I rolled my eyes but squared my shoulders. As much as I hated
these formalities, these people had worked hard for this
moment. I wouldn’t insult them by sulking about it.
Asher lifted Mia into his arms, and I straightened my posture as
we stepped out of the car.
The second we did, flower garlands were draped around our
necks, and a group of young warriors broke into dance, moving
rhythmically to the sound of drums.
I blinked, taken aback. I had expected to be met with questions-
where we had gone, why we left, what was next. But instead,
they were celebrating us.
A voice cut through the crowd, belonging to a woman I barely
recognized.
“We don’t know you that well, Queen Violet,” a member said,
stepping forward. “But in the little time you’ve been here,
you’ve given us something our previous leaders never did.”
I frowned. “And what’s that?”
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A slow smile spread across her lips.
“Respect.”
Violet’s POV
The Pack gave us an honor I wasn’t expecting. After everything
we had sacrificed to get here, being appreciated like this felt
strange–but in a good way.
“Oh my god, I missed you so much,” Olivia practically tackled
me into a hug, squeezing me like she was trying to merge our
souls. I laughed, wrapping my arms around her just as tightly.
“I missed you too,” I teased. It felt good to be back with her, even
if my return came with more stress than relaxation. My
relationship with my brother might have changed, but I didn’t
want that to affect what Olivia and I had.
Her eyes darted to my stomach, and she arched an eyebrow.
“Tell me I’m not hearing what I think I’m hearing.”
I smirked, placing a hand over my belly. “You’re about to be an
aunt again.”
A mix of emotions flickered across her face–excitement,
something like hesitation, and then a carefully controlled smile.
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“That’s, amazing. Congrats, really.”
Something felt off. I knew Olivia too well. She was happy, but
there was something else underneath that forced smile. I didn’t
press her on it right away, though.
After the pack’s welcome, we excused ourselves to freshen up
before heading to the party. Asher went off with Simon and
Philip, which left me alone with Olivia. It wasn’t long before I
caught her staring at me, lost in thought.
“What’s wrong?” I asked, leaning on the counter beside her.
She hesitated, biting her lip. “Nothing’s wrong. I’m just really
happy for you.”
I crossed my arms, giving her a knowing look. “Olivia, we’ve
been friends long enough for you to know you can’t lie to me. What’s really going on?”
She sighed, playing with the hem of her shirt. “Please don’t take
this the wrong way, but. I’m jealous.”
That caught me off guard. “Jealous?”
She nodded, her expression sad. “Philip and I have been trying for a baby since we mated, but for some reason, it just isn’t
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happening. I keep telling myself that things happen for a
reason, but it’s hard watching you get what I want so easily!”
I reached for her hand, squeezing it gently. “Olivia, just because
it hasn’t happened yet doesn’t mean it won’t. I know you’ll be an
incredible mom one day. It’s only a matter of time.”
C
She let out a shaky breath. “I just wish ‘one day‘ would hurry up
already. I see how much Philip wants a baby, and I feel like I’m
letting him down.”
I pulled her into a hug. “You are not letting anyone down. Your
worth isn’t measured by whether you can have kids. He loves
you for you.”
She sniffled against my shoulder. “I know, I just. I wish it were
easier.”
Before I could say more, a voice interrupted us. “Excuse me,
ladies, am I intruding?”
We turned to see Alpha Charlotte standing in the doorway.
Olivia quickly wiped her tears and forced a smile. “No, actually,
you’re saving me from her endless pep talks.”
Alpha Charlotte’s lips twitched in amusement as she stepped
inside. “I heard congratulations are in order.”
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I gave a polite smile. “Yeah, we’re excited.” I wasn’t sure how to feel about her acknowledging my pregnancy, knowing she had abandoned her own children. But I wasn’t here to pick fights.
She tilted her head. “You should go meet the Seer.”
C
My brows furrowed. “The Seer? What does that have to do
with my pregnancy?”
She hesitated, choosing her words carefully. “It’s important to
ensure your baby’s safety.”
A cold feeling settled in my stomach. “Is there something I
should know?”
Charlotte held my gaze, but I could tell she wasn’t saying
everything. “Just go. It’s better to be safe than sorry.”
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Chapter139
