Chapter 50
Olivia's POV
The restaurant Matthew had chosen was understated but elegant, its warm lighting and quiet ambiance a stark contrast to the turmoil in my chest.
I adjusted the hem of my blouse as I stepped inside, scanning the tables until I spotted him. Matthew rose as I approached, his smile easy and inviting.
“Olivia,” he greeted, pulling out my chair with a practiced grace. “I’m glad you came.”
“Thank you for inviting me,” I said, my voice measured. Despite the calm atmosphere, my nerves prickled.
I wasn’t entirely sure why I was here. Maybe it was the way Matthew seemed to understand me when Ethan didn’t, or maybe I was just looking for a distraction from the ever-mounting pressure.
Maybe I had become paranoid with all the threats and attention and needed to figure out Matthew’s angle, what he was after if it wasn’t me.
Matthew ordered wine for both of us, and the conversation started easily enough, circling around the usual pleasantries. But soon, he steered the topic into more personal territory.
“You’ve built something remarkable with Lunera Beauty,” he said, leaning forward slightly. “Your vision, your dedication, it’s inspiring.”
I offered a faint smile, but the compliment felt weighted. “It’s been a lot of work. I just want something I can call my own, something that supports my Pack.”
“And you’ve achieved that,” Matthew said, his tone sincere. “But I can’t help but wonder if you’ve ever truly had the support you deserve. From those closest to you.”
The comment caught me off guard. “What do you mean?”
He swirled his wine glass thoughtfully. “Ethan. He’s powerful, sure, but power doesn’t always come with understanding. Does he really value you for you? For everything you care for?”
My chest tightened, a mix of defensiveness and doubt rising within me. “Ethan’s dealing with a lot. The Council, Pack…it’s complicated.”
“Complicated,” Matthew repeated, his gaze steady. “Is that how you want to live your life? Constantly fighting for a place in someone else’s priorities?”
I looked away, the weight of his words pressing down on me. Was that what I’d been doing? Fighting for scraps of Ethan’s attention while he focused on everything but us?
Matthew shifted the conversation, sensing my unease. “Your work is groundbreaking. I’ve been thinking a lot about your formula and its potential. There’s so much more you could do with it, Olivia.”
I met his eyes, caught off guard by the shift. “What are you suggesting?”
He smiled, leaning back in his chair. “I’d like to collaborate with you. Expand its potential into the medical field, refine its impact. I think together, we could do something extraordinary.”
The idea should have excited me, but instead, it left me uneasy. Matthew’s words were carefully chosen, his tone too polished.
There was admiration in his gaze, but beneath it, I sensed something else. Ambition.
“That’s… an interesting idea,” I said cautiously. “But a new collaboration takes a lot of focus that I don’t have right now. And I’m not sure I want to cross that stream with you.”
“Of course,” he said smoothly. “Just think about it for the future. You’re brilliant, Olivia, and I promise not to bring it up at our next… dinner.”
I nodded, but his words lingered, wrapping around me like a net. Was he truly seeing me, or was I just another piece in someone else’s game?
As the meal wound down, Matthew reached across the table, his hand brushing mine. “You deserve someone who sees your worth without hesitation, Olivia. Don’t let anyone make you doubt that.”
I withdrew my hand, forcing a polite smile. “Thank you, Matthew. I’ll keep that in mind.”
But as I left the restaurant, a knot of unease twisted in my stomach. Matthew’s charm was undeniable, but his intentions felt murky.
And I couldn’t shake the feeling that I’d just stepped into something I couldn’t wash off.
Ethan’s Pack House was unusually quiet as I stepped inside, the soft hum of distant conversations barely audible. My heels clicked against the polished floor as I made my way to his office, a mix of determination and hesitation churning in my chest.
I was ready to get answers, and I wasn’t leaving without them.
I wasn’t sure what I was expecting, but the sight of his desk, cluttered with papers and a single open folder, immediately caught my attention. The contract was impossible to miss, Gideon’s name printed boldly at the top. My breath hitched as I approached it, the words blurring together in my rising panic.
Gideon wanted my formula. Ethan had it sitting here, out in the open. Had he been considering it all along?
The door creaked open behind me, and I froze. Ethan’s voice, low and steady, cut through the silence. “Olivia. What are you doing in here?”
I turned slowly, my pulse pounding in my ears. “What am I doing?” My voice cracked with disbelief as I gestured to the contract. “What is this, Ethan?”
A cold sensation washed over me, creeping from the base of my spine. My formula, the one thing that was purely mine, my creation, my livelihood. And Ethan had somehow thrown it into the arena without telling me, as if it were just another tool to barter with.
“So... you’ll just hand it over?” My voice was barely a whisper, disbelief sharpening each word.
His jaw tightened as he stepped closer, closing the door behind him. “It’s not what you think.”
“Then explain it to me,” I demanded, my voice rising. “Because it looks like you’re trading my work – my life – to secure a vote.”
Ethan ran a hand through his hair, his frustration palpable. “I haven’t agreed to anything. Gideon’s trying to force my hand.”
“And you didn’t think to tell me?” I snapped, the betrayal cutting deep. “You didn’t think I deserved to know that my formula, my Pack’s future, was on the fucking bargaining table?”
“I was trying to protect you,” he roared, his tone laced with the power of an Alpha. “I wanted to handle it without dragging you into it.”
“Handle it?” I echoed, my voice trembling. “You don’t get to decide that for me, Ethan. This is my work, my Pak. You don’t have the right to make deals behind my back. I’m not collateral damage in your bid for power.”
His eyes darkened, his wolf flickering just beneath the surface. “I wasn’t going to give it to him. You have to believe me.”
“I don’t know what to believe anymore,” I admitted, the words bitter on my tongue. “First you refuse to bond, then Isabella shows up, now this? You keep shutting me out, Ethan, and I’m tired of it.”
He wrestled controls of his emotions, gaze softening, but it only made the ache in my chest worse. “Olivia –”
“– Stop,” I said sharply, cutting him off. “I can’t do this. I can’t keep wondering where I stand with you, whether I can trust you.”
His silence was answer enough, but still, I waited, clinging to the hope that I could trust my Mate. Ethan finally met my gaze, his eyes unreadable but his emotions conflicted.
"I know we’re not Fated Mates,” I spit the word like a curse, “but I thought we were something. You have no right.” I hissed, feeling the sting of betrayal settle in.
Without waiting for a response, I turned and strode toward the door. My hands shook as I gripped the handle, pausing only for a moment. “I’m going back to my Pack.”
I didn’t look back as I left, the quiet sound of the door clicking shut behind me was deafening.
