Chapter 109: Rebellion against the crown.

OLIVIA’S POV

I was sitting in the living room when the front door suddenly opened, and Lucian walked in.

The moment I saw his face, I knew something was wrong. He looked furious. His jaw was clenched, his shoulders were tense, and he was holding a document so tightly that its edges had become crumpled. He didn’t even seem to notice the two maids who bowed as he passed them.

"Lucian?" I called, rising from the sofa. "What’s wrong?"

He stopped when he heard my voice. For a moment, he simply stared at me, and I watched his expression soften slightly before he looked away.

"Nothing, sweetheart."

I frowned. "Nothing? You look like you’re about to murder someone."

He let out a frustrated sigh and ran a hand through his hair. "Where’s Leo?"

"I don’t know. Why?"

"Never mind."

He turned toward the staircase, but I quickly walked over and caught his arm.

"Lucian, wait."

He stopped and looked down at me.

"You’re frightening me. Did something happen?"

He stared at me for several seconds before placing his free hand against my cheek.

"Come here."

He pulled me into his arms, holding me so tightly that I could barely move. I wrapped my arms around his waist, confused by his sudden behavior. Lucian had always been affectionate with me, but there was something different about this embrace. It almost felt as though he was afraid I might disappear the moment he let go.

"Lucian?" I whispered against his chest. "Please talk to me."

He kissed the top of my head before slowly releasing me. "Let’s sit down. There’s something I need to tell you."

My stomach tightened immediately. We returned to the sofa, and he sat beside me, taking both my hands in his. I noticed that he still hadn’t put down the document.

"Where did you go this morning?" I asked.

"To the Alpha Council."

I blinked. "The Alpha Council? Why?"

"Kenneth brought the marriage agreement before them."

My heart skipped a beat. "Alpha Kenneth? What happened? Did he say something about Annabel?"

Lucian gave a bitter laugh. "Oh, he said plenty. The bastard actually expected me to accept his daughter now that she’s returned."

I swallowed nervously. "And what did you tell him?"

"What do you think I told him?" He looked directly into my eyes. "I told him I don’t want Annabel. I’m not marrying her, and nothing he says will change my mind."

Relief washed over me, but it didn’t last long. Lucian still looked troubled, and I couldn’t understand why.

"Then what’s wrong? Did the council refuse to cancel the agreement?"

"No. They dissolved it."

My eyes widened. "They did?"

"Yes. Kenneth admitted that he deliberately sent you to impersonate Annabel, so the elders ruled that I couldn’t be forced to marry his daughter. The peace treaty between our packs will remain in effect, but the marriage arrangement is over."

For a moment, I could only stare at him. After everything that had happened, the agreement that had brought me to Full Moon Pack was finally over. I no longer had to pretend to be Princess Annabel or live in constant fear of being exposed.

"Lucian, that’s wonderful!" I exclaimed, smiling. "Doesn’t that mean we can finally—"

"Olivia."

Something in his voice made my smile disappear.

"What?"

He tightened his grip on my hands. "There’s something else."

I stared at him anxiously as he continued.

"The council also discussed your status. Since you’re not Annabel and we were never legally married, they ruled that you have no recognized marital status in Full Moon Pack."

I frowned. "What does that mean?"

"It means they want you to return to Blood Moon Pack."

My entire body went cold.

"What?"

"According to the elders, you’re still registered as a member of Kenneth’s pack. They said that since the marriage agreement has been dissolved, you have to return to him."

"No!" I whispered, pulling my hands away from his. "Lucian, please tell me you’re joking!"

"I’m not, sweetheart. But you’re not going back there. I made that very clear to them."

I shook my head, feeling panic rise in my chest. I knew exactly what awaited me in Blood Moon Pack. Alpha Kenneth had never cared about me. He had used me to protect his daughter and his pack, and now that Annabel was back, there was no telling what he might do to me.

"I can’t go back there, Lucian. Please, I can’t!"

"And you won’t," he assured me, reaching for my hands again. "I told the council I wouldn’t allow Kenneth to take you away."

"But he won’t approve my transfer! You know what he’s like!"

"I know. The bastard said as much during the meeting."

I lowered my gaze, struggling to control my fear. Then I noticed that Lucian was still looking at me with that troubled expression.

"There’s something else, isn’t there?"

He hesitated before answering. "Lucas intervened."

My heart gave an unexpected flutter at the mention of his name.

