Oliviaโs POV
I scoffed. What does Anita take me for, a fool? She thinks Iโve lost my memory, so I donโt remember what a shitty person she is? She really thinks Iโll believe her? Heaven knows what sheโs planning, but whatever it is, itโs never going to work.
โI donโt know you, so why should I trust you?โ I said, still pretending to have memory loss.
Anita frowned and folded her arms. โYou donโt have to know me, Oliviaโฆ Iโm a woman like you, and I know youโll go into heat tomorrow night, so this is me trying to reunite you with your husband,โ she said, sounding convincing.
What a terrible actress she was.
โI donโt need your help. Gabriel said heโs coming to pick me up, so Iโll wait for him,โ I said, turning to walk away. But Anita grabbed my arm, forcing me to stop and look at her. My frown deepenedโmy patience was wearing thin.
โAlpha Gabriel isnโt coming, Olivia. The triplets are keeping you here captive,โ she said.
I yanked my arm free.
โWhat the hell is wrong with you?โ I snapped, my voice sharper than intended, but I didnโt care. Her touch made my skin crawl.
Anita didnโt flinch. She only softened her expression, her eyes wide with fake concern, as if trying to sell me a twisted version of compassion. She took a slow step closer.
โI know this is hard to accept,โ she said in a low, urgent voice. โBut youโre not safe here, Olivia. You think those triplets care about you? No! They kidnapped youโฆ theyโre obsessed with youโฆ you have to leave.โ
I stared at her, my frown deepening. This bitch is a fucking liar.
She didnโt stop.
โTheyโre using you. They know youโre vulnerable, they know you donโt remember anything, and theyโre using that to keep you here like a pet. Gabriel isnโt coming. He was never coming. They threatened himโฆ I heard them telling him not to come for you, or theyโll kill him.โ
I said nothing.
โIโm the only one actually trying to help you,โ she whispered. โIf you stay here, theyโll destroy you.โ
She leaned in, lowering her voice. โThey want your body. And when theyโre done with you, theyโll throw you away.โ
I stared at her, letting silence hang in the air. My fists clenched. Anita got worse by the day.
Then I slowly smiledโa cold, tight-lipped smile.
โThanks for the warning,โ I said. โBut Iโll take my chances.โ
Her frown deepened.
โYou can go now, Anita,โ I said, stepping back. โI donโt need your help. I donโt trust you, and I donโt like you.โ
She blinked, looking caught off guard. โOliviaโโ
โGet out before I tell the Alphas what youโre trying to do,โ I threatened. She turned and left the room.
I scoffed out loud and sat on the bed. Jokeโs on her for thinking Iโd actually trust her.
Just then, a knock landed on my door, and by the smell, I knew it was Levi. I frowned, wondering why he was here.
โThe door is open,โ I said, straightening my posture.
Levi walked in, shut the door, and took one look at me before running a hand through his hair.
โDid something happen between you and Lennox?โ he asked, his voice tight with worry. โAfter you left his room, he lookedโฆ furious, but hurt too. What did he show you? What happened?โ
My chest tightened. The letters. But that was something I wasnโt ready to shareโcertainly not with Levi. Not yet. Besides, I knew Levi didnโt know about the letter. The Lennox I know would never show it to anyone, especially not his brothers.
โHeโs your brother,โ I said evenly, folding my arms. โIf youโre worried, ask him.โ
Leviโs brows furrowed. โOlivia, Iโm asking you, please. He refused to talk to meโin fact, he stared at me with anger like I did something wrong. What were you both talking about in his room? Please tell me.โ
I shook my head. โTalk to Lennox, Alpha Levi. He knows why heโs upset. I donโt have time for all thisโฆ I just want Gabriel. When is he coming?โ
Levi opened his mouth as if to speak, but then stopped. Frustration flashed across his face, but he finally nodded stiffly.
โGabriel is tied up with somethingโฆ but he will come get you soonโฆโ he said, trying to sound convincing.
โAlright,โ I replied, turning away to make it clear the conversation was over.
He lingered a second longer, then stepped back, closing the door behind him. The moment the latch clicked, I exhaled shakily and stood.
I walked to the window and considered my problem. How do I go into heat here? Going into heat here would be disastrousโI wonโt be able to resist them. I thought of my plans with Gabriel, and worried whether they would work. The triplets wonโt let Gabriel take me, especially knowing Iโll be in heat. So what do I do? Should I lock myself up tomorrow night and control my urge? Will I be able to do that?
