Chapter 110: Plead

OLIVIA’S POV

For several seconds, nobody said a word. I stood beside Lucian, staring at Leo as his warning echoed through my mind. A declaration of war? All because Lucas wanted me at the royal palace?

"Tell them to leave," Lucian ordered coldly.

Leo hesitated. "Alpha, I don’t think that’s a good idea."

"Did you not hear what I said? Tell those bastards to get out of my pack!"

"Lucian, please!" I tightened my grip on his arm, but he barely seemed to notice me.

"Lucian, this is a royal decree," Leo reminded him. "If we refuse to comply, your brother has every right to take action against Full Moon Pack. We cannot afford to turn this into a confrontation with the royal household."

Lucian let out a bitter laugh. "So what do you expect me to do, Leo? Hand Olivia over to my brother and pretend everything is fine?"

"That’s not what I’m saying. I’m only asking you to consider what could happen if you refuse."

"I know exactly what could happen!" Lucian snapped. "And I don’t give a damn! Lucas can strip me of my title if he wants, but I’m not allowing him to take Olivia away from me!"

My heart tightened at his words. I knew how much being Alpha meant to Lucian. He had spent years leading Full Moon Pack, protecting its people, and earning their respect. Yet here he was, standing before me, prepared to lose everything because of me.

"Lucian, you can’t do that," I whispered.

He turned toward me. "Sweetheart, don’t worry about this. I’ll handle it."

"But how? Leo just told you what will happen if you refuse!"

"Then let Lucas come here and explain himself! If he wants to threaten my pack, he should have the courage to do it to my face instead of hiding behind a royal decree!"

Leo sighed. "Alpha, please. This isn’t only about your position anymore. If the royal household considers our refusal an act of rebellion, every warrior in Full Moon Pack could be affected. We have families here, innocent people who have nothing to do with this disagreement."

Lucian’s jaw tightened, but he didn’t answer immediately. I could see the anger burning in his eyes, and I knew he was struggling to control himself.

I slowly released his arm and stepped directly in front of him.

"Lucian, I’m going."

He stared at me as though he hadn’t heard me correctly.

"What?"

"I said I’m going to the royal palace."

"Absolutely not!" he snapped. "Olivia, we just discussed this. You’re not leaving with those guards."

"But I have to!"

"No, you don’t!"

"Lucian, please listen to me!" I cried, feeling tears gather in my eyes. "I love you, and I don’t want to leave you. But I can’t allow innocent people to suffer because you refuse to obey your brother’s order. What if Lucas really declares war against Full Moon Pack? What happens to everyone living here?"

"He wouldn’t dare!"

"How can you be so sure? He’s already sent a royal decree threatening your pack!"

Lucian stared at me for a moment before turning away angrily. He ran both hands through his hair, muttering a curse beneath his breath.

"Fuck! I can’t believe Lucas is doing this to me."

I moved closer and gently touched his arm.

"Lucian, I’m not going back to Blood Moon Pack. I’m only going to the royal palace. At least I’ll be safe there, and you can still come to see me whenever you want. All you have to do is teleport. It’s not as though we’ll be completely separated."

He turned sharply toward me, his expression filled with frustration.

"Olivia, do you honestly think teleporting to see you is the same as having you here with me?"

I blinked, surprised by his question.

"That’s not what I meant."

"I know, sweetheart, but you don’t understand." He took a deep breath and gently held my shoulders. "It’s not just about being able to see you whenever I want. It’s about having you here, in this house, with me. I’ve gotten used to your presence, Olivia. Your scent is everywhere. I can smell you when I walk into my bedroom, when I lie on my bed, even when you’re not standing beside me."

My heart tightened painfully as I listened to him.

"I’ve gotten used to waking up knowing you’re somewhere in this mansion," he continued, his voice growing quieter. "Knowing I can walk into a room and find you there. I don’t want to come home every evening to an empty bedroom or lie in bed wondering what you’re doing in another man’s palace. Do you understand what I’m saying?"

"Lucian..." I whispered, feeling tears gather in my eyes.

"And that’s not even the worst part." His jaw tightened again. "Do you honestly think this is about your safety?"

I frowned. "What do you mean?"

"Olivia, my brother has feelings for you! You know that, don’t you?"

My heart skipped a beat.

I lowered my gaze, unable to answer immediately. Lucas had already confessed his feelings to me, and although I had tried not to think too much about it, I couldn’t pretend that his confession meant nothing.

"Olivia, look at me."

I slowly raised my head to meet his gaze.

"Lucas isn’t taking you to the royal palace because he suddenly became concerned about your safety. He’s doing this because he wants you close to him. He’s using his position as Alpha King to separate us, and I refuse to pretend otherwise."

"Maybe you’re right," I admitted quietly. "But that doesn’t mean I have to return his feelings."

Lucian studied my face carefully.

"Do you have feelings for him?"

My breath caught in my throat.

Of all the questions he could have asked me, that was the one I had been hoping to avoid. I cared about Lucas, and there was no point denying it to myself. But I also loved Lucian, and the thought of hurting him made my chest ache.

"Lucian..."

"Please, Olivia. Just answer me."

I swallowed nervously. "I care about Lucas, but that doesn’t change what I feel for you. I love you, Lucian. I wouldn’t be standing here begging you not to risk your pack if I didn’t."

He remained silent for several seconds, searching my face as though he was trying to understand everything I hadn’t said.

"Can you promise me that living with Lucas won’t change how you feel about me?" he finally asked.

I felt tears burning behind my eyes.

"Lucian, I can’t predict what will happen tomorrow, but I know that I love you right now. I’m not going to the palace because I want to leave you. I’m going because I don’t want anyone getting hurt."

He closed his eyes briefly before pulling me into his arms. I wrapped my arms around him, pressing my face against his chest as he held me tightly.

"Fuck, Olivia," he whispered. "I don’t want you to go."

"I know. I don’t want to leave either."

For a while, we simply held each other. I could feel how tense his body was, and I wished there was something I could say to make him feel better. I understood what he meant about my presence in the mansion. I had also grown accustomed to having him around, hearing his voice, and knowing that he was only a few rooms away whenever I needed him. The thought of sleeping somewhere else that night made my chest ache.

Eventually, Lucian released me and turned toward Leo.

"Tell the messenger Olivia will go with them," Lucian said through clenched teeth. "But if she hadn’t agreed to this herself, I swear no royal decree would have made me let her go."