Chapter 59
Olivia's POV
The whispers had turned into a roar, drowning out the quiet moments I so desperately needed.
Every glance from someone in like at the coffee shop, every passing comment from a stranger, seemed tinged with suspicion. Derek’s shadow loomed large, and the gossip about our so-called alliance had spread like wildfire.
I sat in my office, the soft glow of the afternoon sun filtering through the blinds, but even the warmth couldn’t cut through the chill of doubt curling in my chest.
My phone buzzed with another notification. Another headline speculating on my loyalty to Ethan and the instability of our Packs.
A sharp knock broke through my thoughts. Mia stepped in, her expression a mix of concern and determination.
“Liv, we need to talk,” she said, closing the door behind her.
I gestured for her to sit, though I wasn’t sure I wanted to hear what she had to say.
She didn’t waste time. “You know what people are saying, right? That you’re playing both sides. That Derek’s using you to undermine Ethan.”
I flinched but nodded. “I know. And you know that’s not what this is, Mia.”
Her eyes softened, but her voice remained firm. “I know. But that doesn’t mean Derek isn’t pulling strings. He’s smart, Liv. Calculating. And if he thinks your empathy gives him an advantage, he won’t hesitate to exploit it.”
Her words hit like a blow, not because they were new but because they were true.
“I’m not doing this for him,” I said quietly, my hands tightening into fists. “I’m doing this for the Pack. For our future. LB’s stock and funds tanked thanks to Aiden, we need this to stay together if Ethan loses.”
Mia leaned forward, her voice gentler now. “I believe that. I know your heart’s in the right place. But Liv, you’re losing the plot here. You can’t let Derek control the narrative, or it’ll bury you – and Ethan – before you even realize it.”
I let out a shaky breath, trying to collect my thoughts. “I don’t know what else to do, Mia. If I push back too hard, I risk losing his support. And if I don’t…”
Her hand covered mine, grounding me. “You’re not alone in this. The Pack trusts you. I trust you. And Ethan, despite all his flaws, does too. Even if he’s too damn stubborn to admit it.”
I looked down at our joined hands, guilt threading through me. “It’s not just the Pack, Mia. It’s him. I feel like I’m failing him, like every decision I make just pushes us further apart.”
She sighed. “Ethan’s not perfect, Liv. He’s kind of fucking this up to be honest. But I think he’s good for you and needs you by his side. Don’t let Derek – or that he’s the wasband of Isabitch – to make you doubt that you’re his Luna.”
I snorted out a laugh, the tension dissolving at Mia’s choice of words. I felt a sense of calm on the heels of urgency and mumbled Derek’s parting words. “Perception is power.”
Mia leaned in and cocked her head at me. “What’s that, Liv?”
“Mia, how can we use all this attention to help the Packs?” my voice had an edge of excitement that it hadn’t in what felt like ages.
Her grin grew like a cheshire cat. “Now we’re talking.”
When the sun had set, Ethan stormed into my office, his presence filling the space with an energy that made my wolf sit up and pay attention. His jaw was tight, his eyes blazing with anger and jealousy.
“Explain,” he demanded, his voice a low growl.
I blinked, caught off guard. “Explain what?”
He stepped closer, tossing a tablet onto my desk. The screen displayed an article, one of the many gossip pieces speculating about my alliance with Derek.
“LUNA OLIVIA'S SECRET ALLIANCE WITH ALPHA DEREK EXPOSED!”
“Why is the entire Council whispering about you and Derek meeting in secret? About your so-called alliance with him?”
I stood, my chair scraped against the floor as I tried to steady myself. “That wasn’t a secret. It was a business meeting, Ethan. And you knew I was working with him.”
“Not like this,” he snapped, his voice sharp. “You’re giving everyone the impression that you’re siding with him over me.”
I crossed my arms, anger bubbling beneath my confusion. “You know that’s not true.”
Ethan’s wolf flickered in his eyes, his control slipping for a moment. “Do you have any idea what this looks like? To the Pack? To the Council? They already doubt us. This just makes it worse.”
“Doubt us?” I shot back, my voice rising. “You mean the bond we haven’t completed? Or maybe the secrets you keep, like Gideon’s contract sitting on your desk and everything with Isabella?”
That struck a nerve. His face tightened, his hands flexing as if he was holding himself back.
“It’s not what you think,” he said quietly, his tone hard but wavering.
“Then tell me what it is,” I pressed, my voice softer now but no less insistent. “Because from where I’m standing, it looks like you’re willing to trade my work – my independence – for more power.”
His composure cracked, and he took a step back, running a hand through his hair. “You think I don’t struggle with this? Every move I make, every choice is for the Pack. But you don’t see that, do you?”
I understood, but I held my ground. “You don’t let me see it. You keep shutting me out, Ethan. You’re hot then cold. You talk about us like it’s a partnership but keep me in the dark.”
Ethan’s laugh was bitter, hollow. “Do you have any idea what it’s like to grow up under Derek’s shadow? To have every decision questioned, every mistake magnified because you weren’t the chosen one?”
I froze, not daring to breathe in case it stopped Ethan from finally opening up.
“Derek was always obsessed with power, with creating the perfect heir. When my mother died, he married Chloe to secure another alliance. He thought I’d ruined his plans when her pregnancy failed, and Chloe didn’t hesitate to blame me.”
A flicker of pain crossed his face, and he finally turned to look at me. His words were raw, filled with a depth of hurt and anger that I hadn’t felt before. I took a step closer, trying to find the right words. “Ethan… I had no idea.”
He laughed bitterly. “Why would you? It’s a mess I’ve spent years trying to leave behind, but they keep pulling me back. And as for Isabella… she couldn’t handle it. The pressure, the constant judgment. When Derek cast me out, she chose to stay.”
My heart broke for him as if it were my own.
“I don’t want to be like him,” Ethan said, his voice quieter but no less intense. “I don’t want to control you or use you. But I don’t know how to protect us without... without doing everything I can to secure this vote.”
For the first time, I felt the vulnerability in his anger, the fear beneath his jealousy.
“Ethan,” I began, my voice faltering, “you don’t have to protect us alone. But you can’t expect me to stand by when you keep pushing me away.”
He looked at me then, really looked at me, his eyes searching mine for something.
“I’m asking for some compassion and empathy, Olivia,” he said, the irony of his words not lost on me. “I’m asking for you to trust that I’m trying to do what’s best. Even if I don’t always get it right.”
My heart clenched, the pang of empathy tightening in my chest. I could see now why he kept his walls so high, why he guarded himself so fiercely. His own family had betrayed him, stripped him of everything he thought he could rely on.
“I’m sorry, Ethan,” I said softly, reaching out to place my palm on his chest.
He looked down at my hand, his gaze softening for a moment, and he let out a shaky breath. “I know,” he murmured, covering my hand with his own. “And that’s why I can’t let Aiden or Derek get close to you. I can’t risk them hurting you too.”
I took a slow breath, his words bringing a fragile calm after a storm. “Trust is a two-way street, Ethan,” I said, my voice softer now but firm. “If you want mine, you need to start offering yours.”
His gaze held mine, the tension in his shoulders easing slightly. “Fair enough,” he murmured, finally an unspoken truce lingering between us.
