“I don’t want that,” Herold says, breaking the long, ebbing silence in the hallway. “I don’t want to forget about you. I never have and I never will.”I can feel the hot tears on my face, the music from the ballroom downstairs so distant but somewhat upbeat. I can just picture her now, spinning across the dancefloor with Alpha Connor, using her maleficent charms on that pathetic Alpha. I bite my words, my frustrations, and feel my back sulk against the wall.“Shh, relax,” Gabriel hums, his arms caressing around me tightly. He hold me in place, my mind finally realizing that I wasn’t up against a wall at all, but instead the dominate Alpha King. He brushes my cheek with his warm lips. “Everything is going to be okay, my dear.”“It’s not,” I groan.My stomach aches, just like my head. “No one—no one believes me…”“I didn’t—’ Herold says, pushing himself to unsteady stance. “I just know what I was told about Olivia’s death and I—”I flinch at the mention of my name, every wolf aware of i
Gabriel has decided to carry me in his strong arms, all the way upstairs into our bedroom. He is careful to tuck me under the covers, barking for the maids to bring water, warm towels, anything that might heal me. His flustered behavior has me feeling ill.I tuck myself under the covers, still naked from shifting, and watch as Eugene is dragged into the room shortly after, Gabriel speaking in fast and hushed tones at the foot of the bed.My husband is irate and frantic, “you saw that, right? It has to be something serious, Eugene, please look into it. Maybe we made her too upset and—oh moon goddess, please, protect my wife.”I snicker in my head. The moon goddess has done a lot of looking out for me already.Eugene rolls his eyes when he comes to the bedside but he pretends to check me out all the same, just appease the King Alpha. “Open you mouth,” Eugene says, and I do, mimicking his every, needless command. “Okay now follow my finger as it moves.”After a few frivolous tests, Gabri
It’s a long day at the hospital.Reese isn’t doing much better, and Mara has only gotten worse. They are in neighboring rooms now, making it easy to watch their symptoms increase and their health decrease. I sit between the two rooms in an uncomfortable chair, fighting back the nag of tire that has been surrounding me lately.That’s not the only thing surrounding me, though.Eugene walks me to the hospital every morning and night, while Gabriel will spend the afternoon and evening with me at the hospital and at the palace. When he is normally in his office, he instead works in our bedroom, meticulously trading a glance from me to his laptop.That’s not the worst of it, though. Alpha Herold will come up to the hospital around noon and spend a long part of the day with me, making it impossible for me to ever be alone with my many, many thoughts.I sit here now, watching the clock, waiting for the exact minute I hear that damn voice say those same words like they have every morning.“Que
The Royal pack run is today and even if I don’t feel like going for a jog through the woods, Gabriel says that it’s mandatory for all wolves, especially us, as we need to be a good role model for the younger pups. The run is to show solidarity of our numbers and the strength of our pack. I just think it’s to distract me from my plans against Alicia.Gabriel has tried everything now, even going as far as pleasing me in my office a few days ago. He didn’t partake in it at all, not that I would allow that, but the feeling of him pleasing my wet core was something I’ve never felt before.Sex with Alpha Herold was rough and abrupt, he hardly even seemed present in the moment and just wanted it to be over with so he could have his release and go through his day. But Gabriel’s actions a few days ago, that was focused on me, my pleasure, and I couldn’t get enough of it.Maybe for the day I will at least get to skip past Alpha Connor’s pack and get a glimpse of that witch in her natural habita
Eugene has been healing in the pack hospital but his room is far from Reese’s. I take turns spending time with both men, though neither of them has woken up. Mara is in the same state, her health slowly trickling down worse and worse until I fear she will be in the same constant state of numbness like Reese.It’s hard to see Eugene like this.It was harder after the battle, having the warriors run him to the hospital while I helped Gabriel with the lesser wounded wolves up top. He was so happy to see that I was unhurt, and he seemed to have a glowing respect for the physician in his effort to protect me. I know I owe Eugene my life, but I still couldn’t bring myself to tell him I loved him.He will continue fighting to have those words be true, even when I know they’re not. I feel so conflicted but it’s hard to focus on anything other than the small vial I had found on the battlefield. It was looped around a rope, large enough to circle a rogue’s neck, as if they were bringing it to b
Olivia’s POV I leave the hospital shortly after Gabriel’s outburst. I never knew I could see him so angry, his skin almost turning to fur in the hospital hallway. I’m glad he kept it somewhat together, but not that he is off to get Alpha Connor for a love affair that doesn’t really exist. I almost consider removing the mind link to call him back, but I think better of it. Instead, I pace the foyer in my short, silk nightgown. I figured being at the palace would be enough for him to calm down after his warning earlier. He hasn’t returned and from what the guards tell me, they haven’t heard of him through the link in a while.
Olivia’s POVHe gusts a gentle chuckle and slides his arm around me further. I take that as permission to try and relax, at least for now. I sink into his hold and his warmth, my legs instinctively curling around one of his as I settle in for a long night ahead of us both.His lips press into my forehead as I close my eyes and dare to drift asleep. I figured tonight would be about me comforting him but instead he seems to be trying to help me relax. It works too. I whimper slightly while drifting into some much-needed rest, Gabriel’s side more and more healed every time I wake up, surrounded by hot water and his protective arm.
Olivia’s POVIt feels odd returning to Herold’s pack lands. It’s still dark so the streets are bare and the shops are closed, but it changes nothing. I press my cheek against the window of Alpha Herold’s sports car and feel the engine purr at we creep through the empty streets of my old home.Nothing seems to have changed, but in the same respect, everything has changed.“Where are you going?” I breathe, my warm breath on the window. Herold has pulled off the main road, but not the one that leads to his packhouse. “I thought we were going to