Chapter 55
Ethan's POV
The second rogue sat slumped in the chair, his defiance crumbling under the weight of Marlus’s relentless questioning. The dim lighting cast sharp shadows across his face, highlighting every twitch and bead of sweat.
“We know someone’s funding Aiden’s little rebellion,” Marlus said, his tone calm but cutting. “You don’t strike me as the type to do this out of loyalty. So, who’s paying your bills?”
The rogue gritted his teeth, his eyes darting between Marlus and me. My wolf growled low in my chest, the sound rumbling through the room like distant thunder.
“Don’t make him ask again,” I said, my voice a dangerous edge.
He flinched but held his ground. “I don’t know anything about funding,” he muttered. “Aiden’s the one calling the shots.”
Marlus arched an eyebrow. “You expect us to believe that? Aiden can’t even lead himself, let alone a group of Rogues. Who’s backing him?”
The rogue’s silence spoke volumes, and my wolf clawed at me, demanding action.
I leaned forward, letting the full weight of my Alpha presence bear down on him. “Chloe,” I said, watching for any reaction. “She’s the one pulling the purse strings, isn’t she?”
His jaw tightened, and his eyes flickered with something—fear, guilt, or maybe both. If only there were a concrete way to read people.
Marlus caught it too. “So, it’s true,” he said, his tone sharp. “Chloe’s funding this operation. What’s her endgame?”
The rogue didn’t answer, but the jerky nod of his head was confirmation enough. My fists clenched at my sides, the proof of Chloe orchestrating yet another attack on everything I’d built fueling my rage.
“Anything else you’d like to share?” I asked, my voice cold.
The rogue hesitated, then muttered, “He’s got other friends sniffing around. Heard Aiden talking about someone new. Matthew something, I think?”
The name hit me like a blow. My wolf surged forward, a feral growl escaping my throat before I could stop it.
Marlus stepped in, his hand on my chest to steady me. “Alpha,” he said quietly, his tone a warning.
I forced myself to take a step back, my breathing heavy. Matthew. The man who had been hovering around Olivia like a cloud, offering her comfort and planting seeds of doubt about me.
“What does Matthew have to do with this?” I demanded, my voice sharper than I intended.
The rogue shrugged, his fear an offensive stench to my nose. “Don’t know. Just heard the name. Aiden said he might be useful.”
Useful. The word twisted in my gut, feeding my wolf’s rage. Matthew wasn’t just sniffing around Olivia; he was circling her, looking for an opportunity to seduce her, to drive a wedge between us.
“We’re done here,” I said, turning on my heel and storming out of the room.
Marlus followed, his expression grim. “This changes a few things,” he said.
“It changes everything,” I growled. My wolf raged within me, demanding I act, demanding I protect what was mine.
Matthew had crossed a line. And if he thought I’d let him get away with it, he would be dead wrong.
The hospital air smelled sterile and artificial, a stark contrast to the living, earthy scents of the Pack Lands I just came from. I stalked through the corridors, ignoring the curious glances from staff as I searched for him.
Matthew.
The man who had been circling Olivia like a vulture, feeding her doubts and exploiting her vulnerability.
When I spotted him near the nurse’s station, leaning casually against the counter with his ever-present smug grin, my wolf growled low in my chest.
I strode toward him, and his eyes met mine, the smirk slipping just slightly before he composed himself.
“Alpha Ethan,” he greeted smoothly, pushing off the counter. “What brings you here? Concern for Olivia’s mother, or Olivia herself?”
My jaw tightened, the insinuation making my blood boil. “Stay away from her,” I said, my voice low and dangerous.
Matthew tilted his head, feigning confusion. “I’m not sure I understand. Olivia and I are friends. Besides, a strong Luna is free to make her own choices, isn’t she?”
I took a step closer, my voice growling with threat. “Don’t play games with me. I know what you’re doing, planting doubts, manipulating her. It ends now.”
He held my gaze, his confidence unwavering. “Maybe you should ask yourself why she’s willing to listen to me in the first place. A woman like Olivia doesn’t settle for half-measures. Can you say you’ve given her your whole heart?”
My fists clenched at my sides, my wolf clawing to take control, but I forced myself to hold back. Losing my temper here wouldn’t help Olivia, or her mother.
“She deserves better than your lies and schemes,” I said, my voice icy. “And if I catch you near her again, you’ll need a doctor of your own.”
Matthew shrugged, the nonchalance infuriating. “If that’s how you see it. But Olivia trusts me. I could give her a life she never had to question.”
I watched him walk away, his words a calculated dig that stung more than I cared to admit. I turned toward Olivia’s mother’s room, pausing to take a steadying breath before entering.
Olivia’s mother lay in the hospital bed, her frailty a stark reminder of the consequences of losing your Fated Mate. Despite her weakened state, her eyes lit up when she saw me.
“Ethan,” she said, her voice soft but warm. “What a surprise.”
I pulled a chair to her bedside, forcing a smile. “I wanted to check in on you. How are you feeling?”
She chuckled weakly. “Oh, I’ve been better. But let’s not waste time on me. Tell me, how’s our Olivia?”
“She’s strong,” I said, the truth ringing in my chest. “Stronger than she gives herself credit for.”
Her gaze sharpened, cutting through any pretense. “And you? Are you strong enough for her?”
The question caught me off guard, and I hesitated. “I’m trying,” I admitted.
She reached out, her hand resting on mine. It weighed no more than paper.
“Since her father died, Olivia carries so much on her shoulders. The Betas chose to stand behind her, rather than step up into Alpha. She’s always felt the need to prove herself. But even the strongest need someone they can lean on.”
“I want to be that for her,” I said, the words leaving me before I could second-guess them.
“Then show her,” she said firmly. “Words mean little without actions. Olivia needs to see she’s not alone, that she doesn’t have to bear everything by herself.”
Her words struck a chord deep within me, resonating with the restless yearning I’d been struggling to define.
“She’s lucky to have you,” I said, my voice thick with emotion.
“No,” her mother corrected gently. “We both know I’m not long for this world. She’s lucky when you remind her of your love and loyalty. Just because she can feel it, doesn’t mean she believes it.”
My brow creased in confusion, but before I could ask what she meant by that, her small body wracked with a cough. “I should rest now.”
As I left the room, her words lingered, layering with my wolf’s insistent growls, I replayed Matthew’s taunts and Olivia’s biting words from earlier. Trust is earned.
For too long, I’d let my fear of rejection and my past with Isabella hold me back. But her mother was right. Olivia deserved more than words, more than gestures clouded by hesitation.
I would find a way to prove to her, and to myself, that she had my loyalty and love.
