Chapter 3

Olivia's POV

​“I need to go home and pick up a few things, but I'll return later,” Aunt Cecilia added.

​My eyes widened. “You're leaving?”

​“Only for a little while, sweetheart.”

​I hesitated before asking, “Can't I just come with you? I'd rather stay at your house.”

​She shook her head. “This is your father's house, Olivia. You have every right to be here. Don't let anyone make you feel otherwise.”

​I pressed my lips together. That was easy for her to say. She wasn't the one being forced to live with strangers.

​“Alright,” I muttered.

​Aunt Cecilia squeezed my shoulder reassuringly before leaving, and I followed Carol toward the staircase. As we climbed, I couldn't help admiring the mansion. Everything looked ridiculously expensive, from the enormous chandeliers to the polished marble floors. Even the paintings hanging along the walls looked like they belonged in some famous museum. Goodness. My father had been living like this all these years?

​We passed another sitting room on the third floor before continuing upstairs. When we finally reached the fourth floor, Carol stopped in front of the second door along a quiet hallway.

​“This is your room, Lady Olivia.”

​She opened the door and stepped aside. I walked in and immediately stopped. Wow. The bedroom was enormous.

​A large bed occupied one side of the room, with matching bedside tables and beautifully decorated lamps. There was a comfortable seating area beside the window, and beyond the glass, I could see the mansion's garden stretching across the grounds. It was easily one of the most beautiful bedrooms I'd ever seen. Unfortunately, I wasn't impressed enough to forget why I was here.

​“There's a bell on either side of your bed,” Carol explained, pointing toward the bedside tables. “The one on the left is for requesting a maid, while the one on the right is for calling a guard.”

​I blinked. A guard? What on earth would I need a personal guard for?

​“The butler will also come by to explain the mansion's rules,” she continued.

​Rules? Of course. I was beginning to wonder whether I'd moved into a mansion or a luxurious prison.

​“Alright,” I replied.

​“If you need anything else, please don't hesitate to call.”

​She bowed and turned toward the door.

​“Wait,” I called.

​Carol stopped. “Yes, Lady Olivia?”

​“Does Alpha Zach live here?”

​“Yes, my lady.”

​“Oh.” I nodded. “Thank you.”

​Once she left, I sat on the edge of the bed and released a long sigh. Only yesterday, I'd been in London with my mother. Now, my father was dead, I was in a mansion filled with strangers, and an Alpha I'd barely met was already deciding where I would spend the rest of my life. I hated it.

​And what annoyed me even more was that I couldn't stop thinking about that Alpha. His green eyes, his deep voice, and the way he'd stared at me when he first saw me, almost as though he'd recognized me from somewhere. Then he'd suddenly become cold and distant. What was his problem? More importantly, why did I care?

​“Goodness, Olivia,” I muttered, rubbing my forehead. “Get yourself together.”

​I was still trying to push him out of my thoughts when my bedroom door suddenly opened. I looked up, expecting Carol. Instead, a woman dressed in an expensive outfit walked inside without bothering to knock. She looked to be in her forties, with neatly styled hair and beautiful jewelry decorating her neck and wrists.

​I frowned. Who was she?

​The woman slowly approached me, her eyes traveling over my body with such obvious disgust that I immediately became uncomfortable. I stood.

​“Excuse me, can I help you?”

​She stopped directly in front of me and folded her arms.

​“So,” she sneered, “you're the daughter of that whore.”

​For a moment, I couldn't believe what I'd heard. What? Had this woman seriously walked into my bedroom just to insult my mother?

​“Excuse me?” I asked sharply.

​Her lips curled into a mocking smile. “I'm going to be your worst nightmare if you don't take your filthy self out of this mansion.”

​I stared at her. Then it clicked. This had to be my father's wife. Lady Anita. I'd never met her, but Aunt Cecilia had mentioned her before, and judging by the hatred in her eyes, I was almost certain.

​“You must be Lady Anita,” I said cautiously.

​“Luna Anita,” she corrected sharply. “That is my title, and I expect you to address me properly.”

​I resisted the urge to roll my eyes. “Greetings, Luna Anita.”

​“Keep your greetings to yourself!” she snapped. “All I want is for you to leave this mansion!”

​My eyebrows drew together. “With all due respect, ma'am, I haven't done anything to you. I'd appreciate it if you stopped insulting me.”

​Anita scoffed. “Do you know why your father never brought you here? Why he made sure you and I never crossed paths?”

​I frowned. “What are you talking about?”

​She stepped closer and leaned toward my ear. “Because your father knew exactly what I was capable of doing. And if you don't leave this mansion, you'll find out why he kept you away all these years.”

​A chill traveled down my spine. I slowly stepped back.

​“Are you threatening me?”

​She smiled. “Consider it a friendly warning, little girl.”

​Then she turned and walked out. I stood frozen, staring at the closed door. What the hell had just happened? I had barely been here for a few hours, and someone was already threatening me!

​My hands trembled as I grabbed my phone and called Mother. She answered almost immediately.

​“Hey, darling! I was just about to call you.”

​“Mother, I can't stay here!” I blurted out. “I want to come home!”

​Her cheerful tone disappeared. “Olivia? What's wrong?”

​I quickly explained everything, from Alpha Zach insisting I remain in the mansion to Anita barging into my bedroom and threatening me. By the time I finished, my eyes were burning with frustrated tears.

