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Chapter 18: Crazy Bella
Chapter 18: Crazy Bella
(Olivia’s POV)
“I can live anywhere by myself. Things have changed, and I feel disgusted living in that den.”
I was lying through my teeth. That den held precious memories–the first place I’d truly felt was mine. I’d spent countless hours selecting every fixture, choosing furniture that would make it feel like home.
But none of that mattered now. My priority was retrieving my mother’s moonstone white jade bracelet.
“Olivia, you don’t mean that,” Graham’s voice softened, attempting to sound wounded. “We designed that
place together.”
“Eight million for the renovations and furnishings,” I stated firmly. “That’s all I’m asking.”
There was a pause on the other end of the line.
“Fifteen million,” Graham countered. “The den is worth more than that, and you deserve fair compensation.”
My breath caught. Fifteen million would get me halfway to the thirty million I needed for the bracelet. But accepting more than I’d asked for felt dangerous–like creating a debt I’d eventually have to repay.
“Eight million is sufficient,” I insisted. “I don’t want anything extra from you.”
“Why are you being so stubborn?” Frustration edged into his voice. “Take the fifteen million, Olivia. Consider it
compensation for… everything.”
For humiliating me at our mating ceremony? For choosing my half–sister? For using my healing blood when you were wounded?
“Eight million,” I repeated coldly. “I don’t want to owe you anything.”
“You wouldn’t owe me,” Graham sighed. “Remember when we first found that den? You said it felt like home
the moment you stepped inside.”
My chest tightened at the memory. I’d been so naive then, believing in our future together.
“That was before you chose Bella over me,” I snapped. “Transfer the eight million to my account. I’ll sign. whatever paperwork is necessary.”
“Olivia-”
“Goodbye, Graham.” I ended the call before he could say anything else.
I sank onto my couch, calculating figures in my head. Eight million from Graham. My savings account held another five million. I could potentially borrow three million from Lily. That still left me fourteen million short of the thirty million starting bid for my mother’s bracelet.
I let out a sigh, Cora stirring restlessly in my mind, sensing my sorrow, another sleepless night awaiting me
The Pack Council Office was bustling with activity when I arrived the next afternoon. Graham was already there, leaning against the wall outside the property transfer office, looking annoyingly handsome in his
tailored suit.
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Chapter 18 Crazy Bella
“You’re late,” he remarked, checking his watch.
“Traffic, I lied, deliberately avoiding his gaze.
He held out a thermos. “I brought you some hot venison broth. You always liked it after long nights of designing.”
The gesture caught me off guard. How did he know I hadn’t been sleeping well?
“I don’t want it,” I said, stepping around him toward the office door.
“You look tired, Olivia.” His voice was gentle, concerned. “Are you taking care of yourself?”
“That’s no longer your concern,” I replied stiffly.
Graham moved to block my path, still holding out the thermos. “Just take it. Please.”
Before I could respond, his phone rang loudly. He glanced at the screen and winced.
“Bella,” he muttered, answering reluctantly. “Hey, sweetheart.”
I rolled my eyes at the endearment, trying to ignore the twinge in my chest.
“I’m at the Pack Council Office,” Graham said into the phone. “For the property transfer, remember? I told you
about it this morning.”
I could hear Bella’s shrill voice through the speaker. “You’re with her, aren’t you? I knew it!”
“She’s here, Cora spoke suddenly, and then I smelled Bella, she’s here, she’s in the building.
“I should go,” I whispered to Graham, turning toward the exit.
Too late. Bella appeared at the end of the hallway, her phone still pressed to her ear. Despite her supposedly fragile health, she moved with surprising energy, her face contorted with rage.
“You!” she shrieked, pointing a trembling finger at me. “I knew you were trying to seduce my mate!”
Several pack members turned to stare, their expressions ranging from shock to morbid fascination.
“Bella, this is just a property transfer,” Graham explained, moving toward her with placating hands. “It’s a necessary step in severing our mate bond.”
Bella ignored him, her attention fixed solely on me. “You can’t accept that he chose me, can you? You’re pathetic, Olivia!”
Something snapped inside me. After months of enduring their betrayal with dignity, of swallowing my pride and pain, I’d had enough.
“For the moment, Graham and I are still proper mates,” I said loudly, my voice carrying down the hallway. “So who stole whose mate, Bella?”
Bella’s face flushed an ugly red. To my shock, her fingernails began to elongate into claws–a partial shift that shouldn’t have been possible given her weakened condition.
I turned my head away, a deliberate show of dismissal. “Come after me if you can!”
The challenge hung in the air between us. Graham stepped between us, his expression panicked.
“Bella, calm down,” he urged. “This is just business. Olivia and I are just finalizing the property transfer.” *Business?” Bella spat. “Is that why you brought her venison broth? Is that why you’ve been checking your
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Chapter 18 Crazy Bella
phone every five minutes waiting for her to arrive?”
I watched Graham’s face, noting how he struggled to form a response. His duplicity was on full display, and
for once, I wasn’t the only one witnessing it.
Bella snatched the thermos from his hand and, with surprising strength for someone supposedly at death’s
door, hurled the contents at him. Hot broth splashed across his expensive suit, drawing gasps from
onlookers.
“Bella!” Graham exclaimed, jumping back too late.
I looked at Bella like she was a rabid wolf, and while I was glad that I had decided to abandon the lair, I turned away from this place of wrongdoing.
I moved into my new apartment the following week, not bothering to inform Graham directly. I simply notified the pack territory management to contact him with my forwarding address for any remaining paperwork.
Three days after I’d settled in, my phone chimed with a message from Graham.
“Where are you living now? I’m sorry about Bella’s behavior at the Council Office. She knows it was wrong and asked me to apologize on her behalf.”
I nearly laughed out loud. Bella, apologizing? The same Bella who had worn my handcrafted ceremonial gown to humiliate me? Who had thrown hot soup at Graham in a public place?
Before I could formulate a response, another notification appeared. A bank transfer alert: ten million dollars
from Graham Storm.
I frowned at the screen. We’d agreed on eight million. Was this another attempt to create an obligation?
I immediately transferred two million back to his account with a simple message: “Thank you.”
My phone buzzed again almost instantly. “Olivia, please keep the full amount. It’s the least I can do.”
I ignored it, focusing instead on the sketches spread across my new dining table. Madeline Shadowcrest’s birthday celebration was approaching, and I had promised ceremonial attire that would showcase traditional
werewolf symbols of power and status.
Saturday morning I stood outside my apartment building, waiting for my transportation to the Shadowcrest
estate.
Right on time, a gleaming black Maybach pulled up to the curb.
The driver stepped out and opened the rear door with a respectful nod. “Miss Oasis. The Shadowcrest Pack welcomes you.”
I slid into the plush leather seat, my portfolio of designs clutched to my chest. The interior smelled of expensive leather and subtle pine, a/calming scent that immediately put my wolf at ease.
Exhaustion washed over me as the car pulled away from the curb. Another sleepless night, barely mitigated by moonlight herb sedative, had left me drained. Despite my best efforts to stay alert, the gentle motion of the car and the comfortable seat soon lulled me to sleep.
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