Chapter 282

Olivia

“Stay back, Olivia,” Nathan said, his voice stern and commanding. “I need to deal with this traitor.”

Nathan’s words sent my instincts on edge. Inside of me, my wolf’s voice echoed clear and proud.

“Don’t let these men kill each other,” she said. “It’s not worth it.”

My wolf was right; this fight was silly. The real battle was over. I had found the artifacts, and with one command, I knew that I could make all of this stop. They were just fighting over feelings now.

“Nathan,” I said, ignoring the heavy stares of Alvin’s men, “it’s not worth it. We can deal with him later. We have to get home.”

“Oh, can you?” Alvin asked, cocking his head to the side. “Olivia, you know you don’t want him. Ever since we were kids, you always had a special connection with me.”

“Alvin, whether you want to believe it or not, Nathan is my mate,” I said. “And look behind you! Our home—your home—is under attack!”

At my words, I saw Alvin’s face freeze slightly. But he didn’t turn to look. Maybe he couldn’t bring himself to do it, knowing that it was partially due to him that our town was under siege.

“The guy is a traitor,” Nathan said, the telltale tights of shifting beginning to show on his face and his body. “I’ll snap his neck in an instant.”

Before I could say anything else, Alvin nodded to his men. They released their grip on Nathan, allowing him to climb to his feet. In an instant, Nathan was on his feet and ready to fight

“No!” I cried out, my voice lost amongst the sounds of the two men’s growls and shouts, combined with the sound of Levi and Angela’s struggle as they tried—and failed—to break free from Alvin’s men.

I tried to push past Alvin’s men, but they blocked my way. There were too many of them, and in my state of panic and my newfound abilities, I found myself frozen in my spot, unable to use my wolf’s strengths the way I should have been able to.

“Fight!” my wolf cried out in my mind. “Don’t just stand there and allow this! Do something!”

The shimmering moonlight painted the clearing in silver, its ethereal glow casting long shadows on the ground. The energy in the air was palpable, and as I stood there, my heart raced, torn between the two people I cared for most.

Alvin and Nathan squared off, their faces intense and hardened by the weight of their histories. It felt like the world had stopped, and only the three of us existed at that moment.

“Stop this!” I pleaded, stepping forward, my voice shaking but resolute. “We don’t have to do this!”

But neither seemed to hear me, or perhaps their anger and pain were too great to heed any voice of reason.

With a powerful shout, Alvin summoned flames from his hand, the fiery tendrils licking his arms and hands, dancing in a mesmerizing pattern. I stumbled backwards as the flames shot up and ignited the trees around us, surrounding us in an orange glow.

Nathan’s eyes widened in surprise, but he quickly composed himself, getting into a defensive stance.

As the first strikes landed, it was clear this wasn’t just a battle of physical prowess but of wills. They weren’t just fighting each other; they were battling their past, their memories, their love for me.

“You think your new tricks will save you?” Nathan growled, dodging a fiery punch from Alvin.

“You have no idea what I’ve become, Nathan,” Alvin hissed, sending a wave of fire in Nathan’s direction.

But as they fought, it wasn’t the strength of their blows or their supernatural abilities that struck me; it was the pain in their eyes, the hurt of betrayal and lost love. Once, we had been inseparable friends. Had the fighting overseas really changed Alvin that much?

Every punch, every dodge, every moment was laden with memories, a bitter dance of past wrongs. And as I watched, I felt a stabbing pain in my heart, knowing I was at the center of it all.

Alvin, using his new abilities, took the upper hand, using flames to distract Nathan and then strike when his guard was down. Nathan, despite his superior strength and skill, was faltering under Alvin's relentless and unpredictable assault.

“Give up, Nathan! I’ve always been better, and today I prove it!” Alvin taunted, landing another blow.

Seeing Nathan in trouble, I tried to intervene, but a wall of fire erupted between us.

“Alvin!” I screamed, but he was too engrossed in his battle.

Just as it seemed Nathan was about to be defeated, with Alvin’s fiery hand aimed straight at his heart, Nathan managed to roll away, catching Alvin off-guard. With a fierce roar, he lunged, pinning Alvin to the ground.

“You may have new tricks, but you’re still the same weak boy inside,” Nathan spat, his voice filled with a mix of rage and sadness.

Alvin struggled, the fear evident in his eyes. Nathan, seeing his chance, raised his hand to deliver the final blow. “The world will be better without such a traitor,” he growled.

But in that moment, something stopped me dead in my tracks. A flash of the young Alvin, the boy who once played with wooden swords and laughed under the sun, appeared in his eyes…

“I, Queen Olivia of the Oak Forest, name you Sir Alvin, my knight in shining armor!” I said, gently tapping the sword on each of Alvin’s shoulders.

Alvin beamed up at me. His two front teeth were missing, but he didn’t care. That was before the days in which insecurities cropped up, when little children were unapologetic of their wide, toothy smiles.

I turned to Nathan. “And I also dub you Sir Nathan, my knight in… equally shining armor!” I said, also gently tapping the wooden sword on Nathan’s shoulders.

Nathan burst out laughing. “Is that the best you could come up with?” he teased.

A pout came over my face. “Well, if you know better, maybe you should be the Queen!” I replied.

But Nathan just laughed. “Sorry, Queen Olivia. Go on.”

Sticking out my tongue, I continued. “My two knights in shining armor. Your first duty is to… be here for me, always! And never leave!”

“Of course, Queen Olivia,” Alvin said seriously, standing and bowing theatrically, his beach-towel-cape fluttering slightly in the breeze.“Always.”

…It was a fleeting glimpse, but it told me everything I needed to know. This wasn’t truly Alvin; it was Ryan’s influence, twisting and perverting him.

“Nathan, stop!” I cried, using all the authority and power I could muster.

As if snapped out of a trance, Nathan froze, his hand still raised, his eyes wide with shock.

Using my command ability, I projected my voice, echoing with power and authority.

“Enough! Both of you!”

The two of them separated slowly, their chests heaving with exertion, their faces a mixture of anger, confusion, and pain.

I stepped closer to Alvin, my gaze softening. “Leave, Alvin. Go and never come back.”

“But Olivia…” Alvin began, the defeat clear in his voice.

“Go,” I whispered, tears glistening in my eyes.

He took one long, lingering look at me, the intensity of his emotions clear. “I love you,” he said, his voice breaking.

And with that, he turned on his heels, running into the forest, his men following close behind.