Olivia's POV
The afternoon sun poured through the high stone windows of the Alpha sons' castle, gilding the empty halls in gold. Yet in the sick bay, where shadows clung stubbornly, there was no warmth, only silence.
Her mother sat by her bedside, hollow-eyed and exhausted, her lips whispering endless prayers to the goddess. She hadn't eaten for days. She hadn't slept properly either—how could she, when her only child lay motionless like a broken doll?
Olivia's chest rose and fell slowly, as though caught between life and death. Her body remained still, but her soul wandered in a place of endless shadows. She remembered pain. Fire in her veins. The coldness of betrayal. The sound of whispers calling her weak.
Then, like a ripple breaking the surface of water, something stirred.
Her fingers twitched.
Her mother gasped, shooting upright. "Olivia? Olivia, wake up! Wake up, my love, please wake up!" She clutched her daughter's hand, eyes wide with desperation. But as quickly as the movement came, it stilled.
Silence returned.
Her mother broke, her sobs tearing through the chamber. "Please… I've lost your father. I cannot lose you too. Please, goddess, not her. Not my Olivia."
Her tears fell freely. She didn't notice that her daughter's lashes fluttered. She didn't notice the faint light blooming under Olivia's skin, or the way her breathing steadied.
Then came the soft, fragile voice.
"Mother…"
Her mother froze. Her eyes widened as she whipped her head around. "Olivia?!"
Olivia's lips curved faintly, her voice calm, like cool water running over stone. "Mother."
Her mother cried harder, this time with joy. "You're awake! My baby, you're awake!" She clutched Olivia against her chest, kissing her forehead as tears streamed down her cheeks. Olivia, weak and disoriented, felt her own eyes sting as tears slipped free.
But in that moment of reunion, another presence stirred.
Through her blurred vision, Olivia saw a tall figure standing at the end of her bed. His outline shimmered faintly in the afternoon light, as though he were half-shadow, half-flame. It was her father.
Her breath caught.
"Father?" she whispered.
He smiled gently, warmth in his eyes. "The light inside you… is brighter than ever now." His voice was deep, steady, carrying weight beyond this world. "Do not give up, Olivia. The gods are watching you."
Before she could speak, before she could even reach for him, he faded into the air like mist under the sun.
Her lips trembled, but no words came. She sank against her mother, heart pounding, knowing deep down it was no dream. It was a vision.
Her father had spoken the truth.
---
At the Council
Far away in the council chamber, chaos still lingered. Lex had been dragged to the healers, blood staining his armor. The crowd was restless, frightened, but the Alpha stood firm, his eyes blazing with fury.
The intruder was forced to his knees, restrained by guards. The Alpha descended from his seat, his towering presence casting a shadow over the man in the hood. His eyes glowed thick red, primal, dangerous.
With a single strike of his fist, he smashed the intruder across the face. Blood sprayed from the man's mouth as he laughed through the pain.
"Who are you?" the Alpha demanded, his voice shaking the chamber walls.
The man coughed, spat, then smirked. "Derek, you asshole."
Gasps rippled through the room.
The Alpha's jaw clenched. "Why try to kill me? Who sent you?"
The man only laughed louder.
The Queen stepped forward, her voice calm but sharp. "Many would try to kill the Alpha, husband. If they succeed, they take your place."
The Alpha snarled. "That is why I created the law. Anyone who kills the Alpha to claim the title will be executed—unless they are of our blood."
He crouched low, his eyes glowing brighter, fangs lengthening, claws unsheathing. He spoke to the intruder in the language of wolves, a deep guttural roar that made the hair on every neck stand on end.
The hall went silent. Even the torches seemed to burn lower.
Derek only laughed harder, blood running down his chin.
The Alpha rose. His eyes hardened. "He is not one of our pack. Take him to the Pit. I will deal with him myself."
The guards dragged him away as he laughed, his voice echoing until the heavy doors shut.
The Alpha turned back to the assembly. "Council dismissed."
No one dared protest. Nobles hurried out, their whispers filling the halls like restless insects.
"Where is my son?" the Alpha demanded at last, his voice cracking through the chaos.
---
Back at the Triplets' Castle
Silence lay heavy over the once-lively halls. The triplets' castle, usually full of maids and servants, was eerily empty. No voices, no footsteps. Only the soft rustle of wind against stone.
In the sick bay, Olivia sat on the bed, pale but alive. Her mother fussed over her, tears of joy refusing to stop.
"Thank the goddess. Thank the goddess," she whispered again and again.
Olivia, though weak, forced herself to rise. Her body felt different—lighter, stronger, almost glowing. Her skin shimmered faintly, as though kissed by light. Even her mother noticed, her eyes widening in awe.
"Olivia… your skin. It's—" She broke off, her voice trembling. "It's glowing. Like a queen's."
Olivia looked down at her arms, seeing the faint shimmer herself. A soft chuckle escaped her lips. "Maybe the gods finally remembered me."
Her mother hugged her tightly. "I'm so sorry, my love. I should never have let you come here. I'll never allow it again. We'll leave this place. We'll find work elsewhere."
But Olivia shook her head. Her voice was calm, resolute. "No, Mother. We need the money. We must keep pushing. I can't run from this place."
Her mother frowned, tears glistening in her eyes. "But we could find somewhere better, somewhere safe—"
"Safe?" Olivia interrupted softly, though her tone was strong. "No matter where we go, we will still be seen as traitors. As omegas. There is no escaping that, Mother."
Her mother went quiet, lips pressed together.
"The only thing we can do," Olivia continued, her eyes burning with new strength, "is embrace it. Stand tall. No matter how they look at us."
Her mother swallowed hard, her heart aching with pride and sorrow. She took her daughter's hand and nodded slowly. "You're right."
But then her eyes sharpened, her voice dropping to a whisper. "Still… we must find out who framed you. We must know who truly stole from the Alpha sons' chambers."
Olivia's jaw tightened. She had thought about this many times. She didn't need to guess. She already knew.
Her voice came cold and sure. "Isn't it obvious? It was Mal."
Her mother's eyes widened.
Olivia's lips pressed into a thin line. "She framed me. The only question left is… why?"