Chapter 6
Layla’s POV
Olivia’s red hair glowed in the torchlight, her blue eyes sharp and cruel. “Sister,” she purred, smirking. “I’m back. We can be together again.”
My heart pounded. This wasn’t my Olivia. Her voice sliced like a knife. “Where were you?” I asked, tears burning. “You left with Raze. I was so worried.”
Her eyes teared up, but they looked fake. “Raze lied,” she said, voice trembling. “He locked me in a village, controlled me for three years. I barely escaped.”
“Which pack?” I pressed, stomach twisting. “Why didn’t I hear anything?”
“Raze is a rogue,” she snapped. “He hid me where no one could find me.”
Anger surged. “I warned you about him. Why didn’t you listen?”
She sobbed, too perfect. “I’m sorry, Layla. We’re sisters. I let you down.”
My gut screamed she was lying. “It’s okay,” I said, voice tight. “Soulless Pack will protect you. Kael’s here.”
Kael nodded, his green eyes tired. “She’s my secretary now. She’s safe.”
But Olivia wasn’t my sister anymore. She snapped at servants, her temper vicious. In the kitchen, she yelled at Lila, a maid. “Move, you useless rat!” she shouted, slamming a pot. “Do I have to do everything?”
Lila flinched, tears falling. “I’m sorry, Miss Olivia.”
I stepped in, voice firm. “Olivia, stop. She’s trying.”
Olivia rolled her eyes. “She’s pathetic. Like someone else here.”
My face burned. “Enough. Treat her with respect.”
She smirked and left. It kept happening—her cruelty, me fixing it. She attacked me openly. At a pack dinner, she leaned forward, voice loud. “A Luna with no wolf? No wonder you’re barren, Layla. You’re useless.”
My throat tightened. “Olivia, stop.”
She laughed, cold. “You’re failing Kael. Everyone knows it.”
Kael stood nearby, silent. His silence crushed me. Stella’s prophecy haunted me—a new Luna, Kael choosing her. Olivia was always with him, laughing, working late. One day, in his office, her hand rested on his arm.
“Olivia, your border patrol plan is brilliant,” Kael said. “Conflicts dropped by half.”
I cleared my throat. “Kael, I’m here.”
He blinked. “Layla, sorry, I didn’t see you.”
Olivia’s smile was smug. Later, in the healer’s room, she “accidentally” knocked over my fertility herbs. The bowl shattered, green liquid sizzling on the carpet. “Oops,” she said, licking her lips. “Can’t even hold your baby drugs, sister?”
My hands shook. “You did that on purpose.”
She shrugged. “You’re so clumsy, Layla.”
I noticed more—herbs tasting bitter, Kael’s patrol schedules smudged, like she’d tampered with them. She was scheming, but I had no proof. At night, dreams tortured me—shadows clawing my womb, a voice hissing, Cursed. Barren. I woke gasping, terrified.
Olivia played innocent around Kael. One evening, I overheard them. “Layla’s not taking her herbs properly,” Olivia said, voice soft. “I saw her skip doses. She’s not serious about an heir.”
Kael sighed, rubbing his temples. “She’s struggling. I don’t know what to do.”
“She’s weak,” Olivia said, sweet but venomous. “You need a strong Luna, Kael.”
I couldn’t take it anymore. I pulled Olivia aside in the packhouse corridor, my voice low. “Stop treating the servants like that. Raze turned you cruel. You were a kind child.”
Olivia’s eyes flashed. “Kind? You mean weak, like you? Kindness got me bullied by Agnes, Clara, Finn. You think that’s better?”
“Why are you like this?” I demanded. “Wake up, Olivia!”
She laughed, bitter. “I was locked up by Raze for three years. Would you stay kind?” She lifted her arm, showing scars—jagged, angry marks. “This is your protection, Layla?”
I froze, shocked. “I’m sorry, but stay away from Kael. He’s my mate.”
She smirked. “You’re paranoid. We’re just working. Worry about yourself—maybe please Kael’s dick better at night.”
Rage exploded. I slapped her, hard. “Olivia, shut your fucking mouth!”
She burst into tears, loud and fake. Kael appeared, eyes wide. “Layla! What the hell? Are you crazy?”
I stammered, heart racing. “I’m sorry, but—”
He cut me off, voice sharp. “Enough!” He put an arm around Olivia, leading her away. She glanced back, smirking through her tears.
My heart shattered. That night, I needed Kael to choose me. In our bedroom, torchlight cast shadows. I kissed him, desperate to keep him. My lips moved down his chest, hands on his cock, hard and warm. I took him in my mouth, tasting him, wanting to bind him to me. He groaned, fingers in my hair. “Layla,” he whispered.
I pulled him closer, needing him inside. He kissed my thighs, tongue soft on my pussy, making me tremble. He bit my neck, sliding into me, slow, tender. Our shadows merged, but a third shadow loomed, like Olivia watching. I clung to him, my body begging him to stay mine.
After, my arm was bruised from needles. Kael’s eyes lingered on the marks. “Layla,” he said, “I want a child. It’d mean everything.”
Tears stung. “I’m trying, Kael. It’s not just me.”
He rubbed his temples like I was a headache. "Paranoid? Jealous? At least Olivia uses her brain instead of drowning me in tears.”
Rage exploded. “You think I’m weak? I’m eating poison herbs, getting stabbed, running this pack! And you’re laughing with her, believing her lies!”
“The elders are cutting funds!” he yelled. “Olivia’s keeping this pack alive! What are you doing besides crying?”
“She’s lying!” I screamed. “She’s forging documents, spilling my herbs, ruining me!”
Kael stood, grabbing his shirt. “I can’t do this. I’m sleeping in the office.”
“Don’t you dare!” I shouted, tears streaming. “You’re choosing her!”
He slammed the door. I collapsed, sobbing, Stella’s prophecy burning—my title collapsing, a new Luna coming. Olivia was tearing us apart, and Kael was blind. I clutched my bruised arm, terrified I was losing everything.