Chapter Twenty-Nine

Olivia’POV  

It was getting brighter the first rays dawn spilling through the heavy curtains of my bedroom, painting the floors in a light gray, the sun was far from up but it would be in a few hours. I had always been an early riser, it was in built.

It had been trained in me since childhood to be awake and presentable before my father even left his room. But tonight that wasn't the reason I was awake early, that was more because of the tension in the air that was pressing down on my skin like an omen. 

My door opened and someone walked in

" You should turn on the light my lady or you will fall " she muttered and I relaxed as the lights came on revealing Cali. 

She was my nursemaid, had breasts fe me when my mother was too sick to do it which was all through my infancy and when my mother had been too busy to care for me she had done it too. 

When my mother had died, she was the one who dressed me and held me when I cried. She was more of a mother to me than my real one and the only one I would let into my room anyway 

" Why are you awake" I asked and she sighed 

" I must be getting older,can't stand my bed for too long" she huffed and I smiled 

" I think it should be the other way around " I mumbled as she helped me out of my clothes 

" What's wrong today miss" she asked and I sighed 

" Just feeling restless " I mumbled and she nodded I had always trusted my instincts, and today, something felt off. I walked to my bathroom and took a shower, it was quick but I felt more refreshed and ready to tackle whatever this was right now. 

I dressed quickly in a fitted silk blouse and high-waisted pants Cali had left for me ignoring her note for me to come down for breakfast as I strode out of my door, my heels clicking softly against the marble floor as I moved through the halls of my father’s estate. 

I had come him last night instead of staying at the Alpha's home since he was not around. I rarely stayed at home anymore but my father didn't notice my absence or if he did, he never mentioned it.

They were servants rushing about, but no one met my gaze. 

They never did. 

When I reached my father’s office, the door was slightly ajar. He was pacing, it was a rare sight for my father since he was always sitting in one position or the other. 

My father was a man who controlled everything—including his emotions well except for when he started drinking, the. He became very happy never loosed lipped.

But the frustration radiating off him in waves, could not be hidden .

"Father," I called out softly.  

He barely spared me a glance before waving me off, I clenched my jaw in annoyance then sighed. Of course I should be used to it by now.

The same dismissal and disregard.

 To him, I was nothing more than decoration, a pretty thing meant to be admired and controlled. He had never once looked at me as anything more than a pawn, a mere ornament in his world, something to be polished and displayed for everyone to see not someone who could be of use.  

But I was always watching, always listening and I had learned how to play the game in silence.  

I moved to the corner of the room, pretending to admire a vase on the side table while keeping my ears sharp.  

He turned to his secretary, an older man with thinning hair and a stiff posture.  

“What else?” my father demanded.  

The secretary adjusted his glasses. 

"Three brothels burned to the ground. Another taken over. Two of them were yours and the other belong to elders on the same group”  

I froze, that would do it I guess. 

The brothels were my father's source of income so attacking two of them wasn’t just a simple skirmish. 

This was warfare.  

“And the West is responsible?” my father asked, his voice deceptively calm.  

“Yes. It seems they saw an opportunity when the Alpha King—” the secretary hesitated, clearing his throat before continuing, 

“—went to claim that woman in the Hell's Pit after giving up his spot"  he finished.

" This is ridiculous " he hissed looking away. My father’s grip tightened around the whiskey tumbler in his hand, his knuckles white.  

A sharp silence filled the room and I remained frozen in place , I felt it before I fully understood.  

Lost his head for a woman.  

That could only mean one thing.  

Lorenzo.  

The ice-cold realization settled in my chest like lead. 

He brought her back.  

His mate.  

I barely heard the rest of the conversation. My father was talking, cursing, but his voice faded into the background as my mind raced.  

For years, I had played the game well. I had positioned myself carefully by his side, ensuring that no other woman could come close to him. I had stayed in his world, done my best to make myself indispensable to him so one day when the time came he would look at me. 

And now—this?  

I turned sharply and walked out, of my father's office, I tried to walk but soon enough I was running through the halls.  

I needed to find him.  

Our house wasn't far from the Lorenzo's home, so it didn't take me long to rush there either, I pushed opened the door, waving off the greetings coming my way. 

I searched the mansion, ignoring the wary glances of the staff as I passed. Lorenzo wasn’t in his usual places—the dining room, the training yard, his office.  

I was getting restless, I wasn't sure what to do, he couldn't be in the library but there was no where else to look so I went there. The library door was slightly open.  

I stepped inside.  

And there he was.  

With her.  

She was curled against him, her hair spilling over his arm, her face tucked against his chest. He had his arm was wrapped around her, possessive even in sleep. My gut curdled deep inside pain that I didn't understand filling my hands and legs. Filling my veins.

It was the most peaceful I had ever seen him, no matter how much I tried to be with him, he had never relaxed that way with me. 

I inhaled sharply, my hands balling into fists.  

No.  

This wasn’t happening, it couldn’t be happening.  

It was supposed to be me, he was supposed to choose me 

I took a step closer, my heels clicking softly against the floor. His breathing had changed, his muscles tensed—as if he was waking up.  

Lorenzo stirred, his body shifting slightly, as if sensing something was off.  

I wanted to be here when his eyes finally opened, I would be standing right here.  

Watching.  

Waiting.  

But I couldn't risk it, so I walked back to the door walking out of it, still I couldn't bring myself to just leave, even though watching them was torture itself.

Then I heard footsteps walking my way so, I couldn't let anyone find me here at all so I reached for the door I locked it.