“Heading out to take care of something. Won’t be around for a bit.”

“I should have raised you myself… see what you’ve become.” She sighed, disappointment dripping in her tone.

“Olivia… I only—”

“I heard they are your second chance mates,” she said, but I didn’t respond. I just looked away.

Her mouth opened again, but I didn’t let her speak. I stepped closer to the bed, my fists curling at my sides.

“I know what the triplets did to me is unforgivable—”

“For the past few weeks, I’ve had people tell me who I should be, what I should feel, and how I should live. And I’m done. I’m done trying to fit into boxes that were never meant for me. I won’t reject them just because you say so. I won’t turn my back on what I know is the truth just to make you proud of me.”

“Olivia… what’s wrong?” he murmured into my hair.

Mother’s brow furrowed as she gave me that look of disappointment, and despite how much it hurt, I didn’t care.

Her eyes softened a little.

“I’m glad you know—” Calvin cut in sharply.

“I have told you the truth. It’s left for you to believe it or not…”

My eyes narrowed. “What’s that supposed to mean?”

Those words from her hurt… it hurt so much, but I swallowed back my pain. If I could endure all the terrible things the men I loved more than life did to me, then I can endure the hurtful words of a woman I barely met twenty-four hours ago.

“Fine… tell us the truth,” she hissed, the skepticism dripping from her tone. I could hear it clearly, but I chose to ignore it.

My voice wavered slightly as I finished, but I forced myself to meet both their gazes.

I didn’t answer with words. My gaze stayed locked on his, my breathing quickening. Slowly, my hands slid down from his chest, my fingertips tracing the line of his abdomen before stopping at his waistband.

“Yes,” I said firmly, my voice leaving no room for doubt. “Because I know them. I grew up with them. Those men loved me more than anybody in the world. They didn’t just care for me—they worshipped me.”

Louis’s voice followed, warmer but distracted.

“I can’t believe you’re this naïve,” he muttered. “Defending the very people who—”

I frowned, my chest tightening with a strange mix of frustration and disappointment. I didn’t even give myself time to think before I teleported again–this time into Levi’s room.

“I’m not here to be fixed or reshaped into someone you’ll approve of,” I said coldly. “I am who I am. Whether you accept that or not is up to you.”

“Olivia, I didn’t mean it like that—”

“Well… I’m sorry I grew up to be a disappointment to you,” I said, my tone sharp and loud.

“I truly didn’t mean—”

Calvin’s brows shot up, disbelief flashing in his eyes. “So I’m supposed to believe that?”

I didn’t answer. Instead, I buried my face deeper into his chest, breathing in his scent like I needed it to stay standing. My fingers clutched the fabric of his shirt, refusing to let go.

He didn’t push me to speak. He just held me, one hand rubbing slow, steady circles over my back. The silence between us was heavy, but his warmth was steady — comforting me in a way nothing else could.

I moved my gaze in her direction and held it. For a moment, I was disappointed in her. I thought having her here was supposed to be of great help to me—that she would understand me and be on my side–but from the look of things, it seems I might be wrong.

Slowly, I got up on my feet, my hardened gaze locked on her.

Then Levi’s voice came, calm and curious.

“I’m in a bad mood,” I finally whispered, my voice low and strained. “I need… something to make me forget. To make this feeling go away.”

Her lips trembled faintly.

“Shut up, please,” I snapped, my voice full of spite.

“Make love to me.”

And before she could say another word, before her voice could soften enough to make me falter, I teleported away.

“I won’t!” I cut in. “I’m never doing that,” I said firmly.

Calvin’s mouth tightened, a humorless smirk playing on his lips.

His jaw flexed, but I didn’t look away.

“Bravo,” he drawled. “Truly… bravo.”

I didn’t even hesitate. I teleported straight into the study, my heart pulling me toward him like it had a mind of its own.

His strong arms closed around me without question, holding me tightly.

The moment I appeared, Levi turned toward me in surprise–but before he could say a single word, I closed the distance and threw myself into his arms.

I drew in a slow breath, my chest tight with frustration.

Exhaling hard, I opened my mind link to all three of them.

“When they were charmed,” I said steadily, “they weren’t Alphas yet. They were still heirs. Still vulnerable in ways you clearly don’t understand.”

The room around me vanished in a blink, replaced by the familiar walls of Lennox’s room.

“Olivia…” he murmured, but I only stepped closer, my voice dropping to a plea.

“I don’t know what silly moves the Moon Goddess is playing at, but you are going to reject them…”

But it was empty.

Mother’s eyes narrowed, that look of annoyance crossing her face again, but I ignored it.

“I’m in the study room. Is there something wrong?”

“They were being controlled by a spelled letter… If you think I’m lying, then do the findings yourself.”

I turned my glare to him. “Then he should act like one,” I hissed back.

“You only want me to be the daughter you imagined in your head,” I interrupted bitterly. “But that’s not me. And if that makes me a disappointment in your eyes, then so be it.”

Mother scoffed and gave a small shrug.

“It means,” he said, leaning forward slightly, “how can you be so foolish, dear little sister? So silly as to actually believe them? They are Alphas. Charms and spells don’t work on Alphas. That’s basic knowledge.”

Gritting my teeth, I teleported once more, appearing in Louis’s room. But it was empty.

His warmth enveloped me instantly, his scent wrapping around me like the only safe place in the world.

My chest ached. My thoughts felt too loud, too sharp. I just wanted them to stop. I wanted everything to stop, just for a while.

“I know what real love looks like, and I know what it feels like when it’s taken away. The men I knew–the men who held me like I was the only thing that mattered–would never hurt me like that. Not in their right minds. So yes, I believe them…. Anita’s father twisted them into what you’ve heard about. But it wasn’t them.”

Also empty.

Olivia’s POV

“At an Alpha meeting.”

His arms tightened around me, his eyes searching mine. “How?” he asked softly.

His words hit like a slap, but I refused to flinch. I forced myself to meet his gaze head-on.

Left to me alone, I saw no need to give them any explanation. They’d already made up their minds. But this… this wasn’t just about me. For the sake of the triplets–for the truth–I had to speak.

“Where are you?”

“Oh, but you did,” I cut in, my voice rising just slightly. “You meant every word. You think I’m reckless, you think I’m naïve, you think I’m a fool for holding on to the people I love. You don’t understand me, and you don’t even want to try. You’ve already made up your mind about me before you even got to know me.”

Mother’s expression tightened, but I pressed on, my voice gaining strength.

She blinked, her lips parting like she hadn’t expected me to respond that way.

There was a moment of silence as my words hung in the air. Then, suddenly, Calvin began to clap slowly, mockingly.

“I don’t believe it,” Mother cut in.

“Olivia… watch your tongue,” Mother warned, her tone hardening. “That’s your elder brother. Ten years older than you and the Alpha of this pack.”

Lennox’s deep voice came through first, filled with concern.

“Enough,” I cut in sharply, my voice trembling but loud. “You think I’m naïve because I refuse to hate the people I know better than anyone? Fine. But don’t stand there pretending you know my truth better than I do. You weren’t there.”

“The triplets‘ actions… the things they did… were because they were under a spell.”