Chapter 434

Olivia

The day the pamphlets were finally published online and delivered to the local tourist office was supposed to mark a small victory, not only for our town and our pack, but also for my budding career.

Watching people pick the pamphlets up, their eyes scanning the vibrant pages, filled me with a sense of pride. My little project, a labor of love and determination, was paying off more than I had expected.

Over the following days, more tourists from nearby territories began trickling into our town, and I couldn’t help but think that maybe, just maybe, I did have a knack for this. I could only imagine the effects if I kept doing things like this, using my influence as our pack’s Luna to make some real changes.

However, not all of the feedback was positive.

As I scrolled through online comments, my heart began to sink in ways I hadn’t expected.

“Cute attempt by the little Luna housewife,” one comment read. “Guess it’s hard to find real work when you’re just the Alpha’s wife.”

My eyes widened as I read the comment. Against my better judgment, I opened the comment thread, reading the replies. I supposed that part of me hoped that people would be standing up for me, but instead, it only got worse.

“Seems like a nice little hobby to keep the Luna busy, but let’s leave the real work to the professionals.”

“I wonder if she’ll give up on this too. I heard she’s already planning on giving up on her little bakery apprenticeship.”

“Oh, please. That apprenticeship was only handed to her because she’s the Alpha’s wife. She never even went to college!”

“Honestly, I’d be surprised if she even finished high school. All she wants to do is pump out babies and use the Alpha for his money and influence.”

“Careful what you say. Last time someone insulted the Luna, Alpha Nathan threatened to have them disciplined.”

Their words, sharp and dismissive, cut deeper than I expected. I quickly shut off my phone as tears filled my eyes, my hands shaking.

Was that how people really viewed me—as a useless housewife, a manipulator who only wanted to ‘pump out babies’, someone who was undeserving of success?

And furthermore, was that who I really was at the end of the day? After all, it was true; I had never gone to college. I had been handed the bakery apprenticeship with no education and no real experience, just because of my status. My Alpha husband had been the once to endorse my pamphlet project, and he was already offering me a PR position at the Council building.

I needed to talk to someone. I quickly dialed Angela, who was off of work today, hoping that she could give me some sort of input here.

“Hey,” she answered on the second ring. “What’s up?”

“Angela,” I started, my voice shaky, “I’m sorry if this is a bad time, but… can I talk to you about something?”

She paused, then answered with a soft tone of voice, clearly noticing the strain in my own. “Of course, Liv. What’s on your mind?”

I hesitated, then blurted out, “Some people online are calling my pamphlet project a ‘housewife project.’ Like it’s just a trivial thing to keep me busy, and that I’m a quitter who only gets handed opportunities because I’m a Luna.”

The other end of the line was silent for a moment before Angela answered. “They said what?” she hissed.

“It’s true,” I said, my voice shaking. “And I… I kind of believe them.”

“Liv,” Angela scolded, “they’re just mean comments on the internet. People just say nasty things for the sake of being nasty. You should know that none of it’s true.”

“I want to believe that,” I said, wiping my tears away, “but… Angie, I’ve been handed all of these opportunities, just because of Nathan. Before him, I couldn’t even hold a job at a restaurant for more than a year. I never went to college, I went to a shitty high school, and now I really do just feel like a… a housewife with no real experience.”

“Olivia,“ Angela said firmly, “you’ve brought new life to this town. You’ve connected businesses, drawn in tourists. That’s no small feat. Not to mention that you’re also a mother to twins and you’re pregnant with another.”

I sighed, passing my hand over my face. “Yeah, I guess that’s true,” I whispered, “but… it never feels like enough, you know?”

“Enough for whom?” Angela asked. Her voice sounded frustrated over the phone. “Those online critics? Or yourself?”

I paused, considering her words. “I guess... myself,” I admitted softly.

Angela was silent again for a few moments, and I could practically feel her anger emanating through the phone. Although, if I was being honest, I think it may have been more directed at me than the online commenters at this point.

“You”ve done something wonderful, Olivia,” she said. “And yeah, you don’t have a lot of experience, but you’ve got a lot of spirit, and you’re putting your best foot forward. That’s a whole hell of a lot more than those jerks are doing, who clearly have nothing better to do than say mean things about people they don’t even know on the internet.”

“But Angie—”

“No buts,” Angela scolded. “Olivia, you can’t let anyone—especially yourself—diminish your own experiences. Use this criticism as fuel. Show them how serious you are. That you’re not just a ‘housewife’ who needs to be kept busy. You’re a worker, a mom, and a Luna. You’re the fucking Ancient Wolf.”

At the mention of my bloodline, I felt my wolf stir. Something about it ignited something inside of me, like a spark of determination. “You’re right,” I said, sniffling and wiping my tears away again. “If I stop now, then they’ll just win.”

“Exactly,” Angela said, her smile audible through the phone. “Now, do you have a next big idea to share with me?”

“Um, actually, I have been considering something,” I said, calling back on some ideas that had floated through my mind since the pamphlet had been published. “I was thinking of setting up an auction.”

“And auction for what, exactly?” Angela asked, skeptical but not unsupportive.

“For our local businesses,” I said. “The idea came to me last night when I couldn’t sleep. I was thinking that it would be interesting if we had an event where people could bid on local goods and services. Handmade things, local experiences, vouchers, you name it.”

“That sounds like an interesting idea,” Angela said thoughtfully. “Perhaps you could consider this…”

As Angela and I continued discussing the idea of an auction, I started to feel my earlier upset turn into determination. Yes, I was a mom, and a Luna, and I never went to college; but I loved this town, and I loved the people in it. I wanted to make a difference, even if some people didn’t think that I deserved the opportunities I was ‘handed’.

Later that day, as I watched Nathan’s car pull into the driveway, my mind was buzzing with plans for my next project, which was the auction. I wanted to run it by him before I got too attached to any ideas, and see what he thought about it.

Mostly, however, I was just excited to discuss my future plans as the Luna of this pack.

But as the minutes ticked by, Nathan didn’t come inside. Curious, I peered out the window, expecting to see him on his phone or gathering his things.

But instead, I saw him slumped over the steering wheel, unmoving.