Chapter 18

OLIVE

I wake up the next morning, still buzzing from the previous night’s events.

~Did I really almost let him have me, just like that?~

Don’t get me wrong, I wanted it. I wanted it so bad. It’s the first thing on my mind as I open my eyes.

Do I regret letting things escalate to that point? Not at all. Would I have regretted it if he had taken me? No.

But was I a little relieved when we were interrupted? Yes, I was.

As much as I crave Ezekiel, I can’t shake the feeling that he’s not being completely open with me. I need to know he trusts me.

I need him to let me in. I don’t believe he’s the monster everyone says he is, and I plan to do some investigating of my own when I get the chance.

After we were interrupted last night, Ezekiel didn’t return until around four in the morning.

He came back, dirty and angry from hours of running. He and his warriors had been searching the entire pack’s territory for the demon, but they found nothing.

Ezekiel was not happy about this.

I think if I hadn’t been there, he would’ve torn the room apart, but I managed to convince him to come to bed.

He held me, breathing in my scent, until he finally calmed down enough to fall asleep.

I’m worried that with the threat of a demon on pack territory, Ezekiel might go back on his word.

I know his wolf will insist that I be locked in the room and never let out of his sight!

Ezekiel stirs awake, reaching for me as I start to get out of bed. He’s still lying face down on his pillow.

“Mmm, where are you going, Little Wolf? Stay,” he murmurs, gently pulling me back to him.

I giggle and try to pry his hands open. “No, not today. I have things I need to do!” I say, quickly getting dressed.

“Can I come?” he asks, peeking out from his pillow with a devilishly handsome grin on his face.

“No, I have something private I need to take care of,” I reply, sitting on the edge of the bed to put on my Converse, giving him a teasing look.

Ezekiel sits up and moves toward me to kiss my neck. “Oh yeah? And what’s that, Little Wolf?”

“Mmm, no! Stop with your wizardry! I’ll tell you later, promise.” I smile sweetly.

A low rumble comes from his chest before he groans. “You’re really testing this freedom of yours, aren’t you?” he says, sounding frustrated.

“Me? No, I wouldn’t do such a thing,” I reply, hand on my chest, pretending to be shocked before I smile playfully.

After giving Ezekiel a quick kiss, I hurry out before he can try to convince me to stay again. I hear Ezekiel bury his face in his pillow, groaning. I imagine his wolf is giving him an earful.

I knew what I was going to do as soon as Ezekiel gave me some freedom. Raven didn’t like my plan; it wasn’t anything fun or exciting but it’s something I have to do, for my own peace of mind.

I push open the doors to the pack hospital, taking a deep breath, feeling a sense of determination.

I walk through the hospital wing with a purpose, here for one reason and one reason only. And that reason was— Suddenly, an arm wraps around me and pulls me into a tight hug.

“Mom!”

“Oh shh, shh, just let me love you!” she says, hugging me tighter as I squirm. “Let your mother hug you!! I’ve missed you!”

“Please, Mom! I have something to do. I’ll come back and see you again in a minute?”

“Fine, but hurry!” she says as I continue down the hospital wing.

That’s when I see her…Amber. She still has some scabs from healing burns, but overall, she’s looking pretty good, considering the state I left her in.

I stand awkwardly at the foot of her bed, fidgeting. Amber is staring in shock, her mouth slightly open.

“Umm, hi,” I say nervously.

~Come on, Olive. You can do better than that!~

Amber is still staring. I’m not sure if she’s even breathing anymore. The tension in the air makes me start babbling.

“I just wanted to say I’m so sorry for what I did to you. I just lost control and I should have been able to handle myself better… I’ve been practicing control of my new abilities.

“…You know, so this doesn’t happen again… Sorry it’s taken me so long to come and see you. I was being held captive by my mate…

“That’s a whole other story… I’m rambling, aren’t I? I should stop— Yeah, stop talking, Olive.”

Amber smiles. “I don’t blame you, ya know? It was my fault, just like Max says. I shouldn’t have pushed you to that point.

