Chapter 617

Olivia’s POV

Throughout the day, I stayed in my room.

I didn’t know what to feel about everything that had happened.

Part of me was happy.

So happy.

I had been right all along.

Lennox was alive.

He had really come back to me.

But another part of me felt heavy.

Because even though he was back, everything between us was broken.

Not just between me and Lennox—but between all four of us.

So many lies.

So much pain.

So many years lost.

I didn’t even know if what we had could be fixed anymore.

I walked to the window and stared outside, my arms wrapped around myself.

How did love turn into this?

We were supposed to have a happy ending, but right now I don’t feel there will be any happy ending for us.

Suddenly a soft knock landed on my door.

I froze.

My heart beat faster.

“Who is it?” I asked quietly.

I didn’t want to face anyone right now.

“Luna,” a maid said gently from outside, “your presence is needed. Everyone is waiting p>

My chest tightened.

I closed my eyes for a moment, then whispered, “Alright p>

I moved over to the mirror and stared at my reflection… I looked drained… tired and confused… My wolf was silent, already sensing the drastic decision I was about to make… a decision I knew was the best for all of us.

When I stepped into the hall, I felt a different atmosphere.

And then I saw him.

Lennox.

His real face was back.

He was kneeling, holding three little boys in his arms.

Leo.

Liam.

Leon.

They were crying, their small arms wrapped tightly around his neck, like they were afraid he would disappear again.

“I’m here,” Lennox kept saying softly, his voice shaking. “I’m here. I won’t leave you again. I promise p>

The boys were sobbing into his chest.

“We missed you, Daddy,” Liam cried.

“I missed you too,” Lennox whispered, kissing their hair again and again. “More than you’ll ever know p>

I stood there, unable to move.

This was what they had lost.

This was what all of us had lost.

After a while, Lennox gently pulled back, holding their faces in his hands.

“Go with the maids now,” he said softly. “I’ll come see you very soon. The grown-ups need to talk p>

The boys didn’t want to let go, but slowly, they nodded. They hugged him one last time and were led away.

The room grew quiet.

It was just the four of us now.

Me.

Lennox.

Levi.

Louis.

And Damien. I was surprised to see him… I had an idea he was around.

Damien stepped forward, his eyes full of regret.

“I’m sorry,” he said quietly. “On behalf of my brother… and everything he did. I pray you all find a way to heal from this p>

He gave Lennox a small nod, then turned and left, closing the door behind him.

Silence fell again.

No one spoke.

It was heavy.

Painful.

Suffocating.

Then Lennox took a breath.

“I’ll go first,” he said.

We all looked at him.

“I’m sorry,” he began. “For making you believe I was dead. I know it destroyed you. I know it broke everything p>

His eyes moved from Louis to Levi… then to me.

“But I had to do it,” he said softly. “Someone wanted me gone. If I came back as myself, I would have died again. I had to hide p>

He swallowed hard.

“Our relationship suffered because of it,” he continued. “All of it did. But I don’t want us to stay broken. I want us to find our way back—if we all still want the same thing p>

I swallowed hard and blinked back tears… I wished it was that easy… I wished everything would go back as they were, but I knew that was impossible… we all need to heal.

Louis took a shaky breath.

“I’m sorry,” he said, his voice low. “I was a terrible brother to you, Lennox. I abandoned you when you needed me. I let anger and confusion change me p>

He looked at Lennox with wet eyes.

“I hope you can forgive me. I want us to be the way we used to be… inseparable… I want us four to be back… I missed our relationship… I miss us p>

I also do… I wished to myself.

Levi stepped forward slowly.

He looked like he was barely holding himself together.

“I don’t even know where to start,” he whispered. “I deserve whatever punishment you give me p>

He turned to Lennox.

“I was a horrible brother. I failed you when you were alive… and when you were gone. I let jealousy turn me into someone I don’t even recognize p>

His voice broke.

“I don’t know what got into me. I don’t know how I became this person. But I’m sorry. Truly p>

Then he turned to me.

