The Alpha's Seeress

Chapter 9

Olivia Isla

Accepting Riley and our relationship was never in my plan. In fact, I had spent so much time searching for ways to break what we had, to remove the mark if it was even possible.

But after seeing the worst—seeing the future, seeing who the real ruler is—it changed everything. It gave me a new perspective. I’m powerless without Riley. As much as I hate the idea, he’s my only anchor in this battle. He can use me however he wants, and I’ll use him to protect Nana Sienna, just in case I’m gone for good.

"I’ve been surviving for almost three decades," Riley said, his voice suddenly raw, stripped of the usual bravado. "I’ve been practicing, training, doing everything I can. Why isn’t my power enough, Olive? Why does the darkness keep winning?"

His words hung in the air, so different from the confident Alpha I was used to. In that moment, he wasn’t just stubborn Riley, the Alpha who wouldn’t back down. He was tired. Defeated. There was an edge of desperation I hadn’t seen before, and it hit me like a punch to the gut.

I hesitated, unsure of how to respond. For the first time, Riley wasn’t trying to be strong or proud. He was showing me the cracks in his armor, and it scared me. If he lost hope, what chance did the rest of us have?

"It’s not about power, Riley," I whispered. "The darkness isn’t something you can just fight head-on. It’s everywhere. It plays with your mind, your fears, your weaknesses. It’s not just about brute strength. It’s about resilience, about knowing when to fight and when to step back."

He looked away. "But I’ve done that. I’ve fought, I’ve stepped back, I’ve tried everything. And still, it feels like the more I do, the stronger the darkness becomes. Like I’m not enough. Like I’ll never be enough."

My heart ached at his words. I knew that feeling all too well—the crushing weight of not being enough, of constantly losing no matter how hard you fought. But I also knew that Riley had never truly let anyone in. He always carried the burden alone, believing that strength meant shouldering it all by himself.

"Riley," I said quietly, "you don’t have to do this alone. The darkness might be strong, but so are you. And you have people who care about you, who can help you—if you let them. You don’t have to carry this weight by yourself."

He didn’t respond, but I could see the battle raging within him. The Alpha in him was used to leading, to protecting, to fighting. But now, he was beginning to understand what I’d been trying to tell him all along—that pride and strength weren’t always the answer.

"Why are you telling this to me as if you're going somewhere? You sound so kind and gentle—this isn’t like you!" Riley interjected, his confusion and concern evident.

I was about to respond when a c***k in the door interrupted us. Nana Sienna rushed in, followed closely by Vix and Max.

She ran to me and hugged me tightly. I was lying in bed, my body wrapped in bandages. Her embrace was warm, but it only made the pain more acute.

"What happened to you? Who hurt you?" she asked, her voice trembling with a mix of worry and anger, her tears falling freely.

I struggled to find the words. "It’s a long story, Nana. I’m... I’m okay for now. Just worried about you."

Her tears continued to fall as she pulled back slightly to look at me, her eyes searching for answers. "I’ve been so scared. When you didn’t come home, I didn’t know what to do."

I reached out a trembling hand to her cheek. "I’m sorry for making you worry."

Riley stood back, observing the exchange with a look of quiet frustration.

I recounted everything to Nana Sienna, my voice steady despite the pain. As I spoke about the university president and the betrayal, anger flashed in her eyes. I had no idea she had been to the university herself and had been lied to. Myrtle’s deceit only deepened her fury.

"I’m okay now. There’s no need to be sorry," I said, trying to reassure her despite the discomfort. "I’ll heal quickly."

Nana Sienna’s expression softened slightly, but the anger remained. "They’ve done so much harm, and I had no idea. They made a fool of me."

"Calm down, Nana. It’s all done now," I said, trying to soothe her.

Before, my only goal had been to get my degree and earn my diploma. But after everything that’s happened, returning to the university feels impossible. I have no intention of going back.

"Sky High should be taken down," Nana said. "What if they keep doing this to others?"

It’s a real possibility. I’m not the only victim—there are seven of us. If not for Riley, we might not have been saved. The thought of more suffering, of others falling into the same trap, is unbearable.

But if I expose myself or Riley right now, they’ll find us even faster. Even without the President, they have access to our records.

The memory of them videotaping me, violating my privacy in such a grotesque manner, made me shiver. It was a memory I couldn’t erase, one that filled me with disgust and made me want to retch. They were truly despicable.

