Chapter 6 - 1

Olivia's POV

All I could do was stare at Alpha Zach's hand wrapped around my wrist as I followed him down the hallway. My heart fluttered strangely in my chest, and I couldn't stop thinking about the way he had defended me against Luna Anita. He had spoken to her with such authority, making it clear that no one was allowed to hurt me. For a moment, I couldn't help thinking that he was my knight in shining armor. No man had ever defended me so fiercely before, not even my biological father.

Suddenly, he stopped walking and turned toward me. I almost bumped into him, but I managed to stop myself just in time. When I lifted my head, my eyes met his beautiful green ones, and my stomach fluttered again. Goodness, why did this man have to be so handsome? He stared at me for a moment before releasing my wrist and slipping both hands into his pockets. An awkward silence settled between us until he finally spoke.

"Are you okay?" he asked softly.

I nodded, although I couldn't immediately find my voice. His tone was completely different from the one he had used while confronting Luna Anita. A few minutes ago, he had looked so furious that even the guards were terrified of him. Now, he was speaking to me so gently that I almost couldn't believe he was the same person.

"You need to get dressed," he continued after a moment. "A maid will bring a dress for you. It's your father's funeral, and you deserve to be dressed as royalty."

"Alright," I murmured.

"I have a few things to take care of before the ceremony. I'll see you at the funeral."

"Okay. And Alpha Zach?"

He paused and looked at me.

"Thank you," I said sincerely.

He studied me for a moment before giving a slight nod. "You're welcome, Olivia."

He turned and walked away, leaving me staring after him with a small smile on my face.

"Stop it, Olivia," I scolded myself, shaking my head. I couldn't believe I was standing there admiring a man who was almost twice my age. Alpha Zach was thirty-one, while I was only seventeen. Whatever strange feelings I was beginning to develop were ridiculous, and I needed to stop thinking about him that way.

After pushing those thoughts aside, I returned to my bedroom. I had barely sat on the bed when someone knocked on the door.

"Come in," I called.

A young maid entered, carrying a beautiful black gown on a hanger.

"My lady, this is the dress prepared for you," she said, placing it on the bed. "I'll return shortly to escort you to the pack hall. The guests are already arriving."

"Thank you," I replied.

After she left, I went into the bathroom and took a quick shower. My knees were still aching from being forced onto the hard rooftop floor, and I couldn't help feeling angry whenever I remembered what Luna Anita had done to me. But I quickly pushed those thoughts aside. Today was my father's funeral, and I wasn't going to spend the entire morning thinking about that horrible woman.

When I finished bathing, I dried myself and returned to the bedroom. I picked up the black gown and stared at it for a moment. It was beautiful, with delicate designs around the neckline and sleeves, but looking at it made a strange heaviness settle in my chest.

My father's funeral.

For seventeen years, I had lived without him, and now I was preparing to attend his funeral as his daughter. I had always wondered what it would be like to have him in my life, but now I would never get the chance to find out.

I swallowed the lump forming in my throat and slipped into the dress. When I looked in the mirror, I barely recognized myself. The gown fitted me perfectly, making me look far more elegant than I was accustomed to. I almost looked like a princess, although I certainly didn't feel like one. I decided against applying makeup and simply gathered my hair into a neat bun before leaving the room.

When I reached the bottom of the staircase, I found the same maid waiting for me.

"Oh, my lady! You look absolutely beautiful!" she exclaimed.

I managed a small smile. "Thank you."

"Are you ready?"

"Yes."

"Then please come with me."

The maid led me across the courtyard toward a large building where several people dressed in black were gathering. My stomach tightened as we approached. Most of these people probably didn't even know I existed, and I could already imagine their reactions when they discovered I was Alpha Timothy's illegitimate daughter. Still, I straightened my shoulders. I had done nothing wrong, and I refused to act ashamed of who I was.

When we reached the entrance, two guards bowed their heads.

"Greetings, Lady Olivia."

"Good morning," I replied awkwardly, still unaccustomed to being treated like royalty.

The guards opened the enormous doors, and the maid led me inside. The moment we entered the hall, several conversations stopped. The place was enormous, with rows of beautifully arranged chairs and flowers decorating the front. Almost everyone was dressed in black, and I could feel people turning to look at me as we walked farther inside.

Some stared with curiosity, while others whispered among themselves. I pretended not to notice and continued following the maid.

She led me toward the front of the hall, where Alpha Zach and Luna Anita were already seated. Anita noticed me immediately, and the look she gave me was filled with so much hatred that I almost rolled my eyes. Apparently, she hadn't expected me to attend the funeral after everything she'd done to me that morning.

Well, too bad for her.

"This is your seat, my lady," the maid whispered, gesturing toward an empty chair beside Alpha Zach.

"Thank you," I replied before sitting down carefully.

Alpha Zach turned toward me, and our eyes met briefly. He had a stern expression on his face, making it difficult for me to tell what he was thinking. He didn't say anything, and after a moment, he looked away. I did the same, folding my hands neatly in my lap.

Suddenly, the enormous doors opened again, and the entire hall fell silent.

Four men dressed in ceremonial uniforms entered, carrying a beautiful transparent coffin. Everyone immediately rose to their feet, and I slowly stood with them, my eyes fixed on the coffin as the men carried it toward the decorated platform.

Father.

My breath caught in my throat as I watched them approach. For a moment, I couldn't believe that the man lying inside that coffin was really my father. He hadn't been there for my birthdays, my school events, or any of the important moments in my life. But seeing him lying motionless inside that coffin hurt more than I had expected.

As the coffin was placed on the decorated table, I felt Alpha Zach glance toward me. I turned, and our eyes met. He didn't smile or say anything, but something about the look he gave me was comforting.

I looked away and focused on the coffin again. Father was dressed in beautiful white royal attire, and although I couldn't see his face properly from where I stood, knowing that he was lying there made my chest ache.

Everyone eventually returned to their seats, and the funeral ceremony began. The priest said several prayers, followed by hymns and words of remembrance. I listened quietly, trying to concentrate on the ceremony.

A short while later, Alpha Zach stood and walked toward the stage. The hall became silent as he approached the microphone and began reading my father's biography. He spoke about Timothy's childhood, his family, the years he'd spent preparing to become Alpha, and the many things he'd accomplished during his reign.

There were so many things I hadn't known about my father. As Zach continued speaking, I found myself listening more carefully, trying to imagine the man he was describing. These people had memories of him, stories they could share, and moments they would always treasure. I had none of those things, and realizing that made my heart ache.