“And Olivia… I’m sorry. For everything. For the lies. For the control. For the pain I caused you p>

He bowed his head.

“I don’t expect forgiveness. I just needed you to know I regret it and am ready to take whatever punishment p>

The room went quiet again.

All eyes slowly turned to me.

It was my turn to speak.

My throat felt tight.

My heart felt heavy.

And I didn’t even know where to begin, but I scoffed, glaring at Levi.

“Punishment?” I repeated, a bitter laugh slipping from my lips as I stared at Levi.

“Punishment p>

Something ugly and raw rose inside me.

“You think this is about punishment?” I snapped. “You think saying sorry and offering yourself up will fix what you did p>

Levi opened his mouth, but I lifted my hand.

“No. Don’t,” I said. “You don’t get to interrupt me anymore p>

“You are the reason we are here,” I said, my voice shaking with anger. “You are the reason everything fell apart. You lied. You controlled. You made decisions for all of us like you were some kind of god p>

Levi flinched, his face pale.

“You decided who I could love,” I said. “Who I could talk to. What I was allowed to know. You played with all of us like we were pieces on a board p>

Tears burned my eyes, but I forced them back.

“You didn’t just hurt me,” I continued. “You hurt Lennox. You hurt Louis. You hurt the boys. You tore us apart with your fear and jealousy. You are the reason we are standing here like strangers p>

Levi lowered his head.

Then I turned to Louis.

“And you,” I said, my voice cutting. “You just stood there. Like a lost puppy. Letting Levi pull your strings p>

Louis’s eyes widened.

“You’re an Alpha too,” I went on. “You have a voice. You have power. But you let him decide everything while you watched us fall apart p>

My hands trembled.

“If you had stood up,” I said softly, “if you had said something when things started going wrong… maybe Lennox wouldn’t have been so alone. Maybe I wouldn’t have been so lost p>

Louis looked crushed.

Then I turned to Lennox.

My chest tightened when I met his eyes.

“And you my voice softened despite how angry I was. “I don’t even know if I should be angry with you for deceiving us… or grateful that you survived p>

I swallowed hard.

“I understand why you hid,” I said. “I do. But that doesn’t mean it didn’t hurt p>

My voice dropped.

“And I’m not innocent either,” I admitted. “I failed you too p>

Lennox’s eyes widened.

They all stared at me.

“I failed you, Lennox,” I whispered. “I should have stood my ground. I should have fought harder. I should have trusted what I felt p>

Tears slipped down my cheeks now.

“I abandoned you when you were gone,” I said. “I let the lies become my truth. And I’m sorry p>

The room was silent.

“We are all broken,” I said. “All of us. We’re not who we used to be. We’re carrying too much pain to pretend everything can just go back to normal p>

I took a shaky breath.

Then I said the words that made everything stop.

“I think… we need a break p>

Levi’s head snapped up.

Louis froze.

Lennox went still.

“This bond,” I continued. “This relationship… it’s suffocating us. We’re bleeding into each other’s wounds instead of healing p>

My heart was pounding.

“I won’t stay here,” I said. “I’ll go back home. I’ll still come to see the boys every day. I know they won’t want to leave with me, and besides, they are your heirs, so it is right they stay here p>

My voice wavered.

“But we need space. We need to be away from each other so we can remember who we are without all this pain p>

No one spoke.

“If along the way,” I went on softly, “you meet someone… someone you fall in love with… you should be with her p>

Levi’s lips parted.

Louis’s eyes filled with tears.

“And if I meet a man I love,” I said, “I’ll be with him too p>

Lennox’s breath hitched.

“We can break this mate bond,” I whispered.

The words felt like knives in my chest, but I kept going.

“If… after all this time apart… after all this healing… we still find our way back to each other,” I said quietly, “then maybe… we can try again. If not, then we will break the mate bond p>

I wiped my tears.

“But right now, staying together like this will only destroy us p>