Chapter 17 Her Visit
Zoe's POV
Ryan's face stayed white. Frozen.
"Sierra," he finally said. His voice was tight. Controlled. "What are you doing here?"
The beautiful woman... Sierra... smiled wider.
"I told you. I'm back." She walked closer. Her eyes moved between Ryan and me. "The Alpha of the Northern Pack released me from our arrangement. So I came home."
"This isn't your home anymore."
"Isn't it?" She tilted her head. "I was born here. Raised here. This pack is in my blood, Ryan. You know that."
Ryan's jaw clenched. "You left. You chose to leave."
"And now I'm choosing to come back." She turned to me. Her smile never fading. "Olivia. It's so good to see you again."
She opened her arms.
Moved toward me.
I didn't know what to do. Should I hug her? Should I pull away?
What would Olivia do?
Before I could decide, Sierra wrapped her arms around me.
Pulled me close.
Her lips touched my ear. Whispered so softly only I could hear.
"You miss me, my old friend."
Something in her voice. Something cold. Testing.
I forced myself to smile. Hugged her back.
"Of course," I said. Trying to sound normal. Natural.
Sierra pulled back. Looked at me.
Her eyes studied my face. Searching.
Then she smiled again. But it didn't reach her eyes.
"How sweet."
I looked at Ryan. His face was shocked. Completely shocked.
His mouth hung open slightly. Staring at me like I'd grown a second head.
"Well." Sierra stepped back. Smoothed her hair. "I should let you two get back to your... Romeo and Juliet moment. I just wanted to say hello."
She walked away. Slow. Graceful. Like a cat.
At the edge of the garden, she turned back.
"See you around, Olivia."
Then she was gone.
Silence.
Heavy, thick silence.
"Olivia..." Ryan's voice was strange. "Did you just... hug Sierra?"
"Yes?" I said it like a question. Unsure.
"But you..." He shook his head. "You hate Sierra. You've always hated her."
My stomach dropped. "I... what?"
"You told me you never wanted to see her again. That if she ever came back, you'd make sure she regretted it." Ryan moved closer. "You wouldn't even say her name without getting angry."
Oh no. Oh no no no.
"I... I guess I don't remember that either."
Ryan stared at me. Long and hard.
"Right. The memory loss."
But his voice said he didn't believe it. Not completely.
...
Later that evening, Ryan found me in our room.
I was sitting on the bed. Trying to read one of Olivia's books. Trying to understand her life.
"Can we talk?" he asked from the doorway.
"Of course."
He came in. Sat beside me. Sighed.
"Sierra came to see me. She wants to be friends again. With both of us." He looked at me. "She says she's changed."
"Changed how?"
"She apologized. For everything. For leaving. For hurting us. For..." He paused. "For trying to come between us when she came back before."
I set the book down. "Come between us?"
Ryan nodded slowly. "You really don't remember any of this, do you?"
"No. I'm sorry."
He took a deep breath. "Sierra and I... we were mates. The Moon Goddess chose us for each other."
My heart skipped. "Mates?"
"Yes. But she rejected the bond. Said she didn't want to be tied down. That she wanted to see the world. Experience other packs." Pain crossed his face. "So she left. Went to the Northern Pack. Started dating their young Alpha."
"And you?"
"I was broken. For months. Maybe a year." He smiled sadly. "Then you've always been my friend since we were five. Olivia. You were so different from Sierra. Gentle. Kind. Patient with me."
"We fell in love?"
"Yes. Slowly. Carefully. But yes." He took my hand. "You healed me. Made me believe I could love again. Could trust again."
"What happened with Sierra?"
"She came back. Two years after we got married." His voice hardened. "She said she made a mistake. That I was her true mate. That we belonged together."
"What did she do?"
"She tried everything. Showed up at our house. At pack meetings. At the garden." He squeezed my hand. "She even... she tried to kiss me once. When you weren't around."
My eyes widened. "She what?"
"You found out. You were so angry. I'd never seen you that angry before." He smiled at the memory. "You told her if she ever touched me again, you'd challenge her to a fight. Luna to pack member."
"Did she leave?"
"Eventually. After you made it very clear she wasn't welcome." Ryan looked at me. "That's why I was so shocked when you hugged her today. My Olivia with her memory would rather die than let Sierra near her."
I didn't know what to say.
"But..." Ryan sighed again. "Sierra seems different now. Genuine. And if you're willing to give her another chance..." He shrugged. "Maybe I should too."
"You want to be friends with her?"
"I don't know. Maybe. If she's really changed." He looked at me carefully. "Is that okay with you?"
What should I say? What would Olivia say?
I had no idea. No clue.
So I just nodded. "Fine."
"Fine?" Ryan repeated. "That's it? Just... fine?"
"Yes. If she's changed, then... fine."
Ryan studied my face. Like he was trying to read my thoughts.
"Alright," he finally said. "If you're sure."
"I'm sure."
But I wasn't. Not at all.
After Ryan left, I sat there thinking.
About Olivia. About Sierra. About everything.
How terrible must it have been? Watching your husband's ex-mate try to steal him back?
How much did Olivia suffer?
How strong must she have been to stand up to Sierra?
And here I was. Letting Sierra waltz right back in.
Because I didn't know any better.
A knock on the door.
"Come in."
The door opened.
Sierra stood there. Alone this time.
"Hi, Olivia." Her voice was sweet. Too sweet. "Can I come in?"
"I... sure."
She walked in. Closed the door behind her.
Sat on the chair across from the bed.
And looked at me.
Really looked at me.
Her eyes were sharp. Calculating. Cold.