OLIVIA
As the music swelled and the lights of the grand party danced around us, I found myself in the arms of John Steven, Austin's father. The rhythm of the music seemed to synchronize with the fluttering of my heart, but my attention was drawn away from the dance floor by the approach of a group of men. One of them, almost my age, stood out and directed his question to John.
"Uncle John, who is this beautiful woman with you?" His words came with a certain curiosity, and his eyes sparkled with interest.
John's warm smile encompassed me as he answered, "Oh, she's our visitor. She's with my son."
The man's surprise was palpable. "Oh, do you mean Austin's mate? I didn't know that Austin already found his mate."
John gently corrected the assumption. "Olivia is still not yet my son's mate
