We stormed down the stairs, not even bothering to grab jackets. The cold morning air hit our faces, but none of us cared. We ran outside the mansion and stood in the open, our chests rising and falling with fast, shaky breaths.
My wolf paced inside me, wild and restless. Urging me to go find her, but I held myself back and waited.
I looked at my brothers. They felt the same unease. We were all shaking, hearts beating fast. We just wanted to see her.
Then—a horn blared from outside the gate.
"There!" Louis shouted.
"Open the gate!" Lennox yelled.
The guards didn't hesitate. They ran to the gate, yanked it open, and stepped back as three black cars drove in fast. Dust rose into the air as the tires skidded a little on the gravel.
My eyes locked on the second car.
The back door opened.
And then Olivia stepped out.
I didn't breathe. I couldn't.
She looked tired. Pale. Her hair was messy, and her eyes… they looked distant, dazed. But she was okay. She was alive.
Before I even realized it, I was running.
I crossed the yard in seconds and pulled her into a tight hug.
She gasped softly, probably from the force, but I didn't let go. I buried my face in her neck, breathing her in, finally getting that scent I'd craved. That intoxicating smell of nutmeg and honey, sweet and warm.
My arms trembled as I held her.
"You're here," I whispered. "You're really here…"
She didn't hug me back.
Her arms stayed at her sides.
I just needed to hold her.
After a moment, I pulled away, swallowing hard.
Then Lennox stepped forward, wrapping his arms around her next. "Liv," he breathed, his voice cracking.
Still, she didn't move. Didn't look moved.
Then Louis came last, holding her gently like she might break.
She didn't hug any of us.
But none of us cared.
She was back and that was all that mattered.
I finally noticed him—my uncle, Damien.
He stepped out of the front car, dressed in all black like always, standing tall with that calm look on his face.
Uncle Damien… or just Damien, as he always asked us to call him.
He hated when we called him "uncle."
"You're only twelve years younger than me," he always said. "I'm not old enough to be your uncle."
And he wasn't wrong. He was thirty-five—only a dozen years older than us. This text is hosted at novel⚑fire.net
Our grandparents from each side were both only children of powerful alphas. Two different packs. Two strong bloodlines.
When they had their first son—our dad—he became the Alpha of the Full Moon Pack, the one from our grandfather's side.
Then, fifteen years later, they miraculously had Damien after several attempts to have more children.
By then, our grandmother's pack—the Pearl Pack—needed an alpha too. So when Damien was born, he was raised to lead her pack instead.
Two sons. Two packs. One family.
Our dad became Alpha of the Full Moon Pack.
And Uncle Damien became Alpha of the Pearl Pack.
It was strange to call your uncle someone who looked more like your older cousin, but that was our life.
And now… here he was.
Bringing back Olivia.
Bringing back our mate.
My chest felt tight with emotion. I didn't know whether to thank him or fall to my knees.
"Damien…" I called out as I walked over to him. He flashed me a rigid smile, which was unlike him, but I ignored it. "How did you find her?" I asked, curious and eager to know. It was strange that he found her so quickly.
Uncle Damien didn't respond. Instead, he just looked at Olivia, as if telling me she was the one to give answers to my question. Deep down, I felt something was wrong.
Lennox, growing impatient, asked Olivia, "What happened? Who took you?"
I turned and looked at Olivia, waiting for her to tell us who did it—who kidnapped her—and heaven help me, I'd paint the walls of this mansion with their blood.
Olivia scoffed and folded her arms across her chest. She eyed the three of us with cold looks before responding. "Your precious mistress Anita did it. She got me kidnapped and sold me to human traffickers," Olivia said firmly.
My eyes widened, and my blood boiled. My wolf was already growling in anger, ready to take action.
Louis looked like he couldn't believe it. "She sold you?"
Olivia nodded slowly. "I don't know how she got involved with them. But she made sure I was gone. And she didn't just want me gone. She wanted me to suffer."
I growled in anger, and before I could speak, Lennox yelled, "Anita! Come down here!" His angry voice boomed around the walls of the mansion.
I turned to two guards. "Go fetch Anita!"
They nodded and left.
Olivia scoffed at our reaction, seemingly not impressed by it, and then she continued. "I now remember everything she said. My memories are back. I remembered everything. The rejection. The pain. The way you all treated me like I was nothing. How you used Anita to hurt me." Her voice shook a little now, but she held her head high.
My mouth went dry. I could barely breathe. But I was relieved—at least she will stop thinking she was married to Gabriel.
My brothers and I exchanged glances with each other before Lennox cleared his throat. "We are happy that you are back, Olivia… as for Anita, we will give her whatever punishment you want us to give her and…"
"Enough, Alpha Lennox… I'm still speaking. I'm not done talking."
Lennox swallowed hard but nodded as he went silent.
Olivia continued. "About the gifts you three sent me on my fourteenth birthday—I never opened any of them," she announced, and my eyes widened. I looked at my brothers, who seemed confused as well.
"Yes," Olivia continued. She turned to Lennox. "That response you got was never from me, Lennox. Yes, that was my handwriting, but it was forged," she spat, and my confusion deepened.
Olivia turned to me. "I would like to see yours. You also sent a present and you received a response, right? I would like to see it and clear the misunderstanding. Lennox has shown me his—I want to see yours and Louis's," she demanded.
I stared at Olivia, not knowing what to say.
She wanted to see the letter.
The one I sent her four years ago, and the one she responded to.
The one I had buried at the bottom of my safe, hoping no one would ever see it.
My face grew hot. I didn't want to show it. Not to her. Not to anyone. That letter was full of hurt and regret. It was embarrassing.
I looked at the ground. "Olivia, I don't think—"
"Just do it," Lennox said quietly beside me. "She knows now why I hate her. She deserves to know why you hate her… even I need to know why you hate her."
I swallowed hard and looked at him, then at Louis, who nodded too.
I let out a shaky breath and gave a small nod.
Without a word, I turned around and walked into the mansion. My feet were heavy. Lennox, Damien, and Olivia followed behind me, and Louis broke off toward his own room to get his letter.
When I reached my room, I stood at the door for a second, hand on the knob.
I didn't want to do this.
I pushed the door open, walked straight to the safe. I input the code and the safe opened. I moved aside old papers until I found the small yellow envelope.
My fingers trembled as I picked it up.
I turned around slowly. Olivia was standing near the door, arms still crossed, face unreadable.
Lennox gave me a nod.
And with that, I held out the envelope.
"This… this is it," I said softly, barely able to meet her eyes. "The letter I wrote you. On your fourteenth birthday. And the response you gave me."
Because no matter how long ago it has been… the pain inside still felt fresh.