“Look at it this way. At least now I’ll think twice before picking on anyone. Believe me, it’s been a reality check, that’s for sure. I really am sorry.”

She grimaces at the word sorry; I guess because she’s never really said it before.

I expected her to call me names, kick me out, yell at me. This is something I hadn’t anticipated. Amber admitting she was wrong? No way!

I just stand there, taking in this new and improved Amber.

~Maybe the hellfire burned out all her evil? I wonder if that’s one of my abilities, burning out the evil?~ I think, before I realize I haven’t responded yet.

“I appreciate your forgiveness, more than you know.” I smile gratefully.

“So…I hear the Alpha King is your mate?”

I nod and smile shyly, looking down at my shoes.

“Lucky you! That guy is a snack!” she jokes before looking at my neck.

“Hmm, no mark yet? Does that mean I can have him?”

A flicker of fear crosses Amber’s face as she catches sight of my fiery green eyes.

“Alright, alright...I won’t joke about stealing your guy, got it!”

“Sorry, still working on that.” I shrug.

I hang out with Amber for a bit longer. She suggests we try to be friends. We agree to let bygones be bygones and move forward.

As I’m about to leave, Alice walks in. She stops in the doorway, surprised to see me, then her face lights up with a radiant smile.

“Oh, Olive! It’s so good to see you!” she exclaims.

“Hi, Alice, I was just heading out. I’ll leave you two to catch up.” I smile.

As I’m leaving, Amber calls after me, “I’m getting discharged this afternoon, so I’ll see you at school tomorrow!”

I say my goodbyes and on my way out of the hospital, I catch up with my mom.

She spends the first few minutes grilling me about whether Ezekiel is treating me well.

“YES, MOM! For the tenth time! Ezekiel is treating me like a queen.” I say, beaming.

“Ooooh, someone’s got it bad!” she teases.

“Of course I do! It’s hard not to when you’re ~literally~ destined to be with someone,” I say, matter-of-factly, before my tone turns serious.

“It’s just...I don’t think he trusts me. How can I care for him so much when he was going to do such terrible things just to get to me? Do I just forget about all of that?”

“Terrible things? What terrible things?” Mom asks, worried.

“When I was hiding in the woods...he threatened to deliver you to me piece by piece until I came out,” I say, staring at the floor.

“Would he really have done that if I didn’t come out? Has he hurt other families like this in the past?”

What happens next is unexpected. Mom starts laughing. Laughing!

“Um, Mom, I don’t think it was supposed to be funny?” I say, looking at her like she’s lost her mind.

“Oh, Livi! Didn’t he tell you?” She laughs.

I’m getting annoyed now. “Tell me what?” I say, curtly.

“He came and visited me that day with Alpha Max. He told me what he planned to do but assured me I wasn’t going to be in any real danger! He was just using me as bait.”

“He what!?”

She rubs my arm soothingly, still chuckling to herself.

“Why wouldn’t he tell me this? I thought he was actually capable of hurting an innocent woman. I thought he was a power-hungry madman!”

“Seems to me maybe he has many sides to him, this complex king of yours, hm?”

“It seems that way,” I say, thoughtfully.

***

I meet Ezekiel in the town square for our date. We’re both dressed in hiking gear, ready for a walk Ezekiel has planned for us.

Before we leave, we plan to grab a hot drink from the café before heading out for Ezekiel’s surprise.

“I can’t believe you didn’t tell me!” I say playfully, punching him in the arm I have my other linked through.

Ezekiel laughs.

“Hey! I had to get you out of there somehow! It was either that or my wolf was going to tear that magical protection spell down with his own claws.

“He was desperate to meet you. Now I guess I know why!”

I smile up at him. “I guess we do.”

We aren’t too far from the coffee shop when some pack members come over to speak to Ezekiel. I guess he’s practically a celebrity in the werewolf world.

They are all staring up at him in awe, asking about politics or asking for a picture to show their family they ~actually~ met the king.

