Chapter 23: Worried

Chapter 23: WorriedLouis' POV The moment Anita dropped the bombshell, I frowned. We never actually promised her it would be tomorrow. My brothers and I only told her we were considering it—we didn't want to rush into choosing her as a concubine. But it seemed Anita was eager to push things forward. From where I sat, my gaze settled on Olivia, watching closely for her reaction to Anita's words. But she didn't look surprised or even hurt. If anything, her face remained perfectly composed as she continued chewing her meal. I exchanged glances with my brothers, and they mirrored my confusion. We had expected Olivia to lash out, to demand answers, to question why we were doing this. But she didn't. Instead, she turned her attention to her mother, who seemed more shocked by the news than Olivia herself. "Mother, eat. You must be hungry," Olivia urged, completely ignoring Anita's words. Anita, clearly unsatisfied with Olivia's lack of reaction, pressed on. "Starting tomorrow, I will officially be their woman," she added, her tone dripping with satisfaction as she tried to provoke Olivia further. Still, Olivia ignored her and continued eating. Anita, who hated being ignored, frowned and continued. "And who knows? Maybe one day, I'll even become their Luna." At her words, my wolf stirred in anger. For the first time, Olivia lifted her gaze, finally acknowledging Anita's presence. She studied her for a moment before speaking, her voice calm yet chilling. "Not one day, Anita. Very soon. Very soon, you will become their Luna because by the time I'm dead, their concubine can become their Luna. So, congratulations." A tense silence filled the dining hall. Olivia's words, spoken so smoothly and with that eerie smile, sent a strange chill through me. It wasn't the reaction any of us had expected. She wasn't angry, she wasn't hurt—she was calm. Too calm. I glanced at my brothers again, and they were just as unsettled as I was. Anita, on the other hand, had clearly expected Olivia to break down or lash out, but instead, she was met with a different reaction. That clearly didn't sit well with her. "What do you mean by that?" Anita scoffed, though there was an edge of nervousness in her voice. Olivia wiped her mouth with a napkin and leaned back in her chair, her expression calm. "Exactly what I said. Isn't that what you're hoping for? For me to step aside and disappear so you can take my place?" Anita opened her mouth to respond, but Olivia wasn't finished. "Well, don't worry. Soon, you won't have to try so hard. You'll have what you want." A sense of unease settled over the table. I clenched my fists under the table, my wolf restless. Why was she talking like this? Was she planning another attempt to take her life? "Olivia—" I started, but she pushed her chair back and stood up. "Excuse me, I've lost my appetite," she said simply before turning to her mother. "Mom, don't stay too long." Then, without sparing any of us another glance, she walked away. I exhaled sharply, feeling a mixture of frustration and worry. My brothers were just as tense, watching her retreating figure with narrowed eyes. Anita smirked, clearly thinking she had won, but I wasn't so sure. Something about Olivia's words didn't sit right with me. "Please excuse me," Olivia's mother murmured as she stood as well, her face pale. She left without another word. Where I sat, I was damn uncomfortable and restless. Why did Olivia talk about Anita being our Luna really soon? Was she trying to do something again? Trying to commit another suicide? My wolf howled in distress at the mere thought of it. And suddenly, I was panicking. "Louis, are you okay?" Anita asked, reaching out to touch me. Searᴄh the Novelƒire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. I yanked my hand away and stood abruptly. Without another word, I stormed out of the dining room, heading straight for the kitchen. The moment I entered, the staff froze, their gazes dropping instantly to the floor. I swept my gaze over the group, my voice sharp as I barked, "Which of you is responsible for Olivia's meals?" A brief silence followed before two maids hesitantly stepped forward, their hands trembling. They were young, probably in their early twenties, and clearly terrified of me. Good. They should be. "We—we are, Alpha," one of them stammered, her eyes fixed on the floor. I took a step closer, my voice dropping to a deadly calm. "From now on, when you serve Olivia, you will stay and watch her eat. You will not leave her food or drink unattended for even a second. If she refuses to eat in front of you, you