32 Guardian

32 Guardian

Olivia POV

I can’t have heard him correctly. “Olivia, did you hear me,” Xavier asks when I’m silent for too long. Does he really think I didn’t f**king hear him? I’m sitting three feet from him. “Olivia, are you alright, Evelyn asks.

“No, I’m not alright. This is all too much. Why can’t any part of my life be normal or go the way it’s supposed to? First you keep who I am from me until everything I love is ripped away. Then I lost my father because he drank himself to death to numb the pain the two of you caused.”

“If that’s not bad enough, then when I meet the man that is meant to be mine, he is already married to someone else. Not only is he married, but he has a pup that should have been mine. Now you’re telling me I’m some kind of special werewolf that is going to be the guardian of a midnight wolf. I just want to be ferding normal. Why is it too much to ask for everything in my life to not be insane or so f**king hard?”

I stand with the intention of leaving to get my emotions under control before I completely lose it, but instead I’m pulled into Ace’s lap. As soon as his arms are around me, L-sob. As he rubs circles on my back, a wave of guilt washes over me. I just told him we had to let the past stay where it belongs and here I am bringing it up again. Acting as if he hurt me intentionally, which I know isn’t the case. I’m just so tired.

“I’m sorry Ace. I didn’t mean to bring up,” I start to say, but he cuts me off. “Hey, no way. He lifts my chin, so I’m forced to look into his eyes. “I don’t want you to hide your feelings to protect mine. That is not how our mateship is going to work. You have every right to be upset. Your pain is a result of the choices that everyone

else has made,” he says.

“Xavier chose to pursue your mom when he knew she was married. Evelyn chose to give into their bond despite building a life with your father. I chose to believe that conniving b**ch instead of waiting for you. The

goddess chose to make you a guardian wolf, knowing all the bulls*t you’ve already endured. If you ask me,

you have handled the sh*tty cards you have been dealt by other people’s choices with more grace and love

than anyone else in this room would have ever done,” he says.

I press a kiss on his lips, feeling the conviction of every word he just said. When I pull back, he wipes the

tears from my cheeks with his thumbs. “I love you, Ace. Thank you for not making me feel like I don’t have the right to be upset.” I bury my head in his neck and breathe in his scent. “I love you, Olivia,” he says. After a few minutes, I pull back, intending to stand from Ace’s lap and retake my own seat, but he keeps me firmly in place. I turn to face Xavier and, for the first time, I see real emotion in his eyes. “I’m sorry, Olivia,” he says.

“I’m sorry that I was selfish. Atlas and I should have stayed away when we knew that Evie had a family. I’m supposed to be an Alpha. I should have had the strength to walk away like you did. I know I don’t deserve your forgiveness, so I won’t ask for it, but I am truly sorry for my part in your pain. I’m sorry that when you were forced to come here I wasn’t honest about why it was so important you shift in the pack,” he says. After a few seconds, Evelyn reaches for his hand.

She lays her free hand on her small bump before she looks at me, “Olivia, I’m sorry for all the pain I’ve caused you. You are my baby girl. I know you don’t believe me, but I will always love your father.” I wait for Xavier to growl, but it never comes. “We had an amazing life. Our family was perfect, and I don’t regret a moment of my time with him or you and Connor. We were truly happy.” She pauses for a moment before she turns toward Xavier.

$2 Giardian

“I love you, Xavier. You are my mate and nothing will change that, but a small part of me wishes you ne came to find me. A part of me wishes I was as strong as Olivia and walked away from you: Charles died because of our actions. Olivia hates me. My daughter hates me because I put our bond before my pups happiness,” she cries.

“I don’t hate you anymore, Evelyn. Don’t get me wrong, for a very long time I hated you, but I had to let go of that anger for my own sanity. We will never have the relationship we did, but I intend on being in my little brother or sister’s life.” “I understand that, Olivia, and I promise that if you decide to live in the pack, we won’t bother you. You can see the pup as much as you want, but we won’t force our way into your life,” she says.

