198 The Day
Olivia’s POV
Breathless, I looked around the room, my chest rising and falling rapidly. My heart pounding wildly against my ribs.
Everyone stared at me–confused, scared–as if I were someone else entirely. Like I had been possessed. Like they’d seen a ghost. And maybe they had.
Even I didn’t recognize myself.
That voice… what was that voice inside me?
My eyes met Alpha Damien’s. He was watching me closely, curious, but before he could speak, I turned and walked out of the party. I didn’t look back, even though I could feel their eyes following me.
I just kept walking–up the stairs, through the hallway–until I was finally alone.
Once in my room, I locked the door and sat on the edge of the bed. My hand trembled as I stared at it, still stained with blood. The claws were gone, but her blood was still
there.
“What’s happening to me?” I whispered, fear rising in my chest.
“And what was that voice?” I asked my wolf quietly. I knew it wasn’t her. It couldn’t
have been.
She stirred inside me, clearly unsettled.
“I don’t know… but I felt its energy. It was too strong–even for me,” she said, her voice
laced with confusion and fear.
I let out a shaky breath and got to my feet. I started pacing the room, trying to calm the storm in my head. No matter how hard I tried to convince myself that the woman had been lying–that the triplets had sent her–deep down, something told me she was telling the truth:
And that terrified me.
First, the prophecy–the vision of me lying in a pool of my own blood. Now, this
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198 The Day
warning not to leave the cursed pack grounds. But how could I stay here? How could I live in this place that had given me nothing but pain?
I shook my head.
No.
I wouldn’t agree to that. I’d rather face whatever danger is waiting for me out there than stay trapped here.
TWO DAYS LATER!!
Nothing unusual had happened since Alpha Damien’s birthday. Even Alpha Damien hadn’t brought up what happened that night. He’d been busy, and aside from his short daily visits to check on me, we hadn’t really spoken.
I hadn’t left my room much since that night, but today–I had no choice.
Today was the hearing with the Council of Elders.
I stood by the open window, the morning air brushing against my face. Still, it did little to calm the nerves coiling in my stomach. Something felt… off. Maybe it was the weight of what I was about to do. Maybe it was just the silence before the storm.
I was going to stand before the Council and declare my intent to reject the triplets.
I took a deep breath and closed my eyes, pressing my palm to my chest as if I could hold my heart in place.
“I can do this,” I whispered, though my voice barely sounded convincing.
A knock at the door pulled me from my thoughts.
“Olivia?” Damien’s voice came from the other side. “It’s time, we have to leave.”
I opened the door slowly. He was dressed formally, his expression unreadable. But when he looked at me, something flickered behind his eyes–concern, maybe. Or
doubt.
“Are you ready?” he asked gently.
“No,” I said honestly. “But I’m going anyway.”
Alpha Damien stepped in and closed the door. “Are you having second thoughts about
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198 The Day
this?” he asked.
I swallowed hard and turned away, staring at the floor. How could I explain to him–or anyone–that these men I was about to reject were the same ones I once adored? The boys I grew up loving. And now… I was going to sever that bond forever.
I closed my eyes and shook my head.
I can’t think about that. I can’t let myself hesitate.
I forced my heart to remember the pain. The betrayal. All the terrible things they’d done. One by one, the memories replayed in my mind, washing away every shred of doubt. These men… these men didn’t deserve me. Not after everything they put me through.
I turned around to find Alpha Damien silently waiting for me.
I took a deep, steadying breath. “Let’s go. I’m ready.”
Damien nodded. “Make sure you look confident… if the elders see any sign of hesitation, they will adjourn the hearing.”
I nodded.
Alpha Damien stepped aside, and I followed him out of the room. We walked through the hallways of the pack house, the silence between us thick and heavy.
Each step toward the pack hall felt like I was walking deeper into something I couldn’t
undo.
When we finally reached the doors, Damien paused and gave me a look. “Remember what I said,” he reminded me. “Confidence. No matter what happens.”
I nodded wordlessly.
He opened the doors, and together we stepped inside.
Six aged council members sat behind a long, wooden table. The room was large and cold, the pale morning light filtering through high windows, casting shadows across the stone floor.. Among the elders sat Elder Grant, his sharp gaze flicking straight to me as soon as I entered.
I swallowed and walked forward, trying to steady my breathing. My hands trembled
198 The Day
slightly, but I folded them in front of me and kept my head high. Damien led me to a seat and motioned for me to sit. I did, trying to keep my shoulders straight.
Moments later, the heavy double doors behind us creaked open again.
They walked in.
The triplets.
Lennox. Louis. Levi.
I hadn’t seen them since Damien’s party. They had been avoiding me since that night. But now… the change in them was painfully clear.
They looked thinner. Worn down. Shadows sat beneath their
eyes, their usual
confidence nowhere to be seen. Even the way they moved seemed off. Like the weight of something heavy rested on their backs.
I managed to look Levi in the face.
He looked pale.
As if he hadn’t slept in days.
His eyes met mine, and I saw pain there. Regret. Confusion. Maybe even fear.
But I didn’t look away. I couldn’t.
They all took their seats across from me, facing the Council. None of them spoke. None of them even looked at each other. The silence between them said more than words ever could.
My heart ached, but I took another deep breath and braced myself.
One of the elders, a female, motioned for me to come forward.
I took a shaky step, then another, until I was standing before them.
“Olivia Parker,” she began, “you’ve requested this meeting. Please state your intention before the Council.”
I met her gaze, then looked briefly at the others seated around the table. But I didn’t dare look at the triplets… if I did, I wouldn’t be able to say what I wanted to say. Then finally, I spoke:
198 The Day
“I… I want to reject the bond with the triplets,” I said, my voice trembling despite how hard I tried to make it steady. “I no longer wish to be their mate.”
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