Chapter 84
Olivia's POV
The quiet hum of the late afternoon settled around the Pack house as I stepped onto the porch, my eyes falling on Amelia sitting on the railing. Her shoulders were hunched, her gaze distant as she stared out over the training grounds.
The sound of my footsteps on the wooden boards made her glance back, a flicker of guilt crossing her face.
“Mind if I join you?” I asked, keeping my tone gentle.
She hesitated before nodding. “Of course, Luna.”
I perched on the railing beside her, letting the silence stretch out. Sometimes, words weren’t the first step; it was just being present. Finally, she broke the quiet, her voice heavy with regret.
“I still don’t know how I let it happen,” Amelia began, her hands fidgeting in her lap. “How I let Aiden manipulate me. How I didn’t see what he was doing – what he would do to the Pack.”
“You’re not the first person Aiden fooled,” I said softly, placing a hand on her arm. “Aiden has a way of finding people’s vulnerabilities and twisting them to his advantage.”
Amelia shook her head. “That’s no excuse. I should’ve known better. And now... now the Pack sees me as a liability.” I felt the ach in her heart and the worry she couldn’t make amends.
“You’ve made mistakes,” I admitted, my voice steady. “But you’ve also shown remorse and a willingness to make things right. That’s what matters.”
Her eyes filled with unshed tears, and she glanced at me, uncertainty etched into her features. “I’m not sure I deserve that. Do you really believe it?”
“I do,” I said firmly. “And I believe in second chances, Amelia. This Pack has been through enough division. If we’re going to move forward, it’s going to take all of us, including you.”
She let out a shaky breath, her tension easing just slightly. “I want to help. I want to prove that I can be better.”
A small smile touched my lips. “And I think you can. In fact, I have an idea.”
Her brows furrowed, curiosity lighting her expression.
“You’ve seen what happens to wolves who are displaced,” I began. “The ones who fall through the cracks and end up with nowhere to go. I want you to be our liaison to those people; to show them they still have a place, that they can rebuild their lives.”
Amelia’s eyes widened, a mixture of surprise and hope flickering in her gaze. “You’d trust me with that?”
“Absolutely,” I replied without hesitation. “Who better to guide them than someone who understands what it’s like to feel lost? This is a chance for you to not only prove yourself but to help others in the process.”
For a moment, she said nothing, her hands gripping the railing as she processed my words. Then, she nodded, a spark of determination igniting in her eyes. “Thank you, Luna. I won’t let you down.”
“I know you won’t,” I said, my smile growing.
As the sun dipped lower on the horizon, I found my gaze drifting to the forest. My empathy stirred within me, pulling at the edges of my mind. It wasn’t just Amelia who needed second chances, it was the Rogues, too.
“Amelia,” I said softly, drawing her attention. “We can’t turn our backs on those who’ve been cast out. I know some of the Rogues aligned with Chloe made terrible choices, but I believe many of them were driven by desperation. If we can offer them a path forward, maybe we can stop this cycle of conflict.”
Her expression turned thoughtful, and after a moment, she nodded. “If anyone can do that, Luna, it’s you.”
Her words settled into me, reinforcing my decision. This Pack needed to come together, not be divided. And I would do what I could to offer them a path toward that future – even if it meant extending empathy to those who hadn’t always earned it.
The dinner table was a quiet sanctuary, a rare pocket of peace. Ethan had insisted on a do-over, recreating the dinner we’d missed weeks ago before everything had unraveled.
Candlelight flickered between us, casting warm shadows on his face, softening the usual sharpness of his features. His steady presence calmed my nerves at what I was about to share.
“You’ve barely touched your food,” Ethan said gently, his deep voice breaking through my thoughts.
I glanced at the plate in front of me, faintly aware of the array of roasted vegetables and grilled chicken. My appetite had been elusive these past few days, every bite swallowed threatened to reverse course with my anxiety.
“I’m sorry,” I murmured, setting my fork down. “There’s just a lot on my mind.”
He leaned forward, his elbows resting on the table. “Talk to me, Luna-mine. Whatever it is, you’re not carrying it alone, remember?”
The sincerity in his tone nearly undid me. Ethan had always been a strong presence, but his unwavering belief in me felt like a lifeline I didn’t realize I needed.
“There’s something I need to tell you,” I began, my hands twisting nervously in my lap. “Something I should’ve told you a while ago.”
Ethan’s brow furrowed, but he didn’t interrupt, his sharp focus locked on me.
Taking a deep breath, I decided to start with the easier truth. “I have a... gift. An ability. It’s why Derek wanted me so involved, why he’s called on me as much as he has.”
His expression softened, a flicker of realization crossing his face. “Your empathy,” he said quietly.
My breath hitched. “You know?”
“I suspected,” he admitted. “I’ve felt it before we Mated, but that made it obvious. It’s how you respond to people, the way you read a room. It’s not something anyone can miss once they’ve been paying attention.”
The relief I felt was palpable. “It’s more than just understanding emotions,” I explained. “I can feel them. Sometimes, they overwhelm me. That’s why I’ve been so guarded. I didn’t want anyone to use it against me, and I didn’t know if I could trust you with it. Before.”
He reached across the table, taking my hand in his. “You can always trust me, Olivia. Your gift is a strength. And if you want to use it at the Council meeting to expose Chloe, I’ll stand by you. No one will touch you.”
Tears pricked at the corners of my eyes. “Thank you, Ethan. That means more than you know.”
But there was more to say. The shadow of my deal with Derek pressed loomed over me. “There’s something else,” I confessed, my voice trembling slightly.
“When all of this started, Derek came to me with a proposition. He wanted me to use my empathy to help him; by reading people, exposing vulnerabilities. He said it was to secure our Packs, but... I think it was always about power and profit for him.”
Ethan’s jaw tightened, his wolf flickering behind his eyes. “Why didn’t you tell me?”
“Because I was afraid everything would fall apart and I needed a way to support my Pack,” I admitted. “And because I was afraid. I regret it now, Ethan, I should’ve trusted you sooner.”
He stood, moving around the table to kneel beside me. His hands cupped my face, forcing me to meet his gaze. “I won’t let anyone use you, Olivia. Not Derek, not Chloe, no one. You are mine to protect, and I’ll fight anyone who thinks otherwise.”
His fierce declaration filled the cracks in my armor, mending pieces I hadn’t realized were broken.
“I believe you,” I whispered.
“Good,” he said, a rare smile curving his lips. “Because this is just the beginning. For us, for our Pack. Singular Pack. We’re in this together now.”
Ethan pressed his lips to mine, sealing his promise with a kiss.
