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84Handitover 84 Hand it over Olivia’sPOV Olivia’s POV Wemadeourwaydownthehallway,theairtense,ourfootstepsechoingoffthewallslikeacountdowntickinginmyears.Noonesaidaword.Ididn’tknowwhatscaredmemore–findingoutwhoitwas…ornotfindinganythingatall. We made our way down the hallway , the air tense , our footsteps echoing off the walls like a countdown ticking in my ears . No one said a word . I didn’t know what scared me more – finding out who it was … or not finding anything at all . Aswenearedthecontrolroom,IcouldseethetightnessinLennox’sshoulders,thewayhishandscurledintofistsathissides.Hewaspissed.Possessivelypissed. As we neared the control room , I could see the tightness in Lennox’s shoulders , the way his hands curled into fists at his sides . He was pissed . Possessively pissed . Louispunchedinthecodetounlockthedoor,andtheheavysteelslidopen. Louis punched in the code to unlock the door , and the heavy steel slid open . Inside,theroomwasdim,litonlybytheglowofmonitorsliningthewalls.Dozensoffeedsshowedeveryangleofthehouse,thegrounds,andthefrontgate. Inside , the room was dim , lit only by the glow of monitors lining the walls . Dozens of feeds showed every angle of the house , the grounds , and the front gate . Lennoxdidn’thesitate.Hemovedlikeamanonamission,fingersflyingacrossthecontrolsashepulledupthetimestampedfootagefromearlierthismorning. Lennox didn’t hesitate . He moved like a man on a mission , fingers flying across the controls as he pulled up the timestamped footage from earlier this morning . Weallleanedin,holdingourbreath. We all leaned in , holding our breath . Andthen- And then- / <![CDATA[ / fpm_start( "true" ); / ]]> / “There:Levipointedsharply. “ There : Levi pointed sharply . Thescreenshowedatallfigureapproachingtheentrance,dressedinblack,hoodiepulledlow,andfacehiddenbeneaththeshadowsofacap.Theymovedswiftly,confidently–tooconfidently.Theybentdown,placedtheboxgentlyinfrontofthedoor,thenturnedandwalkedoff. The screen showed a tall figure approaching the entrance , dressed in black , hoodie pulled low , and face hidden beneath the shadows of a cap . They moved swiftly , confidently – too confidently . They bent down , placed the box gently in front of the door , then turned and walked off . MyheartwaspoundinginmychestasLennoxfrozetheframe.Hezoomedin,tryingtocatchevenaglimpseofadefiningfeature,butthefigurehadbeencareful–toocareful.. My heart was pounding in my chest as Lennox froze the frame . He zoomed in , trying to catch even a glimpse of a defining feature , but the figure had been careful – too careful .. “Damnit,Lennoxmuttered. “ Damn it , Lennox muttered . Louisleanedcloser.“Theyknowwherethecamerasare…lookattheangle.They’redeliberatelyavoidingaclearshot? Louis leaned closer . “ They know where the cameras are … look at the angle . They’re deliberately avoiding a clear shot ? Lennox’sjawtightenedasherewoundtheclip,replayingthefigure’ssmoothexit. Lennox’s jaw tightened as he rewound the clip , replaying the figure’s smooth exit . “That’snotsomerandomadmirer”Levimuttered.“That’ssomeonewhoknowshowtomovearoundthemansion” “ That’s not some random admirer ” Levi muttered . “ That’s someone who knows how to move around the mansion ” Lennoxsteppedbackfromthemonitors,hisbreathingheavy.“Levi,findoutwhowasonpatrolatthathour.Ifsomeoneletthemin,I’llhavetheirhead:” Lennox stepped back from the monitors , his breathing heavy . “ Levi , find out who was on patrol at that hour . If someone let them in , I’ll have their head :” Heturnedabruptlyandlookedrightatmeforthefirsttimesinceweenteredtheroom.Hisgazepinnedmeinplace. He turned abruptly and looked right at me for the first time since we entered the room . His gaze pinned me in place . “Whoeverthisis,tellhimI’mcomingforhishead. “ Whoever this is , tell him I’m coming for his head . 