Olivia''s POV
His arm wrapped around my waist, tight, protective, and warm. The other hand came up to my face and wiped my tears with his thumb.
"Don''t ever say that again," he muttered, his voice low… deep… almost angry but tender at the same time.
I blinked at him, stunned.
"You are not useless," he said. "You are the strongest woman I know. The most powerful. The bravest. The only one who never gave up on us even when we gave you every reason to walk away."
My throat closed. His voice was soft… but full of emotion I hadn''t heard from him in a very long time.
"You fought for this family when we didn''t deserve you," he continued. "You stood between us when we were ready to tear each other apart. You tried to teleport even when it hurt you. You love those kids more than your own life."
He touched my cheek again… gently.
"Don''t ever say you''re useless," he whispered. "Don''t ever insult yourself like that. Not in front of me."
His thumb brushed my cheek again. "You''re not useless, Olivia. You''re everything."
I swallowed hard.
His eyes…
His voice…
His hand on my cheek…
His arm around my waist…
Suddenly everything else faded.
The fear.
The guilt.
The panic.
The pain.
All gone… just for a moment.
And all I saw was him.
All I felt was him.
This man I loved so much.
This man I missed so deeply.
This man I wanted to hold onto forever.
It hit me all at once—I missed him.
I missed this.
I missed being close to him.
His eyes dropped to my lips.
Mine dropped to his.
For a second… I forgot everything.
I forgot the kids.
I forgot the pain.
I forgot the war.
It was just me and him.
Just us.
My heart thudded painfully as I leaned in slowly… his arm tightening around my waist like he wanted me closer—wanted me—
But before our lips could meet—
The door flew open.
We both jerked our heads around.
Levi stood there.
I jumped in shock, my whole body jerking away from Lennox''sp as if someone poured cold water on me.
I stumbled to my feet fast, wiping my face, fixing my hair, and trying to look normal.
But Levi was already standing in the doorway.
Staring.
His eyes moved from me…
to Lennox…
to how close we were.
Then he scoffed.
A deep, bitter scoff.
"You two must be kidding me…" he said, his voice low but sharp. "Even now? Even at a time like this?"
Then he turned sharply and stormed out.
My heart dropped.
I ran after him immediately. "Levi—wait!"
I reached the hallway as he kept walking fast, his shoulders shaking with anger.
"Levi!" I called again, my voice trembling.
He didn''t stop.
But I finally caught up… grabbed his arm… and he froze.
Very slowly, he turned his head toward me.
His eyes…
His eyes were filled with pain.
And jealousy.
And betrayal.
He pulled his arm from my grip and spat, "Don''t fucking touch me."
"Don''t touch me," Levi spat again, jerking his arm out of my hand.
His voice was sharp… bitter… almost trembling with a mix of anger and hurt.
"Levi, it''s not what you think," I said quickly, breathless from running after him.
He turned fully now, his eyes burning into mine. "Oh, please," he scoffed. "I''m not a fool, Olivia. I walked in and saw exactly what was happening. You and Lennox were about to kiss—don''t insult my intelligence."
My jaw tightened. "Levi—"
"No," he snapped, pointing at me. "Don''t lie. Don''t pretend. Your mouth was right there on his. You two were practically—"
"I said it''s not what you think!" I yelled back, stepping toward him.
He stared at me like my words meant nothing.
I dragged in a shaky breath and said quietly but firmly, "You know things between me and Lennox haven''t been good… you know it. That was a moment—a good moment—to mend our rtionship. The boys need that. They need all three of you united. Not fighting. Not hating each other."
Heughed.
A cold, painfulugh.
"Oh, wow. Wow." He shook his head. "So that''s what matters right now? Mending your rtionship? Olivia, are you even hearing yourself?"
"Levi—"
"No, answer me!" he snapped. "What kind of mother are you? Your kids—your babies—are kidnapped. They''re crying somewhere, scared, shaking, probably begging for help and thinking of you… and you''re here almost making out with a man—maybe even ready to fuck him if I didn''t walk in!"
The words hit me like a p.
My vision blurred with pure, hot anger.
Before I could stop myself—
SLAP!
My palm cracked across his cheek.
Levi''s head snapped to the side. His breath caught.
"Don''t you EVER," I said, my voice shaking, "question my love for my children. Don''t you EVER make it sound like I don''t care. I am dying inside! I am losing my mind! I would burn this whole world down for them!"
He blinked, stunned, the anger melting into guilt in seconds.
"I… I don''t know what got into me," he whispered. "Olivia… I—"
"Just leave me alone, Levi," I said, my voice breaking. "Please. Just… leave me alone."
I turned and walked away before he could say anything else.
Reaching my room, I leaned on the door…my chest rising and falling too fast… my hand pressed against my heart like I was trying to hold it together before it ripped apart.
The room felt too small. Too quiet. Too heavy.
Levi''s words kept reying in my head like a sharp echo I couldn''t silence.
What kind of mother are you?
Your kids are scared… crying… and you were about to make out with a man… maybe even fuck him…
I squeezed my eyes shut.
"Stop… just stop," I whispered to myself.
But the thoughts didn''t stop.
They hit harder.
Because the truth was…
Would I have kissed Lennox?
My throat tightened.
Yes.
Yes… I would have.
I would have kissed him.
I would have let him pull me close.
I would have melted into him… because in that moment I wasn''t thinking. In that moment I forgot everything. In that moment… it was just me and him. Like the world was fading and he was the only thing left.
I slid down the wall slowly… my back hitting the floor.
What kind of mother does that?
My sons were kidnapped. My babies were crying for me. Begging.
And I… I had been leaning in to kiss someone.
Tears stung my eyes.
"What is wrong with me…" I whispered.
My wolf whined softly inside me. "Don''t be hard on yourself—you were in pain… heforted you…"
But the guilt wed deeper.
Was Levi right to be angry?
Should he have shouted at me?
My chest squeezed painfully.
Maybe he had every right.
Because the truth was…
I wasn''t thinking like a mother. I wasn''t thinking like someone whose children were in danger. I wasn''t thinking at all.
I buried my face in my hands.
"I''m a mess…" I whispered. "My kids are out there… scared… and I''m here losing control."
A sob escaped before I could stop it.
"Am I… a terrible mother?" I choked out softly. "Is that what I am?"