Back Home.
Olivia gazed at the somber landscape of the small town where she was raised, sitting in the back seat of the Jeep alongside her brother, who had determined eyes and a sealed mouth forming a straight line. The silence was not uncomfortable but rather comforting, as they both knew there was nothing to be said. They had been anticipating this moment for months. However, it was still painful since their father had just been laid to rest.
Their father was the greatest and most formidable alpha Olivia had ever known, and she felt honored and proud to call him her father. He was the leader of the largest ABO organization in the country, and at this point, it was uncertain who would succeed him. Despite being aware of his imminent demise, Leonard Moore had kept the suspense regarding his successor, even though the most plausible choice would be his only lupus alpha son, Samuel Moore. However, Lord Moore was somewhat unpredictable, to say the least, without venturing to call him insane.
A wise man whom no one would argue with, regardless of how insane his utterances might be, he was both a ruthless and fair man who knew exactly why he made his audacious decisions.
"We're almost there, Olivia," Samuel gently touched his sister's hand, a small gesture that brought comfort in that moment.
"I don't remember it being so close to the cliff..." Olivia remarked as she emerged from her thoughts and caught sight of the enormous family mansion, where she had spent her entire childhood with her family. During that time, she had felt like a girl among wild wolves, perhaps explaining why she possessed a similar temperament.
They exited the car when the driver opened the door, and Olivia's brother remained by her side as they ascended the grand staircase leading to the main entrance of the manor. Gathering the entire family for gatherings was quite challenging, as everyone was occupied with their personal lives. Nevertheless, despite these circumstances, they all loved one another.
And now, they were all present at the Moore mansion. Olivia could hardly recall the last time she had been in an environment with so many alphas. Not that she was afraid; quite the opposite, her father had taught her to be as strong as an alpha. However, her omega heritage sometimes made her feel slightly restrained, though never intimidated.
"Your luggage is already in your old room, Miss Olivia," Marie, the housekeeper, spoke in a soft and gentle voice, evoking memories of the past. "You look beautiful, dear."
"Thank you, Mama. I'm sorry I couldn't visit you during these times," Olivia looked at her brother, and he smiled at the elderly lady who had raised them since they were young—they considered her their second mother. "Those were difficult times."
"I see everyone is already here, right?" Samuel inquired of the lady.
"Only the lawyer, Bradley, is missing. He will bring your father's will. Mr. Moore wanted everything to be settled on the same day because his work cannot be halted."
"Okay, Mama, I'll go change and come down immediately." Olivia bid a swift farewell to Marie and her brother. She found it more comfortable to greet her family in more casual attire. Her uncles, cousins, business partners, and advisors were scattered throughout the living room. It was a private, family meeting reserved for those closest to her.
Discreetly ascending the steps, Olivia avoided mingling with the people and strolled through the corridors that evoked nostalgia and morbidity. As she entered her room and turned towards the door, locking it, she sensed something different than usual—a presence.
Driven by the instinct she had honed over many years, she reached down and swiftly grabbed a sharp dagger strapped to her ankle. She turned towards the source of the presence and flung the knife forcefully at the person.
"Hey, hey! Easy there, you could hurt someone with that, you know?" The man swiftly turned away, clearly surprised by the girl's aggressive reaction. He found her response amusing. "Is this how you treat visitors?" He turned his head and saw the gleaming silver dagger embedded in the wall next to his face.
The room was still dimly lit, making it difficult to discern who was actually present. But Olivia had a hunch, a hunch she didn't even want to entertain. She heard the sound of the dagger being removed from the wall and thrown once more. Reacting quickly, the young woman caught it with her left hand.
Now she was certain of who was there, as the scent of cinnamon and hibiscus emanated from the blade.
"Don't you have anything better to do than bother helpless omegas?" She asked, a mixture of wryness and irritation in her voice. She was in a moment of grief and didn't want a troublemaker tailing her.
"You, helpless?" He let out a hearty laugh. "I just didn't want to break with tradition. I had to come and greet you in the proper way." He finally stepped forward, revealing his handsome face. His green eyes beautifully complemented his golden skin, and his dark brown hair matched his appearance. The boy bowed theatrically and somewhat flirtatiously.
A charming smile adorned his face, causing Olivia to flinch momentarily before regaining her composure. Matteo Allen had been her tormentor for many years, a mischievous boy with a sharper tongue than hers.
"Oh, Matteo, I'm not in the mood for the Allens right now," the girl closed her eyes and sighed wearily. "What are you doing here? This is a private farewell. I don't want any turncoats running around my house!"
Olivia bit her tongue. It was difficult for her, as an omega, to speak that way to an alpha. If it were any other omega, no lycan would forgive such audacity. But being from a good family allowed her to assert herself more and earn the respect of others. And, of course, they were afraid of her father.
"Relax, I didn't sneak in," Matteo stood up and approached the girl. "I received this this morning. I didn't have time to attend the funeral, but it said that my brother and I should be present for the reading of Mr. Moore's will." He held up a piece of paper in his hands.
"What? Why?" Olivia quickly reached over and snatched the paper from the boy's hands, who seemed accustomed to her behavior. She skimmed over the contents of the paper, utterly puzzled. "Why does my father have anything to do with you?"
"I have no idea, but I bet we won't have to wait long to find out." Matteo gazed at Olivia from head to toe. "Wow, those shoes really make you taller. You've grown, haven't you?" He teased.
Olivia rolled her eyes. It had been years since she had set foot in that house at the edge of the world. The Allens were their neighbors, and she had spent her childhood being annoyed by the dogs, the wild wolves her father trained. The Allen twins, Matteo and Lian, were always around their house, which irritated her because her brother Samuel enjoyed spending time with them, playing pranks and testing their strength.
She still remembered the time they had hung her upside down with one ankle