"Nana, can I talk to Riley first?" I asked, needing a moment alone to discuss our next steps.

Nana Sienna gave me a worried look but nodded. "Alright. I’ll be waiting outside."

Riley and I moved to a quieter corner. His face was a mix of frustration and concern, but he listened intently as I spoke.

"We can’t expose Sky High ourselves," I began. "If we do, we’ll become targets even faster. The Walkers already have access to our records. We need to be strategic."

Riley looked puzzled. "But if we don’t act now, they’ll continue their cruelty. We need to do something."

"I agree," I said. "But if we act impulsively, we risk being exposed to the Walkers sooner. We need to let the other victims come forward. They can share their stories, and we can support them from the shadows."

His eyes widened a fraction."You think they’ll be safer doing it that way?"

"Yes," I replied. "We need to protect ourselves first. If we stay in the background, we can help orchestrate the exposure without putting ourselves directly in the crosshairs. Let them take the lead. We can provide assistance and evidence without being at the forefront."

He sighed, clearly struggling with the idea but understanding the logic. "Alright. We’ll help them however we can. But we need to make sure they’re safe, too."

"Agreed," I said. "Our focus should be on gathering evidence and coordinating with them. We can’t afford to be reckless. The Walkers are a dangerous enemy, and we have to be smart about how we handle this."

Riley nodded. "We’ll do this the right way."

I know this may sound a little selfish on my part, but this is a better option. I’m not yet ready to be taken by the Walkers, and I also believe the other victims will be safer if they handle the exposure themselves.

Two weeks had passed since that incident. The visions had ceased, and our healing was progressing quickly. The plan to expose Sky High was in its final stages, and the other victims had been able to return to their families. Vix took on the responsibility of meeting with them periodically to finalize the details of our strategy.

Meanwhile, I remained within the packhouse, held in a manner that could be considered a protective form of captivity. Though confined, it was for my own safety. The pack had made sure I was well cared for, and it allowed us to focus on the impending exposure without further risk.

"Gretel already released her side. It will be backed up by Sofia tomorrow," Riley said as he entered the room.

I turned on the television, and the screen immediately showed Gretel being questioned by a couple of news reporters.

"Why did you only expose them now when you were molested two weeks ago?" a woman in her forties asked Gretel.

"We needed time to heal our wounds and process the trauma those monsters inflicted on us. It took time for us to be ready to speak out."

I watched with a sense of relief and apprehension. Gretel’s bravery in speaking out was a crucial step in our plan. Her interview would help shine a light on the atrocities committed by Sky High, and Sofia’s upcoming testimony would further solidify the case against them.

Riley stood beside me, his expression serious. "This is just the beginning. Once Sofia’s story airs tomorrow, it’ll be harder for them to ignore or discredit us."

I nodded. "We’re making progress. The more people know, the harder it will be for Sky High to deny their actions."

The broadcast ended, and the room fell into a thoughtful silence. The plan was unfolding as intended, and despite the challenges, there was a sense of optimism about the path ahead.

Yet, after a brief moment of victory, a new vision struck me, freezing me in place. My eyes glazed over as the scene unfolded before me.

In the vision, I saw the Walkers swiftly apprehending Gretel. They moved with a chilling efficiency, their presence imposing and relentless. The image was stark and terrifying: Gretel, surrounded by the Walkers, her face etched with fear as they dragged her away. The vision then shifted to their plan to capture the remaining victims, their grim determination evident in every movement.

I snapped out of the vision, my heart racing with panic. Riley’s concerned voice cut through my distress.

"Olive? What’s wrong?"

I took a deep breath, trying to steady my trembling hands. "The Walkers—they’re coming for Gretel. I saw them taking her. They’re planning to get the other victims too."

Riley’s expression hardened. "We need to act quickly. If they’re moving in on our people, we have to intervene before it’s too late."

"We don’t have much time," I said, my voice urgent. "We need to warn everyone and prepare for their next move."

Riley nodded, already reaching for his phone to coordinate with Vix and Max. "I’ll get the message out. We need to protect the remaining victims and be ready for whatever comes next."

Just as Riley was about to make the call, the air around us seemed to crackle with tension. My heart sank as I realized something even more daunting: the vision wasn’t just about the Walker. It was a prelude to a face-to-face encounter with their leader, the Walker King.