Olivia's POV
Tears gathered in my eyes as I slowly packed my things into the traveling bag.
Every shirt I folded felt like another goodbye.
Every dress I placed inside felt like I was cutting another piece of myself away.
My wolf was silent.
Too silent.
But deep down, I could feel her anger.
She hated this.
She hated that I was walking away.
She hated that I was letting them go so easily.
And the worst part?
So did I.
I kept waiting.
Waiting for footsteps outside my door.
Waiting for Lennox to burst in.
Waiting for Levi to shout.
Waiting for Louis to knock.
I wanted them to stop me.
To tell me this was a mistake.
To tell me they wouldn't let me leave.
They were supposed to fight for me.
I squeezed a shirt in my hands until the fabric wrinkled.
"Damn it," I whispered, my voice breaking.
"Why aren't you fighting for me?"
Inside me, my wolf scoffed.
Cowards, she snarled bitterly. All of them.
Then she shut herself away from me completely.
Great.
Now I was alone in my own body.
A tear slipped down my cheek as I zipped up the bag. The sound felt loud in the quiet room, like a door closing on everything I had ever dreamed of.
I wiped my face angrily.
I wasn't supposed to be this weak.
I was the Luna.
I was strong.
I was supposed to be able to walk away without falling apart.
But I was falling apart anyway.
A soft knock came at the door.
My heart jumped so fast it hurt.
"Come in," I whispered, barely able to breathe.
The door opened slowly.
It wasn't Lennox.
It wasn't Levi.
It wasn't Louis.
It was a maid.
"Luna," she said gently, her eyes full of sympathy.
"Alpha Damien requests to see you."
My chest tightened at the sound of his name.
For a second, I almost said no.
I didn't have the strength for another conversation.
But I nodded anyway.
"Tell him I'm coming."
I wiped my face quickly and walked out of the room. Each step down the stairs felt heavier, like I was walking away from something I might never get back.
Damien was waiting in the sitting room.
He looked tired. Everything that had happened had weighed on him too.
When he saw me, he stood.
"I heard," he said gently. "About the break. About you leaving."
I didn't trust my voice, so I just nodded.
"Are you sure about this?" he asked quietly. "You don't have to do it this way, Olivia."
"Yes," I lied.
The word tasted bitter in my mouth, but I forced it out anyway.
"Yes, I'm sure."
He studied my face for a long moment, like he could see the cracks I was trying to hide.
"They need you," he said softly. "All three of them. And the boys too. You're the center of that family."
My throat tightened.
"I know," I whispered. "But we're all hurting. We're all breaking each other."
Damien sighed.
"I won't stop you," he said. "But remember something. Distance can heal… or it can destroy. Be careful which one you let it become."
I nodded again, even though tears burned behind my eyes.
"Thank you," I murmured.
I didn't wait for anything else.
I turned and went back to my room.
I picked up my bag.
And then, without giving myself time to think, I teleported.
The air shifted.
The packhouse disappeared.
And suddenly, I was standing in my family's living room.
Calvin and Nora were on the floor, laughing as they played with their little boy.
Melvin.
My heart twisted at the sight of him.
The moment they saw me, everything stopped.
Calvin jumped to his feet.
Nora's smile faded.
My brother's eyes dropped to the bag in my hand.
"What did those idiots do to you?" Calvin demanded, already moving toward me.
Nora gasped softly. "Darling—your words," she cautioned quickly, bending to scoop Melvin into her arms.
Calvin exhaled slowly, trying to calm himself, but his eyes were still sharp with worry.
I couldn't hold it anymore.
Nora walked to me and pulled me into her arms.
I broke instantly, burying my face against her shoulder.
"I don't know what I'm doing," I whispered.
She held me tight.
"It's okay," she said softly. "You're safe here."
Calvin gently took my bag from my hand.
"Come," he said. "Let's get you settled."
He led me down the hall into a large guest room. It was warm, quiet, and smelled faintly of lavender.
I sat on the edge of the bed, feeling suddenly exhausted.
Calvin leaned against the doorframe, his arms crossed.
"I heard Lennox is alive," he said. "So tell me… what happened?"
I took a shaky breath.
And then I told him everything.
About Lennox.
About Levi.
About Louis.
About the lies.
About the bond.
About the break.
My voice cracked as the words poured out.
"I didn't think it would hurt this much," I whispered. "I just wanted us to stop hurting each other."
Calvin's jaw tightened.
Nora walked in, sat beside me, and rubbed my back slowly.
"You didn't fail," she said gently. "Sometimes loving someone means stepping away before you destroy each other."
But it didn't feel like love.
It felt like I had just made the biggest mistake of my life.
Calvin's voice softened as he looked at me.
"You're home now," he said quietly. "No matter what happens out there, this is still your home. And I'll support you, whatever you decide."
His eyes flicked to my face, serious and protective.
"Mom will be back from her trip next week," he added. "We'll all talk then. Figure things out together."
I nodded, my throat tight.
"For now," he continued gently, "you should rest. You look exhausted. I'll give you girls some space."
He gave Nora a small nod, then walked out, closing the door softly behind him.
The room felt calmer after he left, like the walls themselves were trying to hold me together.
I turned to Nora.
"How are you?" I asked quietly.
She smiled.
"I'm okay. Just… being a mom and a mate," she said softly. "That alone is a full-time job."
I let out a weak breath.
"I feel completely drained. Like there's nothing left in me."
Nora studied me for a moment. Then a slow smile curved her lips.
"I think I have the perfect remedy for that."
I frowned slightly.
"What?"