Chapter 41
Olivia's POV
I needed a breather. A single moment alone to collect myself and try to make it out of here without passing out. I splashed water on my face trying to wash away the anxiety that had been building the entire meeting.
I knew Isabella had a history with Ethan, he confessed as much. She was his Fated Mate. Or former Fated Mate, if there is such a thing.
Bonds could be broken, but one or both Mates rarely survived that kind of trauma. It was clear, there was still some kind of connection between Ethan and Isabella.
I’d seen it in his eyes, the shadow that crossed his face when we argued or when he thought no one was looking; the hurt in his voice when he spoke about her.
But I hadn’t been prepared to actually see her. Or see them together.
And I couldn’t tell just what her game was. The timing was too calculated for it to be a coincidence. I’d bet what was left of my money that Isabella showing up was Chloe’s doing.
Toweling off, I reset the mask of false confidence, stepped from the powder room and headed outside to meet Ethan. But I paused, holding back just outside, my eyes locked on Isabella and Ethan.
I watched from a distance, unnoticed, as she stood close to him, her hand reaching to brush his arm, her eyes fixed on his. She radiated a strange blend of regret and hope.
The scene felt both intimate and wrong, a private moment I shouldn’t have witnessed.
My heart twisted painfully as Ethan’s expression softened, if only slightly. It was more warmth than I had received from him in a single glance.
And just like that, whatever tentative and fragile connection we’d been building felt like it had been swept away.
I took a slow, quiet breath, forcing myself to stay calm, but the knot in my stomach only grew. Every insecurity I’d buried rose to the surface, clawing at me.
I’d hoped that maybe, finally, we would start to understand each other. We had started to be honest.
But seeing him with Isabella now, I couldn’t help but wonder if I’d been fooling myself. Ethan said I was nothing more than a convenient partner, after all. Someone to help him solidify his position on the Council.
Whatever possibility my heart had opened up to with Ethan, I felt it shatter with a healthy dose of reality: Ethan already had his Fated Mate. And what we had or might build would never compare to that.
Silently, I turned away, my movements careful and deliberate, even though every instinct urged me to confront him, to demand his loyalty and affection. But that would only show Ethan – and everyone here watching us both – that I was affected by Isabella’s reappearance.
What could Ethan even say that would change the past or make him forget his bond with her? Nothing. And it was foolish of me to think otherwise.
I left the Council House and drove home to Thorne Ridge, alone. The familiar scent of pine and the evening chill doing nothing to ease my mind.
When I reached my own place, the weight of the day, of the last weeks sank in, and each step felt heavier than the last.
My hands trembled as I poured myself a glass of water, staring blankly at the darkened window, my reflection staring back, filled with questions I didn’t want answers to.
My thoughts drifted to Derek’s last warning. He’d made it clear that my position was precarious, that alliances could shift in an instant, and that even a single misstep could unravel everything I’d worked for.
He’d proven that with this second vote.
I thought I knew where we stood with the Alpha Council, and yet here I was, unsure of where I even stood with the one person I was supposed to trust.
Derek’s words replayed in my mind, a quiet but steady reminder that, at the end of the day, I was alone in protecting my Pack… and myself.
“Olivia,” I muttered to myself, voice low, “do what you need to do.” Whether or not Ethan was by my side, I couldn’t risk everything based on feelings that he could just as easily erase.
I’d thought that maybe our bond had the potential to be something real. Maybe not Fated, but we had chemistry that could grow into love.
But now, I didn’t know if I was anything more than a replacement for what he’d lost with Isabella.
Frustration clawed at me, and I set the glass down a little too hard, the sharp sound echoing in the empty room. I couldn’t sit here, waiting for Ethan to make up his mind between the past and the present. My Pack needed stability – something I couldn’t provide if I spent every second questioning his loyalty.
Resolving to take matters into my own hands, I reached for my phone, scrolling through my contacts until I landed on Derek’s number.
If I couldn’t count on Ethan to stand by me without reservations, then maybe I could secure an alliance that didn’t hinge on something as fragile as feelings.
Derek had his motives, and I didn’t trust him fully. But he’d been upfront about his expectations, and right now, I needed the assurance of a clear deal more than I needed the hope of a love that felt as flimsy as smoke.
I tapped the call button before I could second-guess myself, my pulse quickening as the line rang. If Derek could provide the support I needed, then I’d accept his terms, whatever they were.
I was done waiting. It was time to act, for my Pack and for myself.
I gripped the phone too-tightly as it rang, each rapid beat of my heart sending a new rush of nerves through me. I was ready to hang up when Derek finally answered, his voice as smooth and unreadable as ever.
"Olivia," he greeted, as if he’d been expecting my call. "To what do I owe this unexpected pleasure?"
Forcing myself to sound steady, I replied, "I think it's time we talk. About the vote. About the support you mentioned for Ethan." My voice held a hardness I hadn’t planned, but Derek’s silence told me he’d noticed it.
"Interesting," he mused, a hint of amusement in his tone. "Finally ready to protect your Pack, I see."
My jaw tightened. "I'm prepared to do what’s necessary. Pack is always the priority."
"Then let’s discuss how I can be of assistance," Derek replied smoothly. "If you’re willing to meet my terms, that is."
He didn’t need to spell it out; solidifying the bond with Ethan was the price he demanded, but maybe he’d accept something else. I pushed back the wave of unease. Whatever it took, I’d ensure my Pack's safety.
“When and where?” I asked, keeping my tone short.
Derek laughed softly, as if delighted by my determination. "Tomorrow night. I’ll send you the details.”
As I hung up, a chill settled over me. This meeting could mean safety and freedom for my Pack and myself. But it might come at a cost I wasn’t sure I was ready to pay.
