Chapter 392

Olivia’s POV
Her breath hitched, and her knees buckled against the floor.
She landed hard, her palms slapping against the tiles to steady herself. Anger flickered in her eyes, but she dared not raise her chin.
“Say it,” Lennox ordered, his voice raging. “Apologize to her. Now.”
Selene’s jaw worked, grinding back against her own pride. For a heartbeat, I thought she’d refuse, consequences be damned. But then her gaze flicked up—straight to me—and I saw the pure hatred burning there.
Good, she should hate me because I hate her too.
“I’m sorry,” she muttered, her words tight, laced with hate.
“Louder,” Lennox snapped. His wolf was right there, riding the edge, vibrating in his chest.
Selene flinched, her lips parting. “I said, I’m sorry.”
The words echoed across the kitchen, small and hollow, but still an apology.
Levi stepped closer to me, his hand brushing mine, steadying my trembling fingers. “This should never happen again,” he said coldly to Selene. “She’s our mate. You’ll show her the respect she deserves, or you’ll answer to all three of us.” This content belongs to.net
Louis’s wolf flared, his eyes sharp, his presence crowding the space as he leaned forward slightly. “If not for our plan, I would have thrown you out of here, but we’re giving you one chance. One. If you ever disrespect her again, family or not, you won’t stay under this roof another day.”
Selene’s lips pressed into a thin line as she clenched her fists against the floor.
I stood there, my breath uneven, my wolf finally settling just a little. Seeing her on her knees, hearing those words—even forced—soothed something inside me that had been clawing to get out.
But deep down, I knew this wasn’t over. Not by a long shot.
Selene hated me. And I hated her.
And sooner or later, that hatred was going to spill over again.
I couldn’t stand being in the same room as her another second. My wolf still snarled under my skin, restless and angry, but all I wanted was distance.
“Let’s go,” Louis said quietly, his hand brushing mine, pulling me away from the kitchen. I didn’t argue. I let them guide me back through the halls, away from her sharp eyes and venomous tongue, back to the safety of our room.
The door shut behind us with a soft thud, and for the first time since I’d walked into the kitchen, I let out a breath. My shoulders slumped as I leaned against the wall, pressing a trembling hand to my chest.
“I don’t think I can stand her,” I whispered, my voice raw. My throat tightened as the words left me. “Every time I see her, every time she looks at you three… I feel like I’m burning from the inside. I hate it. I hate her. I don’t want her here.”
Levi stepped forward first, his arms sliding around me. “I know, Liv,” he murmured against my hair. “I know it’s hard. But it’s only for a while. Just until Frederick is dealt with. Then she’s gone. We promise.”
Lennox moved closer, his hand cupping my cheek, his thumb brushing gently across my skin. “We hate this too,” he admitted, his voice low and heavy. “But she’s a piece of the plan we can’t throw away. It won’t be forever. Just a while longer.”
Louis’s hand settled on my shoulder, grounding me. His gaze was firm but soft. “We’ll handle her. You don’t have to worry, Olivia. All you need to do is hold on—to us. We’ll get through this together.”
I closed my eyes, my wolf pressing closer, soaking in their warmth. Their voices, their touch, their presence—together they pushed back the chaos inside me.
And though the fire of my jealousy still burned, for a moment, it dimmed.
Just a while, I told myself. Just a little while longer.
I inhaled deeply and nodded before flashing an assuring smile to them. “I have to bathe and go back to Frederick… I have to follow him to the party.”
Their faces hardened immediately.
Louis’s jaw clenched, his arms crossing tightly over his chest. “I still don’t like this,” he muttered. “The idea of you being at his side, of people seeing you with him… it makes my blood boil.”
Lennox’s eyes narrowed, his wolf growling possessively. “I hate it too. Every second you spend near him feels like a thorn in my chest. The thought of you walking into that party with him, being seen as his He shook his head, anger flashing in his eyes. “It’s unbearable.”
Levi’s hand found mine, his touch softer but no less tense. “But we know you’re right. We know why you’re doing it. Just… please, Liv. Promise you’ll be careful.”
I looked at each of them, their wolves restless, their hearts aching—and guilt hit me. I didn’t want to be near Frederick any more than they wanted me to. But this was war. And in war, comfort wasn’t always an option.
“I’ll be careful,” I whispered, squeezing Levi’s hand before stepping closer to Lennox. I pressed a kiss against his lips, slow and deep, pouring all my reassurance into it. His growl softened into a low rumble, and through the bond, I felt the ache in him ease just a fraction.
Pulling back, I glanced at Louis, who still looked like he wanted to smash something. I moved to him, cradling his face in my hands. “It’s only for a while,” I promised. “Just until Frederick is gone. Then this will all be over.”
He kissed my forehead, lingering there, his voice rough. “It had better be, Liv. Because I swear, I won’t let you stand beside him longer than necessary.”
Levi pulled me for a hug and whispered into my hair. “Reach out to us if anything goes wrong.”
I gave a small nod, my chest heavy, and pulled away. My wolf stirred uneasily, already dreading the scent of Frederick, but I straightened my shoulders.
I looked at their tense faces. “I have to go.”
They gave a reluctant nod. I noticed they were itching to pull me to themselves, but they held themselves back, and with a warm smile, I teleported away.