Chapter 432

Olivia’s POV
“What!” I spat, my voice rising before I could stop myself. Shock coursed through me, making my chest tighten. But Frederick didn’t look at me. Not once. His piercing gaze stayed fixed on Selene as though his words were meant for her, not me.
“I’m no longer waiting, Olivia,” he declared firmly, his tone harsh. “I want us married by next weekend.”
It was like a punch to the gut.
I scoffed, folding my arms over my chest. “You must be joking.”
But Frederick only shook his head, his jaw tight, his eyes still locked on Selene. The way he stared at her made my skin prickle, like I wasn’t even the one he was speaking to.
My frown deepened. Anger bubbled in my chest, ready to burst. I wanted to scream at him, to spit in his face and tell him this would never happen. But I forced myself to hold back, to control my emotions.
I straightened, my voice lowered, though the sharpness couldn’t be hidden. “I can’t marry you now, Lord Frederick. We don’t even know each other. We need time.”
His answer came swiftly, leaving no room for argument.
“I don’t care,” he snapped. His gaze finally flicked to me. “We will get to know each other in marriage.”
But the more I looked at him, the more I realized… he wasn’t really saying it to me.
No. His eyes, his clenched jaw, the way his gaze slid back to Selene—it was all for her.
My stomach twisted. Was this his way of proving something to her? Of stabbing her in the chest with his decision?
I glanced at Selene. She had gone pale, her lips pressed tight together, her eyes refusing to meet his. But she couldn’t hide it. The flicker of hurt that flashed in her gaze was obvious enough. It hit me then. He was using me… to wound her.
And goodness help me, it was working.
Selene shifted on her feet, her hands balling into fists at her sides. Her wolf stirred in her eyes for just a moment before she blinked it away. She looked like she wanted to shout, to curse, but instead, she stayed silent. Before I could move, Frederick came closer.
In just a few steps, he stood right in front of me. His hand grabbed my wrist—not hard, but strong enough to make me freeze—then he pulled me to himself, wrapping his arm around my waist. My wolf snarled at the impact of his touch.
“I can’t wait anymore, Olivia,” he said in a low, serious voice. His thumb pressed against my pulse like he wanted to remind me he was in control. “I want you as my wife. By next weekend, you will be mine.”
His words weren’t loud, but they hit me harder than if he had shouted.
I looked up at him, shocked, my heart racing. Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Selene. She was stiff, her face pale, her eyes wide. She looked… hurt.
Frederick looked at her too, for just a second, like he wanted her to hear every word. Like he wanted the words to pierce through her.
Then he let go of me.
Without saying more, he fixed his shirt, turned, and walked to the door. “I’ll make the wedding plans,” he said coldly before leaving.
The door closed with a heavy thud.
The room went quiet.
I stood frozen for a moment, still staring at the door Frederick had walked out of. My wolf was howling, furious with his touch, but another part of me… was so curious.
Slowly, I turned to Selene. She sat calmly on the bed, her posture stiff, her face blank, as if none of this touched her. But I knew she was only pretending.
My eyes narrowed. “Is there something you want to say to me?” I asked.
Selene lifted her gaze briefly, her eyes flat and guarded. “No,” she muttered. “Just… let me be.”
I scoffed, folding my arms. Her answer only fanned the fire inside me. But before speaking again, I let my senses stretch, searching the room, the walls, the hall beyond. I wanted to be sure Frederick wasn’t eavesdropping. My ears strained, my wolf perked, but there was no sign of Frederick. His aura was gone.
Good.
I stepped closer to Selene, lowering my voice. “I don’t care what’s going on between you and him. I don’t care if he’s fucking you, or if you’re his whore. What matters—” I leaned forward, my eyes locking on hers, “—is the plan. You have to establish it.”
Her lips curled into a bitter little smile, and she let out a humorless laugh. “The plan,” she repeated. Then she shook her head. “I already tried, Olivia. I offered him the chance to feed from me.”
My breath caught, my body stiffening. “You did?”
Selene’s eyes glinted, almost daring me to judge her. “I told him to drink. To take from me. But he refused.”
The words slammed into me like ice water. My wolf bristled, confused, restless.
He refused?
Why?
Selene’s eyes darkened, and for once, she didn’t try to hide the uneasiness in her. “He said if he ever fed from me, he wouldn’t be able to control himself. That he’d drain me dry.” Find the newest release on.net
I blinked, frowning deeply. My wolf stirred uneasily inside me. Frederick… caring?
That didn’t make sense. When had he ever cared whether someone lived or died? He was cold, ruthless, feared by all. Why would he worry about losing control on her? Why would he hold back… for her?
I stared at Selene more closely. Something was off. Something about her had changed. The bitterness I always saw in her eyes was softer now, buried under something else I couldn’t quite name.
Different.
Dangerously different.
My brows furrowed as I studied her, my chest tightening with a strange, unwelcome thought.
“Selene,” I said slowly, my mind racing, hoping what I was suspecting wasn’t true. “Are you… both in love with each other?”