Chapter 13 First day being Olivia
Zoe's POV
"I had been knocking, but noone answered...What's going on?" His voice was careful. Worried. "Olivia, you look like you've been crying."
I watched Scarlett's hand quickly and stylishly pull the bed blanket on the photos. I quickly looked up to Ryan. His eyes were fixed on mine. I think he didn't see that.
I opened my mouth. Closed it. What should I say?
Scarlett stepped forward. "She came looking for me. Wanted to talk."
"About what?"
"About what happened. The attack. Her disappearance." Scarlett's voice was smooth. Calm. "She's starting to remember some things. It's... difficult for her."
Ryan's face softened. He crossed the room quickly. Stopped in front of me.
"You're remembering?" His hand reached up. Touched my face gently. "That's good, isn't it?"
"I... I don't know." My voice shook. Not from acting. From real fear. "Everything is so confusing."
"What do you remember?"
I looked at Scarlett. She gave a tiny nod.
"Pain," I said. "Blood. Running. Being scared." All true. Just not from the attack they thought. "And then... nothing. Until I woke up here."
Ryan pulled me into his arms. Held me tight.
"It's okay," he whispered. "You're safe now. I won't let anything happen to you again."
I stood there in his arms. Feeling his warmth. His strength. His heartbeat against my cheek.
And I wondered how long I could keep this lie going.
How long before he realized the woman he was holding wasn't his mate at all.
But a stranger wearing her face.
Morning light came through the window. I woke up in the soft bed. My chest still hurt but less than yesterday.
A knock on the door.
"Come in."
Scarlett entered carrying a tray of food. She closed the door behind her.
"Good morning. How are you feeling?"
"Better." I sat up slowly. "A little."
She set the tray on my lap. Soup. Bread. Tea.
"Eat first. Then we start."
"Start what?"
"Teaching you to be Olivia." Her voice was quiet. Serious. "If you're going to do this, you need to know everything about her."
I picked up the spoon. "Where do we start?"
"Her favorite things. The way she talked. Walked. Laughed." Scarlett sat on the chair beside the bed. "Olivia was gentle. Kind. She never raised her voice. Even when angry, she stayed calm."
"I'm not like that."
"I know. You'll have to learn."
I ate the soup slowly. It was warm. Good.
"She loved the garden behind..." She had not completed the statement when a knock came from the door.
The door opened. Ryan walked in. He smiled when he saw me.
"Good morning. I hope I'm not disturbing."
"No. Not at all." I set down the spoon.
"I brought you something." He held out a small book. "Your journal. I thought maybe it would help you remember."
Olivia's journal. My heart beat faster.
"Thank you."
He handed it to me. Our fingers touched. That same warmth. That pull.
"How are you feeling today?" he asked.
"Stronger. Much stronger."
"Good. That's good." He looked like he wanted to say more. "I'll let you rest. I have some pack business to handle. But when I'm back I'd love for us to talk about you leaving the care room and come back to our room, if you're ready."
I just shook my head... I mean I sure know it would get to that.
He turned to leave but another knock made him stop.
An old man walked in. Very old. White hair. Deep wrinkles. But his eyes were sharp.
"Alpha. Luna." He bowed his head slightly. "Forgive the interruption."
"Elder Thomas." Ryan's voice changed. More formal. "What brings you here?"
The old man's eyes fixed on me. Studying.
"Luna Olivia. Welcome back to us." His voice was careful. "I've brought something that requires your attention."
He pulled out a metal box from a leather bag. It was the size of a book. Covered in strange symbols. A combination lock on the front.
"The pack vault box. It contains important information. Territory maps. Alliance treaties. Secret codes." He walked closer. "As Luna, only you can open it."
My blood went cold.
He held it out to me.
"We need the documents inside for tomorrow's council meeting."
I took the box. Heavy. Cold metal against my palms.
"Open it, Luna," Elder Thomas said. "We've been waiting for your return."
I stared at the combination lock. Four numbers. I had no idea what they were.
"I..." My voice came out weak.
"Is something wrong?" The elder stepped closer.
Ryan moved beside the bed. "The Luna is still trying to recover from her memory loss so please I think you need to give her some time."
My hands started shaking. Real shaking this time. Not acting.
"Very well." The elder bowed. But his eyes stayed on me. Sharp. Suspicious.
Then he left.
Silence filled the room.
Ryan squeezed my shoulder. "Don't worry. I'm sure you'll remember. Just rest."
"What if I don't?" The words slipped out.
"Then we'll figure it out together." He kissed my forehead. "I'll be back later to check on you."
After he left, I looked at Scarlett.
"What's the combination?"
"I don't know." Her face was pale. "Olivia never told anyone. Pack security is the Luna's full responsibility."
I stared at the box in my hands.
"He's testing me."
"Maybe. Maybe not." Scarlett respond.
I spent the whole day after Scarlett left thinking about what next I need to do. How do I pull this through?
________________
I sat there alone in my thoughts in the evening. I don't know what's more terrifying... that I have to pretend to be Olivia maybe all my life scared of getting caught or that Ryan would soon be here asking me to move to his room. Can I blame him? That's his wife's room.
Then I started hearing strange sounds outside. Voices. Footsteps running.
Then... a voice. Loud. Urgent.
Shouting a name.
My name.
"ZOE! ZOE?!"
Ryan's voice. Calling through the pack house.
"ZOE!"
My entire body went ice cold.
I sat up fast. Pain shot through my chest but I didn't care.
Am I dreaming?
He was shouting my real name. My REAL name.
How did he know?
"ZOE!"
His voice was getting closer. Coming toward my room.
My hands shook. My heart raced.
Did someone find out about me? Did Scarlett break?
The door handle turned.
I pulled the blanket up. Frozen. Terrified.
The door swung open.