บท 12: A BOLD DECLARATION
Olivia stood confidently at the center of the living room, surrounded by maids and omegas, but inside, she felt a flicker of uncertainty as Antonio's rejection stung deeply
"Thank you all for coming," she began, her voice smooth and authoritative. "I am Olivia, and I'm here to announce that I will soon be your Luna. Together, we will ensure the prosperity and strength of this pack."
The room buzzed with excitement and curiosity. The maids and omegas exchanged glances, some of them smiling with newfound hope. Antonio's heart sank, his anger rising as he heard Olivia's bold declaration. His fists clenched, and he bit his lower lip, feeling trapped between his love for Rachel and his duty to the pack. His heart ached with the desire to defend Rachel, to assert his refusal to accept anyone else as his Luna. But the visible hope in the eyes of his pack members stopped him. He couldn't bear to crush their renewed optimism, even if it meant temporarily accepting Olivia's presence.
For years, the pack had been in turmoil, uncertainty clouding their future. The prospect of a Luna, seemed to lift their spirits. Antonio clenched his fists as he but his lower lip, feeling trapped between his love for Rachel and his duty to the pack.
Olivia continued, her eyes scanning the room. "I know there have been challenges, but I promise to stand by Antonio's side and lead this pack with strength and compassion. We will face any obstacles together and emerge stronger than ever."
Taking a deep breath, Antonio stepped into the room, his expression neutral. The room fell silent as all eyes turned to him. Olivia met his gaze, a hint of challenge in her eyes.
Antonio stared into Olivia's eyes, anger seething within him. Without saying a word, he took the stairs up into his bedroom.
His heart ached for Rachel, the only woman he had ever truly loved, he wished he could hear her sweet comforting voice. Pulling out his phone, he dialed Rachel's number for the umpteenth time, but it still wasn't connecting. A feeling of helplessness washed over him.
I miss you Rachel, where are you?
Desperate for some connection to her, he opened his gallery and began scrolling through the series of pictures Rachel had sent him. Each image brought back memories that made her absence hurt even more. He saw her smiling face, the candid moments they shared, the love and joy that radiated from each snapshot. The ache in his heart grew unbearable.
Just as he was about to give in to tears, the door creaked open, and Olivia entered the room. Her presence immediately intensified his frustration and sorrow.
What do you want, Olivia?" Antonio asked, his voice strained and barely controlled.
"I wanted to talk, Antonio. About us," Olivia said, taking a step closer.
Antonio scoffed. "Us?"
Olivia sighed, her voice tinged with a mix of frustration and sympathy. "Yes, Us. I'm not trying to replace Rachel. I'm just taking what rightfully belongs to me."
Antonio laughed wickedly as he ran his hand through his hair. "What belongs to you? Remember, Olivia, you rejected and humiliated me. And now what rightfully… you must be joking"
Olivia took a step closer, her expression determined. "If it's about the rejection, I'm sorry. I just needed an excuse to get away from marriage. That aside, See, Antonio, I understand that you're hurting. But you can't let your personal feelings jeopardize the pack's future. We need to think about what's best for everyone."
Antonio's eyes flashed with anger as he looked up at her. "Don't talk to me about what's best for the pack. I've dedicated my life to this pack. I've followed every tradition, every rule. This is the one thing I'm asking for, and you're trying to take it away."
Olivia's gaze softened. "I'm not your enemy, Antonio. We can work together, you don't need Rachel for anything because you have me"
Antonio looked at Olivia and then turned away from her, hiding the tears welling up in his eyes. Olivia sat on the bed close to him and placed her hand on his shoulder, trying to offer comfort.
Antonio yanked her hand off, his voice filled with anger and pain. "Don't you ever touch me," he spat, his voice trembling. Without another word, he stormed out of the room, leaving Olivia sitting alone.
As Antonio wandered through the pack's territory, the cool night air doing little to soothe his turmoil, he couldn't shake the feeling that something was about to change. The elders' pressure, Olivia's determination, and Rachel's absence all weighed heavily on him.
As he walked, he encountered Jerome, who had been waiting for an update. Seeing the anguish on Antonio's face, Jerome approached cautiously.
"Alpha?" Jerome called.
Antonio let out a fake smile, his voice barely above a whisper. "Olivia. She tried to comfort me, but I can't accept it. I want Rachel."
Jerome nodded, understanding the depth of his alpha's pain. "We'll keep looking for her, and I can assure you that we'll find her soon. We won't give up until we find Rachel."
Antonio took a deep breath, trying to steady himself. "Thank you, Jerome. I don't know what I'd do without your support."
"We're in this together," Jerome said firmly. "You focus on the pack duties while we find Rachel."
Antonio nodded, feeling a small measure of comfort from Jerome's words.
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