208 A Call From Them

Olivia’s POV

“Perhaps she’s heard the rumors… maybe she knows I was once mated–married–to the triplets. Maybe that’s why she isn’t happy with me being here. Maybe she doesn’t want me for her brother…”

If that was the case, then… I understood her.

A soft knock pulled me from my thoughts. I inhaled quietly, and from the scent alone, I already knew it was Gabriel.

“Come in,” I called gently. “The door’s open.”

The door creaked as it pushed open. Gabriel stepped in and closed it quietly behind him. He gave me a warm, welcoming smile before walking over to the bed and sitting beside me.

“So… do you like your room?” he asked.

I smiled and nodded. “Yes. But it’s a bit too extravagant for someone like me,” I added with a small laugh.

Gabriel chuckled. “You deserve more than that, Olivia,” he said, his tone sincere.

I looked down, his words warming my heart for a moment. A comfortable silence settled between us—quiet, but not awkward. Just peaceful.

Then Gabriel’s eyes lifted to my neck.

“Their marks…” he said softly, “they’re gone.”

I instinctively raised a hand to my neck and nodded. I had almost forgotten about them. The mating marks. The ones I had carried for months. They had vanished after the rejection.

“Yes,” I said, my voice low, but loud enough for him to hear. “I rejected them. A couple of hours ago.”

Gabriel’s eyes widened in surprise, as if he hadn’t expected that.

There was a pause, and then he leaned in slightly, his voice gentler now. “And… are you happy, Olivia?”

I opened my mouth to answer quickly–too quickly. “Yes,” I said with a smile.

But deep down, I felt something twist inside me.

Was I really happy?

Or was I just trying to convince myself I was?

Gabriel reached for my wrist and gently traced his fingers along the bracelet I wore. “This is beautiful,” he murmured, admiring it.

I looked down at it too, my chest tightening.

“It’s a gift,” I replied quietly. “From them…”

The words left a bitter taste in my mouth. Slowly, I unclasped the bracelet, my fingers trembling slightly. I stared at it for a second longer before placing it gently on the bed beside me.

“I don’t want anything that reminds me of them,” I whispered.

Silence hung between us again. But this time, Gabriel’s energy shifted–subtle, but I felt it. His eyes remained gentle, watching me as if carefully weighing what to do next. He reached up, brushing a loose strand of hair behind my ear. His touch was soft, careful, like he was afraid I’d pull away. My breath hitched slightly, and before I could process what was happening, he leaned in.

His lips met mine.

The kiss was slow, tentative at first–then deeper, more desiring. His hand moved to the side of my face, holding me there like he didn’t want to let go. And for a second, I let myself melt into it. I let myself believe I could want this. That I could feel something again.

But the moment didn’t last.

As his hand slid to my waist, drawing me closer, something inside me tensed. My body stiffened, and I pulled back gently, placing a hand on his chest.

“Gabriel… I—I’m tired,” I said softly, trying not to make it sound like rejection, though it was.

He blinked, stunned at first, then quickly nodded and pulled away, his cheeks flushed. “I’m sorry,” he said, rubbing the back of his neck. “I got carried away. I shouldn’t have…”

“It’s okay,” I murmured, forcing a small smile. “Really.”

He stood, still looking a little embarrassed, and straightened his shirt. “I’ll let you rest. I’ll see you at dinner?”

I nodded. “Yes. Thank you.”

Gabriel gave me one last lingering look, then turned and walked toward the door. I watched him go, guilt slowly creeping into my chest.

He didn’t deserve to be turned away like that. He was kind. Gentle. Everything I should want.

But I couldn’t do this. Not now.

So much was happening to me at once. And even though part of me felt bad for how things ended just now… another part of me was relieved.

I quickly picked up my phone and dialed a number. It rang a few times before someone answered.

“Lady Olivia, I was just about to contact you,” came the voice on the other end of the call. It was Lolita’s uncle–the private investigator I’d hired to look into my father’s case.

“There’s a change of plan,” I said firmly, sitting up straighter on the bed. My heart beat faster just saying the words out loud. “My father isn’t dead. He’s alive. And I need to find out where he is.”

There was a short pause on the other end of the line.

“Alive?” he repeated, surprised. “Are you sure, my lady?”

“I’m sure,” I replied. “I don’t have all the details yet, but I know he’s out there. Someone’s been lying to me… and I need the truth.”

“I’ll start digging immediately,” he said. “Do you have anything else I can use? A name? A location?”

“No,” I whispered. “But I believe Sir Damon may know something. Or someone else close to him does.”

“I’ll be careful,” he said. “And I’ll update you as soon as I find anything.”

“Thank you,” I breathed, ending the call.

I lay on the bed, staring up at the ceiling, my thoughts racing.

I needed to find my father.

I needed to know why he was alive and never contacted us. Why had he been hiding? Pretending to be dead all this time?

Why?

I raised my hands, staring at them. My healing abilities… where had they come from? I wasn’t born with them, and no one in my lineage had been a healer. I had so many questions, and I knew only he could give me the answers.

Suddenly, my phone rang.

I sat up quickly. The screen showed an unknown number.

That was strange.

Only Nora, Lolita, Gabriel, and Lolita’s uncle had my number.

My fingers hovered over the screen for a second. Then I answered.

“Hello?” I said cautiously.

There was a brief pause on the other end.

Then I heard a voice I hadn’t expected.

A voice that made my whole chest tighten.

“Olivia…”

Lennox.

I froze, my hand trembling slightly.

“Please,” he said quickly, his voice soft, almost begging. “Don’t hang up. I won’t bother you again. I just… I just wanted to make sure you got to your destination safely.

My throat tightened. I couldn’t speak.

“We would’ve reached out through the mind link,” he added, his voice cracking slightly, “but… we wanted to hear your voice. Just once.”

My heart ached at his words.

And my wolf whimpered inside me, curling into a ball. Sad. Longing. Conflicted.

I didn’t reply. I couldn’t.

The silence was heavy.

“Please say something.” Another voice which I knew was Louis pleaded.

I sucked in a deep breath. “Yes, I have arrived, and I’m fine.”

A moment of silence before Lennox spoke.

“Since you’re okay… we’ll go now,” Lennox said quietly.

And just like that… the call ended.

I slowly lowered the phone from my ear, my hands still shaking slightly.

I shut my eyes, biting my lip hard.

I was supposed to hate them. But right now… I wasn’t sure of anything.

I shook my head.

I needed air.

I needed to get out of this room, out of my thoughts, even if just for a little while.

I slipped on a soft cardigan and headed for the door. My steps were light, almost hesitant, as I walked down the hallway and toward the stairs.

But just as I reached the top of the staircase, I paused.

Voices.

Faint, but familiar.

I tilted my head slightly.

Gabriel.

And… a female voice. Perhaps his sister’s.

“I just need some time,” I heard Gabriel mutter, his voice low and furious.

I couldn’t catch the woman’s reply. It was muffled, like she was standing at an angle I couldn’t see or hear properly from.

Still, something about the way Gabriel said it–low but furious–made something stir inside me.

But then, suddenly, he stopped talking.

He must have noticed me.

His eyes lifted and locked with mine from the bottom of the stairs.

His expression shifted quickly–like I had caught him saying something he didn’t want me to hear.