hapter 31: Wedding in a…
Chapter 31: Wedding in a Dream
Chapter 31: Wedding in a Dream
(Olivia’s POV)
I stood at the altar in my handcrafted ceremonial gown, heart pounding as the traditional music swelled
around us. The ceremony was perfect–exactly as I’d planned for years. Moonlight streamed through stained glass windows, casting a magical glow over the assembled pack members.
“It’s time,” the officiant announced, his voice resonating through the hall.
My hands trembled as Graham approached to lift my ceremonial veil. I closed my eyes, savoring this moment
I’d dreamed of for so long.
When I opened them, I gasped.
It wasn’t Graham standing before me. Instead, Cassius Shadowcrest’s silver eyes gazed into mine with an intensity that made my knees weak.
“You,” I whispered, confused yet strangely not disappointed.
“I’ve been waiting for you,” Cassius said, his deep voice sending shivers down my spine.
I searched the crowd frantically for Graham, but couldn’t find him. When I turned back, Cassius was leaning
toward me, his lips inches from mine.
“Olivia,” he murmured, “you’re mine now.”
His lips met mine in a kiss that felt like electricity coursing through my body. I melted ag wrapping around his neck as the world disappeared around us.
I woke with a start, my heart racing and my body flushed with heat.
st him, my arms
“I dreamt I was kissing Cassius Shadowcrest…I felt like I was floating on air…” I whispered to myself, touching my lips where I could still feel the phantom pressure of his.
Sunlight streamed through my bedroom window, bringing me back to harsh reality. Today wasn’t my mating ceremony. It was just another day of fighting to sever my bond with Graham.
I groaned, burying my face in my pillow. What was wrong with me? Having romantic dreams about Cassius Shadowcrest was the last thing I needed right now.
My phone buzzed on the nightstand. Graham’s name flashed on the screen, as if my thoughts had
summoned him.
I took a deep breath before answering. “Hello?”
“Olivia,” Graham’s voice came through, already sounding defensive. “About today…”
“Don’t even think about canceling,” I warned, sitting up straight. “We have an appointment at the Registration
Office at ten.”
“Bella isn’t doing well,” he said, his voice taking on that familiar pleading tone. “Her heart failure is flaring up again. I need to be with her.”
I closed my eyes, counting to five before responding. “Graham, this is the third time you’ve used Bella’s health
O
< Chapter 31: Wedding in a..
as an excuse.”
“It’s not an excuse!” he protested. “She really is sick. You know her condition is serious.”
Painte
“And you know this appointment has been scheduled for weeks,” I countered. “The Registration Office doesn’t give these slots easily.”
Graham sighed dramatically. “Can’t we reschedule? Just one more time?”
My patience snapped. “Graham, it’s just a mate bond severance, how long are you going to drag it out? If you think we can get back together after Bella dies, I’m telling you, dream on! Be an Alpha and get it over with.”
Silence hung between us for several seconds.
“I can’t believe you’d say something so cruel,” he finally said, voice tight with anger. “You know how much I care about Bella.”
“Not enough to marry her properly
indefinitely.”
apparently,” I shot back. “Just enough to string both of us along
“I’m not having this conversation,” Graham declared. “I’m not coming today. Reschedule if you want.”
The call ended abruptly. I stared at my phone, seething with frustration.
Fine. If Graham wanted to play hardball, I could too. It was time to consider legal action through the Pack
Council.
Two hours later, I sat in my office at the Storm Trading Company, drumming my fingers on my desk as I waited for Blair to return with the information I’d requested.
“Miss Oasis?” Blair appeared in my doorway, tablet in hand. “I’ve compiled a list of pa
in mate bond severances.”
“Thank you, Blair,” I said, gesturing for her to come in. “Any recommendations?”
lawyers specializing
“Mr. Donovan has the highest success rate,” she replied, handing me the tablet. “He’s handled several high–profile cases, including the Blackwood–Mitchell severance last year.”
I nodded, scanning the information. “Set up a meeting as soon as possible.”
“Already done,” Blair said with a satisfied smile. “He can see you at two this afternoon.”
“Efficient as always,” I praised. “Thank you.”
Blair hesitated at the door. “There’s something else. Your cousin, Tyler Brooks, is here to see you.”
