Ten Years (The Alpha and Her)

Chapter Three; Secrets

Ten years.

Ten years of loneliness, of isolation, of strange looks and even abuse.

Though she was only ten years old, little Olive knew exactly why she was forced to play by herself. Why the older kids picked on her . Why the younger kids ignored her and why the adults always whispered about her.

She was abandoned. Forgotten by her own parents, left to fend for herself in this cruel world.

At least that’s what the alpha’s youngest brother, Jonah, always told her.

Jonah would always go out of his way to find her and speak harsh words towards her. He was the  leader of all of her bullies, making fun of her higher intelligence. He was always pushing her around because she was the runt of the pups, always finding reasons to mess with her. The only one to ever stand up for her was the beta’s younger brother, Elliott. That was only ever when he was around to catch them in the act, never caring that he was retaliating against the alpha’s youngest brother or the King’s youngest prince. 

“Olli?” Olive jumped off her bed, stuffing her multiple books under her covers as she rushed to the door before the voice had a chance to open it. “Olli-”

The door suddenly opened revealing a surprised twelve year old boy with light brown hair that complimented his tan skin and dark brown eyes that seemed to suck anyone in that stared at them for too long. The young boy jumped slightly as the door revealed a red faced Olive, her face matching her beautiful fiery waves. 

“What are you doing Olive?” The boy arched one eyebrow as he attempted to peer past her into the barren room but to no avail as she quickly slipped out of the small opening. 

“N-nothing! I-is something wrong, Elliott?” She spoke softly, avoiding his amused gaze that held a hint of suspicion. 

Elliott looked her up and down as Olive turned her emerald gaze down to the floor, her hands held behind her back as she fidgeted on the gaze.  “Just that mom was wondering if you wanted to have dinner with us tonight? We are having steak.” He winked, grinning from ear to ear as he knew that was her favorite.

“Oh! Ah, um, no thanks, I’m not really hungry tonight…” She could feel his playful gaze turn hard as he stared at her. “I, I had a big lunch!” She fidgeted more, her arms held tightly behind her as she shifted her weight between her feet. Elliott knew she was lying and he was not going to take no for an answer. 

“Yeah right Olive. I know you and I know that most likely you had water and an apple, nothing more! You need meat in your body! So don’t argue with me and come on! Dinner is almost ready!” The boy reached for her wrist behind her back only for his hand to be harshly smacked away by Olive’s other hand. 

His dark brown eyes widened as he stared at her in utter shock.

“No Elli!” She screamed. Tears brimming her bright green eyes as she side stepped away from him and ran for her door. She quickly opened and slammed the door shut as Elliott stared at the door frozen. 

Elliott held in his anger and hurt, having not caught the water in her eyes, only hearing the hurt in her voice. 

“Fine!” He yelled at the still door. “I’ll just tell mom you aren’t feeling well!” He turned on his heel, not wanting to show her how much her actions had hurt him. 

Olive sank down to the floor behind the door, cradling the wrist that Elliott had attempted to grab. She brought her tiny legs to her chest, regret filling her heart from her previous actions. It was instinct, she just didn’t want him to touch her throbbing wrist so she slapped his hand away. From his earlier action she knew he hadn’t heard about her “accidental” fall down the stairs and she didn’t want him to go after the culprit so instead of explaining; she ran. Her small ten year old brain couldn’t come up with a better solution but now all she wished was that he didn’t hate her. He was her only friend in this large palace.

She hit the back of her head on the door, trying to squeeze the tears back.

Elliott on the other hand was incredibly pissed and hurt. Though only twelve, he had been around Olive all his life and knew when she was hiding something. The pain of her not wanting to tell him fueled his anger as he glared at the floor, making his way back to the east wing of the palace. After all this time Elliott did not understand why Olive didn’t lean on him. Was he untrustworthy? Not strong enough?

“Elliott? What's wrong?” The young boy turned his glare upwards, instantly softening at the site of his sister-in-law. She always had a calming effect on him.

Clover looked at the young boy, her hazel eyes laced with worry.

“Clover, I don’t understand… Olive is hiding something from me.” He mumbled, his anger quickly subsiding and replaced with worry.

“What do you mean? Is she okay? What happened?” She quickly kneeled, her eyes laced with concern.

“Mom invited her to dinner and I came to get her but, but she slapped my hand away and ran back into her room, making sure I couldn't see anything in there…” Elliott glanced back down the hallway, unable to see her room’s door as he had rounded many corners on his way back to the east wing. 

Clover’s eyes softened as a soft smile appeared on her tired lips. “Come now, Elliott, what would Lenn say if he saw you like this?” Clover asked softly as she stood back up, patting his messy light brown hair. She motioned with her head in the direction he had come from as they both made their way back to Olive’s room.

Clover thought Olive’s actions were odd, Olive would never avoid Elliott, the two were basically inseparable…

“Olli, it’s me Clover. Can I come in?” Clover knocked softly on the old wood door, waiting only a few moments. Once she received no answer, quietly she slowly opened the door. Clover was surprised to find it unlocked. 

The two walked into the room looking around at the barren walls, the only light coming from the single window above her small bed. The small room only held a small twin bed and a small empty desk while a closet was off to the side in the size of a broom closet. The two made their way to the small bed, noticing only a small thin blanket and single pillow filling the otherwise empty space. Elliot looked down and noticed a lump under the blanket, he pulled back the cover revealing books and journals and magazine clippings all related to finding parents.

“Clover.” Elliott whispered, rummaging through the article clippings, every single only. Slowly understanding what exactly his best friend had been hiding from him.

Clover peered over Elliott’s shoulder, her heart aching the moment she read the first title of one of the clippings. 

“What are you guys doing?” The books and papers dropped to the bed as they both quickly turned around to find Olive in the doorway staring at the two. Her emerald green eyes brimming with tears, a look of betrayal written on her soft face as she glanced at her bed and the two before her.

“How could you?” She whispered as she took a step back, gripping the bag of ice to her wrist which caused a shot of pain to travel through her arm.

“No! Wait, Olli, we can explain!” Elliott stepped forward causing Olive to take a step back. 

“Don’t lie!” Olive screamed, the tears spilling over, trailing down her pale cheeks. Her hand was beginning to grow numb from the melting ice, a feeling much similar to her own heart.

“Olli-” Clover started, only to stop when Olive turned her hurt gaze to the blonde woman that Olive saw as a sister. “Your parents-” Clover began but once more stopped, unsure if she had any right to tell this young pup the truth; unsure if she had any place to tell her that her mother had always been near, always cared and always loved her. 

“Shut up!” Olive cried, the melted ice bag dropping to the floor as she covered her ears. Fear that what Jonah had always said was right all along, that she was an unwanted pup, abandoned without reason. 

“Olive, your mother-” Clover started once more only for Olive to turn on her heels leaving the two in the small  room.

Elliott was about to rush after only to be stopped by Clover. Her firm hand was placed on his shoulder. She shook her head knowing that the young girl needed time to herself. Elliott stared into his sister-in-law’s hazel eyes before finally nodding. 

“Clover, what were you going to say?”