CHAPTER 40

OLIVIA'S POV
I bit my lip, trying to press myself against the wall. I was sure they hadn't noticed me yet. I peeped around the corner to see if they were in the hall, releasing a low breath when I found out they weren't.
Julian didn't know I was following him. I got closer to the door of his office and a sour tangy order drifted through the air. I heard screams not a second later and I ignored the voice in my head telling me to run and peeped through the door.
Julian was standing over a man, horror written across his face. The man was shaking, electricity licking his hands and spreading across his body. Holden was saying something, but I couldn't hear him because of the water in my ears.
I decided to leave there, but the image was burning itself into my memory. I could still smell his burnt flesh. I could still hear his screams. What on earth had happened? I shook my head, moving to my room.
I was stupid to try and follow Julian. I shouldn't have. I felt bile rise up in my throat and I put my hand over my mouth to keep it down. I couldn't afford to vomit. I couldn't.
I burst through the door in my room, heading straight for the bathroom. I hurled all my breakfast and everything else I had eaten into the toilet. I kept remembering the look on his face and it made me keep heaving my guts out.
I finally stopped and felt my belly being ridiculously empty. I sat down by the toilet, gripping the seat. Did Julian do that to him? I remembered the look of horror on Julian's face and shook my head. "No. It wasn't Julian. It was something else."
I used the washing hand basin to pull myself off the floor, turning on the sink. I began washing my mouth, getting rid of any remnants of the vomit. I rinsed out my mouth and washed my face one more time.
I checked my clothes for any remnants of the vomit and was relieved when I found none. I moved into my room, throwing myself on the bed. I closed my eyes, trying to forget what I just saw, but I kept seeing him.
I didn't know when the first sob ripped out of my throat. I kept sobbing and sobbing. I buried my face in my pillow so my screams wouldn't be heard by anyone else. I didn't know how to explain what I had seen without breaking down again.
I released a low breath, trying to calm myself with the breathing techniques I had taught myself. I could do this. It wasn't a big deal. I could do this.
I closed my eyes, trying to concentrate on keeping my breathing even. The more times I did it, the more times I could feel myself relax. I didn't stray from the breathing techniques, counting each breath in my head.
I briefly opened my eyes, casting my gaze to the door, I prayed no one would come in. Especially Julian. I was sure I wouldn't be able to look at him the same way. I shook off the thoughts, going back to focusing on my breathing.
I had calmed down and felt all my muscles relax when the door opened. I kept my eyes closed, hoping whoever it was would think I am sleeping and leave. I kept my breathing even and I heard them step closer.
Leave. Leave. Leave. "I know you saw. I heard you crying, Olivia." Julian's voice made my eyes snap open and when I saw the look on his face I broke down again.
"Why did you follow me?" He whispered, his face looking more broken than I had ever seen it. I shook my head, closing my eyes. "I am sorry." I could feel the sobs closing my throat and I shook my head again.
"Baby. You need to know something." I pressed my hand over my ears, shaking my head. "You need to leave, Julian." He cursed and I heard him move closer. "Olivia. Do you actually think I did that?"
I opened my eyes, staring at him. He came closer, dropping to his knees beside the bed. "Do you?" "You were standing over his body, Julian. What the fuck was I supposed to think? My mind is telling me it's not you and I am overreacting."
I wiped my face, refusing to face him with tears in my eyes. "But the rational side of me is telling me you were standing over his body. You were looking at him when it happened."
Julian laughed, rubbing at his face. "You don't trust me?" I rolled my eyes. refusing to look at him. I settled for the wall behind him instead. "It is not a matter of trust. I do trust you. But you were standing over his body, Julian. Not Holden. Not anyone else. You."
Julian reached out to touch me and I shifted out of his reach. His face fell and I ignored how much it tore my heart in two. "You need to leave, Julian. I don't think I can spend time with you now."
Julian made a whine in his throat. "You are going to break us. You don't want to do this, Liv. Please. Hear me out." I could feel my heart break as I looked at him, but I steeled my face and shook my head.
"I can't do it. I am sorry. I just need time. I am not going to leave. I just need time to think." Julian moaned, reaching out to touch me but stopping halfway. "You are killing us, Olivia. Anyone but you can do this to us. Please."
I saw his wolf in his eyes, and I could feel the tears start falling again. "I am sorry, Julian. I just need time." His face abruptly went cold and he got off his knees.
