Chapter 406

Olivia’s POV
I looked at myself one last time in the mirror. The sky-blue dress hugged me perfectly, the color matching my eyes. Silver heels shined on my feet. My black hair fell loose over my shoulders. I looked pretty… maybe even beautiful.
“You look beautiful,” Lolita said with a smile.
I forced a small smile back, though inside I felt no joy. If this dinner had been with the triplets, my stomach would be alive with butterflies. I would be thrilled, maybe even nervously excited in a way that felt good.
But no. This dinner was with Frederick. The one man I wished would vanish from my life. Instead of butterflies, I carried nothing but irritation.
“I’m leaving,” I told Lolita before grabbing the silver purse that matched my heels.
Clutching it tight, I teleported and landed in Frederick’s living room.
The sight before me made my brow crease.
Frederick stood close to Selene, his hand lifting gently as he tucked a strand of her hair behind her ear. She smiled softly at him, shy yet pleased, as though she enjoyed the attention.
The moment his eyes found me, his hand froze. Shock washed over his face, like a child caught doing something wrong.
My gaze narrowed harder, taking him in. He wore a dark tailored suit, the kind that hugged his broad shoulders perfectly. His shirt was black, open at the top, giving him that dangerous, powerful look he loved to carry.
Then my eyes shifted to Selene.
She wore a soft cream-colored gown that draped perfectly over her figure. Her long hair spilled over her shoulders like silk, and the faint glow from the fire made her look even softer.
I hated to admit it, but she was beautiful. A beauty I couldn’t deny, no matter how much my wolf snarled inside me.
“Olivia, you are here,” Frederick said in a tense tone as he stepped toward me. I scoffed, glancing at Selene once more. She stared back with that fake innocence that infuriated me.
I moved my gaze back to Frederick, who looked tense despite how hard he was trying to stay composed. I folded my arms against my chest. “Am I interrupting something?” I asked.
Frederick’s jaw flexed. He stepped closer, every line of his body tense, though he tried to look calm. “No,” he said quickly, his voice too quick, too defensive. “You’re not interrupting anything.”
I arched a brow, my wolf scoffing in my chest. Not interrupting? My eyes flicked back to Selene. She still sat there so perfectly composed, her hands folded neatly in her lap, her big eyes wide with that false innocence she wore like a crown.
“Really?” I pressed, tilting my head slightly. “Because from where I’m standing, it looks like I walked in at a… delicate moment.”
Frederick’s nostrils flared, but before he could speak, Selene lowered her lashes, sighing softly. “You misunderstand, Olivia,” she said, her voice sweet as honey.
I scoffed, my eyes narrowing on her. “Of course,” I muttered, sarcasm thick in my tone.
Frederick’s lips pressed into a thin line, and I could almost see the uneasiness in him. Then, as if snapping out of the moment, he cleared his throat.
“We should go,” he said firmly, brushing past the tension like it didn’t exist. “We’ll be late if we waste any more time.”
Late. That was his excuse.
I said nothing, just clutched my purse tighter, and followed him out. Selene trailed behind, her soft footsteps irritating me more than they should have.
A sleek black Mercedes was already waiting. Inside, the air smelled of leather and Frederick’s heavy cologne, rich and suffocating.
I slid into the back seat, my eyes scanning every detail—the faint trace of wine on the seats, the smooth finish of the wood panel, the subtle gleam of silver accents. Selene got in beside me while Frederick quietly settled on the other side. This text is hosted at ~net
The ride was silent, heavy with tension. My wolf growled low in my chest, restless. I kept my gaze fixed out the window, watching the trees and lights blur past.
When we arrived at the restaurant, Frederick was the first to step out. He moved with his usual grace, the air of authority clinging to him like a second skin.
He turned and, to my surprise, extended his hand to me. I hesitated, then took it, my silver heels clicking against the pavement as I stepped out. He guided me inside, pulling out a chair for me at our table.
But then—to my surprise—I watched him do the same for Selene, as he pulled a seat for her too.
The waiter arrived, filling our glasses with water. Frederick leaned back, his eyes sweeping over both of us before landing—of course—on Selene.
“Tell me something about you,” he said, his voice softer than I had ever heard it. “How old are you?”
Selene smiled politely, lowering her lashes. “I’m twenty-one.”
Frederick nodded in approval. “And what brings you here?” he pressed, sounding so interested in knowing everything about her.
She answered, her tone gentle, carefully measured. “I came for an IT program.”
I nearly choked on my water. An IT program? Such lies. And since when did Frederick care about anyone’s education? Since when did he ask?
He had never once asked me questions like that. Never cared about the little details of who I was, or what I wanted. With me, it was always possession, demand, obsession. But with Selene… he was curious. Attentive.
My fingers tightened around my fork as Selene frowned at the crabs on her plate. “I like crabs, but I hate peeling them. It’s too much trouble.”
Without hesitation, without even looking at me, Frederick reached across, slid her plate closer, and began peeling the crab for her with practiced hands.
My wolf froze. My heart dropped.
Shit.
I knew it then—clear as daylight.
Frederick wasn’t just intrigued. He wasn’t just interested in having a taste of her blood.
He was falling in love.
And that, more than anything, terrified me.