Chapter 20

• Olivia's POV
• The first dream came to me in flashes, vivid and unsettling. I was running through a dense forest, the moon high in the sky, illuminating everything. My breath came in short gasps as I sprinted past towering trees, my heartbeat thumping in my ears. But I wasn’t alone—there were others, figures I couldn’t fully make out, running with me, surrounding me.
• The wind whispered something I couldn’t quite understand, words that seemed to come from deep within the earth. “You are not what you think, Olivia. You are more. You posess more powers.”
• I woke up in a cold sweat, my body tangled in the sheets. My heart pounded in my chest as I sat up, trying to shake the lingering sense of fear and confusion that clung to me. These dreams weren’t just dreams. They were telling me something—something about who I was, something about the power that had begun to stir inside me.
• But I didn’t have time to dwell on it. Today was another day of training, another day of proving myself under Bianca’s strict supervision. Ever since the incident with Kim and the near-fatal trap set by the Hunters, Bustan had tightened security around the palace. No one could leave without a trusted guard, and training had become more intense, more grueling.
• Bianca, despite her tough exterior, had become a kind of mentor to me. She pushed me to my limits, but she also looked out for me, especially when Bustan wasn’t around. She was nice and caring, even though I was jealous earlier that Bustan's ex-mate was staying with us in the Palace, I couldn't resist liking her.
• It was during training that the shift happened. Bianca and I were sparring in the courtyard. She was fast, quicker than I expected, and every time I thought I had her, she would duck or sidestep, her eyes gleaming with challenge.
• “Focus, Olivia,” she barked, circling me like a predator eyeing its prey. “Your head’s not in this.”
• I gritted my teeth, frustration building in me. She was right. I couldn’t concentrate, not with the strange dreams haunting my every thought. I lunged at her, aiming for her side, but she easily deflected, pushing me back with a powerful shove.
• “You’re holding back,” she accused. “Stop thinking. Let go.”
• Let go. The words echoed in my mind, blending with the whispers from my dreams. I could feel the power inside me, growing stronger, but it scared me. I didn’t understand it, and didn't know how to control it. What if it hurts someone? What if it…
• Bianca came at me again, this time with more force, and something inside me snapped. The world around me slowed as I dodged her strike, my movements suddenly sharper, more precise. A surge of energy erupted from deep within me, and before I knew it, I had thrown my hands out toward her—not to defend myself, but to release what I had been holding back.
• A blast of power shot from my palms, sending Bianca flying across the courtyard. She hit the ground hard, the impact echoing through the air. I stood there, stunned, my hands trembling as I stared at the scorch marks left in the wake of my outburst. The ground where she had stood was scorched, as if burned by invisible flames.
• Bianca groaned, slowly sitting up, her eyes wide with shock. “What... what was that?”
• “I-I don’t know,” I stammered, backing away, horrified at what I’d done. “I didn’t mean to—”
• Bianca raised a hand, signaling me to stop. “That wasn’t normal, Olivia. That was... something else.”
• The energy inside me pulsed, still thrumming beneath my skin. I felt alive, more alive than I ever had, but also terrified of the power I had unleashed. What was happening to me?
• “Bustan needs to know about this,” Bianca said, pushing herself to her feet. Her eyes narrowed as she studied me, suspicion and curiosity mixing in her gaze. “We need to figure out what you are.”
• I nodded, still shaken, but before we could go any further, a messenger arrived. He handed Bianca a sealed note, his eyes darting nervously between us, clearly sensing the tension in the air.
• Bianca ripped open the letter, her expression darkening as she read it. “It’s from one of our informants,” she muttered, her voice low. “Nate’s been asking questions about you, Olivia.”
• My blood ran cold at the mention of his name. Nate. The Alpha who had rejected me, tossed me aside as if I meant nothing. And now he was interested in me again? Why?
• “He knows,” Bianca continued, her voice hard. “He knows about your power. Our informant says he’s furious, realizing what he let go. He thinks you’d be a useful tool now.”
• I swallowed hard, my mind spinning. Nate had always been ruthless, willing to do whatever it took to get what he wanted. The idea of him coming after me again, not out of regret, but out of a desire to use me—my powers—made my skin crawl.
• “I won’t let him touch you,” Bianca said firmly, as if reading my thoughts. “But we need to be careful. If he’s more determined now, he’ll stop at nothing to claim you.”
• My chest tightened with anxiety, but something else stirred beneath it—anger. Nate had no right to me, no right to try and control me again. I wasn’t the weak, powerless girl he had abandoned. I was eager to understand my powers so I could weild it properly.
• ***
• That night, the dreams came again, more vivid than before. I stood at the center of a vast clearing, the full moon overhead casting its silvery light upon me. Around me, wolves of every size and color gathered, watching in silence. I could feel their eyes on me, the whispers returned, louder this time, echoing through the trees.
• “You are more than a werewolf. You are the key. You will decide the future of the packs.”
• I woke up with a start, gasping for breath, my heart hammering in my chest. My room was dark, the only light coming from the faint glow of the moon through the window. I sat up, my mind racing with the words from my dream. “The key. The future of the packs?”
• Could it be true? Was I really something more than just a werewolf? And if so, what did that mean for me? For Bustan? For everyone?
• I didn’t have long to ponder it. The door to my room creaked open, and I looked up to see Bustan standing there, his face shadowed but I could recognize even his shadow. His eyes locked onto mine, and for a moment, we were both silent.
• “I heard about what happened today,” he said, his voice low and serious. “Your powers... they’re growing.”
• I nodded, unsure of what to say. I could see the concern in his eyes, the weight of the responsibility he felt for me. He was the Lycan King, and yet, in that moment, he seemed just as unsure as I was about what came next.
• “I don’t know what’s happening to me, Bustan,” I admitted, my voice barely above a whisper. “But I’m scared.”
• He crossed the room in a few quick strides and sat beside me, his hand reaching for mine. His touch was warm, grounding me in the present. “We’ll figure it out,” he promised, his voice steady. “Whatever this is, you’re not alone. I won’t let Nate—or anyone—take you from me.”