The Lost Rogue Heiress

NINE - Peace

Lizzie must have somehow sensed Olivia’s presence because just as she was about to knock on the door with her foot, the door opened to reveal Lizzie looking exasperated as she rushed her inside the apartment.

“What in the hell is going on Olivia? Where have you been all night? I’ve been worried sick. I couldn’t sleep so I returned to your room to grovel some more and you weren’t even there. I waited for an hour and you never came back. What the hell took you so long?”

Olivia sat the tray down on the small dining table near the kitchenette before turning to Lizzie and crushing her in her arms. Knowing Aries was there with Lizzie made her get emotional and tears started to well in her eyes.

“Whoa—are you okay? What happened?” Lizzie asked in a muffled voice because Olivia was crushing the smaller young woman to her chest.

“I’m okay. I’m sorry, it’s just — it’s been a long night Lizzie,” she responded.

“Liv, I’m so sorry. I don’t know what happened, but I swear to you I’ll never ask you to cover for me again. Father be damned, he can—”

“It’s fine, Lizzie. It wasn’t that, it’s just that I, well,” Olivia paused before continuing, “I met someone. And—I have something I need to tell you.”

Concern plagued Lizzie’s young face then, but her wise eyes beyond her years confirmed to Olivia that Aries was in there somewhere. Her mother’s Aries.

“Tell me,” Lizzie said. “Tell me everything.”

Olivia started from the beginning of the evening right after they parted and only left out some of the more risque details between her and Desmond. By the time she was finished, they had consumed their modest breakfast and downed all of the orange juice. Lizzie stared at her in bewilderment, struggling to find words to respond.

“So—you think Aries was your mother’s wolf first?” Lizzie asked.

“Yea, I really think so Lizzie. What else makes sense? Why else would we be drawn to each other so strongly? We’ve always been family, Lizzie, always. Now it makes sense why. And just think of all those times Aries has forced you out just so that she can cross the territory borders. That’s where my parents were killed; near the meadow that she always runs to. And why are you the only Jadewood with a damn soul? Don’t try to defend them, you know it’s true. Just think about it, Lizzie, and it all makes sense.”

They sat there in silence for what seemed like an eternity. Olivia wanted to give her a chance to process it all, but she was also desperate to know what she was thinking. She knew that she had to leave the Jadewood Pack, that much was obvious, but she needed to know that she wouldn’t lose Lizzie, or Aries, in the process. Lizzie was staring blankly into space, and Olivia assumed she was communicating with Aries privately. She probably had some feelings about Aries keeping this from her, if she even knew.

Suddenly Lizzie’s eyes widened and her mouth dropped as she stood up so fast she knocked her chair to the ground.

“She knew! That sneaky, backstabbing, crazy ass wolf has known this whole time and she never said one damn word about it,” Lizzie yelled with the confidence of soundproof walls.

Olivia was torn between completely understanding how Lizzie felt and defending her mother’s wolf at the same time. She had never felt her loyalty torn in such a way, so she chose to keep quiet for the moment. What must it have been like for Aries, navigating a new life so soon after another one ended, and so close to home?

Can I speak to her, Lizzie? Please. She’s all I have left of my mother.

Lizzie sighed dramatically before plopping herself down on one of the designer sofas and throwing her head back on the cushion.

Go for it. Maybe she’ll actually speak to you. She sure as hell hasn’t been keeping me in the loop.

Lizzie was angry, and Olivia didn’t blame her. She probably felt betrayed to a certain degree; the relationship and bond between a wolf and their human was supposed to be sacred, unbreakable. Above all else, they were supposed to be painfully loyal to each other. Aries had robbed Lizzie of that kind of bond; the type of bond Olivia had with Athena.

Olivia felt a shift in the energy between them and suddenly knew that she had an open line to Aries. Lizzie stared at the ceiling with a mix of anger and betrayal as she ground her teeth and clenched her fists. Olivia walked over to the couch and sat far enough away not to smother her, but close enough for her to know she was there.

Aries?

Olivia was suddenly terrified. What if what her mother’s wolf had to say wasn’t what she wanted to hear?

I remembered Liv. I remembered. It took me a long time, far too long. But I remembered. I am so sorry. It’s all my fault, everything was my fault.

Aries spoke in a calm tone through the bond, which was reassuring that she was in control of herself at the moment. Her voice still cracked with sadness, however, and Olivia could tell this was just as difficult for her.

What was your fault? What happened Aries? Olivia asked gently.

