جميع فصول : الفصل -الفصل 450

OliviaThe next day dawned with a mixture of anxiety and hope. Nathan and I, with the painting carefully wrapped in the backseat, drove to the local appraiser’s office. The quaint little shop, nestled between the bakery and the florist, showcased all kinds of antique items in its large windows.“Ready?” Nathan asked as he pulled up to the curb and glanced over at me.I nodded. “Ready.”As we entered, the bell above the door jingled and announced our arrival. The appraiser looked up from behind the counter; he was wearing a pair of magnifying goggles that made his eyes look tiny through the glass, and was holding what looked to be some sort of precious stone in his hand.“Good morning, Alpha Karl and Luna Olivia,” the older man said with a surprised look on his face. He lifted the goggles and placed them on his head to reveal a pair of deep-set, kind eyes. “Is there anything I can help you with?”Nathan and I exchanged a quick glance before Nathan approached the counter with the painti

OliviaI stepped out of Dianna Miller’s house that day with the scent of oil paints in my nostrils and a newfound sense of hope in my chest.“Dianna,” I said as I stopped on her porch, “thank you so much for talking to me. And thank you again for donating those paintings to the auction; it’s going to make a world of difference.”Dianna nodded, flashing me a warm smile. “I’ll admit that it was nice to have such a sweet young lady to talk to,” she said. “Most people who come by here just want to line their own pockets in some way or another; get a photo, ask me questions for their book, you name it. But you…”“I just want what’s good for our pack,” I said. “We need the help of the Alpha association if we’re going to grow and rebuild after everything our pack has been through, and that’s why this auction is so important.”“Of course,” Dianna said softly. “Feel free to stop by anytime. It does get awfully quiet around here.” She paused, her gaze sweeping over the austere landscape around

OliviaI stepped into the Council building just as the sun was beginning its descent toward the horizon.Everything was going to plan; the auction would begin in a little under an hour, and everything was prepared. The signs and flyers, which had been posted all over town and mailed to every resident, had attracted a lot of attention.Already, the town was filling with people from neighboring areas, those who were coming in anticipation of Dianna Miller’s works. Soon, the auction was bound to be a success.It had to be.“Olivia!” Ashley called out, her face lighting up as she approached. “You’re here! Everything is coming together beautifully.”“You can say that again,” I said, my heels clicking on the floor as I approached. “The place looks great.”“We made some last-minute changes to the decorations,” Laurie added, pointing up at some colorful streamers that were draped throughout the high rafters.“Oh, and the catering came just in the knick of time, too,” Joshua said. “It’s making

Olivia“Oh my god,” Nathan whispered, his eyes widening as his grip on my waist tightened. “It can’t be…”I was speechless. The moment that Dianna Miller had stepped into the grand hall of the Council building, the room had fallen into a hush. Her heels clicked slowly on the floor, echoing throughout the room. Even the auctioneer had fallen silent.Her presence, as enigmatic as her paintings, sent a ripple of excitement through the crowd. I felt a surge of hope when I looked into her eyes—her arrival could change everything. No, it would change everything.As she approached, I saw the nerves in her eyes, the uncertainty of a woman more accustomed to the solitude of her studio than the bustle of a crowded event.Yet, she walked with a grace that hid her nervousness. When she reached Nathan and me, I didn’t hesitate; I wrapped her in a tight hug, gratitude flooding my voice as I whispered in her ear, “Dianna, thank you so much for coming. You have no idea what this means to us.”Dianna

OliviaMy heart sank as the Alphas turned to face us, their expressions cold and severe.“You would be wrong, Luna,” the stern Alpha, Dan, said flatly. “The goal was clear—you were meant to raise $100,000 in order for your pack to be considered for the Alpha association. You failed to meet that goal.”Nathan stood beside me, frozen with shock. I shook my head in disbelief. “But we were so close,” I insisted. “We were just $500 short. Surely that tiny amount isn’t enough to discount all of our hard work?:Dan scoffed, his cold gray eyes flashing with contempt. “Rules are rules,” he growled, then turned to Nathan, who was still frozen. “I expected more from you, youngling Alpha. Consider your application formally rejected.”With that, the Alphas turned on their heels and made for the door without another word.Beside me, Nathan was completely rigid, his shoulders trembling ever so slightly. I turned to look at him, my eyes wide with a combination of fear, shock, and anger. This could no