Luna Olivia’s Choice

Chapter 1: She Felt He Had Made a Huge Joke of Her (Olivia Reed's POV) "Ethan Gray got into a fight." The night was already deep when I received the call from the Northern Territory Pack Police Station. My heart skipped a beat at the mention of Ethan's name. The hour hand crept past eleven as I hurried to leave Moonstone Dormitory, throwing on the first coat I could grab. My mind raced with worry. What had happened? Was he hurt? "Miss Reed! Where do you think you're going at this hour?" Martha Wilson's sharp voice cut through my thoughts. The dormitory supervisor stood at the bottom of the stairs, arms crossed over her chest, her expression severe. "I need to go out. It's an emergency," I said, trying to keep my voice steady. Martha's nostrils flared slightly, her Beta wolf instincts clearly picking up on my anxiety. "Young she-wolves these days have no sense of propriety. Rushing out in the middle of the night to meet unmated males? What would your parents think?" I bit my lip, feeling my cheeks flush. The misunderstanding hung in the air, but I couldn't waste time explaining. "I'm sorry, Ms. Wilson. I really need to go." I slipped past her before she could lecture me further. The biting winter air hit me like a physical blow as I stepped outside, snowflakes swirling around me. My wool coat was woefully inadequate against the storm, but there was no time to go back. Ethan needed me. I hurried toward the University Gate, my arms wrapped tightly around myself. The snow crunched beneath my boots as I flagged down a car service, giving the driver the address of the Northern Territory Pack Police Station. As we drove through the storm, I stared out at the white landscape, my thoughts a jumbled mess. Ethan and I had known each other since childhood. Our families—the powerful Gray pack and my own respected Reed family—were old allies. Our grandfathers had arranged a potential mate bond between us since we were small. Everyone seemed to accept this arrangement except Ethan, the Alpha Heir himself. The car pulled up to the police station, and I hurried inside, shaking snow from my hair. "I'm here for Ethan Gray," I said to the officer at the front desk, my voice sounding smaller than I intended. The officer, whose nameplate read "Thompson," looked up with mild interest. "And you are?" "Olivia Reed. I received a call..." Officer Thompson nodded and handed me a clipboard with forms. "Fill these out for the release procedures." My fingers trembled slightly as I took the pen. The form asked for my relationship to the detainee, and I hesitated. What exactly was I to Ethan? Childhood friend? Potential mate? The girl who'd always been there whenever he called? "What is your relationship with Ethan Gray?" Officer Thompson asked, noticing my hesitation. I swallowed hard. "I'm his childhood friend." The answer felt both true and painfully incomplete. Officer Thompson raised an eyebrow but didn't comment further. As I completed the paperwork, I couldn't help but reflect on the complexity of my relationship with Ethan. His attitude toward me had always been ambiguous—never denying our arranged bond outright, but never affirming it either. He treated me well, called me by a special nickname, texted me daily. But there was always an invisible boundary I couldn't cross, leaving my heart in a constant state of longing and self-doubt. Officer Thompson took the completed forms and began processing them. He picked up Ethan's smartphone from the evidence tray. "He only set you as his emergency contact. I thought you were family," he remarked, scrolling through the device. "He nearly gutted a rogue wolf at the Shadow Bar for his girlfriend, you know." The words struck me like a physical blow. "Girlfriend? Who...?" I stammered, my voice barely audible. "Yes, Vanessa Clark," Officer Thompson continued, seemingly oblivious to my shock. "Some rogue wolf named Kyle Blackwood harassed her at the Shadow Bar, and Ethan Gray smashed a broken whiskey bottle over the rogue's head. Kyle Blackwood is getting medical treatment now. This could end up before a pack tribunal." My mind reeled. Girlfriend? Ethan had never mentioned dating anyone. We spoke daily, texted constantly. How could I not know about someone named Vanessa Clark? "Is she okay?" I asked automatically, my training in social niceties taking over while my brain struggled to process this revelation. "She's fine. Not a scratch on her. Pretty girl, very outgoing type." Officer Thompson shrugged. "Your friend was quite the hero." I nodded numbly, my hands moving on autopilot as I signed the final release form. Inside, I felt hollow, as if someone had scooped out my insides and left nothing but an empty shell. The door to the holding area opened, and Ethan emerged. My breath caught at the sight of him—his usually perfect appearance was disheveled, his eyes showing red veins from exhaustion. A fresh, three-centimeter scar marked his left temple, still slightly red despite his werewolf healing abilities. His eyes found mine immediately, and a familiar smile curved