Lizzie sat up and looked at Olivia, scared that her wolf was about to reveal something horrible.

Oh Goddess, what have you got us into this time, Aries? Lizzie whined through their bond.

Both women looked at each other with trepidation in their eyes. Was it possible that Aries had taken over and lost control when Lizzie wasn’t even aware of it happening? Olivia knew that Aries was emotionally unstable; that much had been clear before she even met Grayson and found out about her past.

No, nothing like that. This was before you, Lizzie. I belonged to Sara then. It was so painful, it hurt so much, and I just lost control. We lost him, and it was my fault. I should have been there to protect and guard his blindside…I…I was too late.

Aries’ emotions were overloaded, and both Lizzie and Olivia could feel it through the bond. Aries had experienced so much pain and devastation that it broke her, body and soul. Olivia wished she knew how to respond to her mother’s wolf, and how to make the pain go away.

Suddenly, images flooded Olivia’s mind. She was running through the meadow, the same meadow she had been in earlier today, only this time it was filled with wolves and humans, all warriors, trying to kill each other.

What the hell are we looking at, Olivia? Lizzie questioned through the bond.

Silence reigned supreme as the scene continued to flow into their minds as if they were recalling their own memories and not another's. Within the vision, they dodged and fought their way through enemy lines until they reached the pinnacle of the hill at the end of the meadow. Once they reached the top and could see what lay on the opposite side, they collapsed in grief.

Oh, Liv—I’m so sorry. Lizzie whimpered through their shared bond. I can’t even imagine.

On the opposite side of the hill lay a young warrior; he may have been handsome, but it was difficult to see past all of the blood staining his face and pulsing out of his wounds. His hair was covered in grime and blood, but you could still see the silver peaking through; and though his eyes had very little life left in them, they shone with the same amethyst hue that Olivia shared with her grandfather, Grayson.

As they crested the hill in the vision, Olivia and Lizzie shifted into a bird's eye view in time to see a woman that could only be her mother rush to the dying man's side. Although they couldn’t even begin to imagine, they got to see the anguish and pain on her mother's face as she lost her mate and the father of her child.

“Shh, my love. Rest easy now. We will be together again,” they heard her mother say in the vision.

In spite of her warrior figure and obvious strength, this woman was obviously broken as soon as the man shut his eyes for the final time. Within seconds, she began to shake and her eyes glowed a bright red; Aries was fighting for control. Her mother didn’t stand a chance against her grieving wolf. Aries was too strong.

“Liv, Aries. Remember Liv.”

Those were the last words that her mother had said before Aries forced the shift and began destroying anything and anyone in her path. Her rage was palpable, and wolves of both sides quickly realized and attempted to clear a path for her to stay out of the line of fire. In what seemed like seconds but was probably minutes, Aries had ended the lives of too many to count; she left a trail of bodies in her wake.

Olivia returned to the sofa to find Lizzie still sitting next to her, looking terrified. On many levels, Lizzie knew she had a strong wolf, and possibly a crazy one. Seeing what she was capable of and the destruction she caused in mere moments was something else entirely though. Her lip trembled as unshed tears glistened in her eyes.

“Lizzie?” Olivia asked gently.

Lizzie continued to stare into space and Olivia wondered if she was still being succumbed by the vision Aries had given them. She blinked and small single tears rolled down both sides of her face.

“I can’t believe—all this time—Olivia, I am so sorry for what you’ve been put through.”

There was a long pause before Lizzie continued.

“That man with silver hair, that was your father, right? Olivia, I recognize him, it’s the strangest thing. It’s like I’ve seen him before but I know I never have. And my poor Aries, she’s not crazy, she’s just—broken.”

With this realization, Lizzie started to cry in earnest. Though their bond may not be what Olivia shared with Athena, it was obvious in Lizzie’s reaction that the two were still very much connected in their own way. Olivia fought back the tears that threatened to escape as she wrapped her arms around Lizzie once more.

“It’s okay, Lizzie, it’s okay,” she cooed as she squeezed her in her arms.

“Everything’s going to be okay. Listen, we can help her. Somehow, there has to be a way to help her.”

“How? Olivia, I can feel it through our bond. Aries can’t be fixed. There is nothing that can take it away.”

Not knowing how to respond, Olivia paused. Obviously, they couldn’t change the past, but the Goddess had to have sent Aries back for a purpose. It’s the only thing that made sense. They just had to figure out what that purpose was.

Maybe then— just maybe— Aries could find some peace.