Chapter 286

Olivia

As we headed back upstairs, the weight of the recent events began to press themselves upon me.

I clutched Aurora and Elliot closer, their soft breaths a stark reminder of what was at stake. The villa’s battered walls, although scarred, offered a momentary sanctuary.

Nathan, though worn, moved swiftly, ensuring all entrances were secure. His protective instincts in full throttle, it warmed my heart to see him so dedicated to our little family.

Angela, with Clint leaning heavily against her, settled into the main living room. Her medical supplies were quickly laid out, her focus entirely on Clint’s injuries.

Laying the twins down in their makeshift crib, I approached Angela. Her face was drawn, eyes clouded with worry, but not for Clint.

“Levi... he’s still out there," she murmured, glancing towards the door. “He was fighting alongside the townsmen. He was so brave, Olivia.”

The raw emotion in her voice made my heart constrict. “He’ll be alright, Angela. Levi’s strong, and one of the best fighters we’ve got in the pack.”

She grasped my arm, desperation evident in her gaze. “Promise me, Olivia. Promise you’ll bring him home safe.”

Meeting her intense stare, I nodded. “I promise, Angela. We won’t let anything happen to him.”

Pulling her into a hug, I could feel her shaking slightly, a mix of fear and hope. Breaking away, I turned my attention to Clint, now resting on a plush chair.

“Clint, thank you,” I began, struggling to find the words. “You put your life on the line for the twins.”

He chuckled weakly, his usual twinkle still evident in his eyes. “Well, those little ones are like my grandkids. Ryan’s men would have had to get through this old heart first before I would have ever told them where Aurora and Elliot were hidden.”

Moved by his dedication, I leaned in and pressed a soft kiss on his weathered old cheek. “You’re a hero in our eyes,” I whispered.

Clint’s laugh was weak but genuine. “Just doing what any granddad would do, you know?”

Turning away from Clint, I locked eyes with Nathan.

Despite the exhaustion evident on his face, there was a fire burning brightly in his eyes—a fierce determination to protect and reclaim what was rightfully ours.

Yet, beneath that fiery gaze, I could sense the trust he placed in me, the belief that we were in this together. A pang of guilt washed over me.

I knew that soon, I would have to confront the truth and tell him about the deal I had struck with the witch. Every passing moment added to the weight of that secret, threatening to create a chasm between us. But for now, amidst the chaos and uncertainty, I pushed that thought to the back of my mind, focusing on the present challenges.

Nathan approached, gently wrapping an arm around my shoulders.

“We’ll get through this, Liv,” he murmured.

I nodded, leaning into his embrace. “Together.”

He kissed the top of my head, pulling me close. For a moment, surrounded by the warmth of his presence and the gentle breaths of our twins, the world outside seemed to fade away. But the looming battles and impending revelations lingered, casting a shadow over our fleeting moment of peace.

“Come,” Freya said, her auburn hair shining in the dim light of the rising sun. “It’s time to give Ryan what he truly deserves.”

…

The remnants of the battle painted a grim picture in the town’s center.

Buildings, once tall and proud, lay in partial ruin. The once bustling marketplace, a place filled with laughter and trade, was now a grim vision of despair. Citizens, their faces contorted with fear, scurried amidst the rubble.

Ryan’s remaining men, those who hadn’t scattered with the news of my powers, lingered. I saw a group of them up ahead, terrorizing innocent townspeople. Two of them were pushing a young girl around, ripping at her clothes, unbeknownst to my presence.

Freya’s pace was brisk, her elegant form weaving through the chaos. I tried to match her stride, but the devastation around me was overwhelming. The stench of smoke, the cries of the injured, and the horrifying realization of what had been lost weighed me down.

It was when I saw a mother clutching her terrified child, sobbing uncontrollably, that I felt it—a surge of anger, despair, and anguish that consumed me.

I let out a howl, so primal and guttural that it echoed across the entire town square. The power within me, raw and uncontrolled, erupted in a shockwave that rippled across the town.

Ryan’s remaining men, those responsible for this devastation, were lifted off the ground, sent sprawling in every direction. Dust and debris rose in a tempestuous storm, obscuring everything in its wake.

And then, just as quickly as the storm had started, everything fell silent.

I was on my knees, panting heavily, still feeling the echoes of that raw power coursing through me. My clothes were in tatters, evidence of the partial shift that had overtaken me.

Freya rushed to my side, her green eyes wide with a mix of concern and awe. “Olivia! Are you alright?”

I looked at my hands, still trembling. “I... I don’t know what came over me.”

“You just tapped into the Ancient Wolf’s power,” Freya whispered, her gaze sweeping the now silent square. “But such uncontrolled releases can be dangerous. You’ll have to learn how to control it.”

Around us, the town’s citizens were slowly regaining their bearings, staring at me with a mix of fear, reverence, and gratitude.

And among them, I could see the figures of the Elders approaching.

They moved with a regal grace, their robes billowing behind them. But as they got closer, they halted and, one by one, bowed deeply before me.

“The Ancient Wolf rises again,” one of them, Amara, intoned solemnly.

But their feigned reverence did nothing to quell the anger in my heart. I remembered their treachery, their plans to overthrow Nathan, and the secrets they held. And in that moment, clarity dawned upon me.

“You,” I began, my voice dripping with disdain, “have plotted, schemed, and betrayed. And while today’s chaos was the doing of Ryan’s men, you’ve played your part in the shadows.”

Their faces remained impassive, but I could sense the tension, the undercurrent of fear.

“I hereby banish you from this town, from our lives,” I continued. “Your power, your influence, ends now.”

“But, my lady, the Ancient Wolf needs guidance, needs the council of the Elders,” Mingan protested. “Perhaps our power has gone unchecked over these past months. But we can make it up to you tenfold.”

“I have all the guidance I need,” I said firmly, turning my gaze to Freya.

She met my gaze, her expression unreadable. “Olivia, while I have stood by you, helped you, I too chose to become an Elder. I have not been entirely innocent of the treachery you speak of.”

My heart ached. “Freya, you’re family. The only real family I have left. Please, stay.”

Freya’s eyes softened. “Look around, Olivia. Despite everything, you have a family here. These people, your friends, Nathan, they all love you.”

As she turned to join the banished Elders, a pang of sadness gripped me. The town square, still bearing the scars of battle, seemed to echo the tumult in my heart.

Freya paused and glanced back one last time. “Remember who you are, and who stands by you,” she whispered before disappearing into the mist with the now powerless Elders.