Louis POV

I was in big shit, in a big dilemma. As I stormed out of Olivia’s room, I knew I had to do what she asked. If I didn’t, she’d expose me to my brothers. They’d find out something happened between us. I could already picture the disappointment in their eyes when they discovered that, instead of going to Anita while I was drugged, I went to Olivia—the woman we all claimed to hate.

“You shouldn’t be ashamed of it,” my wolf murmured. “She’s your mate… your wife,” he added. I frowned at his words. He wasn’t helping the situation.

Taking a deep breath, I walked into the study where my brothers were seated. As I entered, I saw Levi lazily sipping a glass of wine. Unlike Lennox and me, he wasn’t taking the whole situation about Olivia having a lover seriously. He seemed a little too nonchalant, and it annoyed the hell out of me. My gaze shifted to Lennox, who stood by the window, a deep frown etched into his face. He looked lost in thought—probably trying to figure out the identity of Olivia’s so-called lover.

I paused at the door, composing myself for what I was about to say. After gathering enough courage, I spoke.

“I’m setting Olivia free,” I announced.

Instantly, my brothers’ eyes snapped to me, but I didn’t flinch—I pushed forward.

“We can’t keep her locked in. It’s not right.”

“I agree,” Levi said smoothly, leaning back into the plush chair like he’d been waiting for me to say it. “We’ve dragged this out too long. Let her out, see how she acts. If there really is someone, she’ll slip up eventually trying to meet with him. Then we’ll catch them both.”

I blinked, stunned for a second. That was… too easy. No argument? No disapproval? Just calm acceptance?

“What—you’re not going to argue?” I asked slowly, eyes narrowing.

Levi shrugged. “I said what I said. Keeping her grounded will not help us find her lover.” His voice was relaxed, but something about the way he spoke didn’t sit right with me. Since when did Levi not push back? Not question?

Suspicion curled in my chest, but I had no time to dwell on it. Lennox had turned from the window, his face hard.

“No,” he said flatly. “Absolutely not. She’s hiding something, and letting her roam free is a mistake.”

I met his glare head-on, squaring my shoulders.

“I’m the one who grounded her,” I said. “And I’m the one setting her free.”

Lennox took a step forward, anger flashing in his eyes. “I would have grounded her even if you didn’t.”

“Lennox, Olivia is our mate, our Luna,” I cut him off firmly. “She’s not going to stay locked up like a criminal. If she’s hiding something, we’ll find out with or without keeping her locked up.”

He clenched his jaw, but I didn’t back down. I couldn’t. Not after what I’d done. If I don’t let her out, she will expose me to them.

“You are giving her the opportunity to meet with her lover,” Lennox growled. “You know she will—”

“Then let her,” I snapped. “That’s the point. We’ll set spies on her. That way, we find out who he is. Don’t you get it?”

Lennox growled in disagreement before looking away.

“I agree with Louis… let’s not keep her grounded… it’s not telling well about us,” Levi agreed, and I frowned at him. I know Levi, and he isn’t the type who cares about what people think, so where was all this coming from?

I narrowed my eyes at him, studying him closely. Something about his easy agreement didn’t sit right with me. Levi was many things—blunt, unpredictable, even reckless—but he was never this… cooperative.

“What’s your deal?” I asked him, voice low. “Why are you so eager all of a sudden?”

Levi met my gaze calmly, too calmly. “Why are you?” he shot back. “Because from where I’m sitting, neither of us is acting normal.”

I clenched my fists. Damn him. He was getting too close. Too perceptive.

“I’m just tired of the drama,” I muttered. “And locking her in there isn’t helping any of us.”

Levi smirked and leaned forward, resting his elbows on his knees.

Lennox scoffed, cutting the tension. “This is a mistake,” he muttered as he turned away, his jaw tight. “Mark my words, she’s going to play us all.”

“Then let her try,” I said, keeping my voice steady. “We’ll know soon enough.”

Silence fell between us once more. But it wasn’t the peaceful kind—it was laced with suspicion, tension. Levi was hiding something, Lennox wasn’t happy, and me? I was holding onto a secret that could shatter everything between us.

Turning toward the door, I made my way to deliver the news to Olivia.

Once I reached her room, I asked the guards stationed there to leave. Then I pushed the door open and stepped inside.

Olivia, seated calmly on the bed, looked up the moment I entered. She looked so damn sure I’d done exactly what she asked.

Fuming in anger, I moved further into the room, slamming the door shut behind me.

Olivia didn’t even flinch. She just sat there, perched on the edge of the bed like a damn queen, staring at me with that smug glint in her eyes that made my blood boil.

“I knew you’d do it,” she said coolly, crossing her legs. “You don’t have the guts to face the consequences otherwise.”

I gritted my teeth. The way she said it made me feel like I was her puppet—like she had strings wrapped tight around my throat. And she did. The moment she threatened to expose what happened between us, I knew I was screwed.

“You really think you’ve won, don’t you?” I growled, stepping closer, rage bubbling under my skin. “You think you’ve got the upper hand just because I was drugged and ended up in your bed?”

Her brows lifted, amused. “Oh, but Louis… you weren’t drugged when you touched me. You wanted me. Every damn second of it.”

“You’re lying,” I hissed.

“Am I?” she whispered, standing up slowly, her voice dropping to a taunting hum. “Tell me, do you always moan a woman’s name when you don’t mean it? Because you moaned mine.”

I was in front of her before I realized it, grabbing her arms and yanking her closer. “You think this is a game?” I snapped, my voice low, trembling with fury. “You think you can just use me, threaten me, and I’ll fall in line?”

Olivia didn’t back away. She stepped into the heat between us, her eyes blazing. “I think you’re scared—scared because you liked it. You still like me. And now you don’t know what the hell to do with yourself.”

Her words hit like a match on gasoline. Everything in me snapped.

I crashed my lips against hers.

It wasn’t soft. It wasn’t tender. It was angry, violent, raw. My hands gripped her waist, hauling her against me like she was mine to ruin. She kissed me back just as fiercely, nails digging into my back, lips clashing with mine like she wanted to devour me.

Her teeth grazed my lower lip. I growled, backing her up until she hit the wall, slamming my hand beside her head. Our chests heaved as our tongues fought for dominance, the kiss spiraling into chaos.

“You drive me insane,” I muttered against her lips, my voice ragged. “I hate how much I want—”

Suddenly, a click—someone was turning the doorknob.

In the blink of an eye, I pulled away from Olivia and stepped back just as the door swung open.

Lennox walked in.