Chapter 9- You and your mother are both weak

Olivia

The moment I arrived home, I immediately looked for Mom. I could barely contain my excitement, even though my whole body ached from the fight. My arms were bruised, and I could feel the soreness in my muscles with every step, but none of that mattered right now.

I had won my first match!

“Mom!” I called as I entered the living room.

My mother came out of the kitchen, wiping her hands with a towel. Her face brightened when she saw me, but her smile quickly faded as she noticed my appearance.

“Olivia! What happened to you?” she asked worriedly, approaching me. “Look at your arms. Are you hurt?”

I chuckled and shook my head. “I'm fine, Mom. They're just bruises.”

“Just bruises?” She gently held my arm and examined the marks on my skin. “You look like you've been through a terrible fight.”

“Because I did.” I grinned. “But don't worry. I won!”

Her eyes widened. “You won?”

I nodded excitedly. “Yes! I defeated Brandon from Ironclaw Pack. He even shifted into his wolf, but I managed to beat him without revealing my tattoo wolf.”

Mom's worried expression immediately turned into a bright smile. She pulled me into a careful embrace, making sure not to hurt my bruised body.

“Oh, Olivia! I'm so proud of you!”

I hugged her back, feeling my heart swell with happiness. There was nothing quite like having someone who genuinely celebrated my achievements. Even if the rest of the pack refused to acknowledge my efforts, Mom had always believed in me.

“You should have seen everyone's faces when the referee announced my victory,” I said, laughing, after we pulled apart. “They looked so shocked.”

Mom laughed along with me. “I'm sure they were. You've worked hard for this, sweetheart.”

“Especially Doel and Dina. They probably thought I would lose in the first round.”

“Don't mind them. You don't need their approval.” She brushed my hair away from my face. “Just focus on your next match. This is only the beginning.”

“I know, Mom. I'll do my best.”

We continued talking about the competition. I told her how Brandon had underestimated me and how difficult it had been to avoid exposing my secret when he shifted. She listened attentively, occasionally laughing at my stories, although I could still see the concern in her eyes whenever she glanced at my bruises.

I wished I could stay in that moment a little longer.

Unfortunately, our conversation was interrupted by the front door opening.

“We're home!”

I recognized Dad's voice, followed by Doel and Dina's footsteps.

Mom and I turned toward the entrance. Dad entered the living room with the twins behind him. Since they had watched my match earlier, there was no need to tell them about my victory.

Dina's eyes landed on me immediately. Her expression soured when she saw me sitting beside Mom, smiling happily.

“So, you're already celebrating?” she remarked sarcastically.

I simply smiled. “Why wouldn't I? I won.”

“Don't get too excited,” she replied, rolling her eyes. “It's only the first round.”

“I know. That's why there are still more rounds to go.”

Doel scoffed, while Dad merely glanced at me.

“Don't let one victory get into your head, Olivia,” he said. “You still have a long way to go.”

“I understand, Dad.”

I wasn't expecting him to congratulate me, so his lack of enthusiasm didn't surprise me anymore. As long as I had Mom's support, I was already happy.

Mom gently touched my shoulder. “You should go upstairs and rest now, Olivia. I'll call you when it's time to eat.”

I nodded. “All right, Mom. Thank you.”

Before leaving, I turned toward my father.

“I'm going to my room now, Dad.”

He gave me a brief nod, and I started walking toward the stairs.

Since I was participating in the competition, I didn't have to report to my usual duties at the packhouse for now. I could finally rest and prepare for the next round without worrying about the chores that usually occupied most of my day.

However, I hadn't even reached the top of the stairs when I heard someone following me.

“Olivia!”

I stopped and looked over my shoulder. Dina was walking toward me, her arms crossed over her chest.

“What?” I asked.

She stopped a few steps away and looked at me with obvious irritation.

“You really think you're something special now just because you won one match?”

I sighed. “If you're here to congratulate me, you don't have to. I already know I won.”

“Don't be so full of yourself!” she snapped. “You only won because you got lucky. Brandon probably underestimated you. That doesn't mean you're actually strong.”

I raised an eyebrow. “A win is a win, Dina. You can call it luck if that makes you feel better.”

Her expression darkened.

“Enjoy it while you can. You won't be so lucky in the next round. The opponents will only get stronger, and someone like you, who can't even shift, won't stand a chance against them.”

I tilted my head, pretending to consider her words.

“Then I hope you keep winning, too.”

She frowned. “What are you talking about?”

I smiled faintly. “Make sure you advance all the way to the finals. I want to face you there.”

For a moment, Dina looked as though she couldn't believe what she had just heard.

“You think you can beat me?”

“I didn't say that. I just said I want to fight you in the finals.” I shrugged. “Unless you're afraid you won't make it that far?”

“Don't be ridiculous!” she snapped. “I'm not afraid of you!”

“Good. Then I'll be waiting.”

I turned around, intending to continue toward my room, but Dina's next words made me stop.

“You should learn your place, Olivia. You're nothing but an omega who can't even shift. Don't act as though winning one match suddenly makes you equal to us.”

I slowly turned to face her.

“Are you finished?”

She scoffed. “You should be grateful that you even got the chance to participate. Not everyone gets an opportunity like that.”

I clenched my hands, trying to keep my temper under control. I had no intention of wasting my energy arguing with her.

But Dina wasn't finished.

“It's no surprise, though. You inherited everything from your mother. She's an omega, too. What else could anyone expect from her daughter?”

My expression immediately changed.

I could tolerate her insults. I had heard them countless times, and they no longer surprised me. But I couldn't simply ignore bringing Mom into this.

“Take that back,” I said quietly.

Dina raised an eyebrow. “What?”

“Don't talk about my mother that way.”

“Why? Did I say something wrong?” She laughed mockingly. “Your mother is just an omega. Maybe that's why she raised you to be weak, too.”

My blood began to boil.

Mom had cared for Dina and Doel from the very beginning. She had welcomed them into our family and treated them as her own children. She had given them a home, affection, and everything she could provide, even when they weren't her biological children.

Mom had never treated them differently from me. She had loved them as though they were her own.

And now Dina dared to insult the very woman who had raised her?

“Watch your mouth, Dina,” I warned, my voice trembling with anger.

She rolled her eyes. “What? Are you going to defend her? Maybe you should ask yourself why you turned out this way. You and your mother are both weak.”

“Enough.”

But she only smirked, clearly pleased that she had finally gotten under my skin.

“What? Does it hurt hearing the truth? Your mother is nothing special. She's just an omega who got lucky enough to marry a Gamma. Without Dad, she would have remained—”

I couldn't take it anymore.

Before she could finish her sentence, my hand moved on its own.

Slap!

The sound echoed through the hallway.

Dina's head snapped to the side. She staggered slightly, one hand immediately flying to her cheek. Her eyes widened in disbelief as she slowly turned back to face me.

For a moment, neither of us spoke.

My hand was still raised, and my heart was pounding violently against my chest. I knew I shouldn't have hit her, but I couldn't bring myself to regret defending my mother.

“How dare you?” I said through gritted teeth. “You can insult me all you want, but you have no right to disrespect my mother! She's the one who raised you. She's the one who treated you like her own daughter!”

Dina's expression twisted with rage. She opened her mouth, but before she could say anything, a furious voice thundered from behind us.

“OLIVIA!”

I turned around and saw Dad standing at the end of the hallway. His eyes were fixed on me, his face dark with anger.

“What the hell did you just do?” he demanded.