NOVPUBChapter 142: Refusing
Olivia's POV
I scoffed. What does Anita take me for, a fool? She thinks I've lost my memory, so I don't remember the kind of shitty person that she is? She really thinks I'll believe her? Heaven knows what she's planning, but whatever it is, it's never going to work.
"I don't know you, so why should I trust you?" I said, still pretending like I was suffering from memory loss.
Anita frowned and folded her arms. "You don't have to know me, Olivia… I'm a woman like you, and I know you'll go into heat tomorrow night, so this is me trying to reunite you with your husband," she said, sounding in a convincing tone.
What a terrible actress she was.
"I don't need your help. Gabriel said he's coming to pick me up, so I'll wait for him," I said and turned to walk away, but Anita grabbed my arm, forcing me to stop and look at her. My frown deepened—my patience was wearing thin.
"Alpha Gabriel isn't coming, Olivia. The triplets are keeping you here as a captive," she said.
I yanked my arm out of her grip.
"What the hell is wrong with you?" I snapped, my voice sharper than I meant it to be—but I didn't care. Her touch made my skin crawl.
Anita didn't flinch. She only softened her expression, eyes wide with fake concern, like she was trying to sell me some twisted version of compassion. She took a slow step closer.
"I know this is hard to accept," she said in a low, urgent voice. "But you're not safe here, Olivia. You think those triplets care about you? No! They kidnapped you, Olivia… they're obsessed with you and kidnapped you… you have to leave."
I stared at her, my frown deepening. This bitch is a fucking liar.
She didn't stop.
"They're using you. They know you're vulnerable, they know you don't remember anything, and they're using that to keep you here like some pet. Gabriel isn't coming. He was never coming. They threatened him… I heard them telling him not to come for you, or they'll kill him."
I said nothing.
"I'm the only one actually trying to help you," she whispered. "If you stay here, they'll destroy you."
She leaned in just a little, lowering her voice even more. "They want your body. And when they're done with you, they'll throw you away."
I stared at her for a long second and let silence hang in the air. My fists clenched at my sides. Anita got worse by the day.
Then I slowly smiled.
A cold, tight-lipped smile.
"Thanks for the warning," I said. "But I'll take my chances."
Her frown deepened.
"You can go now, Anita," I said, stepping back. "I don't need your help. I don't trust you, and I don't like you."
She blinked, looking caught off guard. "Olivia—"
"Get out before I tell the Alphas what you're trying to do," I threatened. And with that, she turned around and left the room.
I scoffed out loud and sat on the bed. Joke's on her for thinking I'd actually trust her.
Just then, a knock landed on my door, and by the smell, I knew it was Levi. I frowned, wondering why he was here.
"The door is open," I said as I straightened my posture.
Levi walked in, shut the door, and took one look at me before running a hand through his hair.
"Did something happen between you and Lennox?" he asked, his voice tight with worry. "After you left his room, he looked… furious, but hurt too. What did he show you? What happened?"
My chest tightened. The letters. But that was something I wasn't ready to share—certainly not with Levi. Not yet. Besides, I knew Levi didn't know about the letter. The Lennox I know would never show it to anyone, especially not his brothers.
"He's your brother," I said as evenly as I could, folding my arms. "If you're worried, ask him."
Levi's brows pulled together. "Olivia, I'm asking you, please. He refused to talk to me—in fact, he stared at me with anger like I did something wrong. What were you both talking about in his room? Please tell me."
I shook my head. "Talk to Lennox, Alpha Levi. He knows why he's upset. I don't have time for all this… I just want Gabriel. When is he coming?"
Levi opened his mouth as if to say something, but then he stopped. Frustration flashed across his face, but he finally nodded once, stiffly.
"Gabriel is tied up with something… but he will come get you soon…" he said, trying to sound convincing.
"Alright," I replied, turning away to make it clear the conversation was over.
He lingered a second longer, then stepped back, pulling the door closed behind him. The moment the latch clicked, I exhaled shakily and stood to my feet.
I walked over to the window and thought of my problem. How do I go into heat here? Going into heat here would be a disaster for me—I won't be able to resist them. I thought of my plans with Gabriel, and I was worried whether they would work. The triplets I know won't let Gabriel take me, especially knowing I'll be in heat. So what do I do? Should I lock myself up tomorrow night and control my urge? Will I be able to do that?
