Olivia’s POV

Before I could react, he walked to a large closet in the corner, pulled the doors open, and rummaged inside. A moment later, he turned around, holding something in his hands: a plain black shirt and a pair of pants. He walked up to me and stretched them out.

“You can shift now,” he said calmly. “Put these on.”

I blinked at him, still unsure.

He gave a soft chuckle, almost amused by my hesitation. “Unless you prefer to walk around naked too?”

I growled lightly, embarrassed, but took the clothes from his hand in my mouth and turned around, padding into the corner of the room. With a deep breath, I shifted back to human form, my bones reshaping, fur pulling back, until I stood up—naked and cold. I dressed quickly; his shirt was slightly oversized but soft and warm. The pants were a bit loose, but they fit well enough.

When I turned back around, he was already halfway through dressing himself. He stood in front of the mirror, pulling on a black button-down shirt over his toned chest. His pants were perfectly fitted, making him look even more powerful than he already did. He glanced at me through the mirror.

“I didn’t bring you here to scare you,” he said, his voice softer now. “You looked like you needed help.”

I didn’t respond, still trying to understand everything. After he finished buttoning up his shirt, he walked over to the corner of the room where a minibar stood. I watched him quietly as he opened a cabinet, took out a bottle of red wine, and grabbed two glasses. His movements were calm, controlled—like everything he did was thought through before he even acted. He walked to the couch and set the glasses down on the table in front of it.

“Come, sit,” he said, nodding to the seat beside him.

I hesitated for a heartbeat before slowly walking over and sitting down. The couch was plush and comfortable, and I sank into it slightly as he poured the wine. The rich scent of it filled the air, and the clink of the glass as he handed it to me felt too normal for how surreal everything else was. I took it, still unsure of everything swirling in my head.

“Are you…” I began, then paused. “Are you the Alpha of the Shadow Pack?”

He didn’t even blink.

“Yes,” he said simply, his voice smooth and steady.

My fingers tightened slightly around the glass. “Do you know me?”

He smiled, then let out a soft laugh, the sound deep and warm. “Yes, Olivia. I know exactly who you are.”

I blinked in surprise. “How?”

“I attended your wedding,” he said, turning slightly to face me. “With the triplets. I was one of the guests.”

My brows furrowed. “You were there?”

He nodded. “Didn’t you see me?”

I shook my head slowly. “No… I—I barely remember that day.”

His expression softened. “I understand. You looked lost that day. Your eyes… they weren’t present. Like you were standing there, but your soul wasn’t.”

His words struck something in me, like a bell echoing through my chest. I remembered standing at the altar, people clapping, lights flashing—but I didn’t feel like myself. I had felt numb, confused… like everything around me was spinning, and I was just trying to stay upright.

“I’m not the only one who noticed,” he added quietly, sipping his wine. “Some of the guests could see it. Your worry. Your confusion.”

I lowered my gaze to the glass in my hands, the liquid swirling gently.

“I didn’t even know what was happening around me,” I whispered. “I was just… there.”

The room went quiet for a moment. Not awkward silence—but heavy, thoughtful. He didn’t say anything right away. He just watched me. Like he understood more than I wanted anyone to. He watched me for a moment, his gaze unreadable, then set his wine glass down gently on the…

“Do you want to talk about it?” he asked. “Why you weren’t in a good mood today?”

I hesitated, feeling my throat tighten. “It’s nothing, really,” I muttered, taking a sip of the wine to avoid meeting his eyes.

He let out a quiet hum, like he didn’t believe me but wasn’t going to push too hard—yet. Then, with a calm certainty, he said, “By now, the triplet Alphas are probably going crazy looking for you.”

I frowned. The thought should’ve made me panic… but it didn’t. I set my glass down a little too harshly. “I don’t care.”

That surprised him slightly, his brows lifting just a little. “You really don’t?”

I shook my head, my chest tightening. “They don’t get to be upset. Not after everything.”

He leaned back, watching me again with that calm, patient stare. Then he tilted his head slightly and asked, “Don’t you remember me?”

His words caught me off guard. I stared at him, my heart suddenly thudding. “You… look familiar,” I admitted slowly. “But not just from the woods. It’s something else. Somewhere else.”

He chuckled, a rich, amused sound. “I’m not surprised. You were so young when we first met. You might’ve been ten?”

I blinked. “What?”

He nodded. “It was at the Full Moon Pack. I came with my father—we were there for the triplet Alphas’ father’s birthday celebration. I was fifteen at the time.”

The memory tugged at the edge of my mind, blurry but there.

“We met in the main hall,” he continued, a smirk curving his lips. “You were holding a glass of juice and bumped into me by accident. Poured the whole thing on my shirt.”

I gasped, the memory flashing in my mind like a spark. A boy with striking eyes. A shocked gasp. My panicked apology…

“I was trying to say sorry,” I murmured, half-laughing. “And then… one of the triplets came over and dragged me away. He looked furious.”

He laughed with me, the sound soft and nostalgic. “Yeah, I think it was the youngest one. He glared at me like I’d just declared war.”

I stared at him, the pieces slowly clicking into place.

“You’ve really known me since then?” I asked, my voice quieter now.

He nodded. “I never forgot. How could I?” His eyes lingered on mine, warm and sincere. “Even then, you were… beautiful… arguably the most beautiful girl in that hall. I can’t forget such a face.”