#Chapter 9 It Has To Be You… Maybe

Olivia POV
I stood at last, helping Reese to his feet. I half expected Gabriel to be by my side after witnessing such an odd moment with someone he thought of as a stranger, but instead Herold made it to me first.
His hand found my arm, pulling me out of earshot of the crowd. His crimson eyes held so much anger and confusion, I’ve seen it all before.
“It’s you, isn’t it? You’re Olivia?”
My heart sinks straight into my stomach, making me ill.
“I know it’s you,” he huffs. “My wolf might tell me differently but it’s the only explanation. It’s the only way you would have known how to help him.”
I yank my arm free of his grasp, hating the feeling of his hand on my elbow. “How dare you insinuate such a preposterous lie, Alpha Herold? You know damn well that you are the reason your mate has died. You are at fault for losing her. Don’t you dare approach me now as some form of healing for your broken, black heart.”
He hardly flinches at my words, smiling coyly. “I’ve never heard you speak so boldly to me before, Olivia.”
“I am not Olivia!”
He reaches for me anyways, his arm daring to slide around my back, as though to pull me into some false, ego-induced embrace. I panic slightly, alone in the hallway outside of the mourning room, feeling helplessly tethered to my old mate.
I act out of rational, doing the only thing that comes to mind in this moment. I slap him straight across the face, the noise audible and stilling him instantly. He drops his grasp off of my arm, feeling around his cheek as the pink mark glowers under the dim lights of the funeral home.
Thankfully, Gabriel must have heard the noise, busting into he hall and pushing me behind his hip, staring down the Alpha yet again. I cling to his arm, weeping tears brushing down my cheeks as I had almost begun to pity the monster who got me killed.
“He is accusing me of falsities, mate,” I breathe, my pulse so rapid I feel it in my throat. “And to do it in front of his mates coffin? I can’t believe the audacity of this Alpha.”
Gabriel waved me from speaking further, his anger palpable in the air now. “Is this true, Alpha Herold? Aside from trying to touch my mate, did you really try to accuse her of anything? I think the only wolf here who has done anything worth accusation, is you.”
Herold clenches his fists at his sides. “She knew exactly how to help Reese, Olivia’s brother. How is that not a little alarming? She did it just like Olivia has done in the past. She knew where the medication was and how to use it. Explain that.”
I open my mouth, ready to bury this topic, but Gabriel sticks up for me.
“How dare you continue this meaningless charade against your dead mate? You can’t come up with anything better to hide the fact that your mate is dead, in that coffin over there, because of you.”
Herold winces in pain, as though he feels that emotion at all.
“I suggest you go back in there and play your part as the mourning Alpha some more,” Gabriel huffs. “You will never touch my mate again. Do you understand?”
Herold chokes on a reply, “yeah. I understand.”
I watch my old Alpha waltz back into the showing room, my head spinning. Gabriel tries to lead me back in there as well, but I feel sick to my stomach. I’ve hardly ever challenged Herold like this. Doing it now, I don’t know if I feel pride in winning or pain in reliving all of those past aches yet again.
Gabriel turns to me, his hands grasping both of mine, his touch so tender and loving. “I’ve seen such another side of you today, my dear.”
I panic. “I’m sorry for my crass behavior, Alpha.”
“No, I’m not upset,” he hums. His eyes are beautifully brown with emerald streaks. “You’re so protective of that little Luna, my dear. You seem so passionate about her wrongful passing and I can’t help but feel a little honored by your protectiveness.”
“Thank you,” I hum. “It’s a good quality but I should have kept my cool with Alpha Herold. I feel so strongly about Olivia’s passing, I can’t help but hate that man for what he allowed to happen to her. She was a good woman and she loved her mate—he only used her and even brought his mistress to the funeral.” I tense up, my hands clammy and sweaty. “I hate him.”
Gabriel brushes his hand across my cheek, swiping away the tears that fall there.
“Such a caring Luna,” he mutters. He holds me now, in my weeping state, the wolves attending the funeral all watch us now, something so caring in our embrace. “You are protective of the less fortunate. It’s nothing to cry about, my dear. It’s a great quality to have. I am honored to have a mate like you, a mate who would do anything to protect her kind.”
I try not to react to his words, feeling overwhelmed in this moment. Everyone has to be thinking what Herold was, wondering how I knew to help Reese and how I’ve come about this weeping, angry facade. I’m supposed to be the Queen Luna, a typically stoic and noble woman.
I take my seat in the back, burying my face into my hands. Reese is up and walking again, though thoroughly exhausted. Gabriel won’t leave my side now, protectively posturing beside me, his hand holding my shoulder gently. I try to block out the noise but when I peer up, I watch Alicia corner Herold in the back of the room, scolding him endlessly.
“How dare you embarrass me like that?” she growls, slinging a finger in his face, like a warning. I’ve never seen Herold so broken, taking her beratement without care. “You have never acted like this before, Herold. You’re acting like a fool and making me look bad.”
Herold shakes his head, his eyes so tired and rung with purple wrinkles. “I’m sorry. It’s been a hard day today and I’m having trouble thinking straight. Seeing Reese here and watching the Queen Luna save him, I can’t help but feel Olivia’s spirit in the room.”
“Forget about her fucking spirit,” Alicia snaps.
Herold’s eyes grow wide. “Why are you so adamant about me forgetting Olivia? We are at her funeral. She is dead. You have no sympathy for me losing my mate of five years.”
Alicia rolls her eyes, turning abruptly to storm out, stopped only when she comes face to face with Reese. I dare to stand, to push her from my brother, but I can’t blow my cover more than I already have. Reese is strong, anyways. He has gone toe-to-toe with Alicia before, no matter the consequences.
I can see the hate in her eyes now. Whatever she is thinking about my brother, it isn’t good. It’s the same look she’s given me, knowing damn well that when she gets the opportunity to strike, she will.
Her next target? My dear brother.