Chapter 17: The Truth Behind His Delays
(Olivia’s POV)
+15 Points
Gloria’s rage exploded through the phone like a volcanic eruption. Her voice rose to a pitch that made me hold the device away from my ear.
“Gloria, do you have mad wolf syndrome? I was calling Graham this morning, and what business is it of mine that Bella answered without authorization?” I tried to raise my volume to drown out her high pitched voice.
“How dare you still dare to call Graham! You should know that he is now Bella’s mate!” she screeched. “You’re
deliberately trying to reconnect with Graham!”
I took a deep breath, counting to three before responding. The Registration Office clerk glanced my way with undisguised curiosity.
“I didn’t want to call him either, Gloria. But he made an appointment to come to the registrar’s office today to dissolve his partnership with me,” I explained, trying to keep my voice calm.” I’m at the door now, but he’s not
even here now.”
“Lies! All lies!” Gloria’s voice cracked with fury. “You’re obsessed with him! You can’t accept that he chose Bella over you!”
My patience, already worn thin by Graham’s no–show, finally snapped.
“Your constant negativity is toxic, Gloria. Have you ever considered that your bitter attitude might be
contributing to Bella’s heart?” The words flew from my mouth before I could stop them.
There was a shocked silence on the other end of the line.
“How dare you!” Gloria finally sputtered. “My daughter is gravely ill, and you-”
“I won’t necessarily not call him, Gloria, shut up“I interrupted, regaining my composure. “Tell Graham to meet
me at the Pack Council Office tomorrow at noon. This mate bond needs to be severed.”
Gloria’s breathing was heavy and irregular. I could almost see her face contorting with rage.
“Don’t be so negative all the time,” I added, my voice softening slightly. “Be careful that the Moon Goddess returns your words twofold upon your daughter.”
“Olivia! You are too vicious!” Gloria roared, her voice breaking with emotion. “If you have the ability, don’t fall
ill for the rest of your life!”
I ended the call, her curse ringing in my ears. The clerk pretended to be absorbed in paperwork, but I could feel her eyes on me as I gathered my things and left the Registration Office.
My phone rang just as I was unlocking my apartment door. Graham’s name flashed on the screen. I hesitated
before answering.
“Olivia,” his voice was smooth a’s honey. “I’m so sorry about missing our appointment.”
“Save it, Graham,” I replied, dropping my keys on the counter. “Gloria already gave me an earful.”
“She told me,” he sighed dramatically. “I’m calling to explain. I’m actually out of the Northern Territory on pack
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Chapter 17 The Truth Beh
business.”
I snorted in disbelief. “Pack business? That’s your excuse?”
+15 Points 5
“It’s not an excuse, it’s the truth,” he insisted. “The Storm Trading Company has interests that extend beyond our territory. Sometimes I need to handle things personally.”
“You could have called to cancel,” I pointed out, kicking off my shoes. “Instead of leaving me sitting there like
a fool.”
There was a pause before Graham spoke again, his voice dropping to that intimate tone he used when trying to manipulate me.
“Maybe this is a sign, Olivia. Perhaps we’re rushing into this severance.”
My heart skipped a beat despite myself. “What are you saying?”
“I’m saying we should talk. Really talk. Before making such a permanent decision.”
I closed my eyes, fighting against the small, pathetic part of me that still responded to his voice.
“Our relationship is over, Graham. You made that clear when you chose Bella at our mating ceremony.”
“People make mistakes,” he said softly. “Even Alphas.”
I laughed bitterly. “Is that what I was? A mistake?”
“No, Olivia. That’s not what I meant.”
I could picture him running his hand through his hair, the way he always did when frustrated. The image
made my chest ache with unwanted familiarity.
“We need to discuss territory division anyway,” he continued, changing tactics. “Particularly our shared den in
Riverdale.”
The den. Our home that was supposed to be. I’d spent months renovating it, choosing every fixture, every
piece of furniture with care.
“I’ll give you the den,” I offered, “in exchange for the cost of renovations and furnishings. Or I can buy half of
the ownership from you.”
“No need for that,” Graham replied quickly. “Consider the den yours. It’s the least I can do after everything you’ve sacrificed for me.”
His generosity caught me off guard. For a moment, I felt a surge of emotion.
“Graham, is it really you? You still care about me, right?” I asked, tears welling in my eyes.
The moment of weakness passed as quickly as it had come. This was Graham Storm – the wolf who had
humiliated me in front of our entire pack. The wolf who had chosen my half–sister while I stood waiting in my
ceremonial gown.
I recognized the manipulation for what it was. Graham was playing on my emotions, as he always had.
“I’ll cancel tomorrow’s appointment,” I said, my voice hardening. “Let’s reschedule for two weeks from now. That should give you enough time to–handle your… pack business.”
“Olivia-”
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+15 Points)
“Don’t tell me these disgusting words,” I cut him off coldly. “It is impossible for us to go back to the past. Severing our bond is inevitable.”
I ended the call before he could respond, wiping away the single tear that had escaped. Graham’s sudden generosity felt wrong, calculated. There was something he wasn’t telling me.
