I Love Him

CHAPTER 1.

OLANDRIA

If anyone had told me that turning nineteen would come with a lot of drama, I would've stayed wherever I was and refused to come home.

I’d spent the last three weeks away from the pack, visiting my aunt’s territory on the northern border. It was peaceful there. No responsibilities, no expectations—just long walks, quiet nights, and freedom. I needed that break.

My life in Silverpine was always loud, messy, and crowded by the same faces I’d grown up with.

But still… I missed my people. My Dad, Alpha Lorenzo, the pack...and most especially—Eli.

Eli Carter had been my best friend since we were little pups. The one person who made me laugh when things got hard. The one who knew me better than anyone. He was supposed to pick me up from the border today. I’d even imagined running into his arms, teasing him about how much he’d missed me.

But that didn’t happen.

The front door was unlocked. Weird—Dad never left it open. I pushed it slowly, calling out, “Dad? I’m home!”

No answer.

The living room smelled faintly of fresh coffee and something else I couldn’t place. Something warm, and very very familiar.

My lips curled into a faint smile, "Eli?" I called out. I could have sworn I caught a whiff of his scent.

Maybe there were out back.

I dragged my suitcase through the house, my heart light with excitement. I'd missed them both so much. I really hope they aren't planning a surprise birthday party for me or anything. They know, more than anyone else how much I hate surprises.

Then I heard voice upstairs. Low, hushed voices.

Oh, fuck meee.

But curiosity tugged at me, and I climbed the steps quietly, the faint hum of laughter reaching my ears. My dad’s laugh. And then—Eli’s.

“—she’ll find out eventually,” Eli’s voice said.

I paused, frowning. Find out? Find out what?

“She’s my daughter,” my father murmured back. “I’ll tell her soon.”

Tell me what?

I was about to knock, when the door to Dad’s room cracked open. He stepped out, shirt unbuttoned halfway, running a hand through his messy hair.

“Dad?”

He froze mid-step. His eyes widened slightly before he forced a smile. “Sweetheart! You’re back early!”

“Uh… surprise?” I laughed awkwardly. “Where’s Eli? I thought he’d be at the border.”

Dad’s hand dropped from his hair. His smile looked strained now, tight at the corners. “He—uh—had something to do. We were just… talking about pack matters.”

“Pack matters?” I tilted my head. “In your bedroom?”

He chuckled weakly, scratching his neck. “You know how it is. Private things.”

The unease that had been crawling up my spine grew thicker. My gaze slipped past him into the room, before he could block the doorway. The bed was unmade, sheets tangled. Two mugs sat on the nightstand—one black, one blue. Eli’s favorite color.

“Dad,” I said slowly, my voice sharper now. “Whats going on? Where's Eli? I clearly heard....”

“I told you, sweetheart, he—”

“Hey babe, do you want me to—”

My head snapped to the side, towards the familiar casual voice, and the color drained from my face. Babe????

As soon as Eli saw me, he froze in the middle of the room, his eyes widening. A towel was slung around his waist, his hair damp, his chest bare.

What the... FUCK!?

I shook my head. This shouldn't be what it looked like. That can't be.

"Babe!?" I echoed in confusion, "Since when do you call my dad, "babe?" I asked Eli, who looked very uncomfortable at the moment.

He opened his mouth to speak, "Oli..."

I winced, and my eyes trailed down to the towel on his waist, feeling the sudden urge to throw up.

My dad turned, muttering something under his breath, then looked back at me with guilt written all over his face. “Sweetheart,” he started gently, “listen to me—”

I took a shaky step back. “No. No, please tell me I’m wrong. Tell me this isn’t what it looks like. Have you two...” my voice dropped low, "have you two been fucking!?"

It sounded so strange to my ears. So foreign. So....taboo.

“I didn’t want you to find out like this.”

"What the fuck!? What THE ACTUAL FUCK, DAD! ELI!?"

Eli flinched, shame and guilt flickering across his face. Their expressions giving it all away.

And suddenly… everything started clicking together. All those little things I’d brushed off.

The late-night calls between them that ended the moment I walked into the room.

The way Dad always seemed too interested in where Eli was, asking if he’d eaten, if he got home safe.

The stupid inside jokes they’d share at the dinner table, while I just stared, wondering what was so funny.

I thought it was just… friendship. I thought Dad saw Eli like a...son. I thought Eli looked up to him like a father figure.

But now—goddess, now it all made sense.

The way Eli started pulling away from me these past few months. The way he’d avoid eye contact whenever I teased him about dating someone new or finding his mate.

The way his phone would light up during our movie nights, and he’d rush outside to answer, whispering in that low, careful tone.

He’d always come back smelling faintly of Dad’s cologne. And I—stupid, naive me—had just assumed they were talking about pack patrols or whatever nonsense men bonded over.

I remembered the time Dad canceled our weekend trip because of “urgent business,” only for Eli to disappear that same weekend too.

My stomach churned. Oh my god. Oh my fuckin gosh! How did I not see it? How did I miss all of it?

Eli’s voice cut through my thoughts, soft and full of guilt. “Oli, please... I'm sorry—”

I laughed. A sharp, broken sound that scraped my throat raw. “Sorry? That’s what you’re going with? Who the fuck are you, Eli?”

I didn't even know he was into men. Had i been a fool all these while?

I took another step back, anger burning my eyes. “You could’ve slept with anyone in the damn world, Eli. Anyone. But no—you had to fuck my Dad! Jeez!”

He flinched. Again. But I didn't bloody care. I was too repulsed to say the least. Goddess knows what they'd been doing the whole time I was away.

I turned my glare on Dad. “And you—you couldn’t find someone your own age? Someone other than my BEST FUCKING FRIEND? How could you do this to me?”

Tears streaked down my cheeks as I yelled. Talk about a fucking betrayal on my birthday. My day was already ruined. I considered Eli my best friend, and yeah, I was way invested in him finding his mate as much as I was in finding mine. And all this while he just...

"I considered you my best friend, Eli." My bottom lip trembled, "And you do this to me?"

He had the nerve to look devastated. He had the nerve to look like he was about to break down, as if he ever considered

"I love him, Olandria," he whispered, at the same time my Dad said, "He's going to be my mate."

I staggered back, my hands shaking, tears still streaking my cheeks. “What the actual fuck is wrong with you two?! You can’t… you can’t—you can’t bond with each other! This… this is insane!”

I couldn’t breathe. I couldn’t move. My hands went to my head, tugging at my hair as the room spun.

“And you...you love each other?” I shouted, my voice cracking. “My best friend and my father?! Are you both crazy? Do you have any idea how wrong this is?!”

Eli flinched again, guilt and longing warring in his expression. Dad reached a hand toward him instinctively, a protective, possessive gesture.

"I see you already made up your mind," I said to my Dad, "Congratulations!" I spat, "but if you think I would sit back and accept this, then you both are being fucking delusional."

"OLANDRIA!" My dad snapped at me, "watch your ton...."

"Go to hell! I don't want to ever see your face again."

Eli opened his mouth, probably to explain, to say something, but I shook my head violently. “Don’t. Just… don’t say a word. I… I need… I need air.”

I turned, grabbing my suitcase, before storming toward the door, my heart pounding like a drum. Their voices followed me, but I couldn’t hear it. I couldn’t process it. I just needed to escape this nightmare, this… this sick, twisted bonding that had destroyed everything I thought I knew.

The air outside hit my face like a shock, cool and sharp, making me gasp.

I didnt know where I was going, but I wasn't about to stay back in the same house this two have been fucking.