Chapter 15: Sacred Grounds
Chapter 15: Sacred Grounds
(Olivia''s POV)
I felt my stomach lurch violently as Ethan carried me into my bedroom. The moonlight wine I''d consumed rushed back up my throat without warning.
"Ethan-I''m going to-" I couldn''t finish my sentence before the contents of my stomach
erupted.
The vomit sttered across his expensive shirt, dripping down onto his pants. Ethan froze, his amber eyes widening with shock before narrowing with disgust.
He set me down on the edge of the bed immediately, stepping back as if I were contagious. The revulsion on his face was unmistakable.
"I''m sorry," I mumbled, mortified and still dizzy.
Without a word, Ethan stalked to my bathroom. I heard water running as he attempted to clean himself up.
When he emerged, his shirt was wet where he''d tried to wash away the mess. His jaw was
clenched tight, his earlier tendernesspletely evaporated.
"I''ll see myself out," he said coldly, not meeting my eyes.
The door mmed behind him, leaving me alone in the silence of my apartment. I curled up
on my bed, my body still aching from the assault and now from the aftermath of too much
wine.
I fell into a restless sleep, haunted by memories of hands grabbing me in dark alleys and
amber eyes filled with disgust.
The following month passed in a blur of focused determination. I poured every ounce of
energy into my crystal design for the Pack Healer''s Crystal Competition.
My fingers ached as I sketchedte into the night, the special moonwood pencils moving across the pages of my moonstone-infused sketchbook. Every line was drawn with purpose,
every configuration calcted for maximum healing potential.
"This has to work," I whispered to Lily''s portrait as I worked. "This is for you, baby."
The $50,000 prize money would secure the sacred burial ground I''d found for Lily''s ashes.
Chapter
Sacred Grounds
Located in a peaceful clearing at the edge of pack territory, the ground was said to help
departed wolf spirits find peace in the afterlife.
I barely ate or slept, driven by the desperate need to give my daughter a proper resting ce. My design incorporated innovative uses of healing crystals that could revolutionize pack
medicine.
James visited asionally, bringing food and forcing me to take breaks.
"Liv, you need to rest," he insisted one evening, his hazel eyes concerned as he took in my exhausted appearance.
I shook my head stubbornly. "I can''t. This is my only chance to get the money for Lily''s burial ground."
James sighed but didn''t argue further. He understood what this meant to me.
The night before thepetition, I sat beside the Moonwood Ceremonial Urn containing Lily''s
ashes.
"Tomorrow, sweetheart," I promised, my fingers tracing the intricate carvings on the urn.
"Tomorrow I''ll win this for you."
On the day of the award ceremony, I arrived at Lunar Tower with mypleted design. The
crystal configurations I''d created were unlike anything seen before in pack healing techniques.
Backstage, I encountered Elder Willow. Her wise eyes crinkled at the corners as she smiled at
1. me.
"Olivia, my dear," she greeted, taking my hands in hers. "Your design has impressed everyone."
My heart leaped with hope. "Really?"
Elder Willow leaned closer, her voice dropping to a whisper. "The judges were astounded by
your innovation. I shouldn''t say more, but..." She squeezed my hands meaningfully, her eyes
twinkling with barely contained excitement.
The implication was clear - I had won.
Relief flooded through me, so powerful that I had to excuse myself. I hurried to
the refreshment room, tears of joy streaming down my face.
"Lily," I whispered, leaning against the wall. "We did it, baby. You''ll have your resting ce."
I allowed myself to imagine it - the peaceful clearing, the sacred ground, the small memorial marker I would ce there. Lily''s spirit would finally have a proper home.
215
After campesing myself, I dalbed at my eyes and left the refreshment room, nning to gor something to eat before the ceremony
As I walked through the confider, a familiar scent caught my attention pine and interi Ethan''s distinctive cologne
I paused, peering around the corner. There he stood with Victoria Frost, their bodies close, heads bent together in intimate conversation.
My stomach lightened, but it wasn''t their closeness that troubled me most they wSIG speaking with two of thepetition officials, their expressions serious
Victoria''s hand rested on one officials arm, her smile sweet and persuasive, Ethan stood tall beside her, his Alpha presence impossible to ignore
Unease crept into my heart. Something felt wrong.
I backed away before they could spot me, hurrying toward one of the private preparation
While fixing my makeup before the ceremony, my phone rang Elder Willow''s name shed on
the screen
"Hello?" I answered, my voice cheerful despite my earlier unease
"Olivia" Elder Willow''s tone had changedpletely from our earlier encounter.
She sounded troubled. "I wanted to speak with you before the ceremony"
My hand froze, mascara wand hovering near my eye. "What''s wrong?"
"I just... I don''t want you to get your hopes up about the results"
The mascara wand ttered onto the vanity. "What do you mean? You said my design
impressed everyone."
"It did, my dear. It truly did." Elder Willow sighed heavily. "But sometimes in these
"What factors?" I demanded, my voice shaking.
After a long pause, Elder Willow spoke reluctantly. "Politics, Influence. I''ve just learned the win has been given to Victoria Frost"
The room seemed to spin around me. "But my design was better. You said so
yourself
"It was. Everyone knows it was" Another heavy sigh. "I''m sorry, Olivia. There''s nothing I can
do."
Chapter 15 Sacred Grounds
As the call ended, I remembered seeing Ethan and Victoria with thepetition officials. The
realization hit me like a physical blow.
Ethan had used his influence to steal my victory and give it to Victoria.
I stormed through Lunar Tower, my body trembling with rage and grief. Pack
members
scattered out of my way, sensing the fury radiating from me.
I found Ethan''s private lounge and burst through the door without knocking. He
looked up from
his desk, amber eyes narrowing at my intrusion.
"Why did you give my rightful victory to Victoria?" I demanded, my voice breaking
with
emotion.
Ethan leaned back in his chair, his expression cold and dismissive. "I don''t know what you''re
talking about."
"Don''t lie to me!" I mmed my hands on his desk. "Elder Willow told me my design was the
best. Everyone knew it. But somehow Victoria wins? After I saw you speaking with
the
officials?"
Ethan''s jaw tightened. "Is that what this is about? Competing with Victoria?"
His words stoked my anger further. "This isn''t about Victoria!"
"Then what is it about?" he asked, his tone bored, as if my distress was merely an
inconvenience.
"It''s about Lily!" I cried, tears streaming down my face. "The prize money was for Lily''s burial
ground!"
Something flickered in Ethan''s eyes at the mention of our daughter. Surprise,
perhaps, or
confusion.
"Burial ground?" he repeated.
"For her ashes," I exined, my voice dropping to a pained whisper. "The ceremonial urn isn''t
enough. She needs a proper resting ce. A sacred ground where her spirit can find peace."
Ethan''s expression hardened once more. "You''re being dramatic. There''s no need
for such
expense."
I stared at him in disbelief. "Dramatic? This is your daughter we''re talking about!"
"If
you needed money, you could have asked," he said coldly.
"I don''t want your charity!" I spat. "I wanted to earn this for her. That $50,000 prize money was
Chapter 15 Sacred Grounds
Lily''s only chance for a proper burial," I whispered, tears streaming down my face.