Levi’s POV
I stiffened the mont I caught her scent. Honey mixed with nutg, faint but unmistakable. Olivia was close. Louis must’ve realized it too because he stopped mid-sentence, his expression shifting. But the damage was already done.
I turned just in ti to see her step out from the corner of the hallway, one hand resting protectively on her belly, her eyes wide and full of confusion.
"Olivia," I said quietly, my chest tightening.
She looked between us, her voice trembling but sharp. "What did you an by that, Louis?"
Louis opened his mouth to answer, but I cut in quickly. "He didn’t an anything."
Her frown deepened. "That’s not true." She turned to Louis, her gaze demanding. "You said he acts like he doesn’t want Lennox to wake up. Why would you say that?"
Louis glanced at , then back at her. "Oli, it’s not—"
"It’s because I don’t want you to do sothing reckless," I interrupted, stepping closer. "That’s all. He ant I don’t want you near Lennox because you might try to use magic again. It’s too dangerous for you and the babies."
Her lips parted slightly, as if she didn’t know whether to believe . "So... that’s what you ant?" she asked, her gaze darting to Louis.
Louis stayed quiet, but I didn’t let the silence drag. "Yes," I said firmly, eting her eyes. "That’s all he ant. Nothing else."
The tension lingered, heavy and uncomfortable. She stared at for a long mont, her expression unreadable, then finally nodded, though I could see doubt flickering behind her eyes.
"Alright," she whispered softly. "If you say so."
I forced a small smile that didn’t reach my eyes. "You should rest now, Olivia. Please."
She hesitated, then turned and walked slowly back down the hall.
As soon as she disappeared around the corner, I let out a shaky breath and rubbed my face with both hands. Louis stared at , his jaw tight. But I didn’t give him the chance to accuse more. I just turned and walked toward my room.
Reaching my room, I poured myself a glass of whisky and drank it all in one go. I knew what I was doing was the right thing. I was protecting Olivia, and I didn’t care what anyone thought.
"But maybe you are going too far," my wolf whispered.
I frowned. Him too? He wasn’t backing up.
"You are my wolf, for goodness’ sake. You should be on my side," I spat out.
"I am," my wolf spat back at . "But not with their recent developnt, Levi," he growled again, his voice echoing through my head. "Why did you refuse the healers’ plan? It could’ve helped him."
I slamd the empty glass down, the sound echoing through the room. "Because it’s too dangerous!" I snapped. "They wanted to use a spirit-binding ritual. Do you know what that ans? They’d have to call his wolf back through a link, using Olivia as the anchor."
My wolf growled low. "And maybe that’s exactly what he needs. A connection. Sothing to pull him back."
I gritted my teeth. "It would kill her," I hissed. "The last ritual almost did! I’m not risking her life for sothing that might not even work."
"But he’s fading," my wolf pushed. "You know it. The healers said his heartbeat’s growing weaker by the day. You’re running out of ti."
I dragged a hand through my hair, pacing. "I don’t care. As long as Olivia lives, that’s all that matters."
My wolf’s voice softened. "Even if that ans losing your brother forever?"
That hit harder than I expected. I turned toward the window, staring toward the pack land. My reflection looked back at in the glass—tired, angry, guilty.
"If that’s the price," I whispered, "then I’ll pay it."
I swallowed hard, my voice shaking as I spoke again. "I already lost one of them once. I won’t lose her too."
I barely had ti to gather my thoughts when the door burst open. Louis stood there, his face hard and his eyes burning with anger.
"Fine," he snapped. "If you won’t let Olivia do it, then let try. We share a bond with Lennox. I can be an anchor."
I frowned, already feeling the tension rise again. "Louis—"
"No!" he shouted, stepping closer. "For six months, Levi. Six months! You’ve been the only one who knows where Lennox is. You keep us out, you keep her out, and now you’re rejecting every chance he has!"
I clenched my fists. "Because I know you," I growled. "You’ll do sothing reckless, sothing that’ll risk Olivia’s life or yours. Right now, I’m the only one thinking straight."
Louis’s jaw tightened. His eyes glimred with hurt and rage. "And you think that makes you right? That makes you the only one who gets to decide?"
I didn’t answer.
He stepped even closer, his voice trembling now. "I’m also an Alpha, Levi. Your equal. Stop treating like so kid brother who doesn’t know what he’s doing!"
I opened my mouth, but he shoved , hard enough to make the glass behind rattle.
"Lennox would’ve risked his life for us without blinking," he said through gritted teeth. "He’d never sit back and watch any of us rot while protecting himself."
His words hit like a blade—sharp, true. For a mont, I couldn’t breathe. I wanted to shout back, to defend myself, but the guilt was already crushing .
Because deep down, I knew he was right.
The air between us was thick, the kind that made it difficult to think, hard to move. My throat burned.
Before I could find my voice, the door flew open again.
"Levi? Louis?"
Olivia stood there, her eyes wide, confusion written all over her face.
My heart stopped.
She shouldn’t have been there. I hadn’t even sensed her—hadn’t felt her approach at all. How? My wolf stirred uneasily.
"What’s happening? And don’t you two dare lie to ."
Louis froze. I turned toward her slowly, my mind spinning with one thought.
Why didn’t I sll her before she walked in?
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