He brushed his body, his aura suddenly so cold I could feel myself shiver. "I am giving you what you want. You said you needed space and time, right?" He cleared his throat and gave me a tight smile. "We would give it to you."
He leaned in close and grabbed my chin, staring at me dead in the eye. "And we are staying away for only 2 days, Olivia. Two days and we would come back. If you make the first move before then, fine. If you don't..."
He trailed off, letting me use my imagination to fill in the gaps. He let go off my chin, walking out of the room without even looking back. I could feel my heart break and the slam of the door sounded final.
I had gotten what I had wanted, but at what cost? I felt my heart start to shatter and I let the sob rip out from my throat. Suddenly, everything was going bad. And something told me it was all my fault.
*Veronica*
I smiled as I picked out the best flowers, selecting the most bright and colourful ones for Olivia. Last time we met, she told me she was following Julian to surprise him.
It made me angry. How much she loved him. But it was no surprise. Considering he was her mate. I was okay being her friend, anyway. I still got to see her beautiful smile everyday. I still got to smell her scent.
I still got to be in her presence and hug her. I still got to be with her. I was content having that.
I made my way to the kitchen, grabbing a vase and filling it with water. Gretel gave me a weird look. "You have an admirer in the castle now?" I shook my head, letting a secret smile lift my lips. "No. This is for the Luna. I felt she needed to pick me up."
Gretel nodded and handed me a basket of bread rolls. "In that case, give this to her too. She loves these and hates to see them go to waste." I nodded, taking the vase and basket in each hand.
Gretel made a tsking sound. "Make sure you don't drop it and you get there quickly so she can get it hot." I
I made my way to her room, humming a tune under my breath. There was something about Olivia that absolutely fascinated me. I didn't know which part of her I adored the most. I knew I loved them all.
I loved how her eyes squinted when she smiled. I loved the freckles that dotted her shoulder bones. I turned the corner, nearly bumping into Julian. He reached out to steady me, his eyes dropping to the things in my hands. "Where are you headed, Vanessa?"
I didn't want to tell him, but out of my obligation to him, I cleared my throat and stepped back. "I am going to the Luna's room, my Lord." His eyes lifted to meet mine and something that had a shiver crawling up my spine flickered in his eyes.
"I would say it's best you leave the Luna alone right now, but she needs someone. Take care of her and report back to me." What had he done? I could feel the queasiness start to build up in my belly and I held back the urge to take off.
He had to dismiss me first. He nodded, taking his hands off my forearms and jerked his head in the direction of her room. "Go."
I ran off, nearly spilling the water in the vase and the buns as I did. I could feel panic take over my actions and I burst her door down.
Olivia was sobbing. Heart wrenching sobs that broke my heart into two as I heard them. With each sob that wracked her body, the more I felt my heart begin to shatter. What did he do to her?
I moved forward and she spoke. " I told you I didn't want to see you, Julian. Leave me alone. You said you would give me two days." I cleared my throat, dropping the flowers and the buns on the coffee table. "It's not Julian."
She turned around, and when I saw her swollen eyes, I wanted to burn Julian to the ground. "Vanessa! What are you doing here?" I moved closer, hoping she wouldn't push me away. "I heard you crying. I was bringing flowers and brunch for you."
I didn't want to mention I had seen Julian on the way. She might think I was working with him and since he was the reason she was crying, she might have pushed me away. No matter what I said.
She glanced at the things on the table and lifted her eyes back to mine. "Thank you." Her voice was cracked with tears and I sat down on the bed. "Do you need a hug?" She broke down again and I wrapped my arms around her.
Julian had done this to her. He didn't love her like I did. If he did, he wouldn't make her cry like this. He wouldn't leave her alone, even if she begged him too. He would make sure she was okay. He would beg her to stay. He would wipe the tears from her face till all he could see was her beautiful smile.
I gritted my teeth, curbing my growing hatred for Julian as I ran my hands over her head. "I am going to take you out and we will forget all about this, okay?" Her only response was another sob. I steeled my heart, determination settling in. Julian had made her cry. I was going to make Julian pay.
Julian made a mistake and I was going to do him the favour of knowing exactly what you get when you make stupid mistakes. A correction. I smiled as Olivia buried her face deeper into my lap. Julian was going to learn all right and I was all to glad to be his teacher.