"Lucas?"

"Yes. He announced that he was placing you under royal protection. Apparently, that means Kenneth can’t force you to return to Blood Moon Pack."

I blinked in surprise. Lucas had protected me?

After what had happened the previous night, I hadn’t known what to expect from him. I still remembered the expression on his face when he appeared in my bedroom and found Lucian and me together. He had looked so angry that I had barely been able to meet his eyes. And yet, despite everything, he had stepped in to protect me.

"That was kind of him," I murmured.

Lucian let out a humorless laugh. "Kind? Olivia, you haven’t heard the rest."

I frowned. "What do you mean?"

He stood abruptly and began pacing in front of the sofa.

"When Lucas first announced that he was placing you under royal protection, I thought he meant you could remain here. I was actually relieved. I thought he’d finally decided to help us."

"And?"

Lucian stopped pacing and turned toward me. "He wants you to move into the royal palace."

I stared at him in disbelief.

"What?"

"He told the council that you would be staying with him at the royal palace until further notice."

For several seconds, I couldn’t speak. The royal palace? With Lucas?

"Olivia?"

I looked up at Lucian.

"Why aren’t you saying anything?"

"I’m just surprised," I admitted. "Did he explain why I have to stay at the palace?"

"He claims it’s for your protection. I told him you could remain here under his protection, but he refused. He insisted that you had to live with him."

I lowered my gaze, trying to make sense of everything. I loved Lucian. After everything we had shared, I couldn’t imagine simply walking away from him. But I couldn’t deny that I had feelings for Lucas too, and the thought of living with him made my heart race in a way I didn’t want to acknowledge.

"Lucian, maybe he’s genuinely trying to protect me," I said carefully.

"Then he can protect you while you stay here!" Lucian snapped. "Why the hell does he need to take you to his palace?"

I flinched slightly, and he immediately sighed.

"I’m sorry, sweetheart. I’m not angry with you."

"I know."

He returned to the sofa and took my hands again.

"Listen to me, Olivia. I don’t care what Lucas says. I’m not allowing him to take you away from me."

"But he’s the Alpha King," I reminded him. "Can you really refuse his order?"

"I’ll find a way."

"Lucian, please don’t do anything reckless. I don’t want you getting into trouble because of me."

He cupped my face in his hands, his expression softening.

"And I don’t want to lose you. I love you, Olivia. I meant everything I said last night, and I’m not going to let my brother separate us just because he has the power to do so."

My eyes filled with tears.

"I love you too," I whispered.

He pulled me into his arms, and I held him tightly, wishing there was some way to make all our problems disappear.

"Everything will be all right," he murmured, kissing my forehead. "I promise you."

"Are you going to speak to Lucas?"

"Yes. And this time, he’ll have to listen to me."

I wanted to believe him, but I knew how stubborn Lucas could be. Once he made up his mind about something, convincing him to change it wouldn’t be easy.

"Just promise me you won’t fight him," I whispered.

Lucian sighed. "I’ll try to settle this without a fight."

Before I could respond, hurried footsteps sounded from the hallway. We both turned toward the entrance as Leo appeared, looking unusually tense.

"Lucian!" he called.

"What is it?" Lucian demanded.

Leo glanced at me before answering.

"Three royal guards and a messenger have arrived at the gate. They’ve brought an official decree from His Majesty."

My heart began pounding.

"What decree?" Lucian asked, although his expression suggested he already knew.

"The order transferring Olivia to the royal palace. They’ve also brought al car to take her there immediately."

"What?" I whispered.

Lucian released me and rose to his feet.

"Tell them to get the fuck out of my pack!"

"Lucian, please!" I cried, grabbing his arm.

But Leo remained where he was, his expression growing even more troubled.

"There’s something else you need to know."

Lucian glared at him. "What now?"

Leo swallowed nervously.

"The messenger said His Majesty has given strict instructions. If you refuse to release Olivia or prevent the royal guards from taking her..."

He hesitated.

"Finish what you’re saying, Leo!" Lucian snapped.

Leo took a deep breath.

"Your refusal will be considered an act of rebellion against the crown, and His Majesty will regard it as a declaration of war by Full Moon Pack against the Royal Pack."

My blood ran cold. War?

I slowly turned toward Lucian, expecting him to look frightened. But the expression on his face terrified me even more.

He wasn’t frightened.

He was furious.