I opened my mouth to respond, but he didn’t give me the chance.

“Being dead to them,” he continued bitterly, “is the only thing keeping you alive. You should be grateful, Olivia. You’re safe. You’re breathing. And you get to keep your heart beating because of me.”

Something tugged at my chest. I knew this girl. I’d laughed with her, danced with her, trusted her. She was my best friend.

“And what makes you think I killed her?” he asked coldly.

“Hi,” she said softly, her voice barely above a whisper.

He scoffed, the anger in him growing deeper. “You should be on your knees thanking me.”

As I reached the stairs, I slowed down, hearing voices.

I didn’t answer.

But Levi didn’t say anything more.

He just turned and walked off, his shoulders rigid.

Then he stepped back and reached for the door again.

He stepped closer, his voice sharp with anger now. “What do you take me for, Olivia? A monster? A heartless man who slaughters innocent girls for convenience? Is that how you see me?”

Loud sobs came out of her as she started to cry harder.

Anita nodded slowly, biting her lip. “I understand,” she whispered.

I sat across from her, unsure of how much I could ask without giving myself away. But my curiosity, my pain–it got the better of me.

Shocked, I went over to the bed and sat on the edge… What did he mean? Who else wanted me dead? Why? What the hell was going on?

The funeral must’ve ended hours ago.

Still half–asleep, I stood and padded toward the door, needing something–anything–to drink.

And facing her–was Levi.

“You okay?” I asked carefully.

There was no way I was letting him leave. Not until I had answers. I couldn’t keep living in the dark.

Alpha Damien’s eyes darkened. An irritated frown settled over his expression.

“Hey,” I said, standing a few feet away.

So I forced a smile and walked over to her.

Staring at her now, I could tell everything was taking its toll on her… the vibrant Anita I once knew seemed to be fading more and more each day.

My heart skipped a beat.

When Anita heard my footsteps, she looked up and stared at me blankly… she believed I was really Rebecca.

“I heard…” I began slowly, testing the waters. “I heard that Olivia–the one who died–was your best friend.”

There in the living room, standing in front of the fireplace, was Anita.

Anita looked up, her lips twitching slightly. But she didn’t speak.

Anita didn’t respond at first. She blinked a few times, then slowly lowered herself into the armchair behind her.

I hesitated.

I crept down a little farther and peeked from behind the wall.

He crossed his arms. “We don’t want to see your face. Not right now.”

She looked hurt… really hurt.

“What?” I breathed, confused.

I hesitated. My instinct was to ignore her and keep walking–but I couldn’t. That would seem cold. Unusual. Suspicious.

“Next time you want to accuse someone of murder, think carefully,” he said, voice low and full of anger. “Because not everyone who lies to you is trying to hurt you.”

The look he gave me made it clear he was running out of patience–but I didn’t care.

But instead… she cried.

My eyes widened as I struggled to wrap my head around what Alpha Damien had just said.

“And don’t bother me again,” he muttered, just before walking out and slamming the door behind him.

I pulled back before either of them could see me, my heart thudding in my chest.

I waited for Anita to leave, but she didn’t… instead, she stayed by the fireplace and I couldn’t go back to my room, so I stepped out of hiding.

The moonlight crept through the curtains, casting pale shadows across the walls. I blinked slowly, my throat parched and dry. I sat up, groggy and disoriented. The clock on the wall told me it was late–deep into the night.

I swallowed hard.

I gripped the bedsheets tightly, my heart still racing. No matter how hard I tried, I couldn’t piece anything together. The truth felt like a puzzle with half the pieces purposely hidden–and Damien was the one holding them all.

But I shook my head stubbornly. “No.”

My thoughts swirled endlessly until I felt too exhausted to keep questioning. Outside, I could still faintly hear the murmurs, the music, the quiet sound of people grieving a girl who wasn’t really gone. My own funeral…

“I have more questions to ask,” I said firmly.

“Why did you kill her?” I demanded. “You killed her… just for this, didn’t you? To make all this work?”

“No,” she said flatly, staring at the floor. “Not really.”

Was I really safer being dead to the world? And if so… why were there people determined to kill me?

She looked away, gulping hard.

Or maybe get angry. Say something mean.

The hallways were quiet now. Everyone must have retired to bed after the funeral….

My brows furrowed deeper.

His face was stony, jaw tight, eyes cold.

I held my breath and listened.

Like someone who had lost something important.

Her lips trembled, and her eyes filled with tears.

I thought she would stay quiet.

“I saved your fucking life,” he snapped. “And I’m not just talking about Alpha Gabriel. You think he’s the only one who wants you gone?”

And just like that, I was alone again.

She covered her face with her hands, but the tears kept falling.

He sounded… broken. Tired. Like grief had hollowed something inside him.

He pointed to the window like he could still see the crowd below. “There are people in this pack… and beyond… who would pay anything to see you dead. You don’t even know the half of it.”

Anita flinched.

Then, her whole body shook.

Maybe make up a lie.

Olivia’s POV

Like someone full of pain.

“I’m not judging,” I added quickly. “But if she was your best friend… why did you look like you hated her? Why did you betray her?”

“You need to keep staying in your room,” Levi said flatly.

“Now can you move away?” he groaned, already reaching for the door.

Or… she used to be.

Eventually, the muffled noise faded into silence… And somewhere in that stillness… I drifted off.

When I opened my eyes again, the room was dark.

She looked nervous, arms folded across her chest.