​“Mother, she hates me! She said my father kept me away because he knew what she was capable of doing. What if she actually tries to hurt me?”

​Mother was silent for a moment. “Listen to me, sweetheart. You don't have to remain there forever. Don't forget that you're supposed to go to Austria for your studies.”

​I released a shaky breath. “So I can still leave?”

​“Of course. Alpha Zach cannot simply decide to keep you there indefinitely. For now, attend your father's funeral. Afterward, we'll discuss what to do next.”

​“And Anita?”

​“Try to avoid her, darling. Please don't get into any arguments with her.”

​I frowned. “Mother, she's the one who came into my room and started insulting me!”

​“I know, sweetheart. I'm only asking you to be careful.”

​I sighed. “Fine.”

​After assuring Mother that I was alright, I ended the call and lay back on the bed. I wanted to go home. I wanted my normal life back. But instead of thinking about how to leave, my stupid mind wandered back to Alpha Zach.

​His handsome face, his perfectly shaped jaw, his neatly trimmed beard, and those green eyes! Goodness, the man looked like one of those ridiculously handsome Greek gods people described in romance novels.

​“Damn it!” I muttered, turning onto my side.

​What was wrong with me? I'd barely known him for a few hours! Moments like this made me wish I were already eighteen and had awakened my wolf. At least then, I'd have someone to talk to whenever my thoughts became this ridiculous.

​Eventually, exhaustion caught up with me, and I fell asleep. By the time a maid knocked on my bedroom door, it was already evening.

​“Dinner is ready, Lady Olivia,” she informed me. “Alpha Zach has requested that you join everyone downstairs.”

​I reluctantly climbed out of bed. After freshening up, I followed her to the dining room.

​The moment I entered, my eyes immediately found Alpha Zach. He was seated at the head of the enormous dining table, looking down at his plate. Lady Anita sat nearby. Wonderful. Just what I needed.

​For a moment, I considered turning around and pretending I wasn't hungry. Unfortunately, Alpha Zach looked up. Our eyes met, and my heart immediately did something ridiculous inside my chest.

​Goodness, those eyes.

​But just like earlier, something strange happened. For a brief second, he stared at me with an expression I couldn't understand. Then he looked away. Again. Seriously, what was his problem?

​A maid pulled out a chair for me, and I sat down quietly.

​“Thank you,” I murmured.

​For several minutes, nobody spoke. I concentrated on my food, hoping dinner would pass without any trouble. Apparently, that was too much to ask.

​“Alpha Zach,” Anita suddenly called.

​He raised his head. “Yes, Lady Anita?”

​“I believe there's something we need to discuss.”

​He waited.

​Anita placed her cutlery on the table and turned toward me. “This girl needs to leave the mansion immediately after Timothy's funeral.”

​My hand froze around my fork. Seriously? Was she really going to start this again? At dinner?

​“Lady Anita,” Zach replied calmly, “we've already discussed this.”

​“And clearly, you didn't understand me the first time!” she snapped. “I am still the Luna of this pack, and I will not tolerate that woman's illegitimate daughter living under the same roof as me!”

​My cheeks burned. I lowered my gaze, suddenly wishing I could disappear.

​“The only reason I'm allowing her to remain here is because she's Timothy's daughter,” Anita continued bitterly. “But once the funeral is over, I want her gone!”

​Zach slowly placed his fork down.

​Anita leaned forward. “And if you refuse to send her away, I'll do it myself. I'll drag her out of this mansion by her hair if I have to!”

​BANG!

​I nearly jumped out of my chair. Alpha Zach had slammed both fists against the dining table with such force that a large crack appeared across its polished surface. My eyes widened. Goodness!

​But it wasn't the damaged table that frightened me. It was his eyes. The beautiful green eyes I'd been admiring moments earlier were now a terrifying shade of gray. I swallowed hard. I'd never seen anything like it.

​“Don't you dare, Lady Anita,” he growled.

​His voice was so cold that a shiver traveled down my spine.

​Anita stiffened. "Alpha Zach, I—”

​“I said, DON'T YOU DARE!”

​The entire dining room fell silent. Even the maids standing near the walls looked terrified.

​Zach slowly rose from his chair, his gray eyes fixed on Anita. “I don't ever want to hear you threaten Olivia again. Do you understand me?”

​Anita opened her mouth, but he continued before she could speak.

​“Whatever problem you have with her mother is between you and her mother. Olivia has done absolutely nothing to deserve your hatred, and I will not stand by while you threaten her under my roof.”

​I stared at him. He was defending me.

​Anita's face reddened with anger. “You seem to be forgetting who I am,” she hissed.

​“And you seem to be forgetting who I am,” Zach replied coldly.

​For several seconds, they stared at each other. Then Zach pushed back his chair.

​“This conversation is over.”

​Without another word, he walked out of the dining room. I remained frozen, staring after him. My heart was pounding so hard that I could barely concentrate on anything else.

​Slowly, I turned toward Anita. Big mistake. She was glaring at me with such hatred that I immediately wished I'd kept my eyes on my plate.

​“You must have a death wish to be this audacious,” she muttered.

​Before I could respond, she stood and stormed out.

​I stared at the cracked dining table. Goodness. I'd been in this mansion for less than twenty-four hours, and I'd already been threatened, insulted, and dragged into a family dispute I didn't understand. And people actually expected me to live here?

​No! Never!