I kicked the door open.
The wooden frame splintered against the force, the men inside scrambling like rats caught under sudden light. One of them screamed. Another dropped the syringe in his hand.
“Down!” I barked.
My bodyguards charged in, dragging the rogues down and pinning them against the floor. No hesitation, no mercy. I wanted them all on the floor before they could blink. My eyes scanned the room-filthy, humid, reeking of sweat and wolfsbane. A low growl rattled in my chest.
Then I saw her.
Olivia.
Unclothed. Hands tied to the bed. Pale, bleeding at the lip. Eyes clenched shut like she was waiting to die.
“Manager,” I snapped. “Cover her. Now.”
Without hesitation, he tore off his jacket and rushed to Olivia’s side, draping it over her. She was still tied to the bed, motionless, her skin pale and bruised. He struggled briefly with the knots, then freed her wrists with shaking hands.
I stood at the doorway, watching silently, jaw clenched. Her skin looked ice-cold from where I was. Her pulse-faint, but there.
The manager stepped away from her and turned to me.
“She okay?” I asked, still not stepping forward.
He nodded shakily. “Y-yes, Alpha. We were just in time… she’s alive, but terrified.”
I gave him a single nod. “Go. Call a vehicle. Make sure there’s hospital clearance.”
He rushed out.
I stayed there for a beat, staring at the floor, listening to the chaos fade in the hallway. Something tugged at me. A weight in my chest. I didn’t like it.
I turned back.
She hadn’t moved.
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Oliviay curled under the manager’s jacket, trembling.
Quietly, I stepped into the room.
I crouched beside her and, without thinking, brushed her cheek with my fingertips.
She flinched-not from me, but as if even touch now carried pain. Then, suddenly, she leaned into it. Her cheek press- ing lightly against my palm, as if my hand was the only warm thing in the world.
My wolf Heath stirred.
“She’s the one,” he rumbled inside me, tail wagging like a damn puppy.
“Now’s not the time,” I said sharply. “Shut up.”
I started to pull my hand away, but her eyes blinked open-slow, confused, hollow.
And then they locked on mine.
Something shifted. I didn’t know what, but it wasn’t wee.
She looked like she wanted to speak but couldn’t. I said nothing. Just rested my other hand gently on her head.
“You’re safe now,” I muttered. “No one will hurt you again.”
That was all I could offer. I wasn’t good withfort. I didn’t coddle. But the way her eyes welled up and her lips quivered-she didn’t needfort. She needed a wall to fall against.
And right now, I was the wall.
She broke. Her tears came fast, messy, without a sound at first-then louder, choking, painful sobs. I didn’t know what to do. I’d fought packs with fewer nerves than this.
I sat there for a second before scooping her up in my arms. Jacket still wrapped around her, I walked out through the service exit, ignoring the curious stares.
In the car, she wouldn’t stop crying.
She cried into my shirt, soaking it until the fabric clung to my skin. I shifted her awkwardly onto myp, trying not to let her fall apart entirely. Tissues piled on the seat beside us. Mike didn’t say a word. He just kept driving, fast and silent.
She finally slumped, drained. Her head against my chest.
I told Heath not to get excited.
“She smells like Lilies,” he said.
“Heath! Would you stop with that?” I shot back.
But I didn’t push her away.
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Her face tilted and pressed into the side of my neck. My jaw tensed. I held my breath.
“Don’t,” I said to Heath again.
He only chuckled inside my head, smug. “Toote. You like it.”
“Shut up.”
Still, I adjusted her gently and pressed her head back to my shoulder.
We pulled into the private hospital just past midnight. The nurses were waiting at the door. I stepped out and handed her over. One nurse held her steady while the others guided her toward a stretcher.
“She’ll be okay, right?” I asked, not looking any of them in the eye.
“Yes, Alpha,” the nurse replied.
I gave a curt nod and stood by as they wheeled her inside.
Olivia’s POV
When I opened my eyes, the ceiling lights above me blurred into shapes. My limbs felt heavy, but not restrained. For a few seconds, I didn’t know where I was. Then I turned my head.
Alexander was sitting at the edge of the bed, his elbows on his knees, his shirt wrinkled, sleeves rolled up to the fore- arms. The top three buttons were undone. His head was tilted slightly forward like he’d dozed off while waiting.
Yve stirred inside me-weak but conscious-and her voice rang loud in my mind.He saved us.
I cleared my throat, but it came out dry and hoarse.” Alpha Alex…”
His head snapped up. “You’re awake.”
“Ah…” Alexander hesitated for a while. “Do you remember anything what you are here for?”
I nodded slowly, then whispered, “I remember.”
His gaze didn’t soften. “How much?”
“Enough,” I said bitterly, looking away. “I wasn’tpletely unconscious. Just… couldn’t move. I heard them. Felt everything.”
There was a beat of silence before he spoke again. “There’s good news and bad news. Which do you want first?”
“Both,” I said, my voice t.
He exhaled through his nose. “The good news is… they didn’t touch you. You were sedated. No physical harm.”
I nodded faintly, blinking at the ceiling.
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He went on, “The bad news is… the person who arranged it wasn’t a stranger. It was your boyfriend.”
My hand clenched the nket tightly. “I know.”
He looked at me then. Not with pity, but with something harder to read-maybe restraint. “We have all of them in custody. You can press charges. Or handle it privately.”
“You’ve helped me enough already,” I said, trying to sit up straighter. “I’ll take it from here.”
He didn’t argue. Just gave a soft, dry chuckle.
Before I could respond, my phone buzzed on the bedside table. I reached for it and saw Dad’s name on the screen. It was nearly 1:00 a.m.
I took a breath and answered, forcing cheer into my voice. “Dad?”
“Where are you?” His voice was tight with concern.
“Still out with a friend at the club. I lost track of time,” I lied smoothly.
He sighed, probably tired, but didn’t press. “Just get home safe.”
“I will.”
I hung up and stared at the ck screen, guilt settling like a stone in my chest.
Alexander was still watching. “You should stay here. Rest.”
“No.” I shook my head. “If I don’t go home, my mom won’t sleep a wink.”
He raised an eyebrow. “And what if they see… all this?”
I looked down at my wrists. Red marks circled them, faint but visible. I forced a smallugh. “I’ll say I passed out drunk. Cover it up with some makeup.”
He didn’t say anything.
Suddenly, tears filled up my eyes and I tried hard to blink them back.
“Why do I want to cry again?” I muttered, trying to smile. “This is embarrassing.”
Alexander’s voice was quiet. “Then cry.”
I looked up.
“You’ve cried all night already. A little more won’t matter.”
I didn’t reply. There was nothing to say.
Around 2:00 a.m., he arranged for someone to drive me home. Before leaving, I touched up my face, dabbing on con- cealer to hide the redness and swelling.
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Chapter cu
When I stepped inside, the house was quiet. Mom poked her head out of the bedroom. I waved casually.
“Sorry, I drank a bit. Going to sleep now.”
She didn’t ask anything. Just nodded and shut the door.
I closed mine too, bolted the lock, and leaned back against it for a second.
Then I washed my face, wiped the makeup off, and called Ava.
She picked up immediately. “Liv? What happened?”
“I can’t break up with Ethan peacefully,” I said, voice trembling. “He’s trying to destroy me.”
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zoo woochers