(Olivia's POV)
Victoria's words hit me like a slap to the face. "I am your future Queen."
I gritted my teeth so hard I thought they might crack. The declaration stung my heart like poison, making my chest burn with rage and betrayal.
I angrily pushed myself out of Alexander's arms and stalked over to the sofa, my whole body trembling with fury.
"Olivia, don't do this anymore," Alexander said, his voice carrying a warning tone.
"Don't do what?" I whirled around to face him, my eyes blazing with hurt. "Question the woman who's trying to take away my mate?"
"Victoria is not taking away your mate," Alexander interrupted sharply. "I owe her too much. I promised her the position of Queen a long time ago."
His words felt like daggers stabbing through my heart. He'd promised her the Queen position? When? Why?
"What do you owe her?" I demanded, my voice rising with desperation. "Were you two ever in love?"
Alexander's expression closed off completely. "That's not important now. You should go back to your room and rest."
The dismissal felt like another betrayal. He was avoiding my questions, refusing to tell me about his past with Victoria.
My heart felt like it was breaking into a thousand pieces. "I don't understand what you could possibly owe her, especially if you claim you weren't in love."
I wrapped my arms around myself, trying to hold back the tears threatening to spill. "Her very existence disgusts me. She makes me sick."
Alexander ran a hand through his dark hair, looking helpless and frustrated. "Fine. I'll let Victoria leave tomorrow morning. As long as I keep my distance from her, you won't deliberately cause trouble, will you?"
The promise gave me a small spark of hope. Maybe there was still a chance to save our relationship.
"Promise me you won't contact her again," I pleaded, my voice soft and vulnerable. "Don't forget what you said about not severing our mate bond."
Alexander nodded, his golden eyes meeting mine with what looked like sincerity. "I promise. I'll make it clear to Victoria tomorrow."
After he comforted me with gentle words and soft touches, Alexander told me he needed to go to his royal study to handle some pack business. He kissed my forehead gently.
"Get some rest, little one. I'll be back soon."
I nodded and crawled into our bed, exhaustion weighing down my limbs. Perhaps it was the pregnancy, or maybe the stress of recent events, but I felt utterly drained.
Sleep came quickly, pulling me under like a dark wave.
But something woke me. A dangerous presence that made every instinct scream in alarm.
My wolf Cora growled a warning inside my mind, her hackles raised with fear and aggression.
I forced my eyes open, blinking away the grogginess of sleep.
Victoria stood beside our bed, staring down at me with an expression that looked like she wanted to devour me alive. Her blue eyes glittered with malice in the dim light.
I sat up abruptly, my heart hammering against my ribs.
"Who told you to enter my room?" I demanded coldly. "Get out!"
Victoria's lips curved into a cruel smile. "This will soon be my room, and you are the one who should get out."
She walked around the bed slowly, running her fingers along the expensive silk sheets. "You know, this bed is my favorite style. Alexander spent one million dollars to buy it."
Her voice dropped to a whisper filled with venom. "He told me he wanted to have sex with me on it."
Rage exploded through me like wildfire. My entire body trembled with fury as I shot to my feet.
Without thinking, I raised my hand and slapped her across the face as hard as I could.
"Get out now!" I screamed.
Victoria stumbled backward, her hand flying to her reddening cheek. Shock and anger warred in her expression, but I noticed something else - her wolf seemed weak, injured somehow. She had no ability to fight back physically.
She could only stare at me with pure hatred burning in her eyes before turning and leaving in humiliation.
I was shaking so badly I could barely stand. How dare she come into my room, into my sanctuary, and say such vile things?
I forced myself to get up and wash my face, trying to calm down. After changing into fresh clothes, I decided to check if that horrible woman had finally left our home.
But as I stepped into the hallway, I saw Victoria still there, standing on the staircase like she owned the place.
I gritted my teeth, fury rising again. Enough was enough.
I spotted one of Alexander's silver whips hanging on the wall - part of his collection of weapons. I grabbed it, the metal cold and heavy in my hand.
I wasn't going to hurt her, just scare her into leaving. Make her understand that this was my territory, my home.
Victoria saw me approaching with the silver whip and her eyes widened with what looked like fear.
"I'm really sorry to bother you, Olivia!" she called out suddenly, her voice high and panicked. "Listen to my explanation..."
I was still several feet away from her when she suddenly screamed at the top of her lungs.
Then, as if in slow motion, Victoria threw herself backward down the stairs.
But somehow, in her fall, Victoria's flailing arm caught mine. Her desperate grip yanked me forward with surprising strength.
I lost my balance completely, tumbling down the stairs after her.
The world spun as I crashed against the hard marble steps. Pain exploded through my body as I hit each step.
My own silver whip, dropped in my shock, clattered down beside me. The metal edge caught my arm, slicing through skin and leaving burning cuts.
The silver burned like fire against my flesh, sending waves of agony through my nervous system.
But worse than the physical pain was the sharp cramping in my lower abdomen. Terror flooded through me as I worried about my unborn child.
Alexander came running from his study, his face pale with alarm.
Instinctively, I reached out toward Alexander with my uninjured hand. I needed him to help me, to check if our baby was okay.
But Alexander rushed straight past me without even a glance.
"Victoria!" he shouted.
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