Chapter 73
Ethan's POV
The soft hum of voices filled the Pack gathering hall, a mixture of excitement and apprehension creating an undercurrent I thrived on. When I brough up the idea of an even with Olivia, she was on board with a chance to demonstrate unity between Thorne Ridge and Storm Haven.
I wanted to focus on dragging Chloe down, but I knew she was right. If we didn’t present a united front, the doubts swirling through the Pack would fester, and that was something neither of us could afford.
From across the room, Olivia moved gracefully through the crowd, greeting members from both Packs with the kind of warmth that seemed to melt even the most skeptical.
She was magnetic, and now the idea of her having an empathy power was implanted in my mind, I could see her weaving connections I could never replicate. Watching her, my wolf settled briefly, pride overriding its usual restlessness.
“She’s good at this,” Marlus said quietly from my side, his voice tinged with admiration.
“She’s everything they need,” I replied, my gaze not leaving her.
It wasn’t just words. I meant it.
I stepped forward to join her, placing a steadying hand on her lower back as she turned to introduce me to a few of Thorne Ridge’s younger warriors. Their eyes flicked to me warily at first, but the subtle touch seemed to reassure them that we were, indeed, partners.
Together, we navigated conversations that hinted at lingering uncertainties: whether we’d fully merge our Packs, whether we could hold strong against the threats, whether this bond we’d forged was real.
“We’ve got this,” Olivia whispered under her breath as we passed a group of elder wolves who had been vocally resistant to the alliance early on. I nodded, letting her confidence steady my own.
It wasn’t long before the room grew louder with speculation, whispers filtering through the crowd like smoke from a slow-burning fire.
“Aiden’s being released,” someone muttered near the food table. “The Council can’t hold him – Pack business, they said.”
“I heard Matthew’s been tied to Rogues,” another voice said, louder this time. “How close is he to Luna Olivia, anyway?”
My wolf bristled, the growl low in my chest before I could stifle it. Olivia caught my shift immediately, and I felt her tense beside me.
“We address it calmly,” she murmured, her voice soft but firm.
I drew in a slow breath, focusing on her grounding presence.
The opportunity came sooner than I expected. One of the Thorne Ridge elders, a silver-haired male named Nolan, approached us directly with concern.
“Alpha Ethan, Luna Olivia,” Nolan began, his tone pointed. “Rumors are spreading like wildfire. Aiden’s freedom, Matthew’s alleged betrayal; these are not small matters. How do you expect the Packs to trust this alliance when the foundation seems…shaky?”
Olivia stepped forward, her chin lifted, and I couldn’t help but admire the fire in her eyes.
“Trust isn’t built overnight, Nolan,” she said evenly. “It’s earned through action. Tonight is proof of that. Two Packs coming together, united, despite the chaos outside. We’ll address the threats, but we won’t let fear decide for us.”
The murmurs quieted slightly, but I could feel the collective gaze shifting to me, waiting for my part in this performance. Olivia mentioned fear… did she feel that from Nolan?
“Luna is right,” I said, my voice carrying across the room. “Our enemies thrive on division, on doubt. But we’re stronger than any challenge they throw at us. Aiden, Matthew, Chloe – they’re betting we’ll fall. Let’s prove them wrong.”
The room erupted in a mix of cheers and murmurs, the atmosphere teetering between cautious optimism and lingering doubt. As the energy settled, Olivia leaned closer, her voice barely audible.
“What the fuck, Ethan?” I felt Olivia tense and her reaction told me she didn’t know.
She didn’t know about Matthew. And I had been too distracted to fill her in.
Shit.
Olivia’s head snapped up, her eyes narrowing. “What’s this about Matthew?”
I exhaled, my hands flexing at my sides as I chose my words carefully. “Let’s talk somewhere private,” I said, gesturing toward the door.
Her hesitation was brief, but she nodded and followed me into a side room. The moment the door shut behind us, I turned to face her.
“What is it?” she demanded, her voice lower but no less sharp. “What’s Matthew done?”
I could feel her power radiating off her like a second pulse – how anyone could miss just how special she is was beyond me. How I missed it was a testament to her ability to hide it. My wolf growled softly in my chest, urging me to protect her, even from the truth.
“He’s been connected to Chloe,” I began. “We have evidence tying him to her Rogue recruitment efforts. He’s been playing both sides, Olivia, manipulating the situation for his own gain.”
Her breath hitched, and I saw her fists clench at her sides. “How long have you known this?”
“Not long,” I admitted, my voice steady despite the turmoil in my chest. “I needed confirmation before we acted. Marlus and Grace have been gathering information, and it’s solid. Matthew isn’t who you think he is.”
Her silence was deafening. She turned away, pacing a few steps before stopping, her back to me. “And you didn’t think to tell me sooner?” she asked, her voice trembling with restrained anger.
“I was… biased. And didn’t want to act without proof,” I said firmly. “I wanted to protect you. Matthew’s been getting close to you, and I needed to be sure before I risked accusing him.”
She turned back to me, her eyes glistening with hurt and frustration. “Do you realize how this makes me feel? That you didn’t trust me enough to handle the truth? That I let someone like him into my life, into my Pack?”
I stepped closer, the urge to close the distance between us overwhelming. “Olivia, this isn’t your fault. Matthew is calculating. He knows how to exploit vulnerability. But I’m telling you now because I trust you, and we’ll deal with him together.”
Her shoulders slumped slightly, some of the fight leaving her, but the tension between us didn’t ease entirely. “I need time to process this,” she said finally, her voice quieter now. “But if what you’re saying is true, I can’t trust my own judgement. Chloe’s planning something more, isn’t she?”
“Yes,” I said, my voice hardening. “She’s planning a Council takeover.”
Olivia’s eyes widened in surprise, the fire in her eyes dimmed but not extinguished.
As I reached out to brush my knuckles down her cheek, she didn’t pull away, and that was encouragement enough for me.
The faintest tremble ran through her, but I felt something deeper: an echo of her emotions wrapping around mine. There wasn’t just hurt or frustration, there was trust; tentative but growing.
Was this a deepening of the bond between us? Was this how she felt every moment of the day? It was humbling.
“You’ve trusted your instincts this far, Olivia. Don’t let that manipulative bastard make you doubt yourself.” I murmured, letting my fingers linger.
Her eyes glistened, but a small, determined smile broke through the tension. “And you’ll let me help,” she said, her voice softer but no less resolute. “No more keeping things from me.”
“I promise,” I said, my wolf truly settling for the first time all day. “No more secrets.”
Her hand reached up, brushing lightly against mine, and I felt the brush of her empathy connect with my resolve.
