The Wolf That Saved Me

Chapter 6: Elias Back in Town

The bar was exactly the same.

Dim lights, the faint scent of beer and fried food in the air, the murmur of conversations blending with the soft hum of the jukebox. I hadn’t stepped foot in here since I stopped working in Ashwood, and being back felt… strange. Almost like I had walked into a memory instead of reality.

Michael sat across from me in the booth, arms crossed, his expression unreadable. Sophia had slid in beside him, her presence as effortless as ever, twirling a straw in her drink like she belonged anywhere she went. I, on the other hand, felt like an outsider in my own world.

Then the door opened and I felt it before I saw him.

That creeping sensation, like a whisper against my skin, a warning my body recognized before my mind could catch up. And then he was there.

Elias.

He strolled in like he owned the place, confidence dripping from every step. His eyes swept the room before landing directly on me. I clenched my hands into fists, already bracing myself.

Michael tensed. I could feel it radiating off him, see it in the way his hands curled into fists on the table. And then his eyes—God, his eyes. That deep, stormy blue bled into a fierce, glowing gold, his anger tangible, suffocating.

A chill ran down my spine. I had seen him fight before, seen his rage, but this…this was something else. He looked ready to tear Elias apart.

Then Sophia touched him.

Just a light hand on his arm, but the effect was instant. His shoulders dropped, his breathing steadied, and just like that, the fire in his gaze dimmed. The moment lasted only a second, but it was enough.

Enough to make my stomach twist in a way I didn’t like.

Sophia always knew exactly how to handle him, how to get through to him in ways I couldn’t. And the worst part? He let her.

Elias chuckled, his voice filled with amusement. “Its been a while, Liv.”

I stiffened. My glare was sharp enough to cut glass, but before I could respond, Michael was already moving.

He stood up so fast the table rattled.

“I warned you,” he growled, stepping between me and Elias, his entire body radiating fury. “I told you to stay the hell away.”

Elias didn’t flinch. Instead, he smirked, completely unfazed. “And yet, here I am.”

Sophia sighed, looking exasperated. “Oh, for God’s sake, will you two ever stop?”

Michael didn’t acknowledge her. His focus was locked on Elias, unyielding. “Not until he gets it through his thick skull that Olivia is off-limits.”

Off-limits?

Something about the way he said it made my blood boil. I wasn’t some fragile thing that needed to be handled, certainly not by him.

Elias raised an eyebrow, a slow smirk curving his lips. “Oh? And what exactly gives you the right to decide that, brother?”

The word barely registered at first.

And then it hit me like a freight train.

My heart stuttered, my pulse thundering in my ears. I looked between them, my breath catching. “Wait… what?”

Michael’s jaw clenched. “Olivia—”

“You’re brothers?” My voice was sharp, my head spinning. “Are you serious?”

Sophia pinched the bridge of her nose. “Well. That could’ve been said more smoothly.”

I turned to her, betrayal clawing at my chest. “You knew?”

She didn’t even look guilty. “Of course I knew.”

Of course she did. Because everyone seemed to know everything except for me.

I turned back to Michael, frustration bubbling over. “And you didn’t think to mention this? At any point?”

Michael exhaled, his gaze unreadable. “It’s complicated.”

“It’s always complicated with you!” I snapped. “You keep things from me, you make decisions for me, and I’m supposed to just go along with it?”

He didn’t respond.

And that silence, that damn silence was answer enough.

I scoffed, shaking my head as I slid out of the booth. “I’m done.”

I didn’t wait for them to stop me. I didn’t want to hear excuses or half-truths. I needed air. I needed space. The moment I stepped outside, the cool night air hit me, a sharp contrast to the heat burning under my skin.

I was so sick of the secrets. Sick of feeling like I was always two steps behind everyone else.

The door creaked open behind me.

“You really shouldn’t be out here alone,” Elias said smoothly, stepping into my peripheral vision.

I clenched my fists. “And you really shouldn’t be talking to me.”

He chuckled. “Ouch. That hurts, Liv.”

I turned to face him fully, crossing my arms. “Why are you here?”

Elias tilted his head, watching me like I was some puzzle he enjoyed figuring out. “Maybe I wanted to see you.”

I rolled my eyes. “Bullshit.”

He grinned. “Okay, maybe a little bit of bullshit. But I’m not lying about everything.”

I let out a sharp breath. “I don’t even know who you are, Elias. You keep showing up, acting like you have all the answers, but you never actually tell me anything.”

Something flickered in his gaze, just for a second. “Maybe because you wouldn’t believe me if I did.”

I swallowed. “Try me.”

He studied me for a long moment before taking a step closer. His voice dropped, lower, more serious. “You think Michael is protecting you because of guilt. Because he feels responsible for you.”

I said nothing.

Elias shook his head. “That’s not it, Oliva.”

My throat felt tight. “Then what is it?”

His smirk returned, teasing. “I guess you’ll have to stick around and find out.”

I wanted to push him. Wanted to demand real answers. But before I could, Elias reached out, brushing a loose strand of hair behind my ear.

My breath caught.

“You don’t have to trust me,” he murmured. “Just don’t trust him blindly either.”

Then he stepped back, flashing that infuriating grin. “See you around, Liv.”

And then he was gone.

Leaving me alone in the dark, my heart pounding, my mind spinning with questions I wasn’t sure I wanted the answers to.

The door creaked open behind me.

Michael.

I spun to face him, anger already rising. “Tell me everything.”

Michael sighed. “Olivia..”

“No more games. No more excuses. No more ‘it’s complicated.’ Tell me everything. Right now.”

His expression darkened. “I keep secrets to protect you. Stop pressuring me.”

I scoffed. “Protect me?” I took a step closer, my voice sharp as a blade. “From what, Michael? From Elias? Because from where I’m standing, you’re the one ruining my life.”

His jaw tightened. “You said you wanted a normal life. These secrets ensure that.”

“A normal life?” I let out a cold laugh. “Do you even hear yourself? There is nothing normal about you stalking me, lying to me, controlling every piece of my life like I’m some kind of fragile doll.”

I laughed bitterly. “Normal? You ruined that. You dragged me into this nightmare, and now you want to play the hero?”

Michael didn’t respond, and that only fueled my anger. “You act like Elias is the villain here, but you’re he hasn’t done any bad thing yet. I can’t say the same for you.”

Michael flinched, and I pressed on. “You think you’re protecting me, but you’re the one causing the most damage. You don’t trust me. You don’t trust anyone. And guess what? That’s why you’re alone.”

His entire body stiffened. For a split second, I thought I saw something c***k in his expression—pain, maybe. But it was gone just as fast.

I shook my head. “You want me to stop pressuring you? Fine. I’m done.”

I turned and walked away, leaving Michael standing in the cold to the soon- coming storm, alone.

Just like he always was.