Levi’s POV

I was taking one of my normal strolls when I walked in on Olivia saving a drowning child. I was moved by instinct and handed her my shirt, but she bluntly refused. I felt my heart clench at her refusal, but I masked my emotions.

From where I stood, I watched the child’s mother fall to her knees, thanking Olivia profusely for saving her baby’s life. When Olivia met my eyes, she stared blankly and walked away.

Where I stood, I realized something… something I didn’t want to realize. I wanted Olivia back… I wanted us to go back to how things were. Fuck, I really wanted to spend time with her. I wanted her attention.

Despite everything, despite the pain she has caused, despite how she tore my heart, despite the nights I cried for the first time in my damn life because of her… I still wasn’t able to stop loving her.

Watching Olivia hold that child close to her chest, soaked and shivering from the water, refusing even the smallest help from me… it shattered all the walls I’d built around my heart. And made me realize I still loved her.

I didn’t want to. I tried not to. But seeing her like that—brave, selfless, beautiful—it all came flooding back. Every moment with her. Every fight. Every night I stayed awake thinking about her. And fuck, no matter how hard I tried to bury it, the truth wouldn’t stop screaming inside: I wanted her back.

But I couldn’t tell anyone. Not Louis. Not Lennox. Not after how I cursed her, after I swore I hated her. They’d laugh in my face. Call me weak. Pathetic.

“Then you shouldn’t fucking care,” my wolf snapped inside me.

I clenched my jaw but didn’t respond.

Moving to the other side of the training field, I ran into Louis and Lennox near the training barracks. They were standing near the open field, arms crossed, mid-conversation when I approached.

“Levi,” Louis said, shooting me a suspicious look. “You’ve been spacing out a lot lately. Is it about Olivia?”

My heart skipped.

“What?” I asked too quickly.

Louis raised a brow, smirking. “Well, after you trained with her on the field, you’ve been acting strange. You’re not… catching feelings again, are you? I remember what you told me yesterday, that you wanted her. Is that right?”

The words hit me like a punch to the gut. I felt the heat rush to my face, my skin suddenly feverishly hot as shame crept up my neck. My throat tightened, making it hard to breathe, let alone speak. I could feel my heart pounding in my chest, a loud drumbeat that felt like it might give me away.

I forced a cold laugh, though it came out hollow. “You think I’d fall for her again?” I said, my voice laced with forced mockery. “Hell no. Why would I want someone like her? I hate Olivia. And it will remain that way.”

Louis raised a suspicious brow at me. “But you told me…”

“Ignore it!” I spat.

Louis and Lennox exchanged glances, and I couldn’t tell if they believed me or not. I didn’t stick around long enough to find out. I turned on my heel and walked off before they noticed my discomfort.

Back in my room, I slammed the door shut and paced the floor like a caged animal. My wolf wouldn’t stop growling inside me.

“Coward. Weakling.”

“Shut up,” I muttered, dragging a hand through my hair.

“You want her, but you’re too ashamed to admit it.”

I slammed my fist into the wall, the sharp pain shooting through my knuckles as I gritted my teeth.

“Shut up!” I spat at my wolf, my anger boiling.

“Why would I want a woman who broke me… she destroyed me,” I said angrily.

My wolf, sensing I was angry, decided to let me be and refused to argue more with me.

I threw myself onto the bed, burying my face in the pillow, trying to block out the thoughts of Olivia. Trying to drown out the guilt, the frustration, the want. But it was like trying to fight a tide that kept pulling me under.

I grunted and ran a hand through my hair. I needed to clear my head. I headed to the training grounds, hoping the adrenaline would drown out the noise in my skull.

I was halfway through a brutal set of combat drills when I saw Olivia. She was laughing—laughing—with Jerek by the edge of the training field. He handed her a bottle of water, and she took it with a smile that made me frown.

Jealousy twisted in my gut.

And just when I was about to look away, I saw Anita strutting toward me, hips swaying like she owned the damn place. Perfect.

If Olivia wanted to flirt with other men, two could play that game.

I turned to Anita with a smirk and pulled her closer by the waist, just enough for Olivia to see. “Do you want to spar with me?” I said to Anita.

Anita’s fingers curled around my neck, her body pressing up against mine as she leaned in, her breath warm against my ear.

“You know,” she whispered, her voice sultry, “we could always take this somewhere more private. My room or yours, whatever you prefer. I’m sure we could have some fun.”

I stiffened. The offer was clear. But deep down, I knew. I wasn’t interested in her anymore. Not like before.

“Not in the mood for that. I just need a sparring partner. Either you’re in or out.”

Anita frowned at my words but nodded. “Fine, let’s spar.”

I nodded, forcing out a smile at Anita.

Suddenly, I noticed Olivia looked our way. Her smile dropped. And god, a sick part of me felt satisfied.

But under all of it—the posturing, the jealousy, the lies—I still couldn’t escape the truth. I didn’t want Anita. I wanted Olivia. And I didn’t know how much longer I could keep pretending I didn’t.