My wolf scoffed. "Of course you know you can't," she sneered.
I pressed my forehead against the cool glass and closed my eyes. The moon wasn't even full yet, but every breath felt thick—heavy with the triplets' scents that clung to the corridors, to my clothes, to my skin.
Tomorrow night those scents would be ten times stronger. So would the ache.
I need a plan.
Gabriel said he'd come, but what if the triplets blocked him at the border? What if they locked me in?
And locking myself up? Who was I kidding? When the heat truly hit, a steel door wouldn't hold me if they were on the other side of it.
My wolf gave a soft, almost pitying growl. "You want them as much as they want you."
I gritted my teeth. "That doesn't matter. I can't afford to lose control. I can't give my virginity to men who hurt me," I spat, and my wolf went silent.
I sighed and decided I had to take a walk. Maybe a stroll around the back garden would clear my head… or at least keep me from pacing around my room.
Halfway down the corridor, I spotted Cynthia—Anita's favorite maid. She was one of the maids who made my life a living hell.
She was heading in the opposite direction, arms full of linens. She saw me, lifted her chin, and kept walking as if I were invisible.
Typical attitude of her.
I stopped and called after her, "Maid." I knew her name, but calling her that would seem suspicious since I was still pretending to have memory loss.
She didn't slow. Didn't even glance back.
Anger flared in my chest. "Maid!" I snapped, louder.
She finally turned, her eyes full of hate. "Yes, Omega?" The word dripped with the same contempt she'd used on me for years.
I took one step closer. "Omega? I'm a Luna. When you pass me, you greet me."
She gave a short, mocking laugh. "Luna? Everyone knows you're an omega… the triplet-forced-upon mate."
Smack.
My palm met her cheek before my mind caught up. The sound cracked through the empty hallway. She gasped, her eyes wide.
That's for every time she spat at my feet.
I remembered the day she'd tripped me in the dining hall—how the whole room laughed while I scraped food off the floor.
Smack.
That was for calling my mother a thief's wife—and me, a whore.
Smack.
For the cruel mockery and the hurtful words she spat at me on my wedding night.
I wished I could tell her the reasons I was slapping her, but I couldn't.
Tears sprang to her eyes, more shock than pain, but I didn't care. My hand stung, yet a fierce satisfaction burned in my chest.
"You're a maid," I hissed. "Act like one. You don't speak to me—ever—unless it's 'yes, Luna' or 'no, Luna'. Understand?"
She clutched the linens, lips trembling. "Y-yes, Luna."
A familiar voice cut in. "Olivia?"
I turned; Louis stood at the corridor's end, concern written across his face. He hurried over, gaze flicking from Cynthia flushed cheek to my raised hand.
"What's going on?" he asked quietly.
I dropped my arm, breathing hard. "Just reminding the staff of their manners."
Cynthia bobbed a hasty curtsy, murmured an apology, and scurried away.
Louis reached out but stopped himself. "Are you alright?"
I drew a steadying breath, meeting his worried eyes. "I'm fine," I said, though my palm still tingled. "Sometimes people need to remember their place."
He studied me for a long moment, something unreadable in his expression. I just hoped he wasn't suspecting me.
I swallowed hard. "I have to go," I said and hurried back to my room, cancelling my idea of taking a walk.
I stayed in my room all day.
The curtains were closed, the door locked, and I ignored every knock.
When evening came, I was hungry but still refused to leave my room.
Suddenly, a knock sounded.
"Luna Olivia, the Alphas sent something for you," a guard called from outside.
I frowned, hesitated for a second, then got off the bed, crossed the room, and unlatched the door.
The door swung open—and everything happened at once.
Two broad-shouldered men in pack-guard uniforms surged forward.
One slammed the door shut behind them; the other yanked my wrists.
"Hey—!" The word barely left my mouth before a cloth pressed over my nose and lips. A sweet, chemical sting flooded my senses; my knees buckled.
My legs gave out. The room spun.
"Quick, she's fainting," one guard said. "No bruises. Move."
The last thing I felt was their hands catching me before everything went black.
