Chapter 24

• Bustan's POV
• I stood outside Olivia’s door for a long moment, I was waiting for her to open the door after the first lock but she wasn't forthcoming.
• Taking a deep breath, I pushed the door open quietly. There, sitting on the edge of the bed, was Olivia. Her face was turned away, but I could see her shoulders trembling. When she finally looked up, my heart twisted painfully in my chest. What could have made her this sad?
• Her eyes were red and swollen—she’d been crying.
• “Olivia,” I started gently, stepping closer. But before I could say another word, she was on her feet, her hands balled into fists at her sides, her expression fierce despite the tears that still clung to her lashes.
• “Don’t,” she cut me off, her voice sharp. “Don’t try to comfort me when you’re just going to turn around and send me back to Nate.”
• Her words hit me like a physical blow. My mouth opened, but no sound came out. I wasn’t sending her to Nate. I’d never do that. She must have overheard my conversation with Bianca. But before I could explain, she continued, her anger pouring out in a torrent.
• “Who am I to you, Bustan?” Her voice cracked, but she kept going, her gaze never leaving mine. “Am I just some tool you want to use to piss your brother off? Or am I just a replacement for Bianca?”
• “Olivia, you’re not…” I tried to interject, but she wasn’t finished.
• “You didn’t deny it earlier. You just stood there while Bianca said I should go to Nate!” Her voice rose with each word, the hurt and frustration evident in every syllable. “And then I find you two together, whispering like I’m some problem you need to fix! What am I to you, Bustan? Tell me the truth.”
• I took a step toward her, but she stepped back, shaking her head as though she couldn’t bear to hear what I had to say. Her arms were wrapped tightly around herself now, as if she was holding herself together by sheer will.
• “Olivia,” I said softly, trying to reach her. “I’m not sending you to Nate. I never was.”
• She scoffed, her expression disbelieving. “Really? Because it sure seemed like you were thinking about it. Bianca sure thought it was a great idea.”
• “I’m not sending you to Nate,” I repeated, more firmly this time. I needed her to hear me, to understand. “You don’t belong to him. You belong here, with me.”
• “Then why?” she demanded, her voice trembling. “Why do you still keep Bianca around? Why are you so close to her? What happened between you two that I need to know about?”
• I hesitated, and she saw it. Her eyes narrowed, her expression hardening.
• “There it is,” she muttered bitterly. “The truth you don’t want to tell me.”
• “It’s not what you think,” I said quickly, stepping closer, but she backed away again, putting more distance between us.
• “Then what is it?” she snapped. “Do you even care for me or am I just imagining it, but you don’t trust me enough to tell me the truth! How can I believe anything you say when you keep secrets from me? When you let Bianca act like I’m some… some threat to you?”
• Her words stung, but I knew this was my fault. I should have been more open with her.
• “Bianca didn't mean any harm, she was also looking out for you.” I tried to explain but she looked more hurt that I was defending Bianca than she heard anything I said. She had every right to feel hurt and betrayed, but I needed her to understand that I really cared for her.
• I sat down on the edge of the bed, running a hand through my hair. “Bianca and I… we were together once, a long time ago. But it didn’t work out. I ended things because I didn’t love her the way I was supposed to and she loved another person. I released her to go with him. Though he eventually died. It was over before you even came into the picture.”
• Olivia crossed her arms over her chest, glaring at me, but she was listening now.
• “She stayed because she’s still part of the pack, and I thought we could move past what happened between us. But…” I trailed off, not sure how to explain the rest without making it sound worse than it was. “I’m not denying that maybe she could have the idea of us trying again but she definitely doesn't mean to hurt you. She's a good person.”
• Olivia’s lip trembled, but she bit it, refusing to let more tears fall. “I bet she is. You didn’t answer my question,” she said quietly. “Are you still in love with her?”
• “No,” I said firmly, meeting her eyes. “I told you I never loved her that way.”
• She stood there, staring at me, her eyes searching my face for any hint of dishonesty. “And me? What do you feel for me?”
• “I … I don't know Olivia.” I blurted, the thing is everything is still unraveling to me. I've not figured it all out. Are you afraid of me?” she whispered, her voice barely audible.
• I felt my chest tighten. That was it. The heart of her fear. She thought I was afraid of her power, afraid of what she might become. She wasn’t wrong—I was worried, but not for the reasons she thought.
• “I’m not afraid of you,” I said gently, standing up and taking a cautious step toward her. “I’m worried because I know how powerful you are, and I don’t want you to feel like you have to face this alone. Your powers are growing fast, we don't even know to what extent, and I don’t want you to lose control.”
• She blinked, and for a moment, her anger seemed to waver. “So you do think I’m a threat,” she said, her voice softening, but the hurt was still there.
• “No, Olivia,” I said, closing the distance between us. “I think you’re strong. Stronger than anyone I’ve ever known. But you’re still learning. I just want to help you.”
• “Nate sent me a letter. He said he could help me.” She announced in a hushed tone.
• “ I don’t want Nate to manipulate you into thinking he’s the only one who can help you control your power.”
• Olivia shook her head, fresh tears spilling down her cheeks. “I don’t know what to believe anymore,” she whispered. “Nate said you’d never accept me for who I am. That you’d always see me as a threat.”
• I cupped her face in my hands, wiping away the tears with my thumbs. “Nate is only trying to put discord amongst us. I doubt he'd train you if you go to him, he'd only violate you. He’s trying to get inside your head, to make you doubt yourself—and me.”
• Her lips parted slightly, her breath hitching. For a moment, she didn’t speak, just stared at me with wide, vulnerable eyes. Then she shook her head again, stepping out of my grasp.