Page 66 of Before the Bond
Remembering the night with Olivia brought my mind to something else.
My mother.
I didn’t think about her often, mostly because her memory carried its own form of pain.
My mother looked at my father like that once, until it changed. The bond kept her there, and when it made leaving feel impossible, she became smaller.
As for my father… He called it love. But in some ways, that made things worse.
She died before I knew what was hers and what wasn’t.
By the time I came around the north side of the property, all the lights in the Ashwood estate were off.
Olivia would be asleep by now. She woke early — earlier than she admitted to, I noticed — but at least she was getting an appropriate amount of rest.
My mind returned to Elias's scent marks. Elias was not there by accident, and if he ever crossed paths with her…
I didn’t let myself imagine. It wasn't a physical danger.
Elias was dangerous because he knew how to use your own things against you. And this secret was definitely one he knew I feared.
Donovan was right. I knew Donovan was right.
The longer I waited, the worse it got.
I made the decision anyway. I would find a better time. I would find the right words. I would wait until the Voss threat was contained. I told myself there was a right time.
One where, once everything was okay, I could let Olivia choose me. Choose this life.
But until then, I needed to keep her safe.
Somewhere below, the creek moved over its rocks in the dark. I saw Jake’s light on the third floor. No doubt he was having trouble sleeping. I could already imagine Olivia scolding him.
I saw the gardens in the distance. In a few hours, Tomas would be coming out to water the plants. Maureen would make her run to the market, and Donovan would switch patrols with me. Everything I loved was inside that building.
That was yet another hard part about the decision I had to make.
I knew that if I didn’t tell Olivia, I was jeopardizing not only myself, but the chances of my pack — my family — in the event there was a conflict.
I finally wrapped up my patrol.
I went inside and got ready for bed. But I knew I wasn’t going to sleep for long.
Chapter 14
Olivia
Isaw Elias first this time.
A few days had passed since Jake’s shift. With my patient feeling better, I could stay out later now.
I spotted Elias along the trail that broke open toward the road, half-shadowed by a Douglas fir like he’d chosen the exact spot for how it would look.
His hands were in his pockets, and he swayed back and forth casually. Waiting.
The fog hung low, thick along the ground, curling around his boots. Despite the friendliness of his face, something about him felt off. Like he didn’t belong there.
He was facing the road with a distant gaze.
