Chapter 65
Olivia's POV
The soft glow of candlelight flickered against the walls of the private dining room Ethan had prepared. I stared at the setup, a mix of confusion and awe swirling in my chest.
A small table sat in the center, adorned with fresh flowers and a simple meal. The atmosphere was disarmingly intimate, an acute reminder of our almost-kiss.
“This…” I hesitated, looking at him as he stood by the table, his hands tucked into his pockets. “This is unexpected.”
Ethan’s lips quirked into a small smile, but there was something vulnerable in his eyes. “I thought we could both use a moment away from the chaos. Just us.”
Just us. The phrase repeated in my mind. For all the complications, his intention felt genuine. I allowed myself to sit, though my body was still tense, unsure of where this was leading.
As we began eating, Ethan surprised me again by steering the conversation away from politics and Pack. Instead, he asked about Lunera Beauty, my work, and the passion that had driven me to build something independent of Pack responsibilities.
“You always seem so focused,” he said, leaning forward slightly. “I’ve seen it in the way you manage your business. But I feel like there’s more to you than you let people see.”
The comment was casual, but his gaze was anything but. It was as though he were trying to peer into the parts of me that I’d carefully kept hidden. My pulse quickened, my wolf stirring under his attention.
“What do you mean?” I asked, trying to keep my tone neutral.
“I mean,” he said slowly, his voice dropping, “that there are moments when it feels like you know what I’m thinking. Like you’re reading me before I’ve said a word.”
I stiffened, my fork hovering mid-air. My empathy. He was circling dangerously close to something I’d never shared with anyone outside my family. Besides Derek, but that was desperation.
“Maybe I’m just good at reading people,” I deflected, forcing a small smile.
Ethan chuckled softly, shaking his head. “Maybe. Or maybe there’s more to it than that.”
The way he looked at me – earnest, probing – made my walls wobble. For a fleeting moment, I considered telling him everything.
The strain of keeping this part of myself secret was growing unbearable, especially as Derek’s demands on my time and gift escalated. If there was anyone who deserved to know the truth, it was Ethan.
I took a breath, my hand curling around the glass of wine in front of me. “Ethan, there’s something –”
The sharp ring of my phone cut through the quiet, yanking me back to reality. I reached for it automatically, my stomach sinking when I saw Matthew’s name flash on the screen.
“Sorry, I have to take this,” I said quickly, standing and stepping away from the table.
“Olivia, wait –” Ethan began, but I was already answering.
“Matthew?” I said, trying to keep the unease from my voice.
“It’s your mother,” he said without preamble, his tone urgent. “Her condition has worsened. Olivia, you need to get here as soon as possible.”
My breath hitched, the air leaving my lungs in a rush. “What happened?”
“Her vitals are unstable. We’re doing what we can, but…” His voice trailed off, his hesitation saying more than his words ever could.
“I’m on my way,” I said, hanging up before he could say more.
I turned back to Ethan, who had stood from the table, concern etched into his features.
“Is it your mother?” he asked gently.
I nodded, my throat tight. “I have to go.”
“I’ll drive you,” he said immediately, his voice steady.
The warmth of his offer threatened to undo me, but I shook my head. “Thank you, but I need to see her on my own.”
For a moment, it looked like he might argue, but he simply nodded. “I’ll check on you later. Call me if you need anything.”
I gave him a small, grateful smile before slipping out the door, the conversation we needed to have cut short.
And my mother’s worsening condition pressed heavily on my heart.
The rush from my interrupted dinner with Ethan left me breathless, torn between lingering frustration at the suddenness of Matthew’s call and the rising tide of concern for my mother.
As I stepped into the sterile lobby, the faint smell of antiseptic hit me, sharp and unforgiving. The hospital lights were harsh, each fluorescent beam flickering in rhythm with the pounding of my heart.
Matthew stood near the nurses’ station, his expression composed but there was something else there I was too flustered to read into. My instincts flared with warning, but I pushed that aside for now.
“Olivia,” he greeted softly, stepping toward me with a warmth that felt both genuine and calculated. “We’ve had a setback.”
The knot in my chest tightened. “What kind of setback?” My voice wavered despite my effort to keep it steady.
He guided me gently toward a nearby seating area, his hand resting on the small of my back. “Her vitals have been erratic. She’s been asking for you, though. I think you should spend as much time with her as you can.”
His words were careful, measured, each one chosen carefully by someone who knew how to handle fragile situations. It should have been comforting, but the way his gaze lingered on me felt... off.
I nodded, trying to steel myself. “Thank you, Matthew. For everything.”
“Always,” he replied, his tone soft but carrying an edge I couldn’t ignore. “You’ve been carrying so much on your shoulders. Sometimes, Olivia, it’s okay to let someone else take the burden.”
The unspoken implication that Matthew wanted to be the one to take those burdens off my shoulders didn’t escape me. I just didn’t have the energy to unpack it, not now.
“I need to see her,” I said firmly, rising to my feet.
“Of course,” Matthew said, stepping aside but not before his hand briefly rested on my upper arm, his thumb stroking lightly on my shoulder. “If you need anything, you know I’m here for you.”
The words were kind, but they grated against my nerves. He always seemed to be there. Just close enough to offer comfort, but never overt in affection.
As I made my way to my mother’s room, I forced myself to focus. Her fragile presence was what mattered now, not Matthew’s lingering stares, not the political games waiting for me back at the Pack.
But as I opened the door to her room, her weak smile and trembling hand nearly broke me.
Whatever else was happening, I needed to be here. For her.
Matthew’s words played faintly in my mind as I approached my mother’s bedside. Was I carrying too much?
Maybe. But trust didn’t come easily anymore. Not with him, not with anyone if I was being honest with myself.
I clasped my mother’s hand and felt her faint grip, letting everything else fade. For now, all that mattered was being present.
In this moment all I needed to be was her daughter, unburdened. If only for whatever time I had left with her.
