Chapter 19 She's not a friend
Zoe's POV
Whatever Sierra said in those whispers I didn't hear a thing. Right now I could only pay attention to how my body was shaking.
I was falling.
I could feel life leaving my body.
But then...
Something changed.
The spinning slowed.
My head cleared. Just a little.
Strength rushed back into my legs.
I caught myself. Steadied. Stood up straight.
What? How?
What the hell is going on? How do I move from dying to steady within a minute?
My eyes caught Sierra's face where she stood. Her eyes went white. Then red. Angry.
"What..." she whispered.
Ryan was suddenly there. His arms around me.
"Olivia! Are you okay?"
Scarlett rushed over too. "What happened?"
"I... I'm fine." My voice was shaky. But I was fine. Really fine.
The dizziness was gone. The fog was gone.
Whatever was put in that drink... it's strong. I could feel the heat within few minutes. But how did it stop?
"You almost fell," Ryan said. His voice full of worry. "Are you sure you're okay?"
"Yes. I just... felt dizzy for a second. But I'm better now."
Sierra stood there. Frozen. Staring at me.
Her mouth hung open slightly. Shocked.
I looked at her. Right in the eyes.
She knew. I knew.
Her plan failed.
"Maybe you should sit down," Scarlett said. Leading me to a chair.
"I'm fine. Really."
But Ryan made me sit anyway.
"I'll get you some water. Just water."
Sierra stepped back. Melted into the crowd.
She disappeared.
Ryan came back with water. Clean water. He watched me drink it.
"What happened back there?"
"It was Sierra." The words rushed out. "She did something to my drink. She drugged it."
Ryan's face hardened. "What?"
"I saw her. The way she laughed when I staggered. The way she had that little smile on her face."
"Olivia." His voice was firm. Gentle. "I need you to relax... I think you're assuming. Based on the past."
"No. I'm not..."
"Ryan..."
"I know you two have history. Bad history." He took my hands. "But Sierra has changed. She apologized. She's trying."
"She's not trying. She's planning something..."
"Even if she hasn't changed..." Ryan's voice was quiet. Serious. "Even if she's still the same person she was before... I don't belong to her. I belong to you. Only you."
"But..."
"Relax." He squeezed my hands. "You're safe. I'm here. Nothing is going to happen."
He didn't believe me.
He thought I was being paranoid. Jealous.
Just like what Scarlett told me about when Olivia tried to warn people about Sierra.
History was repeating itself.
And I couldn't stop it.
...
Later that night, I couldn't sleep.
Ryan was in his office. Handling pack business.
I walked to our bedroom window. Looked out at the garden below.
The moon was full. Bright. Casting silver light everywhere.
Then I saw them.
Two figures in the garden.
Ryan. And Sierra.
My heart stopped.
What were they doing out there? Together? Alone?
Sierra was talking. Animated. Touching Ryan's arm.
He stepped back. Put distance between them.
Good. Good. I thought.
But Sierra moved closer. Closer.
She was saying something. Her face tilted up toward his.
Ryan shook his head. Said something back.
Then...
Sierra grabbed his face.
Pulled him down.
And kissed him.
Right on the lips.
My entire world stopped.
Everything went silent. Cold. Frozen.
Ryan pushed her back. Hard. Fast.
He was yelling. I could see his mouth moving. Angry.
Sierra just smiled. Laughed.
She said something else. Then walked away.
Slow. Confident. Victorious.
Ryan stood there. Alone. His hand on his mouth.
My legs gave out.
I collapsed against the wall. Slid down to the floor.
Tears poured down my face.
I couldn't breathe. Couldn't think.
He kissed her.
No. She kissed him.
But it didn't matter.
Their lips touched.
What's going on? Why am I feeling this way? Is this me helping my sister keep her home intact? Or am I falling for my sister's man?
The man I was starting to... to feel something for.
The man who held me. Protected me. Called me his everything.
He kissed another woman.
Even if he pushed her away.
Even if he didn't want it.
It happened.
And I saw it.
The bedroom door opened.