Chapter 5
1120 Words
Claire lowered her head, but her eyes lingered.
Olivia felt it, that strange pause and quiet tension in the air.
But she does not know the woman standing before her is responsible for her sister’s death, and has been plotting against her.
Her hands were steady. Even the way she held the tray felt wrong, not submissive, just controlled.
Then she bowed again and walked past Olivia.
The door closed. Silence filled Derek’s chamber.
Olivia turned slowly to Derek.
“Since when,” she asked gently, “do maids speak to you like equals?”
“She is new. From the outer wing. They are not trained well.”
Olivia studied him for a moment. But she could press further, he stepped closer, not threatening, just steady.
“You wanted to see the sunrise,” he reminded her gently. “The hill.”
The reminder softened her slightly.
“Yes,” she said. “You promised.”
“And I keep my promise.”
“Then let’s go,” she replied.
The hill had always belonged to them.
Morning light stretched across the sky in soft gold and pale blue. The wind was cool and quiet.
Olivia closed her eyes and breathed deeply, for the first time since the attack, her heart felt lighter.
Derek stood beside her, hands behind his back, watching the horizon.
“Do you remember,” he said quietly, “When we used to race up this hill?”
Olivia smiled faintly, “ You always cheated.”
“I never cheated.”
“You pushed me once.”
“That was strategy.”
She laughed softly.
For a moment it felt simple like when they were children. Before politics, before councils, before bloodline and destiny.
Derek’s voice lowered. “When I was brought to this pack, I was grateful, but I knew I was different. I knew I wasn’t born into it.”
Olivia looked at him. “You grew into it, so you have always been apart of it”
“You were the only one that never made me look like I was temporary.”
Her gaze softened.
“You were never temporary to me.”
Their eyes met.
And this time neither of them looked away immediately. There was no confession. No declaration, just a quiet understanding forming on the silence between them.
Olivia smiled, it was small, almost shy but it was real.
A figure watched. Derek realized Claire had set a spy on him, but he pretended not to see.
Back at Claire’s territory, the spy knelt before her.
“They went to the hill together,” he reported.
“They looked close.”
Claire did not shout or react loudly, she only went very still.
“Close,” she asked quietly.
“Yes,” the spy replied.
Her jaw tightened.
“Keep watching,” she said loudly. If he forgets the reason I sent him to that palace, I will remind him.”
When Derek and Olivia returned, Roman stood near the entrance of the balcony. He didn’t mean to watch them, but he did.
He saw the way they walked beside each other.
The smile Olivia wore, the calmness in Derek’s posture, something inside Roman tightened.
A strange, unfamiliar irritation. He told himself it’s nothing, yet his wolf stirred restlessly inside him.
Derek helped Olivia step onto the stone path.
Their hands touched briefly.
Roman’s jaw clenched.
He turned away before they could notice him.
But Adrian had already noticed him from a distance.
Later that afternoon, Roman sat on his throne reviewing council documents.
The sealed wine that Claire poisoned the previous night, sat on the side of the table.
He took a sip, nothing happened. But a few minutes later, a faint dizziness crept into his head.
He blinked, strange and stood. The room titled slightly, his fingers pressed against the edge of the desk.
Just fatigue, he told himself. The stress from the past few days, lack of sleep, nothing more. But his breathing felt heavier than usual. He ignored it.
At that instant, Adrian entered without knocking.
“You look troubled, Adrian said lightly.
“I’m not.”
Adrian raised an eyebrow. “You stormed in earlier, like someone insulted your pride.”
“Roman exhaled sharply. “Derek forgets his place.”
“Does he?”
“Yes.”
“Or,” Adrain said carefully, “are you simply uncomfortable seeing him close to her?”
“That is not the issue.”
Adrian folded his arms, studying him. “Then what is it?”
“She is under my protection. He should remember that.”
Adrian’s lips curved slightly. “Protection and possession are not the same thing.”
Roman’s eyes darkened.
“You are jealous, “You are jealous,” Adrain added, almost teasing now.
“That is absurd.”
“Is it?” Adrian stepped closer. “You’ve ignored the bond years, you felt the bond with Olivia the day you shifted. You felt you loved Lysandra but….”
“ Enough, Adrian.”
“You can pretend but your wolf doesn’t pretend.”
Roman stiffened.
“She is my responsibility, nothing more.”
“Then why do you seem to be jealous?”
Roman opened his mouth to speak, suddenly the room shifted. A sharp wave of dizziness swept him without warning.
His vision blurred again.
Adrian straightened immediately. “ Roman?”
“I’m fine,” Roman muttered.
“You don’t look fine.”
“I’m just exhausted.”
But even as he said it, his chest felt tight.
“Perhaps you should rest.” Adrian said, helping him rise to his feet.
Roman nodded once, dismissing him.
But the unease did not leave, the poison has started to take effect.
Adrian found Derek near the training grounds.
“Walk with me, Adrian said.
Derek followed calmly. They moved away from the guards.
Adrian stopped.
“What are your intentions with Olivia?”
Derek did not look surprised.
“I’ve always protected her.”
“That wasn’t my question.”
Adrain gaze sharpened. “You’ve grown close.”
Derek met his eyes steadily. “We grew up together.”
“That still doesn’t answer my question.”
Derek's voice lowered slightly. “If you are questioning my loyalty to this pack then say it clearly.”
“I’m questioning your heart, Adrian said quietly.
Derek met his gaze without hesitation. “My loyalty remains where it had been.”
Neither of them noticed the figure standing at the far end of the corridor, head bowed and face hidden.
Then slowly, very slowly, the servant lifted her head.
And smiled.
“It begins,” she whispered, as though she had already won.
- Writer
