Olivia's POV
I didn't waste any time. I went straight to the bedroom and began packing my things. I needed to leave this pack, and find a safe territory as soon as possible.
I moved mindlessly, pulling clothes from hangers, emptying drawers as I arranged them all in my bags.
"Olivia?"
I froze.
James's voice came from the doorway. "What's going on? What are you doing?"
I turned slowly to face him. My wolf snarled in my head, all she wanted to do was claw his eyes out.
His expression changed instantly when he saw my face. My eyes were red and swollen from crying, and my cheeks stained with tears.
"What's wrong?" Panic flashed in his eyes as he stepped closer. "Are you okay? What happened?"
The concern in his voice made my stomach turn. He was so good at pretending. He sounded so convincing.
I shook my head. "Nothing." I croaked.
He stepped closer even more, looking worried. "Come on, it can't be nothing, you've been crying."
I knew James wouldn't drop it anytime soon, so I lied.
"It's Alice," I whispered, my voice breaking.
He furrowed his brows. "Your foster mother? The same one who's been in a coma since the attack?"
I nodded. "The clinic called. She's getting worse. Her wolf is fading. They said... they said she might not make it."
For a split second, I saw something like relief flash in his eyes.
Then it was gone, replaced by fake sympathy.
"Oh, Olivia." He stepped forward, pulling me into his arms. "I'm sorry. I know she means a lot to you."
My skin crawled at his touch. The hands that had murdered my pups were now holding me, comforting me. My wolf growled.
I wanted to scream. I wanted to shift and tear his throat out.
But I forced myself to stay still, to let him hold me.
"James?" Mia's voice called from the doorway.
James's body tensed up. He pulled away immediately and rushed to Mia's side, his wolf instantly responding to her.
"Are you okay?" he asked her with genuine concern, not the fake concern he had just given me.
Mia nodded, smiling, one hand on her barely visible bump. "Yes, I just wanted to know if you've told Olivia yet."
James turned to me, and suddenly his entire demeanor changed. His voice was vibrating with excitement.
"Olivia, Mia has good news."
I lifted an eyebrow. "Good news?"
He nodded. "Yes. And I would be hosting a pack gathering next week for a big celebration. I'm inviting all our business partners, the pack members, the Alpha Council, other pack alphas—everyone important."
I knew what the good news was. The pregnancy. My mate's pup growing inside my sister. And I knew the plans he had for me at that gathering.
I stared at him. "All this for the 'good news'?"
"Yes." Mia smiled sweetly. "James wanted to do something special for me, as we're all family."
He was throwing a gathering to celebrate the pup he had created using my murdered pupren's essence.
"There will be a family dinner tonight first," James continued. "Just us and your parents. But the big gathering is next week. I've already arranged everything—"
"I'm not interested," I said flatly.
Mia's smile faltered. "But Olivia—"
"I said I'm not interested."
Mia's face dropped, and her eyes watered.
"Olivia!" James snapped, his alpha command bleeding into his voice. My wolf was furious at his attempt to dominate. "Your mother and father will be there. The pack expects you."
"I can't bring myself to celebrate while Alice is dying," I said quietly, the lie rolling off my tongue easily.
"She's old," James said dismissively. "Her wolf is weak. She's lived her life. But this pup—" He placed his hand on Mia's stomach. "This is new life. A strong bloodline. Something to be happy about."
My hands clenched into fists at his cruel words. Alice had always treated him like family, even though I wasn't her biological daughter.
"Don't be selfish," he continued. "Mia is trying to include you in something important—"
"I said no."
Mia's eyes filled with tears. "I just wanted us all to be together as family. But if you don't want to be there..." Her voice broke. "If you hate me that much..."
"I'm just worried about Alice." I replied, turning away from her to continue packing.
"She wasn't your real mother," Mia said softly. "She was just—"
"Don't."I growled, my eyes flashing. "Don't you dare finish that sentence."
Mia flinched, fresh tears spilling down her cheeks. She turned to James. "See? She hates me. I try so hard to be a good sister, but she—"
"Enough." James's voice was sharp, his alpha power pressing down on me. He turned to me, his eyes hard. "You're coming to dinner tonight. And you're coming to the gathering next week. That's final."
"No, I'm not." I gritted out.
"Yes, you are." He stepped closer, his alpha dominance pressing harder against my wolf. "You're my mate. I am your alpha. You'll attend both events, you'll smile, and you'll support your sister. Do you understand?"
I stared at him. The alpha I had loved for eight years. The alpha who had murdered our pups.
"Fine," I said quietly. "I'll come."
Satisfaction flashed across his face. "Good. Dinner starts at seven."
He turned and guided Mia out of the room, whispering something in her ear that made her laugh.
The door closed behind them.
I stood there for a long moment, staring at the closed door with a glare on my face. My wolf paced angrily in my mind. She wanted revenge.
James had no idea of the storm that was coming for him.
