Chapter 581

Olivia’s POV

It was seven in the morning.

The boys were finally sleeping.

Liam had burned with fever all night. I barely slept at all. I stayed beside him, my hand on his forehead, my body curled protectively around all three of them. Even though they were so little… they understood what death was.

Too well.

Last night, Liam had looked at me with red, swollen eyes and whispered,

“Mommy… does that mean I will never see Daddy Lennox ever again p>

I couldn’t answer him.

My throat closed. My voice disappeared. But the way he nodded slowly afterward told me everything.

He understood.

And that understanding was breaking him.

I inhaled deeply and carefully slipped out of bed, making sure not to wake them. Liam shifted a little, his brows pulling together even in sleep, and my heart clenched painfully.

I stood there for a long moment, just staring at them.

“You are not okay,” my wolf whispered softly inside me.

A tear slid down my cheek.

“How can I be okay?” I whispered back bitterly. “How can anyone expect me to be okay p>

Lennox was gone.

My children were broken.

My heart felt like it had been ripped out and crushed.

I wiped my face quickly before more tears could fall. I couldn’t cry here. Not in front of them. They needed me strong… even if I didn’t know how to be.

I walked quietly to the door and stepped into the hallway.

The mansion was still. Too still. Just silence… heavy and suffocating.

As I walked down the corridor, my chest ached with every step. My body felt weak, but my mind wouldn’t rest. It replayed everything over and over. Lennox bleeding. Lennox falling. Lennox dying in my arms.

I walked slowly down the corridor toward my room.

Each step felt heavy, like my body was moving through water. The walls felt too close. The silence pressed against my chest until breathing hurt.

As I turned the corner that led to my door p>

I stopped.

Someone was standing there.

A man.

A guard.

He stood straight, his back to the wall beside my door, dressed in the dark uniform of the front warriors. His posture was perfect. Too perfect. Head lowered. Hands clasped behind his back.

My first thought was irritation.

I didn’t ask for a guard.

My second thought made my heart stutter.

The air around him felt… wrong.

No.

Not wrong.

Familiar.

My steps slowed without me meaning to. My wolf stirred uneasily inside me, lifting her head like she had caught a scent she couldn’t place.

As I drew closer, it hit me.

His scent.

My breath caught.

It wasn’t exactly Lennox’s… but it brushed against something deep in my chest. Close enough to smell like him. Close enough to make my hands tremble.

My eyes traveled over him without permission.

Tall.

Broad shoulders.

Strong arms beneath the uniform.

That body.

That build.

My stomach twisted painfully.

It was his build.

Lennox’s.

My pulse started to race.

“What is this?” my wolf whispered, confused. “Why does he feel like p>

I stopped a few steps in front of him.

The closer I got, the stronger the strange feeling became. A sharp tingle ran through my chest, spreading down my spine. My fingers curled slightly at my sides.

Something was very wrong.

Very wrong.

He didn’t move.

Didn’t look at me.

Didn’t speak.

My grief twisted suddenly into anger.

I hated that he was here.

I hated that he stood in front of my door.

I hated that his presence stirred things that should have stayed buried with Lennox.

“Lift your head,” I said sharply.

My voice echoed down the empty hall.

For a second, he didn’t move.

Then slowly… carefully… he obeyed.

He raised his face.

And my world tilted.

Not Lennox.

Not his face.

But for a heartbeat—just one—it felt like Lennox was staring back at me.

The air left my lungs.

My heart slammed violently against my ribs.

Brown hair instead of black.

Sharper jaw.

Different eyes.

Different face.

But that moment—

That flash—

I saw him.

I actually saw Lennox.

My vision blurred, and I staggered back half a step, my hand flying to my chest.

What the hell—

My wolf cried out softly in confusion.

The man’s eyes widened slightly, like he noticed my reaction, but he stayed still. Disciplined. Controlled.

I stared at him, breathing hard.

“Who the hell are you?” I spat, my voice shaking despite my effort to sound firm.

He immediately lowered his head again, respectful.

“My name is Kaine,” he said. His voice was deep. Calm. Respectful. “I was assigned this morning as your personal guard, Luna p>

The sound of his voice made my stomach twist again.

Not Lennox’s voice.

But close enough to hurt.

Personal guard?

I laughed bitterly. That was so ridiculous. “I don’t need a guard p>

“I was ordered to protect,” he replied simply. “By Alpha Levi p>

I frowned. Of course. Typical Levi, making decisions without consulting me.

I studied him again, slower this time. More carefully.

A stranger’s face.

But my eyes kept betraying me, tracing familiar lines that shouldn’t be there. His shoulders. His stance. The way he held himself like he was always ready to step in front of danger.

Just like—

No.

I swallowed hard and forced my thoughts away.

“This is a mistake,” I said coldly. “You can leave p>

“I cannot,” he answered quietly. “I was told to remain at your door until further notice p>

My jaw clenched.

I stepped closer again.

The scent hit me stronger this time.

My breath hitched.

My wolf growled softly inside me, confused and unsettled.

“What are you?” she whispered. “Why does he feel like p>

I shook my head sharply, cutting her off.

“No,” I muttered under my breath. “Absolutely not p>

I looked up at him again, anger flaring to cover the fear and confusion.

“Do not stand so close to me,” I snapped. “And do not look at me like that p>

His eyes flickered—just slightly.

“I apologize, Luna,” he said, and took one controlled step back.

My chest was still tight as I turned toward my door. My hand rested on the handle for a moment longer than necessary.

Without looking back, I said quietly, “Stay out here. And do not speak to me unless it is necessary p>

“Yes, Luna,” he replied.

I opened the door and stepped inside, shutting it firmly behind me.

The moment the door closed, my legs gave way.

I leaned against it, breathing hard, my heart racing like I had just escaped something dangerous.

“What was that?” my wolf whispered shakily.

I slid down slowly until I was sitting on the floor.

“I don’t know,” I whispered back, pressing my palm to my chest. “But something is very, very wrong p>