"What are you doing here?" I spat while making my way towards her.
Anita calmly folded both her arms as she glared at me.
"I didn't do it," she said suddenly, and my brows furrowed. "I wish I had, but it wasn't me."
I narrowed my eyes, glaring right back at her. "And you think I will believe that? That you aren't the one sending me those gifts?"
I'm not the one!" she snapped, taking a bold step closer until our faces were inches apart. "You and I know that I'm not the one, Olivia… Olivia, you slapped me wrongly just to hide the person behind those gifts, and for this, I am going to expose you. I'm going to find out who your lover is, and I will make sure both of you are disgraced before the entire pack. Olivia, I swear on my life," she muttered, sounding so angry.
I glared at her, wanting to still stand on my suspicion that she did it… it has to be her. But deep down, I knew Anita, I knew when she was lying, and this wasn't one of those times. Her anger wasn't fake. She was telling the truth.
Which brings me to the bigger question—if it wasn't her, then who might it be?
I glared at Anita. "Are you threatening me?"
Anita scoffed and stepped in even closer. "I'm not threatening you, Olivia. I'm making a promise. For slapping me and accusing me of something I didn't do, I will make sure you and your lover are exposed."
With that, she turned and walked out of the room, while I watched her leave.
I was beyond confused. I didn't know what to think. It was clear that Anita wasn't the one who sent it—then who is this mysterious person?
I stood by the window, my arms crossed over my chest as my eyes scanned the horizon, but my mind was elsewhere. Anita wasn't lying. I could feel it in her voice, in her eyes, in the fury that practically rolled off her skin. For once, her anger wasn't petty—it was personal. ᴜᴘᴅᴀᴛᴇ ꜰʀᴏᴍ Nov3lFɪre.ɴet
I bit my lower lip, my fingers tapping against the glass. I couldn't afford to look weak or clueless. Not now. Not when someone was clearly trying to play with my mind—or worse, land me into trouble.
"You need to set yourself free, Olivia," my wolf whispered inside me. "Free from being grounded."
And that's when it hit me—Louis.
He owed me a favor. A big one.
Without wasting another second, I turned sharply and headed for the door.
"I need to see Alpha Louis," I told the guards stationed outside.
"I don't think Alpha Louis wants to see you," one of them said, his tone cautious.
"Do what I said. And do it now," I snapped, my voice sharp with authority.
The guards outside my door didn't say a word, and soon I overheard retreating footsteps and knew a guard was going to call Louis.
Slowly, I sat back on my bed and went into deep thought. Louis was still holding me a request, and he wasn't going to say no.
I wanted to reach out to my mother and tell her what was going on, but I held back myself. She had just traveled to her own pack. I asked her to leave, at least to take a break from this pack, and she is enjoying her life over at the Forest Pack. I can't worry her with my burdens. I have to do this on my own.
The door creaked open again, and I didn't need to turn to know who it was. I felt his presence before he even said a word.
His scent, his aura, his barely contained frustration—it all rushed into the room like a tidal wave. I slowly turned my head, my expression unreadable as I met his gaze.
He stepped in, closing the door behind him with a soft but firm thud, and crossed his arms. His face was stone-cold, but his eyes were burning.
"Well?" he asked sharply. "Are you ready to confess now? Ready to tell me who your lover is?"
I blinked slowly, rising from the bed, keeping my expression calm despite the anger brewing inside me.
"I believe you haven't forgotten," I said softly.
Louis's brow furrowed. "Forgotten what?"
"That you owe me a favor."
His frown deepened, his jaw tightening. "Olivia—"
"No," I cut him off, stepping forward. "You said, 'Anything you ask, I'll grant it.' Those were your exact words. And now I'm calling in that favor."
He didn't speak for a moment, his eyes on me, trying to read me.
"I want to be set free," I said clearly, folding my arms over my chest. "No more being locked in. I want to walk freely. I don't deserve to be grounded like some criminal."
"You're grounded because you're hiding something," he said through clenched teeth.
I frowned and glared at him. "Are you granting my request, or should I let your brothers know what we did behind their backs? I believe they will be so disappointed in you," I threatened him.
If only he knew what I'd done with Lennox… the only innocent one in their little circle was Levi.
Louis moved closer and unexpectedly wrapped his hand around my neck, not choking me.
"Are you threatening me?" he asked angrily, his eyes full of rage.
I met his gaze, not backing down. "Yes. I'm threatening you, Alpha Louis. If by the end of the day, you don't lift this punishment and let me go free…"
I stepped even closer, until there was barely any space between us.
"… I'll tell your brothers everything. I'll let them know the woman you claim to hate… the one you so proudly accused… you kissed her. You touched her. You did all kinds of things with her behind their backs."
His nostrils flared, his grip on my neck tightening just a little—not enough to hurt, but enough to show he was losing control.
"You wouldn't dare," he growled.
I smirked. "Try me. You know I'm not bluffing."
A flicker of doubt passed through his eyes. He knew I wasn't lying. He remembered every moment just as clearly as I did—every heated kiss, every stolen touch, every time his hands were on me like he couldn't help himself.
"You think you can blackmail me?" he hissed.
I tilted my head slightly. "Call it whatever you want. I'm done playing nice, Louis. You owe me a favor, and you're going to grant it. Or I'll burn down this pretty little image you've built around your brothers and the pack."
For a second, we just stood there, staring each other down—both breathing hard, both refusing to be the first to look away.
His hand dropped from my neck as he stepped back, his jaw clenched so tightly I thought he might shatter his own teeth.
And without a word, he suddenly stormed out of the room.