84Handitover 84 Hand it over Iswallowedhard,unsurewhetherIshouldbescaredor…strangelyflattered. I swallowed hard , unsure whether I should be scared or … strangely flattered . BecausesomethingaboutthewayLennoxsaidit–possessive,dark,furious–soundedlesslikehewasjealous… Because something about the way Lennox said it – possessive , dark , furious – sounded less like he was jealous … Confused.Ileftthematthe controlroomandwentbacktothetable,whereAnitawasstill Confused . I left them at the control room and went back to the table , where Anita was still seated. seated . “Hasyourloverbeenrevealed?”she asked,soundingcurious.Obviously,Iwasbynowcertainshehadnohandinit.. “ Has your lover been revealed ? ” she asked , sounding curious . Obviously , I was by now certain she had no hand in it .. Iignoredherquestionandpickeduptheboxofjewelryagain,staringdownatit.Whoeversentthishadmoney–seriousmoney.Thesetofgoldjewelrygleamed,exquisiteandexpensive. I ignored her question and picked up the box of jewelry again , staring down at it . Whoever sent this had money – serious money . The set of gold jewelry gleamed , exquisite and expensive . Isatbackatthetable,theboxofgoldjewelryrestinglightlyinmylap. I sat back at the table , the box of gold jewelry resting lightly in my lap . Thesoundofhurriedfootstepsgotmyattention. The sound of hurried footsteps got my attention . Ilookedupjustintimetoseeallthreebrothersre–enterthediningroom–Lennoxinthelead,stormingtowardmelikeathundercloudabouttobreak.Hiseyeswerelockedon the boxinmylap,darkandburningwithemotionIcouldn’tname. I looked up just in time to see all three brothers re – enter the dining room – Lennox in the lead , storming toward me like a thundercloud about to break . His eyes were locked on the box in my lap , dark and burning with emotion I couldn’t name . “Giveittome,”hesaidsharply,stoppingjustinfrontofme. “ Give it to me , ” he said sharply , stopping just in front of me . 1blinked.“What?” 1 blinked . “ What ? ” “Thebox,Olivia.Handitover. “ The box , Olivia . Hand it over . Istaredupathim.“No.” I stared up at him . “ No. ” Hisjawtensed,hisnostrilsflaring.“Isaidgiveittome.Iwantitgone.” His jaw tensed , his nostrils flaring . “ I said give it to me . I want it gone .” Istood,holdingtheboxtightlyagainstmychest.“Youalreadyburnedtheteddybear.Iletyoudothat,eventhoughitwasaharmlessgift.Butthis?”Ishookmyhead.“No.I’mnotlettingyoudestroythistoo.Thisisexpensive.” I stood , holding the box tightly against my chest . “ You already burned the teddy bear . I let you do that , even though it was a harmless gift . But this ? ” I shook my head . “ No. I’m not letting you destroy this too . This is expensive .”

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googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-1746729984974-0'); }); Hetookastepcloser,hispresencetowering,hisangersuffocating.“Youthinkthismeanssomething?YouthinkIcan’tgethundredsofthemforyouwithjustasnapofmyfingers?”“But youneverdid,Ishotback,myvoicerising.“Whatyoucouldn’tgive,someoneelsedid.”Lennox’seyesflashed.“Really?Sogiftswereyourproblem?Youwantedthem?Isthatwhatyoutoldhim?” He took a step closer , his presence towering , his anger suffocating . “ You think this means something ? You think I can’t get hundreds of them for you with just a snap of my fingers ? ” “ But you never did , I shot back , my voice rising . “ What you couldn’t give , someone else did . ” Lennox’s eyes flashed . “ Really ? So gifts were your problem ? You wanted them ? Is that what you told him ? ” Iglaredathim,breathtrembling“Giftswerenevermyproblem,andIdon’tneedyourdamngifts,Lennox.” I glared at him , breath trembling “ Gifts were never my problem , and I don’t need your damn gifts , Lennox . ” Thathithim.Hard.HeflinchedlikeI’dslappedhim. That hit him . Hard . He flinched like I’d slapped him . Hiseyeswidened,darkeningfuriously.“Handitover.That’sanorder,Olivia. His eyes widened , darkening furiously . “ Hand it over . That’s an order , Olivia . “I’mnotoneofyourpackmemberstocommand,Ibitback.“I’myourLuna.Youdon’tgetto “ I’m not one of your pack members to command , I bit back . “ I’m your Luna . You don’t get to 64Handitover 64 Hand it over barkordersatmejustbecauseyou’repissed.” bark orders at me just because you’re pissed .” “Alright,enough!”Levisuddenlysteppedin,hisvoiceauthoritativebutcalm.“Lennox,backoff.” “ Alright , enough ! ” Levi suddenly stepped in , his voice authoritative but calm . “ Lennox , back off . ” Louisnoddedinagreement,comingupbehindhim.