will report directly to me." The second maid swallowed hard, nodding frantically. "Yes, Alpha." I narrowed my eyes. "If anything happens to her because of something she eats or drinks—if she so much as touches a poisoned glass of water—I will kill you both myself." They gasped, their fear evident, but I didn't care. I meant every damn word. Olivia's words at the table had rattled me more than I wanted to admit. That look in her eyes told me she was going to do something stupid, and hell no, I wouldn't let that happen. I wouldn't let that happen again. "Now get out of my sight and do your job properly," I snapped. They bowed quickly before scurrying away, leaving me standing there, my chest rising and falling. A movement at the doorway caught my eye. I turned to find Lennox and Levi standing there, watching me in silence. I didn't say a word to them. Instead, I turned on my heel and stormed up the stairs to my room. Reaching my room, I was unsettled. I was pacing around, I couldn't get it—why were her attitude and words at the table unsettling me? A low growl rumbled in my chest, my wolf restless and uneasy. I closed my eyes, inhaling deeply, trying to steady my racing thoughts. And then, just like that, a memory surfaced, a memory of a time when things were different, when my relationship with Olivia wasn't broken, when this woman was a sweet, innocent little girl. It was a summer afternoon, years ago. The sun hung high in the sky, casting golden light over the lush garden where Olivia played. She couldn't have been more than eight or nine, her tiny feet kicking against the dirt as she chased a butterfly with a giggle. I had been watching her from the porch, amused by her determination to catch the butterfly. Every time she got close, the butterfly would flutter away, just out of reach, and she'd let out a frustrated huff before trying again. "Louis!" she suddenly called, her big, bright eyes turning to me. "Help me catch it!" I had chuckled, shaking my head. "Why do you want to catch it, Olivia?" She pouted, crossing her little arms. "Because it's pretty, and I want to keep it!" I sighed, standing up and strolling over to her. "Some things aren't meant to be caught, little one. Some things are meant to be free." She frowned up at me, clearly not understanding. But then, her expression softened, and she nodded. "Okay… but can you at least help me chase it?" I couldn't say no to her back then. With a grin, I bent down and scooped her up onto my shoulders. She squealed with laughter, her tiny hands clutching my hair as I ran across the garden, pretending to chase the butterfly with her. "Faster, Louis! We're almost there!" she urged, her laughter filling the air. I remember how carefree she had been, how light her heart was. She had no worries, no burdens—just the joy of a child playing with someone she trusted. When we finally stopped, both of us breathless, Olivia wrapped her arms around my neck in a tight hug. "You're the best, Louis," she had whispered. And just like that, I had felt something warm bloom in my chest, something I didn't understand back then. My eyes snapped open, and I let out a slow, shaky breath. I was meant to love her. I was meant to make her happy for the rest of her life. But she broke my heart and shattered my world with her words. But nevertheless, despite how much I hated her now, or how much I wanted to hate her, one thing was certain—I never stopped loving her. And hell would I sit back and watch her kill herself. I decided to take a shower and retire to bed. Tomorrow was a big day for the warriors. After bathing, I lay on my bed and tried to get some sleep, but I couldn't. My thoughts were filled with Olivia. I sat up abruptly, running a hand through my hair in frustration. Sleep wasn't coming—not with Olivia's words haunting me, with the memory of her. My wolf was restless, pacing inside me, growling in warning. Something wasn't right. I needed to see her. Pushing off the bed, I grabbed a shirt and threw it on before heading out. The halls were silent, the castle bathed in shadows, but I moved quickly, my instincts leading me straight to her room. When I reached her door, I didn't bother knocking. I pushed it open, only to find the bed untouched, the room eerily empty. A fresh wave of unease settled in my chest. Where the hell was she? I turned on my heel, stalking out of the wing and grabbing the nearest guard. "Where is Olivia?" I demanded. The guard straightened instantly, his eyes full of worry. "She left a few minutes ago, Alpha. She said she was going into the woods… to shift." My blood ran cold. No.