My wolf scoffed. โOf course you know you canโt,โ she sneered.
I pressed my forehead against the cool glass and closed my eyes. The moon wasnโt full yet, but every breath felt thickโheavy with the tripletsโ scents clinging to the corridors, my clothes, my skin.
Tomorrow night those scents would be ten times stronger. So would the ache.
I need a plan.
Gabriel said heโd come, but what if the triplets blocked him at the border? What if they locked me in?
And locking myself up? Who was I kidding? When the heat truly hit, a steel door wouldnโt hold me if they were on the other side.
My wolf gave a soft, almost pitying growl. โYou want them as much as they want you.โ
I gritted my teeth. โThat doesnโt matter. I canโt afford to lose control. I canโt give my virginity to men who hurt me,โ I spat, and my wolf went silent.
I sighed and decided to take a walk. Maybe a stroll around the back garden would clear my headโฆ or at least keep me from pacing.
Halfway down the corridor, I spotted CynthiaโAnitaโs favorite maid. She was one of the maids who made my life a living hell.
She was heading in the opposite direction, arms full of linens. She saw me, lifted her chin, and kept walking as if I were invisible.
Typical attitude.
I stopped and called after her, โMaid.โ I knew her name, but calling her that seemed suspicious since I was still pretending to have memory loss.
She didnโt slow. Didnโt even glance back.
Anger flared. โMaid!โ I snapped, louder.
She finally turned, her eyes full of hate. โYes, Omega?โ The word dripped with the same contempt sheโd used on me for years.
I took a step closer. โOmega? Iโm a Luna. When you pass me, you greet me.โ
She gave a short, mocking laugh. โLuna? Everyone knows youโre an omegaโฆ the tripletโs forced mate.โ
Smack.
My palm met her cheek before my mind caught up. The sound cracked through the empty hallway. She gasped, her eyes wide.
Thatโs for every time she spat at my feet.
I remembered the day sheโd tripped me in the dining hallโhow the whole room laughed while I scraped food off the floor.
Smack.
That was for calling my mother a thiefโs wifeโand me, a whore.
Smack.
For the cruel mockery and hurtful words she spat at me on my wedding night.
I wished I could tell her why I was slapping her, but I couldnโt.
Tears sprang to her eyes, more shock than pain, but I didnโt care. My hand stung, yet a fierce satisfaction burned in my chest.
โYouโre a maid,โ I hissed. โAct like one. You donโt speak to meโeverโunless itโs โyes, Lunaโ or โno, Luna.โ Understand?โ
She clutched the linens, lips trembling. โYโyes, Luna.โ
A familiar voice cut in. โOlivia?โ
I turned; Louis stood at the corridorโs end, concern on his face. He hurried over, his gaze flicking from Cynthiaโs flushed cheek to my raised hand.
โWhatโs going on?โ he asked quietly.
I dropped my arm, breathing hard. โJust reminding the staff of their manners.โ
Cynthia bobbed a hasty curtsy, murmured an apology, and scurried away.
Louis reached out, then stopped. โAre you alright?โ
I drew a steadying breath, meeting his worried eyes. โIโm fine,โ I said, though my palm still tingled. โSometimes people need to remember their place.โ
He studied me, his expression unreadable. I hoped he wasnโt suspicious.
I swallowed hard. โI have to go,โ I said and hurried back to my room, abandoning my walk.
I stayed in my room all day. The curtains were closed, the door locked, and I ignored every knock.
When evening came, I was hungry but still refused to leave my room.
Suddenly, a knock sounded.
โLuna Olivia, the Alphas sent something for you,โ a guard called from outside.
I frowned, hesitated, then got up, crossed the room, and unlatched the door.
The door swung openโand everything happened at once. Two broad-shouldered men in pack-guard uniforms surged forward. One slammed the door shut behind them; the other yanked my wrists.
โHeyโ!โ The word barely left my mouth before a cloth pressed over my nose and lips. A sweet, chemical sting flooded my senses; my knees buckled.
My legs gave out. The room spun.
โQuick, sheโs fainting,โ one guard said. โNo bruises. Move.โ
The last thing I felt was their hands catching me before everything went black.
Dear Lovely Readers,
An Unexpected Twist is coming. Stay tuned!!!