Chapter 76: Return of the Deceiver

ALEXANDER

“~How the hell did we miss this~?”

“She wasn’t aware either.”

“That’s crap.”

“I believe she’s being honest.”

“Really? What about their secret exchanges?”

“Alex, be reasonable. We saw what we saw.”

“All I saw was a liar. She betrayed us.”

“She didn’t have to confess. Olivia was out cold.”

“Get lost. She knew we’d discover the truth. She was just trying to cover her own ass.”

“Alex…”

The voices seemed distant yet near simultaneously.

They were familiar, but she couldn’t quite identify them as her head pounded, forcing her to keep her eyes closed. Her insides felt knotted, her stomach so hollow it felt like it was imploding.

Sharp cramps felt like punches, making her wince as she held her stomach. ~Damn, that’s painful~.

“Livy?” A large hand gently touched her head while another covered the hand clutching her midsection. “Hey, are you okay? What’s the matter?”

She heard footsteps approaching as she squinted her eyes open. There were too many people around her, but her gaze locked onto one person; Alex.

He was kneeling on the ground, his entire attention on her, a furrow between his brows. He looked worried—~Lina~. She sat up abruptly, momentarily forgetting the pain. That was a mistake. ~Ouch~.

“Don’t.”

Alex climbed onto the bed, his legs on either side of her, as he gently laid her back down. “Don’t move. You passed out. You’re hurting.”

“Alex,” her voice broke.

“Will—he’s…” she couldn’t finish her sentence, a sob caught in her throat. She had allowed herself to believe she was free, but she wasn’t. She never had been.

He had been there, lurking, waiting for the perfect moment to inject his venom back into her life. And they hadn’t seen it coming.

“I know.”

His eyes were gentle, probably trying to comfort her, but his voice told a different story; it was tense, each word spoken with caution.

“Lina—”

“We—she’s—we’re speaking with her.” Jason appeared from behind Alex, maintaining a safe distance from her.

“Talking should be the last thing on our minds,” Alex snapped.

Did they know… Had Lina told them?

After confessing to Olivia, she had informed the others. She had sounded so desperate, so ~devastated~. The memory was blurry; all Olivia could recall was the fear that had gripped her once again.

She was supposed to have time; time to heal, time to become stronger. But that was all snatched away from her. Now he was ~right there~ and she didn’t know how to handle him.

She didn’t even know what he wanted.

“This wouldn’t have happened if ~someone~ had made sure he was dead.”

She saw Jason wince. “He was—I swear he was. I wouldn’t have buried him if he wasn’t. I’d have finished him off. He was half-dead the day before.

“He couldn’t have taken me on and it wouldn’t have taken much. I swear he wasn’t breathing. His heart wasn’t beating.”

“Then how the hell is he alive and pulling so many strings?”

“I don’t know!”

“Enough!” Maya yelled as she stepped between the two of them. “Alex. You know Jason wouldn’t do anything to harm the pack. We can’t fight amongst ourselves right now.

“Not when that jerk is out there, promising who knows what to an entire pack.”

“We know exactly what he’s promising,” Mason added.

~Yes. They did~.

“Me,” Olivia replied.

She didn’t know why. She didn’t know what he’d gain from it or what they would give him, but it was clear it had something to do with her. If he got another pack to help, it wouldn’t be for free.

They wouldn’t gamble their lives for nothing. She must be the coveted prize. Yet, she couldn’t fathom Will ever surrendering her. That wasn’t the destiny he envisioned for her. She was certain of that.

However, he’d shown repeatedly that he wasn’t above deceit to achieve his goals. He was manipulating them just as he had manipulated her and Jess. The terrifying thought for Olivia was contemplating his actions once he possessed her.

And who else would bear the cost. He wouldn’t stop at her. Now, it wasn’t just about ~her~. There was Alex, her unborn child…the pack.

It was overwhelming.

“He’s not gonna fucking touch you,” Alex declared, his hand cradling her face.

