The Dream

Olivia’s POV

I was asked to come downstairs for lunch. It had only been a full twenty-four hours since I arrived here. So far, things had been okay, but I couldn’t help wondering about the hostility from Gabriel’s sister. It was obvious—I wasn’t welcome here. And I also couldn’t stop thinking about what Alpha Gabriel and his sister were discussing yesterday, or what Gabriel meant when he said she should give him some time.

I wanted to brush it off—maybe it was just their personal family issues—but for some strange reason, I couldn’t let it go.

As I reached the dining table, I noticed Gabriel hadn’t arrived yet, but Abigail was already seated. The air was thick, heavy with tension as I quietly pulled out a chair.

“Hi,” I greeted, forcing my voice to sound friendly.

She didn’t respond. Not even a glance.

I sat across from her and stared openly. If she had a problem, then she needed to spit it out already. I kept looking at her, refusing to look away, until I finally asked, “Do you have a problem with me?”

Abigail let out a short, bitter scoff. Her eyes were cold as she looked at me.

“You have no idea how much I dislike you,” she said flatly.

I blinked, but kept my voice steady. “Is it because you know about me?”

She didn’t answer, but I kept going.

“You know I was once mated to the Alphas of the Full Moon Pack,” I said softly. “And maybe that’s why you don’t want me here. Maybe you don’t want someone like me near your brother.”

Her lips parted, like she wanted to say something, but before she could speak, Gabriel walked in.

He didn’t say a word. He didn’t have to.

He looked straight at his sister with a hard glare, one that clearly said, Don’t say another word.

Abigail immediately closed her mouth and turned her eyes away.

The tension in the room became thick and heavy. Gabriel walked toward the head of the table and sat down calmly, but the sharpness in his gaze hadn’t faded.

I glanced between them, knowing I was right. Something was off. Something awkward hung between us all, and it had everything to do with me.

We ate in tense silence, the clinking of cutlery the only sound. My stomach twisted with every bite I forced down. Abigail refused to look at either of us. Gabriel didn’t stop glancing her way.

Then, finally, he turned to me.

“There’s a festival tonight,” he said. “Ten of our warriors are passing out. We’re holding a celebration in their honor.”

He paused, and his gaze softened.

“Will you be my date for the evening?”

I smiled gently and nodded. “I’d be honored to,” I replied.

A big smile spread across Gabriel’s face before he returned to his food.

Suddenly, Abigail dropped her utensil loudly onto her plate, making both Gabriel and I turn our attention to her. She glared at me before wheeling herself away. I watched her until she was out of sight before I turned to Gabriel.

“Is there something I should know?” I asked. Deep down I felt like there was something I needed to know, something Gabriel was keeping away from me.

Gabriel furrowed his brows, clearly caught off guard by my question.

“There’s nothing you need to worry about,” he said softly, setting his fork down and giving me his full attention. “As for Abigail… she’ll come around eventually.”

I looked at him, searching his face for more.

“She’s only acting like this because she found out you were once mated to the triplets from the Full Moon Pack,” he continued. “She’s not angry at you, Olivia. She’s worried for me. She thinks they might come after me, that they’ll see this as a challenge and start a war.”

He gave a small shrug and added, “She’s just protective.”

I nodded slowly. “I understand.”

And I did—his excuse made sense. A protective sibling. I would have felt the same if I were in her shoes.

But still… something didn’t feel right.

Deep down, I felt it.

That same little whisper in my chest that had been bothering me since I got here. Something about yesterday’s conversation, the look on Abigail’s face, the words Gabriel hadn’t said.

What is he not telling me?

I forced a small smile and lowered my eyes back to my plate. “Okay,” I said quietly.

Gabriel smiled warmly, clearly relieved. But the worry in me remained.

After the meal, Gabriel excused himself to attend to some duties while I went back to my room. Feeling bored, I lay on the bed and my thoughts drifted to the triplets. I thought of what they might be doing now—have they marked Anita yet? Of course, they should, at least to save the lives of their pups.

My chest tightened painfully at the thought.

They’re not yours anymore, I reminded myself. That was your decision.

But then, my wolf spoke. “You still love them,” she whispered. “Even without the mate bond.”

I didn’t answer, because she was right.

Even without the pull of the bond, even after everything, I still loved them.

I had loved them before the bond ever existed.

They were my first everything—my first love, my first heartbreak, my first home.

They were the first ones who made me feel what it meant to be cherished, to be protected, to be seen, to be adored.

They taught me what love was: real love, messy, wild, painful—but beautiful.

They pampered me, cared for me, made me feel like I was the only girl in their world.

But that was long ago…

Back when I was still just a teenage girl with stars in her eyes, believing that love was enough to fix anything.

I closed my eyes, a tear slipping down my cheek.

I didn’t realize when I finally drifted off to sleep. One minute I was lying on the bed, lost in thoughts of the past, the next, everything around me faded.

Then I heard it—a soft voice, gentle but firm.

“Wake up.”

My eyes fluttered open.

And I froze.

Standing at the edge of the bed was her.

The same woman from the rooftop, the one who looked exactly like me.

Same hair. Same eyes. Same face.

I slowly sat up, heart pounding. “You… What are you doing here?”

She tilted her head and gave a small, tired smile. “This is a dream, Olivia.”

I blinked, trying to understand.

“A dream?” I repeated.

She nodded. “But it doesn’t mean it isn’t real.”

I stared at her, confused. But before I could say anything more, her expression turned serious.

“Why are you so stubborn?” she asked, stepping closer. “Why didn’t you listen to me?”

I opened my mouth, but no words came out.

“I told you not to leave the Full Moon Pack,” she said, her voice sharp with disappointment. “I warned you.”

I swallowed hard. “Who are you?” I asked, finally finding my voice.

But she didn’t answer. Her lips parted slightly, like she wanted to speak, then closed again.

“Even coming to you like this, I’m breaking the rules,” she muttered. “I’m not supposed to interfere.”

I furrowed my brows. “Rules? What are you talking about?”

She looked me straight in the eyes.

“You made a choice,” she said calmly. “Leaving the Full Moon Pack will come with punishment.”

“Punishment? What are you talking about?” I asked, feeling cold all of a sudden.

She stepped back. “You’ll see soon enough. Be ready.”

And just like that, I shot up from the bed, gasping.

My heart was racing. My hands were shaking.

The room was dark now. The sun had already set. The only light came from the small lamp beside the bed.

I looked around, but no one was there.

Just me.

Alone.

But that dream… it felt too real to ignore.

What did she mean by punishment?

And who was she?

My chest tightened as fear slowly crept in.