Chapter 36
Olivia's POV
The entire day, Ethan's attention lingered on me like a presence in the room. His wolf seemed closer, too, watching me with an intensity I hadn’t felt before.
It was the small things: how his gaze seemed to follow me as I moved, and the tension in his jaw whenever I spoke to someone else. Yet when I tried to talk to him directly, he’d withdraw, leaving me frustrated.
I’m done with this dance, and I deserve answers. Which is how I ended up here, eavesdropping once again outside Ethan’s office.
“...Derek’s ultimatum,” Ethan said, his tone tight with anger. “Pressuring me to complete the bond – it’s a power play, plain and simple.”
Marlus sighed. “Maybe so, but the council doesn’t respect incomplete bonds. You know how they are. For them, appearances are everything, and Derek expects you to follow through.”
“I’m not about to let him dictate my bond with Olivia,” Ethan replied, a fierceness in his tone that both thrilled and worried me. “It’s… complicated.”
I pulled back, processing his words, his frustration resonating with my own.
It was obvious that something more than power politics held him back. But his reluctance left me feeling like I wasn’t enough. And that was total bullshit.
I knocked and quickly opened the door, finding myself face-to-face with Ethan. His surprise was quickly masked by his usual guarded expression.
“Olivia –” he began, but I interrupted him, unwilling to back down.
“Why won’t you bond with me, Ethan? And don’t say it’s complicated. I deserve the truth.”
Ethan’s jaw clenched, and he glanced away, as though choosing his next words with care.
“Olivia, this is more than a political decision. You know what fully bonding entails. Once it’s complete, there’s no turning back, and it’s... a lot to risk.”
I held his gaze, refusing to let him off the hook. “This entire arrangement is a risk. You made me sign that damn contract – which included a Mating mark. I’ve supported you through everything, but you’re still holding back. Is it because of me?”
He looked at me, his eyes flickering with uncertainty, and for a moment, I thought he’d finally open up. But instead, he shook his head.
“This isn’t about you, Olivia. I’ve been through things…You saw how my last mate left.”
I stiffened, Ethan’s words cutting deep even though I knew he hadn’t meant to.
“So, it’s not about us, then. It’s about Isabella.” My voice was barely above a whisper, the sting of his rejection settling in my chest.
Ethan stepped closer, reaching for me, his voice softening. “Olivia, I don’t want to hurt you. This bond isn’t just about the Council or power. it’s something I need to protect you from.”
I pulled back, swallowing my disappointment. “Well, you’re doing a poor job of protecting me from you.”
Ethan opened his mouth, his expression torn, but no words came.
“I won’t hold you to that contract, Ethan. But you’re either in or you’re out. I won’t be strung along.”
I left him standing there, my heart heavy.
I was eager to throw myself into work and escape the swirl of emotions Ethan’s words had left in their wake. Something bright caught my eye as I unlocked my office door.
A plain white envelope lay half-hidden at my feet. I didn’t need to open it to know who it was from.
The faint, familiar scent of expensive cologne was the distinctive brand Aiden favored. Not mind, of course. It clung to the paper like an invisible mark.
Dread pooled in my stomach as I bent down to pick it up, my fingers brushing over the fine, smooth paper.
I quickly shut the door and dropped my keys on the desk. I flipped over the envelope and braced for whatever this was.
Aiden’s handwriting was immediately recognizable: bold and elegant, his was a script designed to make a statement.
I unfolded the letter, and his words leapt off the page:
Liv,
Isn’t it curious, this situation we find ourselves in? Forced into a connection with others, yet always circling back to each other. Bound by circumstance yet not by bonds. I wonder, can you feel the same unfinished things I do? The lingering promise of the bond between us, left to dangle…
My pulse quickened as I read, irritation prickling at the edges of my resolve. It was classic Aiden: find what you desire more and exploit it.
Every word seemed to hint at some invisible thread he was using to weave himself back into my mind, a place he had no right to be.
The letter continued.
The Council’s eyes are firmly on you, and Derek’s visit drew more attention than you need right now. You’re not someone who wants the spotlight, so I know how hard all of this must be for you.
You don’t deserve that, but you do deserve a Mate who lets everyone know how much you mean to him. I can’t help but wonder… why doesn’t Ethan mark you?
I felt my hands shake as I read that line, his words hitting right to the literal heart of it. Aiden was probing my own weaknesses, trying to find some insecurity to latch onto and expose. Just like Chloe had ordered him to do.
The letter’s final lines hit like a well-aimed arrow:
Where do your loyalties truly lie, sweetheart? It’s a question that lingers, especially when others would love to see you fall. Maybe it’s time to reconsider your situation. I wonder if you knew what you’re getting into with Ethan… or if you see that he’ll never love you, never claim you, the way I can.
Aiden wanted me to doubt Ethan, to question everything we’d built. He wanted to plant seeds of distrust, hoping they’d grow into something that would ultimately tear me down.
The implications were as infuriating as they were unsettling.
This letter was a calculated attempt to manipulate me from a distance, all while keeping his own hands clean.
I crumpled the letter, a wave of annoyance overtaking me.
Aiden had always enjoyed mind games, but this felt like more than a simple jab. This was him trying to assert his influence, to remind me that, no matter where I went or who I sided with, he still believed he had a claim over me.
I just didn’t understand why, though. What did he stand to gain from these twisted games?
I sank into my desk chair, the letter still gripped in my hand, as my mind worked through its questions just mounted.
Aiden’s play became clear. He was trying to divide and conquer, hoping to isolate me from Ethan. It made sense, from a strategic standpoint.
If I began doubting Ethan, or if he felt forced to distance himself from me for his own sake, Aiden would be able to undermine Ethan’s credibility. Especially if he could convince anyone that I’d willingly turn on Ethan or the Pack for my own goals.
And then there was that mention of Derek, stirring up rumors about our bond being incomplete.
If Aiden could stoke that fire, make it seem as though I wasn’t loyal or fully committed, he might sway others, and possibly the full Alpha Council, into thinking Ethan and I weren’t as united as we appeared.
Shoving the letter in my bag, I leaned against the edge of my desk, fighting to calm my racing heart. But doubts were creeping in, louder than I could silence.
If Aiden continued down this path, he could endanger more than just me. He could unravel everything – and everyone – Ethan and I were trying to protect.