“Now we understand their attacks. I won’t let this slide. They chose to side with this bastard and they’ll pay with their lives.”

People kept dying. Existence was becoming a costly commodity. She didn’t want this.

She despised this. Yet, she’d felt a sense of relief when Alex informed her of Will’s death. She wasn’t so different; death was acceptable when it served her purpose. But it seemed there was no other way to halt Will.

Even when they believed him dead, he wasn’t. He kept persisting, he kept returning. His avarice was his life force.

He desired everything.

Everything was his.

He felt he had a right to Jess, enough to murder her for rejecting him. He felt he had a right to Olivia, claiming her as his despite having a mate. He wanted everything and he didn’t want to share.

What would he do to her once he had her? Seek revenge? Inflict pain? He wouldn’t simply kill her, she knew that. He wouldn’t face it alone. He wouldn’t be powerful enough to confront Alex single-handedly.

He’d need more than just himself.

“What if we can’t stop him?”

Alex looked as if she’d pierced his heart; she hadn’t intended to insult him. But how else was she supposed to feel? He had evaded everything. Her assault.

Alex’s hold. Regardless, he wriggled out of every situation. He always escaped unscathed. Nearly killing her, transforming her, death. He seemed invincible. He kept returning.

He was like a pest, a rodent that refused to die.

She wasn’t an advocate for murder but there didn’t seem to be anything potent enough to eliminate ~him~.

“I won’t let anyone else handle this. I’ll take care of it.”

She knew he meant to reassure her, but to her, it sounded like a nightmare. Will’s arrogance and rage would drive him to strip Alex of everything.

If Alex was the one dealing with this, he would be putting himself at risk, and she feared the consequences of his recklessness. Will was fighting for himself. Alex wasn’t. She was a liability. Especially now.

“You can’t just charge out there.”

“I won’t.”

“What if—”

“No. Livy. I know he hurt you. But you can’t. Merely thinking of him was enough to do this to you.”

“What if I spoke to Lina?”

“You want to converse with her…again?” He pursed his lips. “You want me to allow her near you.”

“She didn’t harm me.” Olivia yearned for an opportunity to learn more, to comprehend.

“Yet. She hadn’t hurt you ~yet~. There’s a distinction.”

“Please.”

“Olivia, I swear, you’re gonna be the end of me.”

~It didn’t sound like a refusal.~

“You’re resting. You’re not meeting anyone today.”

“Alex—”

“~No~.”

Her shoulders sagged in defeat and she nodded. “Okay.” Only because it wasn’t ~her~.

There was someone else to consider now. Not that she could mention it. A quick scan of the room confirmed the secret was still...~well, a secret~. She wouldn’t disclose it.

“Good girl.”

He spun around, addressing the crowd surrounding them. “Everyone out.”

She anticipated him to usher everyone out while he remained, but he surprised her by releasing his hold on her and rising.

He wasn’t going to stay? That was new...and unexpected. She had to restrain herself from reaching out to him. She assumed he’d be here, beside her.

“Take a break, okay. I’m here if you need anything.”

A sinking feeling washed over Olivia, as if a weight had been dropped in her stomach. Her lower lip quivered, but she managed to keep it steady. Was it too much to ask him to stay? He had to sort out this mess, after all.

Her mess. If it weren’t for her, he wouldn’t be dealing with these attacks. She was the one who brought trouble to the pack.

She managed to nod. “Thanks. I’m still tired.”

She didn’t feel like eating.

She didn’t feel like drinking. All she could think about was ~Will~. Everything she had discovered. All the pieces she had put together. It felt like she didn’t grasp half of it when he let his guard down and revealed too much.

Now she got it.

Now she knew what it felt like when someone cared for her. She understood what it meant to be valued. She knew what it was like to give everything to someone who was willing to do the same.

She knew what it felt like to be appreciated.

But above all, as she lay there, her heart aching, emotions welling up in her chest...

She realized that... She knew what it felt like to truly ~love~.