Olivia Martins My hands clenched into fists at my sides as I stared at the person who had destroyed everything, who had taken everything from me. The witch stood there in the center of the courtyard, her dark hair falling in waves around her shoulders, completely unbothered by the tension crackling through the air.She looked exactly the same as she had that day with Bridget. Calm. Composed. Like she hadn't helped tear my world apart."WHAT THE HELL IS SHE DOING HERE?" The words ripped from my throat, raw and furious.Without thinking, without caring about consequences or reason, I lunged across the courtyard, my only thought to reach her, to make her pay for what she'd done. My fingers gave way to claws, ready to tear into her, to make her feel even a fraction of the pain she'd caused me.Strong arms caught me mid-leap, wrapping around my waist and hauling me back against a solid chest. Ryker's familiar scent filled my nostrils as he lifted me off my feet, my legs still kicking usel
Olivia Martins The room felt suffocating, heavy with the weight of everything that had gone wrong. Dr. Williams moved around Caspian's still form with practiced efficiency, but I could see the frustration etched into every line of his weathered face. He'd been the pack's healer for over forty years; if anyone should know what was happening, it was him.Caspian lay unconscious on the bed, his body no longer shaking but still burning with fever. His skin glistened with sweat, and his breathing came in shallow, labored pants. At least the violent seizures had stopped, but seeing him like this, so still, so weak, was almost worse.Elizabeth sat beside me, her arm wrapped around my shoulders in a gentle embrace. I'd cried myself dry twenty minutes ago, my throat raw from sobbing as I'd recounted everything I'd witnessed. The bite. Caspian's fall. Victoria being dragged away by Bridget.Every time I closed my eyes, I saw it all over again.Darius stood near the window, his commanding prese
Olivia Martins I was still standing there in shock at what just happened when Caspian's body went rigid. It happened so fast I almost didn't process it. One second he was standing there, Bridget's teeth still buried in his throat, and the next his entire frame locked up like he'd been struck by lightning. "Caspian?" I whispered. His eyes rolled back, showing only white. His body began to shake, violent, jerking spasms that sent him crashing to the floor with a sickening thud. "CASPIAN!" I screamed, rushing forward. Bridget stumbled backward, blood still on her lips, her eyes wide with shock. But I didn't care about her. I dropped to my knees beside him, my hands shaking as I tried to cup his face. "Caspian, look at me!" I pleaded, but his head thrashed from side to side, his body jerking so hard I could barely keep hold of him. "Caspian, please!" His back arched off the floor, muscles seizing, and a low groan tore from his throat; his breathing came in harsh, ragged gasps. "W
Bridget Reyes The forest pressed in around me like it wanted to smother me. My cloak snagged on every damn branch, the wind slicing across my cheeks as I stumbled toward the crooked little house tucked between the trees. I’d barely slept. I hadn’t eaten, but I didn’t care. She had to help me. I banged on the door. “Open up! It’s me!” A beat of silence, and then the door creaked open. Just an inch. Just enough to show one of her eyes, pale, tired, and already annoyed. “You shouldn’t be here,” she said. “I wouldn’t be if I had another choice,” I snapped, pushing the door wide and stepping inside without waiting for an invitation. The smell of dried herbs and old firewood smacked me in the face, same as always. She didn’t stop me, just turned slowly and walked toward the hearth, her back bent and hands tucked into the long sleeves of her robe. Her steps were deliberate. Quiet. Like she had all the time in the world. I didn’t. “She got to the maid,” I blurted. “Olivia. She caught
Olivia Martins I held her tightly, my arm a vice around her throat, every nerve in my body pulsing with adrenaline. “I-I’ll talk,” she choked out, voice shaking. I eased the pressure slightly, just enough for her to breathe without slipping from my grip. “Then start.” The maid collapsed to the floor when I let go, catching herself on trembling hands. Her lips moved, no sound at first, like she was fighting her own fear. I stood above her, unrelenting. I didn’t have the patience to comfort her or coax the truth out gently. Not now. Not after everything. “I didn’t mean to hurt anyone,” she whispered. “I swear, I was just following orders!” “Bridget,” I said flatly. She flinched. “She told you to come to me that day. To tell me where Karen went.” The maid nodded quickly, eyes flicking up to mine before darting away again. “I didn’t know what she was planning. She just said… you had to go alone. I didn't k
Olivia Martins"Liv, Liv, hey. It’s me."“Vic?” My voice was barely a whisper, the haze of sleep still clinging to me as I blinked into the soft early morning light.She nodded, a small, tentative smile curving her lips despite the clear worry in her eyes.She was really here.The realization hit me like a wave, and tears welled up before I could stop them. I flung myself into her arms, and she let out a surprised laugh, holding me tightly.“Missed me, huh?” she teased, her voice light and familiar. I laughed too, soft and breathless. The sound felt foreign but comforting. For a moment, I wasn't drowning. I couldn’t remember the last time my chest hadn’t felt this heavy.“What are you doing here?” I asked, pulling back just enough to see her face.The worry returned instantly, and she squeezed my arm gently. “Ryker told me what happened.”“He did?” My breath hitched.She nodded, her frown deepening. “I can’t believe Caspian would do that to you,” she said, her tone growing sharp with