I tell him I’ll run ahead and grab the drinks while he deals with his adoring fans. He doesn’t look pleased to be left with a mob of wolves.

I open the café door and lock eyes with Danny. He immediately frowns at me.

~Eeesh, cold reception. I don’t think he’s happy with me. Can’t exactly blame him.~

“Hi, Danny, listen. I’m so sorry I didn’t turn up for my shift. A lot of hard to explain things happened.”

“Yeah. I know,” Danny says bluntly.

“I think you should leave. I saw the video; I don’t want my customers feeling uncomfortable with you here.”

“I just wanted a couple of drinks to g—”

“~Leave!~” he says, pointing toward the door.

I nod, slowly turning around. My cheeks are burning red. Everyone is staring and whispering. I’m humiliated.

As I get outside, I see Ezekiel saying goodbye to the last couple of his fans.

I walk over to him swiftly, throwing my arms around him and nuzzling into his large chest, taking in as much of his comforting scent as I can. It instantly calms me.

“Woah! As much as I love a cuddle, what’s wrong?” he says, pulling away just enough to look me over.

“It’s nothing,” I say, embarrassed. “Let’s just go.”

“You have no drinks, Olive. What happened in the café?” he says, irritation creeping into his tone. His eyes start flicking to his wolf’s golden ones.

“He wouldn’t serve me…because of the video,” I say quietly.

Now his eyes are golden and only golden, a growl rumbling from his chest.

“Wait here,” he says, stalking toward the café.

“No, Ezekiel, it’s not worth it. I’m fine!” I say, unconvincingly.

“It’s okay. We’re just going to have a little ~chat~ with the owner,” he says through gritted teeth.

~He is definitely not going to just chat with him.~

Seconds after he enters the café, screams erupt and someone is flung through the café window. Shards of glass scatter over the cobbled streets.

Danny’s sprawled on his back, a mess of tiny cuts, and he’s scrambling to get away from the danger.

“I’m sorry! Please! I didn’t know, Your Highness!” he pleads.

Ezekiel strides in through the broken window. His chest heaves with each breath, and his golden eyes are ablaze with fury.

“You dare disrespect my mate, MY MATE, like that!?” he bellows.

“I’m sorry, PLEASE! I didn’t know!” Danny cries, tears streaming down his face.

Ezekiel looms over him. In a flash, he seizes Danny by the throat and hoists him off the ground.

Danny’s feet kick at the empty air, his hands clawing at Ezekiel’s wrists, gasping for breath.

~He’s going to kill him. Shit!~

I sprint over as fast as I can. I can’t let him murder Danny over a bit of bad service.

“Ezekiel, let him go. You’re going to kill him!” I plead, my voice filled with panic.

He doesn’t move, his gaze locked on Danny, growling. Danny’s struggles are starting to weaken.

“Please! Ezekiel!!” I beg, my voice growing more desperate.

He still doesn’t release his grip.

~What do I do!?~

Danny’s barely putting up a fight now.

“Ezekiel, baby, look at me,” I coax, trying to draw his attention.

“Come on, baby, just look at me. I’m okay, let him go!” I reach up to his face, trying to turn him towards me. I see a hint of softness in his eyes at my touch.

“Come on, Zeke baby. Just look at me!” I urge, pulling him more forcefully.

Finally, his eyes meet mine. He releases Danny who crumples onto the stone floor below, clutching his throat and gasping for air.

Ezekiel turns to me, a playful, lopsided grin spreading across his face. “Did you just call me Zeke?”

That smile. ~Swoon.~ My insides turn to mush, my thoughts a jumbled mess.

“What? Uh, no... maybe? Yes, I did,” I confess, my nose scrunching up in embarrassment.

His eyes sparkle as he replies, “I like it.”

He shifts his gaze back to Danny, who’s still sprawled on the floor in shock, a dark bruise already forming around his throat.

“Now. Would you mind fetching me and my beautiful mate two coffees to go?” he asks, his voice eerily calm.