his lips. "Little Liv," he said, using the nickname only he ever called me by. "You came." I wanted to rush forward, to check his wound, to demand answers about Vanessa Clark. Instead, I stood frozen, conflicting emotions warring within me. "Are you okay?" I finally managed. Ethan nodded, running a hand through his hair. "Just a scratch. You didn't have to come out in this weather, though I'm glad you did." I took a deep breath, gathering my courage. "Who is Vanessa Clark?" The question tumbled out before I could stop it. Ethan faltered, his smile slipping for just a moment. He glanced at Officer Thompson, then gently tugged my sleeve. "Let's talk outside," he said, leading me toward the exit. The wind hit us like a wall as we stepped out of the Northern Territory Pack Police Station. I shivered violently, my inadequate wool coat providing little protection against the biting cold. "You're freezing," Ethan observed, frowning at my thin coat. "Come on, let's get somewhere warm." He guided me across the street toward the Howling Peaks Resort, his hand warm on my elbow. Inside the Timber Hall, the sudden warmth made my frozen cheeks tingle painfully. "Better?" Ethan asked, his amber eyes studying my face. I nodded, but my mind remained fixated on a single question. "Ethan, who is Vanessa Clark?" He sighed, his expression growing serious. Without stopping at the reception desk, he guided me toward the elevator. "Vanessa Clark is my girlfriend," he said finally, pressing the button for the fifth floor. "I meant to introduce you soon, but then this happened... She's upstairs." The words felt unreal, like I was hearing them underwater. My wolf stirred restlessly inside me, sensing my distress. "If she's your girlfriend, why didn't she handle your release?" I asked, proud that my voice remained steady. The elevator doors opened, and Ethan led me down a plush hallway. "She was badly shaken by the incident, and with the weather so bad..." He trailed off, then added, "Thank you for tonight, Little Liv. After this blows over, let me treat you to dinner." The gratitude felt like salt in an open wound. I nodded mechanically as he stopped in front of room 507 and knocked. The door opened immediately, revealing a stunningly beautiful woman with perfectly applied makeup. Her eyes lit up at the sight of Ethan. "Ethan!" she cried, throwing herself into his arms. "I was so scared... Why were you so impulsive? Are you hurt?" I stood awkwardly to the side, feeling increasingly out of place. My hair was damp from melted snow, my face bare of makeup, while this woman—even after what must have been a traumatic evening—looked like she'd stepped off a magazine cover. Ethan gently disentangled himself from her embrace. "I'm fine, Vanessa. This is Little Liv." Vanessa turned to me, her expression shifting to one of polite interest. "So you're Little Liv. Ethan talks about you all the time. Nice to meet you." She extended a perfectly manicured hand. I returned the handshake, feeling the contrast between us acutely. "Nice to meet you too. I'm glad you're okay after what happened." Vanessa pulled Ethan into the Moonlight Suite, fussing over the wound on his temple. "You need to clean this properly. Does it hurt? I told you not to get involved with that creep." I lingered in the doorway, unsure if I should enter or leave. The suite was luxurious, with a king-sized bed visible through an open door. My cheeks burned at the implications. "Come in, Liv," Ethan said, noticing my hesitation. "You must be exhausted." I stepped inside reluctantly, keeping my coat on despite the warmth. "The dormitory will be locked by now," Ethan said, wincing slightly as Vanessa dabbed at his wound with a cotton ball. "We should arrange a room for you here." "Is that necessary?" Vanessa asked, her tone light but her eyes sharp. "I'm sure the staff can call her a car." "In this weather?" Ethan frowned. "It's not safe." Vanessa set down the first aid supplies. "I'll check with reception about available rooms." She disappeared into the bathroom with her phone, and I heard her murmuring. When she returned, her expression was apologetic, though something in her eyes seemed calculating. "The hotel is completely full because of the storm," she announced. "But I'm sure we can find another resort nearby. Let's split up to be more efficient. Ethan, you rest while Olivia and I search." The message was clear: she wanted me gone. "Actually, I can manage," I said, my pride finally kicking in. "You both should rest after what you've been through. I'll find somewhere." I moved toward the door, unable to bear another moment in that suite, watching Vanessa touch Ethan with such casual intimacy. "Liv, wait—" Ethan started to follow me. "Ethan, please," Vanessa caught his arm. "You're hurt. You need to rest." I slipped out the door before he could protest further, hurrying toward the elevator. Once outside, I stepped into the swirling snow, the cold biting my skin once more. The world outside was a blur of white, the snowflakes gathering on my lashes and falling like silent tears.