as he finished bandaging
“I could get the healer,” he offered. my arm.
“No need. I’ll be fine by tomorrow. My wolf’s healing abilities must have done their work,” I replied, and Levi nodded, still squatting before me.
Feeling awkward being so close to him, I stood up and walked to the window, pretending to take in fresh air when, in truth, I just wanted to be as far away from him as possible. But Levi didn’t take the hint. Instead, he followed and stood behind me, making me frown as I wondered what he was doing.
“Is there a problem?” I asked, irritated, my back still turned to him.
I heard Levi release a soft sigh. For a moment, he said nothing. It was like he was struggling to the right words.
Our mate bond sparked to life, and suddenly, I began to feel his emotions-something that hadn’t happened before. They’d blocked me. Blocked me from feeling anything from them. But now… it felt like Levi had unblocked me. And what I felt? It was a mix of nervousness, worry, and lear.
I furrowed my brow, confused. Why was Levi letting me feel his emotions? Why w me that kind of access? That kind of connection is only shared between mates who trust each he giving other. So why now?
“Olivia… I have something to say, Levi said gently, his voice soft-like the man I used to know…. like how he used to talk to me.
“Can you please turn around? I want to look you in the eyes and say it, he pleaded.
For a moment, my heart began to race. My wolf whimpered softly, clearly confused. Why was Levi acting like this? Why was he speaking so gently? And why couldn’t I be angry at him… tell him that I didn’t want to hear a word? Maybe it was because I could feel his emotions. His nervousness
I wanted to turn, but I kicked against it. “You can say what you have to say, Alpha Levi, I muttered, trying to sound as harsh as I could be.
There was silence between us for a while. I could feel Levi’s emotions through the bond. I could feel everything. He was nervous, scared… and sorry.
“I want to let the past go: Levi finally said, his voice soft but clear. “I want us to be together, the way real mates should be?
I didn’t move. His words were shocking. I didn’t know how to respond.
“I’m sorry, Olivia,” he said again. “I’m sorry for hurting you all these years. But I was in pain too. What you did to me… it really hurt. It broke me”
My heart started beating faster, I was confused. What I did to him? What was he talking about?
“What did I do, Levi?” I asked slowly, still not turning around.
There was a long pause before I finally turned to face him. I needed to see his eyes when he answered.
But when he looked at me, he didn’t speak right away. He just looked… sad.
“You know what you did,” he said, his voice tight.
“No, I don’t, I replied, shaking my head. “I honestly don’t remember. Why don’t you just tell me?” He looked away, his jaw clenched like he was trying not to say something.
“Because I can’t, he finally said. “I don’t want to go back to that moment. And maybe it’s better that you don’t remember”
His words made my chest feel heavy. None of this made sense. If he wasn’t going to tell me, why bring it up at all?
“Then why say all this?” I asked, my voice cracking a little. “Why tell me you’re hurt by something I don’t even remember?”
“Because I want you to understand why I acted the way I did. I wasn’t just being cruel for no reason,” he said softly. “You hurt me that day, Olivia. And I’ve been carrying that pain for years. But I’m tired of it. I don’t want to live like that anymore. I want to move forward. I want us to start again… if you’ll let me”
I stared at him, unsure of what to say. Start over? After everything?
I didn’t even know what I had done to him, and he wouldn’t tell me. How was I supposed to decide something so big when I didn’t even know the full story?
And yet… I could feel his pain. I could feel that he truly meant what he said.
“Olivia…” Levi stepped forward, reaching out to take my hand.
But I quickly stepped back and shook my head, my voice rising. “No, Levi… you have to tell me what I did! How did I hurt you? You and your brothers keep saying I hurt you, but I don’t remember anything! I can’t remember doing anything!”
He opened his mouth to speak-his eyes dark and full of something I couldn’t quite place-but Just then, a sharp, sudden pain hit my chest.
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.