Chapter 14: Episode 14: "A Moment of Truth"

Briar's POV :

The dining hall buzzed with chatter and laughter as pack members filled the long wooden tables, settling in for the evening meal. The warm glow of the chandeliers above cast a golden hue over the room, and the smell of roasted meats, seasoned vegetables, and freshly baked bread filled the air.

I sat at one of the tables between Tara and Ethan, trying to look casual even as my eyes kept darting to Olivia. She was sitting a few seats away at the head of the table, deep in conversation with Caleb. Her laugh echoed softly across the room, sending a strange warmth through my chest.

Tara nudged me, breaking me out of my thoughts. “You’re staring again,” she teased in a low voice, smirking.

“I am not,” I whispered back, quickly shoving a piece of bread into my mouth to cover my embarrassment.

“Oh, please,” Ethan chimed in, his voice just as low. “You’ve been sneaking glances at her all night. It’s cute, honestly.”

I glared at both of them, though I could feel my cheeks heating up. “I’m not sneaking glances,” I insisted, though my voice lacked conviction.

“Sure, sure,” Tara said with a knowing grin. “And I suppose it’s just a coincidence that you haven’t touched your food since Olivia sat down?”

I glanced down at my barely touched plate, cursing inwardly. “I’m just not that hungry,” I muttered.

“Right,” Ethan said, dragging out the word. “Not hungry, or too distracted by a certain Alpha?”

Before I could retort, Olivia’s voice cut through the room, addressing Caleb. “You’ve been slacking on patrols, Caleb. I’ve noticed.”

The beta raised his hands defensively, a sheepish grin on his face. “I wouldn’t call it slacking, Alpha. I’ve just been... prioritizing.”

Olivia raised an eyebrow, her expression both stern and amused. “Prioritizing what, exactly? Your nap schedule?”

The table burst into laughter, and even I couldn’t help but smile. Olivia’s ability to command respect while keeping things light was one of the many things I admired about her.

As the laughter died down, Olivia’s gaze shifted, landing directly on me. My breath hitched, and for a moment, I felt like the only person in the room. Her expression softened, a small, warm smile tugging at the corners of her lips.

“You okay, Briar?” she asked, her voice carrying across the table.

All eyes turned to me, and I struggled to keep my composure. “Y-yeah, I’m fine,” I stammered, quickly grabbing my water glass to avoid meeting her gaze for too long.

Tara leaned over, whispering, “Smooth.”

I shot her a glare, but she just grinned, clearly enjoying my discomfort.

---

As dinner progressed, the conversation flowed easily around the table. Stories of recent hunts and training sessions were exchanged, along with a few friendly jabs and teasing remarks.

“Did you hear about the prank the pups pulled on the warriors last week?” one of the pack members asked, laughter already in his voice.

Olivia chuckled. “I did. Caleb was still grumbling about finding glitter in his boots this morning.”

“It’s impossible to get rid of,” Caleb muttered, shaking his head. “I swear, they’re little masterminds.”

“Maybe we should recruit them for patrols,” Ethan joked. “They’d probably outsmart any intruders with their glitter bombs.”

The table erupted in laughter, and even I found myself relaxing a bit.

As the evening wore on, Olivia caught my eye again, her gaze lingering for a moment longer this time. My heart fluttered, and I quickly looked away, focusing on my plate.

“She’s so obvious,” Tara whispered, leaning closer.

“Who’s obvious?” I asked, feigning ignorance.

“Olivia,” Tara said, smirking. “She’s been sneaking just as many glances at you as you have at her.”

I shook my head. “You’re imagining things.”

“Am I?” Tara asked, raising an eyebrow. “Then why is she still looking at you right now?”

I couldn’t help myself—I glanced up, and sure enough, Olivia was watching me. Her expression was unreadable, but the intensity of her gaze sent a shiver down my spine.

---

Later that night...

The dining hall had emptied, and most of the pack had retired for the evening. Olivia approached me as I lingered near the doorway, waiting for Tara and Ethan.

“Briar,” she said softly, her voice pulling me from my thoughts.

I turned to face her, my heart pounding. “Yeah?”

“Can we talk?” she asked, her tone gentle but firm.

I nodded, following her as she led me out onto the terrace. The cool night air was a welcome contrast to the warmth of the dining hall, and the stars above were bright and clear.

We stood in silence for a moment before Olivia spoke. “You seemed distracted tonight,” she said, her eyes searching mine. “Is everything okay?”

I hesitated, unsure how to put my feelings into words. Finally, I said, “I’ve just... been thinking a lot about us. About this bond.”

Olivia’s expression softened, and she stepped closer. “What about it?”

“I don’t fully understand it yet,” I admitted. “But it’s... overwhelming. In a good way, but also in a way that scares me.”

She nodded, her gaze steady. “It’s okay to feel that way. This bond is intense—it’s supposed to be. But I want you to know that I’m here for you, no matter what. There’s no rush to figure everything out. We’ll take it one step at a time.”

Her words eased the knot in my chest, and I felt a surge of gratitude. “Thank you,” I said quietly.

Olivia smiled, reaching out to gently take my hand. Her touch was warm, grounding. “You don’t have to thank me, Briar. You’re my mate. Supporting you, protecting you—that’s what I’m here for.”

For a moment, I just stood there, letting her words sink in. Then, without thinking, I stepped closer and rested my head against her shoulder. Olivia froze briefly before wrapping her arms around me, holding me close.

In her embrace, I felt a sense of peace I hadn’t felt in weeks. Maybe this bond wasn’t something to fear. Maybe it was something to embrace.

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