Her Words

Lennox’s POV

I felt it. She was uneasy. No, more than uneasy. She didn’t like Selene here. She didn’t like her presence. The bond made it possible to feel her emotions, and I understood. If the roles were reversed, if I stood watching her hug another man, I’d be furious too. And goodness, I wish I could turn around right now, look Selene in the eye, and tell her, “You know what? You can’t stay. Leave.” But I couldn’t. Because Selene wasn’t just anyone. She was family. And more importantly – she was here for a reason. A reason Olivia didn’t know yet. She was here to help us fight Frederick.

“Lennox.” Louis’s voice pulled me from my thoughts. He didn’t take his eyes off Olivia, who was trying her best to conceal her emotions. “I feel it. Olivia isn’t happy about her.”

“Yeah,” I admitted, my chest tightening. “I can feel her emotions. She doesn’t want Selene here.”

Louis sighed, his jaw tightening. “And we can’t even explain it to her. Not yet.”

“Not yet,” I sighed.

“So will I be staying?” Selene asked, sounding excited. This was her first visit here, and she seemed so excited about it.

“I’ll show you,” Louis offered and began leading the way while Selene slipped her hand around his arm.

It was harmless. Family often did things like that. But the way Olivia’s frown deepened told me she didn’t see it that way. Her emotions spiked so hard through the bond it nearly made me wince. Her frown deepened, her lips pressed into a thin line, and her wolf bristled just under her skin. She tried to mask it, tried to stand unaffected like nothing was wrong – but I felt it all. Every ounce of her discomfort slammed into me through the bond, sharp and heavy. And goodness, it hurt.

Louis didn’t notice – at least not at first. He kept walking with Selene, her laughter light as she clung to his arm, talking about the pack lands and how excited she was to be here. My eyes weren’t on them. They were on Olivia. Her gaze followed every move Selene made, her nails digging into her palms. Then, in one swift step, Olivia moved. She reached forward and pulled Selene’s hand off Louis’s arm with a firm tug. Her voice was ragged, leaving no room for question.

“I don’t like other women being touchy with my men.”

The training ground went quiet for a beat. Louis stiffened. Selene blinked in shock, then her lips curled into a smirk. She rolled her eyes and crossed her arms.

“Don’t be dramatic,” she said first, rolling her eyes. “We’re family. I already have my own man.”

She paused, her smirk deepening, her gaze sweeping Olivia up and down like she was dirt. Olivia’s wolf snarled inside her, but before she could reply, Selene added, “And besides, I’m not like you – sleeping with men I know are related to me.”

The words hit like claws across flesh. Louis froze. My chest tightened, my fury rising.

Selene tossed her hair back with a little huff and turned away. “Grow up, Olivia.”

Then she walked off the training ground, leaving everyone stunned. Olivia stood frozen, her hands trembling, her wolf raging inside her, urging her to attack. Selene’s words weren’t just an insult – they were a knife, reopening wounds she had fought so hard to heal.

The insult replayed in my head, over and over. I’m not like you–sleeping with men I know are related to me.

My fists clenched. My wolf snarled. Every part of me wanted to storm after Selene, drag her back, and make her regret ever speaking to Olivia like that. My hands shook with the need to grab Selene by the throat and throw her across the courtyard. My wolf was already halfway there, howling to defend Olivia. But then the other truth sank in, heavy and suffocating – Selene wasn’t just a guest. She was family. And worse, she was the only one who knew the things we needed to win against Frederick. If I lost control now, if I hurt her… we’d lose everything.

I started forward, my voice a growl. “I’ll deal with her-”

But Louis cut me off, stepping in quickly, his hand on my chest. His voice was calm, but his eyes were sharp. He was angry but trying his best to control it.

“No. Let me go. You’ll lose control, Lennox. We both know it.”

He was right. One wrong word from her, and I wouldn’t stop at yelling. I’d tear into her, family or not. My wolf was too close to the edge.

If I went, I wouldn’t stop at yelling. I’d lose control. If I let my rage get the better of me now, if I put my hands on her, everything we’d built, every fragile plan we had to bring Frederick down… it could all fall apart.

I glared past him, watching Selene disappear through the corridor, and my chest tightened painfully. I wanted to go. I needed to go. But Louis’s hand pressed harder against me, holding me back.

“I’ll talk to her,” Louis promised. “Just… stay with Olivia.”

My gaze swung to Olivia. She was trembling, her eyes locked on the empty space Selene had left behind. Her chest rose and fell too quickly, her nails biting into her palms so hard a drop of blood slipped free. For a terrifying second, I thought she might lunge, right there in front of everyone. Her rage, pain, and shame radiated through the bond, crashing into me so hard it almost buckled my knees.

I swallowed hard. “Olivia…” I began softly, trying to reach her.

But she turned sharply, her eyes glistening with unshed tears. “No, I’m leaving.”

My chest tightened. “Liv-”

Her voice cut me off, sharp and final. “By the time I’m back, she’s gone, or I won’t come back at all.”

Before I could grab her, before I could soothe her, she vanished – teleporting away in a flash of light.