“He’s definitely up to something,” Lily declared, stabbing her fork into a piece of venison.
We were seated at our usual corner table at the Imperial Moon Restaurant, the soft lighting casting a warm glow over the elegant space. Lily had listened intently as I recounted my conversations with Gloria and
Graham.
“But what?” I asked, pushing my food around my plate. “Why offer me the den? Why suggest we reconsider
the severance?”
Lily took a sip of her moonlight wine, her eyes thoughtful. “He regrets it, right? Comparing with Bella, he found that you are better. And he’s worried that after severing your mate bond, he will completely lose you.”
I shook my head. “Graham doesn’t regret choosing Bella. He’s too proud to admit a mistake that public.”
“What if he gets wounded again in territory disputes and needs your healing blood?” Lily asked pointedly.
I froze, the glass halfway to my lips. “What?”
“Remember the Northern Border conflict three years ago? Graham was badly wounded. The pack healers
couldn’t stop the bleeding.”
The memory rushed back with startling clarity. Graham, pale and unconscious on a makeshift stretcher. The metallic smell of blood filling the air. The pack healer’s desperate face as she told me Graham wouldn’t
survive the night.
“My blood saved him,” I whispered.
Lily nodded grimly. “Your rare healing abilities. The ones you inherited from your mother’s bloodline.”
“You think he’s keeping me around as… what? A backup blood source?”
“It makes sense,” Lily said, leaning forward. “Once your mate bond is severed, he loses any claim to your assistance. You’d be under no obligation to help him.”
The realization hit me like a physical blow. All this time, I’d thought Graham was being difficult about the severance because of pride or spite. But this… this was calculated self–preservation.
“There’s something else you should know,” Lily added, lowering her voice. “Graham and Bella had a huge fight two days ago. That’s probably the real reason for his ‘pack business‘ trip.”
I raised an eyebrow. “How do you know that?”
“My cousin works at the Northern Territory Medical Center. She overheard Bella screaming at him about
some female wolf he’d been texting.”
“So his sudden interest in reconciliation…”
“Might be because trouble in paradise has him reconsidering his options,” Lily finished.
I sat back, digesting this information. Graham wasn’t having second thoughts because he missed me. He
was hedging his bets, keeping me connected to him in case Bella’s illness worsened or their relationship
–
failed or worse, in case he needed my healing blood again.
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+15 Powas
My phone rang as I was preparing for bed that night. I smiled when I saw my grandmother’s name on the
screen.
“Grandma Elle,” I answered warmly. “How are you?”
“Olivia, my dear,” Eleanor Brooks‘ voice was unusually excited. “I have the most wonderful news!”
“What is it?” I asked, settling onto my bed.
“Your mother’s moonstone white jade bracelet
–
it’s been found!”
My heart stopped. “What? How? Where?”
The bracelet had been sold years ago during our family’s financial hardship. It was one of the few items I had
left of my mother, Christina, and losing it had broken my heart.
“It’s going to be auctioned at the Northern Territory Pack Alliance charity event next month,” Grandma
explained. “I saw it in their catalog today.”
“Are you sure it’s the same one?” I asked, hardly daring to hope.
“Positive. It has the same moonstone inlay your grandfather added when he gave it to your mother. The
catalog even mentions its rare healing properties for werewolves.”
My mind raced. The bracelet wasn’t just a sentimental item – it was a powerful werewolf artifact, enhancing
the natural healing abilities of its wearer.
“What’s the starting price?” I asked, already mentally calculating my savings.
Grandma hesitated. “That’s the difficult part, dear. The estimated starting price is no less than thirty million
dollars.”
I nearly dropped the phone. “Thirty million?”
“It’s the moonstone,” she explained. “Its healing properties make it incredibly valuable. The catalog suggests
it could go for much more.”
My heart sank. Even with my successful design business, I didn’t have anywhere near that amount.
“I’ll find a way,” I promised, determination replacing my initial shock. “I must bring back the bracelet.”
Two days later, Graham called to invite me to dinner at the Imperial Moon Restaurant. I declined immediately.
“The meal is not necessary,” I said firmly. “Just say anything directly through phone call.”
“I wanted to discuss transferring the den to you,” he explained. “I’ve had the paperwork drawn up.”
I hesitated, thinking of my grandmother’s call about the bracelet. Thirty million dollars. The den was worth
perhaps a fifth of that amount.
“Actually, Graham,” I said slowly, “I’ve reconsidered. I’d prefer the money I spent on renovations and furnishings instead of the den itself.”
There was a pause on the other end of the line. “That’s… unexpected. May I ask why?”
“My reasons are personal,” I replied, unwilling to share information about the bracelet. If Graham knew how desperately I wanted it, he might use that knowledge against me.
“Olivia, the den is worth considerably more than what you spent on renovations,” Graham pointed out,
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confusion evident in his voice.
“I’m aware,” I said. “But I’ve decided cash would be more useful to me right now.”
“The meal is not necessary, just say anything directly through phone call,” I repeated firmly.
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