Olivia’s POV

“How are you feeling?” the healer asked gently, her voice soft as she checked my temperature. But I didn’t answer.

How could I? The physical pain was gone, but the ache in my chest–deep and raw–was louder than any scream.

Before she could say more, the door creaked open.

Alpha Damien stepped inside, his eyes unreadable.

“Everyone out,” he commanded, his voice sharp.

Without hesitation, the healer, Nora, and Lolita all left, heads bowed. The door clicked shut behind them.

I turned to face him, wary and tense. My skin prickled. I could still recall the words he said before leaving a moment ago… the ones that didn’t make sense. He told me thank you for letting him use me for his revenge… what does that even mean?

Damien walked to the center of the room, calm, almost casual. Then, without a word, he reached into his coat pocket and tossed something onto the bed in front of me.

I stared at it–my heart stopping.

It was… underwear.

My underwear.

The very pair I hadn’t seen in days. The one I thought I’d lost in his home.

I slowly looked up at him, my mouth dry.

Damien smirked. “Don’t look so shocked. I don’t have any use for it anymore.”

My stomach turned.

“What… what is this?” I asked hoarsely.

He tilted his head. “A reminder. Of how close I came. You see, Olivia… before we returned from my pack, I had my witch place a spell on you.”

I blinked. “A spell?”

“A very special one,” he said darkly. “A desire spell. Something subtle… something that would make your body respond to mine. Attraction, chemistry, desire you wouldn’t even know it was there. You’d just… feel drawn to me.”

My mouth went dry.

“No…” I shook my head, panic rising like bile in my throat. “You’re lying–”

“Am I?” he chuckled, stepping so close that the heat of his body licked at my skin. “Tell me, Olivia… why else did you feel drawn to me? Why did your heart race every time I entered the room? Why did your body heat with desire even when your mind screamed to resist?”

I bit my lip hard enough to taste blood.

“Because of me,” he said darkly. “Because of my spell. My scent, my presence–it all pulled you in, made you want me against your will.”

I felt sick. Dirty.

Tears burned the corners of my eyes, but I refused to let them fall.

I took a step back, shaking my head slowly. “Why… why would you do that?”

He smiled… but it was a fake, bitter smile.

“I wanted only one thing from you, Olivia.” His voice dropped to a deadly whisper. “To fuck you. To ruin you. To break what my nephews cherished the most… you. That was my revenge.”

I flinched in horror…

“But,” he continued, tilting his head slightly, “I couldn’t do it.”

I blinked, confused, staring at him.

“I couldn’t bring myself to touch you that way… because you reminded me too much of someone I lost long ago,” he said softly, almost like regret–but his eyes stayed cruel. “I just didn’t need to go that far. Because in the end, I achieved the most important thing.”

My heart raced. “Which is?”

He smiled again, cruel and victorious. “I separated you from them. I shattered the bond. I made sure you got separated from them.”

My heart thundered painfully in my chest.

“That was always the real plan, Olivia,” he said softly. “Not to touch you. Not really. Just to break you away from them. To take from them what they stole from me.”

My legs felt weak beneath me.

He picked up the underwear and tossed it toward the fireplace without looking. It landed in the flames and vanished in seconds.

Damien turned to the door but stopped and faced me.

“As a reward for being the perfect pawn in my revenge, I’ll give you this gift…” He smirked. “Your father is alive. Out there. I don’t know exactly where… but he’s alive. Somewhere. Good luck finding him.”

With that, he turned and left.

My body trembled as I sank to the floor, knees hitting the ground with a soft thud. The truth twisted in my chest like a knife.

So it was true.

My father… was alive.

A dry sob escaped my throat.

All this time… the man I mourned, cried for, begged the Moon Goddess to return–he wasn’t dead. He was out there. Breathing. Existing. And no one told me.

Why?

Why did everyone lie to me?

Why would Alpha Damien, of all people, be the one to tell me this?

I shook my head slowly, trying to make sense of it all. But one thing echoed in my mind louder than anything else:

“I separated you from them.”

What could the triplets have possibly done to deserve this level of hatred? What could they have done to a man like Damien to make him go this far?

But right now… I didn’t care.

I didn’t care what they did.

I didn’t care who hurt who first.

I didn’t care about revenge or betrayal or twisted love.

All I cared about now… was finding my father.

And I couldn’t do that from here. Not trapped in this house. Not under their watchful eyes.

I had to go.

I had to leave.

The door opened behind me, and I quickly wiped my face and stood up, unsteady but determined.

It was Nora and Lolita. They paused when they saw me on the floor, their eyes wide with concern.

“Luna–are you alright?” Nora asked, rushing toward me.

“I’m leaving,” I said firmly.

Lolita blinked. “What?”

“I’m leaving this place,” I repeated. My voice was calm. Steady. Too calm, even for me. “There’s nothing left for me here. I need to find my father… I need to find the truth. And I can’t do it while I’m locked up in these walls.”

They exchanged uncertain glances.

“I need you both to help me pack,” I said softly but firmly. “Please.”

“Right now?” Nora asked carefully.

“Yes,” I said without hesitation. “Right now. I’m going to speak to the Alphas. After that I’m leaving.”

They didn’t argue. Maybe they saw the fire in my eyes. Or maybe… they knew I’d made up my mind.

Nora nodded and gently reached for my hand. “Okay, Olivia. We’ll help you.”

Lolita squeezed my shoulder. “Whatever you need… we’re with you.”

As they started pulling out my bag and gathering my clothes, I took a deep breath and headed for the door.