Chapter 74
Olivia's POV
The room felt suffocating despite its size, the walls closing in as I sat across from Mia in my office at Lunera Beauty. My fingers curled around a steaming mug of tea, but I barely felt the warmth.
My mind was stuck replaying the moment Marlus informed me that Matthew had been taken into Alpha Council custody.
“He played me,” I said finally, breaking the heavy silence. My voice was low, raw with my messy emotions. “I let him get so close, Mia. To me, to my Pack, to my work. And now he’s tied to Rogues. To Chloe.”
Mia’s sharp green eyes softened as she leaned forward, resting her elbows on the edge of my desk. “Babes, don’t do this to yourself.”
“How can I not?” My grip tightened on the mug, the ceramic dangerously close to cracking. “I’m supposed to protect my Pack. To lead them. But I let someone like Matthew just walk right in and use me. I gave him my trust and hope, and he used it against me.”
“You didn’t give him anything he didn’t take through lies and manipulation,” Mia countered firmly. “You trusted him because he knew exactly how to present himself. He played to your wants and needs, Olivia. That’s what assholes like him do.”
I looked down, my eyes burning with unshed tears. “I thought I could trust him,” I whispered. “I thought he cared.”
Mia reached out, her hand warm as it settled over mine. “And that’s what makes you a good person, Olivia. You see the best in people, even when they don’t deserve it. But even empaths can be deceived, especially when dealing with someone as calculating as Matthew.”
Her words cracked my heart. I’d spent so much time trying to live up to the image of a perfect Luna, someone who could lead with strength. But this wasn’t just about being fooled, it was the consequences I didn’t feel coming.
“What if the Pack or Counil sees this as a weakness?” I asked, my voice trembling. “What if they think I’m not fit to lead because I couldn’t see through him?”
Mia’s lips pressed into a thin line before she replied. “Your Pack doesn’t follow you because you’re perfect, Olivia. They follow you because you’re you and you care about us. You’re allowed to make mistakes. It only matters what you do next.”
I took a shaky breath, her words slowly grounding me. “I can’t let this happen again. I can’t let someone else take advantage of my empathy.”
“You won’t,” Mia said, her tone resolute. “Because now you know better. Matthew might have tried to seduce you, but he failed. Derek might be trying to profit off you, but you’re investing in Pack. That’s what we see.”
I nodded, finally setting the mug down and meeting Mia’s gaze. “I won’t let him, or Chloe, take anything else from me. It’s time I remind them why I’m Luna.”
Mia grinned, the fire in her expression mirroring the one beginning to rekindle in my chest. “That’s the Olivia I know and love.”
The hum of activity around Thorne Ridge Pack grounds was subtle at first, like the quiet hum before a storm. Wolves patrolled more frequently, their movements sharper, more purposeful.
I noticed warriors sparring in pairs near the training yard, their intensity radiating. Conversations hushed when I approached, though their worried glances spoke volumes.
Something was brewing.
My gut told me Chloe was behind it. The woman was a master manipulator, and her tendrils of influence had already spread farther than I’d anticipated. Still, seeing the undercurrent of unease ripple through my Pack was upsetting.
“Mia,” I called as I entered the Pack’s administrative office, my voice clipped.
She appeared from her desk, holding a clipboard. “What’s going on? You’re wound tighter than Kerrick during inspections.”
“There’s an increase in patrols,” I said, gesturing toward the grounds visible through the large windows. “I need to know why.”
Mia frowned, setting the clipboard down. “We’ve had reports of heightened Rogue activity in the surrounding territories. Nothing concrete, but enough to raise concerns.”
“Enough to warrant this kind of response?” I asked, my tone sharper than I intended.
“Kerrick says this is precautionary,” Mia said, her voice steady. “We can’t afford to be caught off guard. Especially not with Aiden released and planning who knows what.”
The mention of Aiden sent a shiver down my spine, but I nodded. “Has he or Chloe made contact with anyone in our allied Packs?”
Mia hesitated, her expression shifting. “We’ve received word that Chloe has been reaching out to a few of your allies. Nothing overt, but it’s clear she’s trying to gauge support or sow discord. It’s… frustratingly clever actually.”
The air seemed to thicken around me as her words sank in. Chloe was playing her hand carefully, setting up her pieces while I was still reeling from Matthew’s betrayal and my mother’s passing.
I straightened, drawing on every ounce of composure I could muster. “Send a message to our allies. I want to confirm where they stand. Make it clear that any wavering will be seen as an act against Thorne Ridge.”
Mia nodded, a sparkle in her eyes though the worry lines remained. “You got it.”
As she left, I leaned against the desk, closing my eyes for a moment. My wolf stirred restlessly, urging me to act, to fight, to protect. But everything Chloe represented – her cunning, her reach, her relentless drive – felt crushing and little out of my depth.
“She’s trying to break me,” I muttered to the empty room, my voice barely above a whisper.
No fucking way. I thought, and my wolf stretched in agreement.
I reached for my phone, my fingers trembling slightly as I scrolled to Ethan’s name. If anyone needed to know about Chloe’s movements, it was him.
He answered on the second ring. “Olivia.”
The sound of his voice steadied me, and I released a breath I didn’t realize I’d been holding. “Ethan, we have a problem.”
“Chloe?” he asked, his tone instantly sharpening.
“Yes,” I confirmed. “She’s been reaching out to some of my allies. I don’t have full details yet, but it’s clear she’s laying groundwork.”
A low growl rumbled through the phone, sending a shiver down my spine. “We’ll handle it,” Ethan said firmly. “What do you need from me?”
“Right now, just your support,” I admitted, my voice softer. “I need to know we’re united in this. That if my Pack allies aren’t firmly with Thorn Ridge and Stone Haven is against them.”
“You have my word,” he said without hesitation.
His words were a balm to my frayed nerves. Chloe wouldn’t stop until she got what she wanted, and neither could I.
“Ethan,” I said, my voice steadying as I found my resolve. “We need to end this. Soon.”
There was a pause, and then he replied, “I won’t be gentle when them when we do. You know that don’t you? I can’t let any more insults or attacks go unpunished.”
The raw edge of his tone carried a promise as old as wolves themselves. Alphas didn’t just protect; they dominated, crushed threats, and restored order with an iron will. I understood that instinct intimately, had seen it play out time and time again.
“I know,” I said, my voice quiet but steady. “You’ll do what needs to be done. That’s how Alphas work. It’s how you work.”
I paused, gripping the edge of the desk in front of me as I stared out at the Pack grounds. “They’ve already crossed too many lines, Ethan. Chloe’s not just attacking our Packs; she’s attacking who we are. I won’t stand by and let her rip everything apart.”
My wolf stirred, fierce and supportive of her Mate, lending strength to my next words. “So, when the time comes, don’t hold back on my account. Do what you have to. I’m all in.”
In every sense.
