The moment Nora and Lolita stepped into my room, they both hugged me tightly. They seemed so relieved... so happy to have me back. I smiled and held them back. I had missed them... I thought I would never get to see them again. These two were like the only genuine friends I had, and I cherished them.
"I hope that snake’s been thrown into the dungeon... she should be beheaded for what she did," Nora spat the moment I told them Anita was the one who got me kidnapped.
I smiled bitterly and shook my head as I sank onto the bed. "Unfortunately, she’ll be going scot-free," I said, and both Lolita and Nora widened their eyes.
"Why?!" they both exclaimed in anger.
I swallowed hard as I remembered what Anita said... about still being pregnant for the triplets. I knew there was no way they would punish her with their pups growing inside her.
"She’s still pregnant," I revealed. Just saying the words hurt, but I pushed down the pain. They don’t deserve to cause me any more pain. I have to stop letting them hurt me. I have to forget that I ever loved those men. What should be my main focus now is proving my father’s innocence.
A big frown spread across Lolita’s face. "How could that be possible? She said she lost the pregnancy!" she spat in anger.
I sighed and shrugged. "I don’t care. They can do whatever they want, but I will do whatever I want," I said with a sigh and began taking off my shoes so I could take a bath and rest my head.
Lolita spoke up. "Alpha Gabriel has been calling non-stop, checking if you’ve been found. He’s been so worried since you went missing."
I smiled weakly. That was sweet of him—to actually worry about me. I wished I could mind-link with him, but since we weren’t from the same pack, I couldn’t.
I turned to Lolita. "Can I please use your phone?"
She nodded instantly. "Yes, of course, my queen," she said and went for the phone in the pocket of her apron.
I smiled at her and said, "You don’t have to call me ’my queen.’ We’re friends. You two should address me as Olivia."
Lolita smiled warmly as she handed me the phone. "Alright then, Olivia," she said with a small bow of her head, though I could still see the respect in her eyes.
I took the phone and dialed Gabriel’s number with shaky fingers. My heart was beating a little faster—maybe from nervousness or maybe from the tension that always comes whenever I speak to him.
He picked up almost immediately.
"Good day, Alpha Gabriel."
"Olivia?" His voice came through, tight with concern.
"Yes... it’s me," I said softly.
There was a pause—just for a second—and then I heard the relief in his exhale. "Thank the goddess... I’ve been worried sick. Are you okay? Where are you? Are you safe?"
"I’m safe now," I replied, my voice low. "I’m back at the palace."
"Do you need me to come over?" he asked without hesitation.
I smiled faintly. Gabriel still thinks I’m going on with my pretend.
"No. I just wanted to let you know I’ve stopped pretending to lose my memory. I’ve told them I remember everything, so we don’t have to act anymore," I said.
There was a brief moment of silence, and then I overheard his sigh. I didn’t know if it was a sign of relief or something else.
"So, what made you change your mind? And what happened to you? Where were you?" he asked, sounding genuinely worried.
I sighed and thought about just telling him the truth. "Anita set up my kidnapping and sold me to human traffickers."
Gabriel growled at the other end of the phone. "Fucking hell!"
"Yes... she did. And I was sold to Alpha Damien, who happens to be the triplets’ uncle... one thing led to another..."
You don’t expect me to tell him Alpha Damien almost had sex with me, do you?
"One thing led to another, and he recognized me—and here I am, back at the Full Moon Pack," I said.
Gabriel groaned. "That bitch! I hope she’s been thrown into the dungeon waiting for execution because that should be the judgment for her crime. What if the Moon Goddess wasn’t merciful, and you were sold to someone else?" Gabriel grunted in anger.
I frowned as I also thought about it. What would my life be like if I had been bought by someone else? Someone brutal? By now, I would have been a sex slave.
I sighed and wanted to tell Gabriel that Anita is still roaming free because she is still pregnant, but I held back my words.
"I don’t care about Anita," I lied to Gabriel just to end the topic of Anita, but actually, I cared... if the triplets won’t punish her because she is carrying their pups, then I will do it my own way... she will pay... pay for all she did to me... for the years of humiliation... for kidnapping me and selling me to human traffickers.
Gabriel was silent for a moment before he spoke. "So now that you’ve revealed that you’ve regained your memory, what’s the plan? Are you still going to stay there and be their mate?" he asked, a bit of pain in his voice—or perhaps I heard it wrongly.
I sighed and wished I could tell him my problems... that Alpha Damien is forcing me to pretend we’re lovers and possibly spread rumors of me having his baby. But I knew I couldn’t tell him. This was a secret I had to keep away from him. But I wonder what he’ll think of me when he hears the rumors.
I sighed. "I have to stay here for a while. It’s about proving my father’s innocence. And when I’m done with that, I can think of a way out of here," I said.
Gabriel quickly spoke. "I can help you... tell me. I can help with your father’s case," he said, genuinely wanting to help.
I smiled and nodded. "Sure... I’ll contact you if I need your help."
Gabriel sighed. "Alright... so I’ll be waiting."
I smiled and nodded, though he couldn’t see me. "Thank you for your help and also for worrying about me."
"Of course," he said gently. "I’ll always worry about you."
The words settled heavily in my chest. I didn’t know what to say to that, so I simply replied, "I’ll talk to you soon, Alpha Gabriel."
"Anytime, Olivia. Rest well."
I ended the call and handed the phone back to Lolita with a soft sigh, trying to mask the strange warmth in my chest from Gabriel’s last words.
But of course, they noticed.
"Oh my goddess," Nora gasped suddenly, eyes twinkling. "Was that a blush I just saw?"
Lolita grinned like she had caught me stealing cookies from the kitchen. "It was a blush! Look at her cheeks—Olivia’s blushing!"
I blinked at them. "What? No. I was just... being polite."
"Polite?" Nora snorted. "Girl, you were blushing!"
"I was not!" I grabbed a pillow and tossed it at her.
Lolita laughed and ducked. "Just admit it—Alpha Gabriel has a tiny effect on you."
I rolled my eyes and chucked another pillow, this time at Lolita. "Stop it. He’s just a friend. And I’m married, remember?"
"Yeah, yeah," Nora teased, ducking again. "Still doesn’t mean you didn’t blush."
I huffed. "You two are impossible."
"We’re just observant," Lolita said, still grinning.
"Out," I said, pointing toward the door with a smirk. "Before I run out of pillows."
Both of them giggled as they stood up.
"Fine, fine, we’re going," Nora said, still chuckling.
Lolita gave me a playful wink. "Just know—we’re watching."
I rolled my eyes again but smiled. As the door closed behind them, I finally let out a small laugh. They were annoying sometimes... but at least they made me smile.
I fell on the bed and stared at the ceiling... my mind was a jumble of thoughts.
Suddenly, my wolf sneered. "Stop thinking about him, you are blushing," she teased.
I rolled my eyes. "I’m not," I lied.
She scoffed but didn’t say anything more.
Suddenly, a knock landed on the door, and I frowned. I needed peace. But by the whiff of the scent, I knew it was Lady Fiona... the triplets’ mother.
"Come in. The door is open," I said while sitting up... wondering what she had to say this time.