Chapter 12

• Bustan's POV
• We got to the palace with me limping and hanging over Bianca and Olivia. As they laid me down, Olivia hurriedly went out to get some herbs.
• As Olivia knelt beside me, her fingers gently brushing against my skin, I felt goosebumps all over my body. My body ached from the injuries Nate had inflicted, but the real pain wasn’t in the cuts or bruises; it was in the severed bond of brotherhood.
• Olivia’s touch, though soft and careful, sent jolts of awareness through me. She was focused, determined, her hands moving with precision as she crushed the herbs in a small bowl beside us. Her eyes flickered upward every now and then, meeting mine, but she said nothing. I could see the strain in her face—she was worried, and I saw a flicker of affection as well. She deeply cared about me or was she just indebted to me because I saved her?
• “I’m sorry,” she said softly, as her fingers applied the cool paste to my chest. The mixture stung at first, but the pain quickly faded into a dull warmth. “I should’ve never dragged you into my mating bond with.”
• “No,” I cut her off, my voice rougher than I intended. “You did what you could, Olivia. We’re not gods. We can’t control everything.” The words were meant to reassure her, but even as I said them, I wondered if I believed them myself.
• She didn’t reply, just kept working in silence, her brows furrowed in concentration. The smell of the herbs filled the room—a sharp, earthy scent that reminded me of the forest we’d just left. It was peaceful in a way, almost distracting me from the chaos outside.
• But not entirely.
• As she moved to apply the mixture to the deeper wound on my shoulder, I winced. Her hands paused for a moment, and she looked up at me, concerned, filling her eyes. “I’m sorry,” she whispered again, this time more vulnerable.
• “Stop apologizing,” I murmured, my tone softer now. “It’s not your fault Nate is attacking me. I won't give you up to him even if that's the only thing he requires for peace.” I reached out, my fingers grazing her wrist lightly. “We’ll get through this.”
• She sighed, her shoulders sagging slightly as if the weight of my words pressed down on her. “But at what cost, Bustan? Every time we fight, I feel like we’re losing pieces of ourselves. And Nate… He’s not just going to stop. You know that, right?”
• I knew. Of course, I knew. Nate wouldn’t rest until he had either killed me or torn our pack apart. The hatred between us had grown beyond simple rivalry; it had become a festering wound, one that only seemed to deepen with every battle.
• Olivia’s hands moved to my back now, carefully spreading the balm over the bruises and cuts. Her fingers brushed against my skin, sending a shiver down my spine. It wasn’t just the physical sensation—it was something else. Something I hadn’t allowed myself to acknowledge for too long. Being this close to her, feeling her care for me so intimately, stirred feelings I’d never felt before.
• “You should rest,” she said, her voice quiet but firm. “You’re not invincible, you know.”
• I chuckled despite myself. “You think I don’t know that by now?”
• She smiled, but it didn’t reach her eyes. Her hands lingered on my back for a moment before she finally withdrew, standing and taking the bowl of crushed herbs with her. “These should help with the healing,” she explained, avoiding my gaze now. “But you need time. You need to recover fully before we make any more plans.”
• I nodded, though my mind was already racing. Time? We didn’t have time. Every minute we wasted was another minute Nate could use to regroup, to gather his forces. And the Hunters—they were still out there, lurking in the shadows, waiting for their next opportunity to strike.
• “We need to strike first,” I said, standing up despite the sharp protests from my wounds. “We can’t wait for Nate to come to us again. We need to regroup, train, and hit them where they least expect it.”
• Olivia’s eyes widened in disbelief. “Bustan, you’re barely standing. You can’t lead an attack right now.”
• “I don’t have a choice,” I replied, my voice low but resolute. “If we wait, we lose. And I’m not going to let that happen. Not again.”
• She shook her head, frustration flashing in her eyes. “You’re so stubborn.”
• “And you’re too cautious,” I shot back, though there was no malice in my tone. “It’s why we make a good team.”
• She laughed softly at that, a sound that momentarily lightened the tension between us. But the worry didn’t leave her face. “Promise me you’ll take it slow,” she said, her voice soft again. “You can’t lead if you’re dead, Bustan.”
• I sighed, running a hand through my hair. “I’ll take care of myself. But we need to act.”
• “Then let me help,” she insisted. “Not just with healing your wounds. Let me train with you. Fight with you. We’re stronger together.”
• I stared at her for a long moment, her words sinking in. She wasn’t wrong. Olivia had proven herself time and time again, not just as someone with immense power but as someone who was willing to fight for our pack, for me.
• But letting her fight beside me… It was dangerous. I didn’t want her to get hurt. And yet, I couldn’t deny the truth.
• “We’ll train together,” I finally said, my voice steady. “But we do it carefully. No unnecessary risks.”
• She smiled at that, a real smile this time, and I felt a warmth spread through my chest that had nothing to do with the herbs. “Deal.”
• As she turned to leave, I reached out and caught her hand. She froze, looking back at me, her blue eyes searching mine.
• “Thank you,” I said, my voice low but sincere. “For everything.”
• For a moment, it seemed like she wanted to say something more, something deeper. She gave a puzzled look, confused that I was thanking her when she could barely fight for herself neither could she fight for me. But then she just nodded, squeezing my hand gently before letting go. “Get some rest,” she said softly, and then she was gone, leaving me alone in the dim room with only my thoughts for company.