Olivia's POV

The butterflies in my stomach threatened to morph into a Mothra-sized nausea with the Alpha Council vote here.

Slipping the earring into place, my phone buzzed with a message.

Derek: “Aiden intends to use the bond (or lack thereof) against Ethan. If you won’t act, Olivia, I may have to reconsider my alliances. Consider this a friendly warning.”

The words hit like a punch to the gut. I sank onto the edge of my vanity, my hand tightening around my phone.

Derek wasn’t one to give idle threats. If he was hinting at switching sides, it meant he thought we were vulnerable.

As much as I tried to dismiss Aiden’s threats, I knew he’d exploit any weakness if it would elevate him and undermine Ethan. He was already digging with that letter.

And Derek, along with the other Alphas on the Council, would be watching for even the smallest slip. If they saw us crack, Derek’s loyalty would be up for sale.

The only surefire way to protect Ethan and me was to complete the bond, fully and irrevocably.

I was out of other options that didn’t leave me indebted to Aiden or worse. I had to face facts: I needed to protect both of us by sealing this for good.

I took a shaky breath, glancing at myself in the mirror. I could do this. I had to.

When I found Ethan in his study, he was hunched over a map of Pack territories, lost in concentration. My heart sped up as I approached, my mind already racing through how to explain the ultimatum I’d just received.

As if sensing my presence, he looked up, his brow furrowing when he saw me.

“Everything okay?” His tone was cautious, as though he sensed the unease rolling off me.

“Derek texted me,” I began, gathering my thoughts. “He’s…he warned that Aiden’s planning to expose us at the Council meeting today with proof. If he does, Derek might flip with his allies; he practically said as much.”

Ethan’s jaw tightened, and his hands curled into fists as he took in the news. But he said nothing, waiting for me to continue.

I took a step closer, my gaze steady. “Ethan, if sealing the bond is our only way to secure the vote then I’m willing to do it. I know I’m – this isn’t what you want, but if it’s what we need to protect the Packs, just do it.”

He was silent, his face a mask of intense focus. “This bond isn’t just a strategy, Olivia,” he finally said, his voice low. “There’s more here than politics.”

“I know,” I replied, my voice barely above a whisper, but steady. “But Pack comes first, Ethan.”

Our gazes met, and I felt the seriousness of the ultimatum settle over us. This wasn’t just about power or the Alpha Council anymore, it was about us crossing a line that neither of us could go back from.

My heart hardened as I took a step back, letting the silence stretch out between us. “I just wanted you to know before today’s meeting,” I said softly. “I’ll be ready.”

Ethan’s expression softened, and he gave me a slow, understanding nod.

---

The Alpha Council Hall was as tense as I’d ever felt it and I swayed under the press of emotion. Rows of Alphas filled the room, their gazes sharp and unrelenting as they waited for the vote.

Beside me, Ethan held himself with his usual composed strength, but I could feel the uncertainty radiating off him, a silent storm simmering just under his calm exterior.

Today’s vote would be critical, and with Derek’s recent warning hanging between us, I couldn’t shake the knowledge that every move, every word, would be scrutinized.

Across the room, a woman I didn’t recognize stepped forward. Her beauty was striking; soft, with dark eyes that held sadness, her gaze directed solely at Ethan.

Something in the room shifted as she approached, the whispers growing louder. She was delicate, almost ethereal, but her presence demanded attention.

“Isabella?” Ethan’s voice was low, and though he barely whispered her name, it reverberated through me like an oncoming train.

So, this was Isabella; Ethan’s former Mate, the one who had left him, and whose absence had carved deep scars he refused to talk about. I felt a strange pang in my chest, a mixture of discomfort and curiosity, as I watched her.

Her gaze softened as she looked at Ethan, and I felt like a third wheel – out of place and unwelcome.

“I wanted to see you,” she murmured, her voice filled with a longing that was impossible to ignore. “I’ve… I’ve missed you, Ethan.”

Her words were quiet, but loud enough for those nearby to hear. The tension in the room shifted as some Alphas exchanged glances, speculation flickering in their eyes.

A few were already whispering among themselves, undoubtedly questioning what her presence here meant, for Ethan and for our bond.

Ethan’s expression hardened, his voice steady but distant. “Isabella, this isn’t the time or place.”

But she seemed determined, taking a small step closer. “Ethan, we were Fated once. That connection doesn’t just disappear.”

A fresh wave of whispers swept through the room, and I felt a pulse of irritation at her audacity, the way she spoke as though I wasn’t even there, as though our bond – unfinished as it was – was simply an obstacle.

The murmurs from the Alphas around us only fueled my discomfort. It was Chloe’s voice, however, that rose above them all, dripping with condescension as she stepped forward.

“Well, isn’t this telling?” Chloe’s gaze flicked between Isabella and me, her lips curling into a mocking smile. “It seems not everyone is as convinced of Olivia’s claim as she’d like us to believe.”

Her words cut through me, and I felt the weight of every gaze in the room turn to me, assessing, doubting. My jaw clenched as I met Chloe’s stare, determined not to give her the satisfaction of seeing my discomfort.

“Isabella may have been part of Ethan’s past,” I replied, keeping my tone steady, “but I’m his present and future. We don’t need to manipulate others to prove it.”

Chloe’s eyes narrowed, a flicker of anger surging from her before she masked it with a smile.

“How brave of you to defend a bond you haven’t completed. Tell me, Olivia, does that make you feel secure?” Her gaze lingered, cold and calculating, before she added, “Alpha Derek, do you not care to clarify?”

Derek only smiled, an enigmatic expression that hinted at amusement more than support. “Olivia seems quite capable of handling herself,” he replied, clearly relishing the dramatics.

The Chairman loudly cleared his throat. “It’s time.”

Everyone reluctantly took their seats, and I slipped my hand into Ethan’s. I didn’t know if the support was for him, or me, but he squeezed my fingers in gratitude.

Finally, the vote was called.

As Each Alpha cast their decision, I tried to read the flickers of expression crossing their faces, but it was lost in the sea of feeling around me.

Two of the Alphas who supported Aiden in the first round now backed Ethan, a shift that sent a flicker of relief through me. But as more votes were cast, I could see a pattern emerging and we were deadlocked once again.

The final vote would – not surprisingly – fall to Derek, and all eyes turned to him.

Derek sat back, his gaze thoughtful, before raising his hand. “I abstain.”

Murmurs of disbelief rippled through the room, and I felt a flare of frustration. Derek’s abstention left us in exactly the same place as last time: another tie, another unresolved vote.

Ethan’s hand tightened on mine, and I felt the effort he was making to keep his composure.

The Chairman called for a third, and final, vote in two weeks.

As the council meeting adjourned, the murmurs followed us out. Derek’s nonchalance had only fueled the rumors, and my confidence faltered inside.

Despite holding my head high, Chloe’s words haunted me. The doubt had been planted, and the whispers would only grow louder.

Derek wouldn’t abstain from the next vote. But if the Alpha Council couldn’t reach a majority decision, either Ethan or Aiden would need to concede – or the decision would be made by a traditional challenge.

To the death.