347 Dream
But even as I spoke, I knew it didn’t feel like just a dream, but I didn’t want Olivia to feel
my worry.
Now I understood her fear… she wasn’t only scared of Frederick–she was terrified of losing us to him.
I brushed
my thumb gently across her cheek, softening my tone. “Nothing is going to happen to us… we will take care of Frederick,” I assured her.
“Frederick is not taking no for an answer,” she whispered, her voice raw, heavy with dread. “And I’m worried.”
I pressed a kiss to the top of her head, my jaw clenched so tight in anger. “Listen to me,” I murmured, each word edged with a vow. “You are not his. You are ours. And no alliance, no scheme, no pressure will change that.”
“Louis.” His voice was firm but carried an edge of unease. “Calvin is here. He’s
demanding to see Olivia. He says she is not home, and she’s not responding to him. He thinks she is here,” he said slowly.
I pressed a kiss against her forehead, anchoring us both. “You won’t lose me. Do you hear me? No matter what you saw… you won’t lose us.”
I stilled, my hand still stroking her hair. The protective fire inside me surged, threatening to spill, but I kept my voice steady for her sake. “He won’t have you, Not while I breathe.”
Olivia.
I held her close, brushing a kiss to the crown of her head, and allowed myself to relax too. It didn’t take long–I drifted to sleep too. With Olivia there, peace came easily. The night passed like a balm to my soul, and I slept deeply, not knowing morning had arrived until a sudden tug yanked at my mind, sharp enough to jolt me awake.
When I pulled back, she exhaled shakily, then tucked her face into my chest. Her breathing slowed, the weight of exhaustion pulling her under. Within minutes, she drifted into sleep, her arms wrapped around me like she never wanted to let go.
“Lennox,” I answered through the link, keeping my tone flat, calm. “She’s safe. That’s all you need to know right now.”
347 Dream
“Louis, I’m worried.” Olivia suddenly spoke after a few moments of silence. Before I
could ask why, she continued. “Frederick is bent on marrying me, and my mother is in support of it.”
I blinked awake, my wolf instantly on guard. It was Lennox.
But I knew this wasn’t going to end here.
My wolf pushed at me, restless, agitated. He hated seeing her like this, hated the panic rolling off her in waves. I gathered her closer, one arm firm around her waist, the other covering her hand where it still clung to my cheek.
Finally, her lips moved, the words trembling out. “I… I had a dream.”
“Louis.” Lennox called me out and paused. His pause was heavy, suspicious. “Is Olivia with you?”
I sat up slowly, careful not to wake her, though my jaw tightened. Damn it. Of course Calvin would choose now to come sniffing around. And Lennox–he already suspected.
Her lips parted, but no words came. Only the sound of her breathing–shallow, uneven, frantic.
“Baby… what’s wrong?” My voice was low, careful, though the worry it tight.
in my chest made
I sighed and ran a hand through my hair. What a way to be dragged awake.
Louis’s POV
She didn’t answer. Instead, her trembling hands rose and cupped my face, holding me firmly as if she needed proof that I was real. Her gaze searched me desperately, scanning every line, every shadow of my face, like she expected me to vanish or shift into something else.
My wolf prowled inside me, restless, wanting to protect her from whatever shadow still haunted her.
Her head lifted slightly, her tear–bright eyes searching mine. “I don’t want this to result in bloodshed.”
My chest clenched. For a moment, I couldn’t breathe. But I kept a calm expression.
347 Dream
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Her eyes brimmed with fresh fear, and her voice broke as she whispered, “You… and your brothers. You were lying in a pool of your blood.”
Her eyes locked on mine, wide and terrified, her breaths coming too fast. It was as if she didn’t recognize me at first. The panic in them made me so concerned, but when she saw me–really saw me–I noticed the fear soften, just a little.
She nodded faintly and rested her head against my chest, her arms winding tightly around my waist. I exhaled deeply and closed my eyes, stroking her hair with slow tenderness. I didn’t know why Olivia would dream something so vivid, but deep down, I sensed it wasn’t just ordinary–it felt like a warning. And I knew I had to tell Lennox and Levi about it. 1
Her grip on my waist tightened. “You don’t understand, Louis… he’s dangerous. The way he looks at me, the way he-” Her voice cracked, and she buried her face against my chest. “And with Mother on his side, he’ll do anything to make it happen.”
“You’re safe,” I said, more firmly now, hoping she could anchor to my voice. “You’re with me, Olivia. Nothing’s going to hurt you.”
She seemed to believe me, but the worry in her was still there, buried in the depths of her eyes, yet when I leaned in and pressed my lips to hers, I felt it soften. The kiss was gentle, lingering, carrying every promise I couldn’t put into words. My hand cupped the back of her head as she melted against me, her body relaxing little by little until the tension finally eased.
I glanced down at Olivia sleeping peacefully against me, my arm still around her. My chest ached at the thought of anyone/dragging her back into that chaos.
I furrowed my brow, leaning closer into her palms. “Olivia, it’s me,” I whispered, my thumb brushing her wrist where her pulse thundered. “I’m here. It’s Louis.”
I swallowed hard, pushing back the cold weight pressing at my ribs. I cupped her tighter, forcing her to meet my gaze. “Look at me,” I said firmly, though my tone softened at the edges. “We’re here. I’m here. No one is bleeding, no one is dying. It was a dream, Olivia.”
Her hands shook harder against my skin, her words spilling faster. “It felt so real, Louis, I saw you all… your eyes closed, your bodies-” She choked, shaking her head as if she could erase the memory. Tears clung to her lashes, sliding down onto my fingers where I held her face. “I thought I lost you. All of you.”
347 Dream
She trembled against me, silent, but I felt her heart hammering wildly beneath my palm.
“I’ll tell Lennox and Levi,” I continued firmly, already deciding. “They need to know. If Frederick is making moves–and your mother is supporting him–then this isn’t just your burden. It’s ours. We’ll protect you.”
I stilled, my arms tightening around her. “A dream?” I coaxed gently, brushing her damp hair away from her cheek. “Tell me, Olivia.”
Her words tightened something in my chest instantly. Frederick. Even his name on her lips made my wolf bristle, angry and restless.
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