“Weneedtofocusonwholeftthatbox,notfightOliviaoverit.” Louis nodded in agreement , coming up behind him . “ We need to focus on who left that box , not fight Olivia over it . ” Lennoxdidn’tmoveforalongsecond.Hisjawclenched,andhestaredattheboxlikeitpersonallyoffendedhim.Likeithadstolensomethingfromhim. Lennox didn’t move for a long second . His jaw clenched , and he stared at the box like it personally offended him . Like it had stolen something from him . Hestaredatme,hisbreathingragged,likehewasfightingtheurgeto saysomethinghe’d He stared at me , his breathing ragged , like he was fighting the urge to say something he’d Tel. Tel . Clutchedtheboxtomychest,trembling,furious,confused…andsomewheredeep down,aching. Clutched the box to my chest , trembling , furious , confused … and somewhere deep down , aching . Becausethewayhelookedatme–itwasn’tjustanger. Because the way he looked at me – it wasn’t just anger . Itwasjealousy. It was jealousy . Possession. Possession . onlycomesfromamanwho’sinlove. only comes from a man who’s in love . anyonecouldspeakagain,Anitasuddenlygaspedandreachedfortheedgeofthetable. anyone could speak again , Anita suddenly gasped and reached for the edge of the table . Idon’tfeelsogood,”shewhispered,swayinginherseat. I don’t feel so good ,” she whispered , swaying in her seat . Louisrushedtoherside,concernflashingacrosshisface.“Anita?” Louis rushed to her side , concern flashing across his face . “ Anita ? ” Sheblinkedslowly,herbodylistinglikeshecouldn’tholdherselfupright.“Dizzy…everything’sspinning…” She blinked slowly , her body listing like she couldn’t hold herself upright . “ Dizzy … everything’s spinning … ” BeforeIcouldevenprocesswhatwashappening,Lennoxmoved. Before I could even process what was happening , Lennox moved . Gonewasthefury,therage–hiswholebodyshiftedintoprotectormode.Hewasathersideinaninstant,scoopingherintohisarmsasifsheweighednothing. Gone was the fury , the rage – his whole body shifted into protector mode . He was at her side in an instant , scooping her into his arms as if she weighed nothing . “Anita,”hesaid,voicetightwithworry,“I’lltakeyoubacktoyourroom.” “ Anita ,” he said , voice tight with worry , “ I’ll take you back to your room .” IstoodfrozenasIwatchedhimcradleheragainsthischest,murmuringsomethinglowIcouldn’thear.Herheadlolledslightly,andshepressedherfaceintohisneckwithasoft,breathysound. I stood frozen as I watched him cradle her against his chest , murmuring something low I couldn’t hear . Her head lolled slightly , and she pressed her face into his neck with a soft , breathy sound . Lennoxdidn’thesitate.Heturnedsharply,stridingoutofthediningroom,carryingherlikeshewas somethingfragile–somethingprecious. Lennox didn’t hesitate . He turned sharply , striding out of the dining room , carrying her like she was something fragile – something precious . LouisandLevifollowedbehindquickly,murmuringtoeachotherinhushedtones. Louis and Levi followed behind quickly , murmuring to each other in hushed tones . AndI…Ijuststoodthere. And I … I just stood there . Theboxofjewelrywasstillmy The box of jewelry was still my clutchedtightlyinus,pressedagainstmychest. clutched tightly in us , pressed against my chest . 64Handitover 64 Hand it over Icouldn’tmove. I couldn’t move . Couldn’tbreathe. Couldn’t breathe . Couldn’tfeelanythingbeyondthesharp,coldpressureofwatchinghimcarrysomeoneelselikethat.Watchingmymatesgivingsomeoneelsesuchattention. Couldn’t feel anything beyond the sharp , cold pressure of watching him carry someone else like that . Watching my mates giving someone else such attention . Mylegsthreatenedtogiveoutunderme. My legs threatened to give out under me . Isankslowlybackintomyseat,theweightinmychestgrowingheavierbythesecond. I sank slowly back into my seat , the weight in my chest growing heavier by the second . ItwaslikeIwasinvisibleagain. It was like I was invisible again . Forgotten. Forgotten . LikeI’dneverbeenthegirlwhooncehadallthreeofthemfightingtoholdherhand. Like I’d never been the girl who once had all three of them fighting to hold her hand . LikeIhadn’tmeantanything. Like I hadn’t meant anything . AndmaybeIdidn’t. And maybe I didn’t . Notanymore. Not anymore . Iglanceddownattheboxofgoldjewelryinmylap,fingerstighteningaroundit. I glanced down at the box of gold jewelry in my lap , fingers tightening around it . Atleastsomeoneouttherestillseesme. At least someone out there still sees me . Comment! Comment !

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