20 Awake

Lennox’s POV

I couldn’t believe it. Olivia had thought of ending her life?

Never in my wildest dreams did I expect it toe to this. I never imagined things would escte to the point where she would want to kill herself.

For a moment, my brothers and I were speechless. The weight of what we had just heard rendered us numb, our bodies frozen as we exchanged stunned nces. The air in the room felt. suffocating, thick with disbelief and regret.

“What can we do… please do something: Olivia’s mother sobbed in tears.

The healer nodded solemnly, whispering instructions to his assistant, who immediately rushed

out of the room.

“What needs to be done?” Levi asked.

The healer turned to us. “I have sent my assistant to get a nt. From it, I can make an antidote.

Silence fell upon the room, save for Olivia’s mother, whose cries filled the air.

Where I stood, my heart clenched painfully, my wolf howling in agony. I nced at my brothers, reading the same worry reflected in their eyes. If Olivia had attempted to poison herself, that meant we had hurt her–deeply. So deeply that she believed death was her only escape.

My eyes settled on her unconscious state, and I swallowed hard as pain racked my entire body. This was ady I once loved–I would do anything for her. Years ago, I would haveid down my life without thinking about it. That was how much I had loved her. But now, here she was, almost dying just because of the way my brothers and I treated her.

I moved my gaze to Mother and could see the disappointed look on her face: she red at me. Where I stood. I couldn’t moveb, /bI couldn’t say a word. Just like my brothers, we were all just staring at her, our hearts racing.

“Where is he? Why isn’t he here?” Louis demanded impatiently, voicing the same question that had been blingering /bin my mind.

Just as the healer was about to respond, the door opened again, and his assistant rushed in, slightly out of breath. In his hands, he held a small pouch, the scent of crushed herbs wafting through the air.

“I have it, the assistant announced, handing the pouch to the healer.

Without wasting a second, the healer moved swiftly, emptying the contents into a bowl and mixing it with water. The room remained tense, filled only with bOlivia’s /bmother’s soft sobs and

20 Awake

the quiet shuffling of the healer’s movements.

“How long will it take to work?” Levi asked, his voice hoarse.

The healer stirred the mixture carefully before responding. “It depends on how much poison she consumed. If we are lucky, she will regain consciousness within a few hours. If not… we will bhave /bto wait and see.

My stomach twisted at his words. If we are lucky. That meant there was still a chance she wouldn’t wake up.

1 exchanged nces with my brothers. The same worry reflected in their eyes, the same silent regret. Olivia bwas /blying there because of us. Because we had been too blind, too cruel to see how much we were hurting her.

As the healer brought the bowl to Olivia’s lips, helping her drink small sips of the antidote, I clenched my fists. The weight of my mother’s stare was still heavy on me, but I couldn’t look at her. I already knew what I’d see–anger, disappointment, and worst of all… me.

Minutes passed like hours, each second dragging endlessly as we waited.

“She will need rest, the healer finally said. “For bnow/b, there is nothing more we can do but pray that she fights to stay with us.”

I swallowed hard, my eyes never leaving Olivia’s pale on. That she wasn’t alone. But I knew I had no right to ask that of her. Not after everything we face. I wanted to tell her to fight. To hold had done.

And so, I stood there, silent and still, as the guilt wed at my chest, waiting for a sign that Olivia woulde back to us.

No one left the room–none of us did. We all were patiently waiting for Olivia to wake up. And with each minute that passed, my heart raced, and my worry increased. Louis was pacing around the room, Levi rested his back against a wall, his arms folded and his eyes closed. And me? I stood by the edge of the bed, staring at Olivia, my chest tight with emotions I couldn’t

nameb. /b

I had hated her for what she did to me, for the betrayal that shattered me. But death? I never wanted her dead.

Hell no.

“Maybe we should send for another healer, I said.

Before I could get a response, ba /bbsoft /b

p filled bthe /broom.

My heart nearly stopped.

All heads turned sharply toward the bed, where bOlivia’s /bfingers twitched slightly against the sheets. Then, with a bslow /binhale, hershes flutteredb, /band her eyes opened.

20 Awake

“Olivia!” her mother cried, rushing bforward/b, but I instinctively stepped in front of her.

Olivia’s gaze was hazy, unfocused. She blinked rapidly, trying to adjust to the light. Then her brows furrowed, confusion flickering in her dull eyes.

“What… happened?” Her voice was hoarse, barely above a whisper.

Something in me snapped at her question. I took a step closer, fists clenched at my sides.

“What happened?” I repeated, my voice colder than I intended. “You almost died, Olivia. That’s what happened.”

She flinched slightly at my tone, but I couldn’t stop. I was angry–furious, even. Not just at her but at myself, at my brothers, at this entire situation.

I turned sharply to the healer. “Check her. Make sure she’s okay.”

The healer hesitated for a second before stepping forward, pressing his fingers against Olivia’s wrist and checking her pulse. The room fell silent again, the only sound being Olivia’s mother’s. restrained sobs as she clutched her own trembling hands.

“She is weak” the healer finally said, bhis /bvoice measured. “bBut /bstable. The antidote is working”

A breath I didn’t realize I was holding left me in a slow exhale. My eyes flickered back to Olivia, who was now looking around as if she just realized how many people were in the room.

My jaw clenched, and my patience snapped like a frayed thread. The weight of everything–the guilt, the anger, the fear–pressed down on me like a boulder, and I couldn’t take it anymore.

“Everyone, get out: My voice was sharp,ced with anger, cutting through the tense silence like

a de

Olivia’s mother gasped. “But-”

“I said get out!” I roared, my eyes zing as I turned toward her, my wolf dangerously close to the surface. All of you–leave. Now”

The healer hesitated for a moment, bbut /bthe re I bshot /bhim made him lower his bhead /band step back. Olivia’s mother lingered, reluctant, her worried eyes darting between me and her daudster

My mother stepped forward, cing a firm hand on her shoulder. “Let’s go, she muttered to Oliviar’s mother, who seemed worried to leave her daughter behind.

Trats streamed down her face, but she nodded, casting onest helpless nce at Olivia before allowing my mother to guide her out. The healer band /bhis assistant followed swiftly, closing the door brtilid them.

Thom only my brothers and I remained

The room was suffocatingly silent, save for Olivia’s weak breaths I didn’t hesitate. I stormed

20 Awake

forward, my steps heavy, my body tense with barely contained rage.

Before she could react, I grabbed her arms, yanking her up slightly from the bed. Not hard enough to hurt her–but just enough to make sure she felt every ounce of my fury.

“What the hell were you thinking, Olivia?” I growled, my grip tightening. “You dared to poison yourself?” My voice shook with raw emotion, my chest heaving as I stared into her tired, confused eyes.

I wanted answers. I wanted to shake her until she understood just how much she scared me today. But more than anything, I wanted to know why. Why had she given up? Why had she decided that death was her only optionb? /b

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