“Ace and I haven’t decided where we will be living, but being around Connor, Becca, and our new sibling will definitely be discussed when we make our decision. Now that I’m back in control of my emotions, tell me exactly what the hell it means for me to be a guardian wolf?”

“Guardian wolves have silver fur, as you know. They are bigger than average wolves. In fact, most are almost as big if not bigger than an alpha wolf. The goddess creates special wolves for many different reasons. White wolves are blessed, red wolves are the goddess’ earth-bound embodiment, silver wolves are guardians, and midnight wolves are the most powerful created. They can move between the realms and share powers with every supernatural that walks the earth,” he says.

“If these midnight wolves are so powerful, then why the hell do they need a guardian?” “Unlike other wolves who wait until they become adults to gain their wolf counterpart, the midnight wolf is born with theirs. They share every experience and are more in sync with one another than any other wolf. Midnight wolves are the rarest of our kind, which makes them a target for those seeking power,” he says.

“Danica, did you know that this is what we were?” “I did, but I couldn’t tell you until it was time. The goddess does everything for a reason, Oli. You have to know I would have told you if I could have,” she says. I try not to be hurt by her keeping it from me, but I am. “Oli” she starts to say, but I focus my attention back on Xavier. “Does your witch friend know who the midnight wolf is or where to find them? Are they in danger? Should Danica and I be looking for them?”

Xavier smiles and, for the first time, it doesn’t feel forced. “I believe the goddess led you to this pack because the midnight wolf will be born of a she-wolf here,” he says. “Can’t your witch friend tell you what the pup looks like? I thought she had visions. Seems she should be able to describe the pup I’m meant to protect.” “The visions aren’t perfect, and some parts are clearer than others. I’ve asked Miranda to come to the pack. She will be here in a few days to meet with you and Connor,” he says.”

My mother growls before she stands to her feet. I assume she is pissed about Xavier inviting another woman into the pack until she speaks. “You invited this woman without even talking to me. I may not be the Luna of this pack anymore, but I am still your mate. First you lie to me, and then you keep secrets from me about my own pup. Now you don’t even talk to me about this woman coming here. I have no idea if she can be trusted around Olivia, Connor, or the pup in my womb. I don’t care that she is your friend. I swear to the goddess that if anything happens to any of pups because you trusted this witch blindly, I will break our bond and leave

without a second thought,” she says.

She yanks her hand from his and moves to stand in front of me. “I know you don’t have to listen to me, Olivia, because you don’t consider me your mother anymore, but please make sure you don’t meet with this woman alone. Make sure Connor is with you” she says. “I will Evelyn. Why don’t you go rest? All this stress can’t be good for the pup.” She offers me a sad smile before she starts toward the door. “Evie” Xavier says as he stands. “Don’t follow me, I need some space,” she says.

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92 Guardian

Once she is gone, Xavier plops back down in his chair. His shoulders sag and fie looks far from the uptkarit Alpha I’m used to him being. I should be reveling in his and Evelyn’s misery, but I can’t. I may not consider them my family anymore, but I’m not that angry teenage girl I once was, and I don’t want to be. Especially now that I know they are having a pup. My brother or sister deserves to know what it is to have a happy family like I did once.

“I know you have no reason to trust me after all that’s happened, Olivia, but I would never do anything to put you in danger.” “He isn’t lying, Oli. I can feel the truth in his answer, Danica says. “How could you possibly feel a truth?” “It is one of our gifts as a guardian wolf. We are like a living lie detector. We will also be able to tell if someone is a danger to the pup we are to protect,” she says.

“That will come in handy when we meet the witch. Even if Xavier believes she is good, that doesn’t mean she

couldn’t be fooling him.” For a moment I feel regret flowing through me, but I quickly realize it’s not my emotions. “Oli, I’m sorry” Danica says. “You don’t have to be. I know you had to listen to the goddess even if it

hurt me. I know you would never keep things from me if you had a choice. I’m not mad, Danica.” “I love you, Oli. I’m so glad the goddess chose you to be my human,” she says. “I love you too, Danica. Now we just have to figure out how to be a guardian and who we are meant to protect.”