I frowned. “Tyler? What does he want?”/
“He wouldn’t say,” Blair replied. “Just that it’s urgent family business.”
I sighed, wondering what new problem had landed on my doorstep. “Send him in.”
Tyler Brooks strode into my office moments later, his posture rigid with barely contained anger. At twenty–three, he had the typical Brooks family features–light brown hair and amber eyes–but none of the warmth I associated with my aunt Diane.
“Cousin,” he greeted coldly, not bothering to wait for an invitation before dropping into the chair across from my desk.
< Chapter 31: Wedding in a
“Tyler,” I replied evenly. “This is unexpected.”
“Cut the pleasantries,” he snapped. “You know why I’m here.”
I raised an eyebrow. “Actually, I don’t.”
“You’ve already torn your own pack apart, and now you’re here to mess with mine?” he accused, leaning forward. “You’ve always been pitiful, and my mom has taken care of you a lot. Is this how you repay her
kindness?”
I stared at him, genuinely confused. “What are you talking about?”
* Porty 3
“The twenty million dollars,” Tyler spat. “The money my mother gave you without my father’s knowledge.”
My blood ran cold. Aunt Diane had helped me financially in the past, but never with such a substantial sum.
“Twenty million?” I repeated, stunned. “Tyler, there must be some mistake.”
“Don’t play dumb,” he snarled. “My mother took the money from our family business to help you. Now my father knows, and he’s threatening to dissolve their mate bond.”
Inside me, Cora bristled defensively at his accusation, hackles rising at the threat in his tone.
“I need to call your mother,” I said, reaching for my phone.
Tyler scoffed. “Go ahead. She’ll confirm everything.”
I dialed Aunt Diane’s number, my hand slightly trembling. She answered on the third ring.
“Olivia? Is everything alright?” Her voice sounded tired.
“Aunt Diane, Tyler is here,” I said carefully. “He’s making some claims about money you lent me.”
A heavy sigh came through the line. “I see. I was hoping to handle this differently.”
My heart sank. “So it’s true? You lent me twenty million dollars?”
“It’s not as simple as that,” she replied. “But yes, I did help you financially.”
“Why didn’t you tell me the money came from your family business?” I asked, watching Tyler’s smug expression across the desk.
“I didn’t want you to worry,” Diane said. “You were already dealing with so much after Graham’s betrayal.” “Aunt Diane, please tell me exactly what’s happening,” I insisted. “The whole truth.”
Another sigh. “Gregory’s been mismanaging our business for years, relying on incompetent relatives and making poor investments. I took control of the finances to mitigate the damage.”
“And the loan to me?” I prompted.
“Was from funds I’d already secured,” she explained. “It wouldn’t have made a difference to the business’s overall health. Gregory is just using it as an excuse because he’s angry I’ve been making decisions without
him.”
The situation sounded painfully/familiar–echoing my mother Christina’s suffering with my father Ambrose
Oasis.
“How bad is the financial situation?” I asked quietly.
“Bad,” Diane admitted. “We need about thirty to forty million to save the company.”
< Chapter 31 Wedding in a.
“I’ll help,” I promised immediately. “Whatever you need.”
“Olivia, no,” she protested. “This isn’t your problem to solve.”
“We’re family,” I said firmly. “I’ll call you back soon.”
I ended the call and turned my attention back to Tyler, seeing him with new clarity. He wasn’t here out of concern for his parents‘ relationship or the family business.
“You’re here to ask me for money? Tell me, how much?” I asked directly.
Tyler didn’t even have the decency to look embarrassed. “Five million dollars, not company shares.”
I almost laughed at his audacity. “Five million?”
“It’s a fair price to save my parents‘ mate bond,” he replied coolly.
Despite my recent acquisition of the moonstone healing bracelet, my liquid assets were limited. Cassius’s loan was earmarked for specific purposes, and I couldn’t divert it.
“I can give you one million,” I offered.
Tyler scoffed. “One million? That’s insulting.”
“It’s what I can afford right now,” I said truthfully.
“Not good enough,” he declared, standing up. “Five million is my price. The pack’s debts are piling up, and there’s talk of legal action. That would destroy what’s left of the Brooks family name.”
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