Ever since Olivia had left, Bernice had been coaxing her mother to go after her to Silver Vales in order to see what she was doing. She had made her intentions clear to her mother that she wanted to marry Kaizan but her mother was too afraid to speak in front of the councilmen. She was waiting for the opportunity to attack Olivia when she was alone.
Kaizan was like a gold mine. If her daughter married the General of Silver Vales, she couldn't imagine all the riches that came with it and the rise in their reputation. As such Olivia never wanted to marry Kaizan, so why not take the opportunity to throw Olivia out of this mansion once and forever? Though Kaia had stopped them, Bernice insisted to her mother that they should hurry up, lest she may consummate her marriage. And now that she was here in Silver Vales, her eyes were wide with amazement. The mansion was packed with so much luxury that she had never imagined. The man was the owner of groves and their estate was huge. It was at least five times bigger than theirs at the Whiteclaw pack. Her father was devoted to Olivia's father and was one of the councilmen and that is why no one ever doubted her intentions.
She looked at Olivia with concern etched on her face and asked, "Are you doing fine here, Olivia? Why were you crying?" Her lips were swollen and her cheeks had the dry trail of her tears.
"I— I—" Olivia lowered her gaze as she tried to say something.
"Don't tell me that you are unhappy here," Bernice blurted almost excitedly. "I knew! I knew that you were being forced to marry against your wishes. But don't worry now. I am here. I will make things fine for you."
Olivia frowned. She was unhappy for sure but not because of Kaizan. She bit her lip and looked outside where the sun was going down but had spilled its red and orange color in the sky. Inside it had started becoming dark. The servants had begun lighting the torches and sconces and candles. She took a deep breath and turned her gaze to meet Bernice's. "I am very fine, Bernice," she said.
"Fine? You look like shit to me!" Bernice retorted. "How is the General keeping you? It has only been six days of your marriage and you are being treated like a dog. I can see to it. I also heard that your cavalcade was attacked on the path to Silver Vales after marriage. Did he even protect you?"
News traveled pretty fast. Olivia was surprised but then her father was a Beta and so he would know it all. "Yes, he protected me well."
This answer didn't bore well with Bernice. She was looking for some spice. When she found none, she said, "Well, whatever. Your parents are too worried and I am here to take charge. Mother and I are going to stay here as long as it takes to make things better."
Olivia didn't like the intrusion but she couldn't say much because she knew that once Bernice went back, she would only speak foul about her and since the peace treaty was still very new, she didn't want to take the chances. Not only that, after meeting Alpha Murtagh, her guilt was weighing on her shoulders like solid boulders. Her heart sank when Murtagh called her a traitor. This was not what she had expected. She thought that she should tell Fuchsia and Bernice about it because they were the only relatives here and belonged to her pack, but then on a second thought, she restrained. She knew that Bernice was only looking for a way to add spice to an already fragile situation. So, Olivia ignored Bernice's words. She looked at her aunt and asked, "When did you arrive?"
"We came only an hour ago," said Fuchsia. "And believe me, the servants presented us with a variety of food!" she giggled excitedly. Then she waved around the house. "Kaizan has a beautiful house. Isn't it?"
Olivia nodded, sucking in a sharp breath. It was time for him to come back home. He had said that he would meet her in the evening.
Fuchsia leaned closer to Bernice and whispered, "Don't be fooled by this luxury Olivia. You have to be wary of everything that is around you. For all you know, this luxury is just a trap and Kaizan has other plans in his mind. He might kill you and no one would even come to know. He will do away with you and then marry someone of his choice. But we won't allow him to do that. That is why I have got Bernice with me."
Olivia was stunned beyond words. "It is already evening, aunt Fuchsia," she said. "Why don't you both go to your rooms and take a rest. I will call you for dinner soon."
"I am not going anywhere!" said Bernice. Was Olivia trying to dismiss her? If so, then why? Was Kaizan coming? "I will stay with you all the time now, like your shadow Olivia."
"What?" Olivia said. Before she could do anything else, she heard clops of hooves in the carriageway. A few minutes later Kaizan entered the main hall where they were all sitting.
They all rose to their feet. Bernice forgot to breathe when she looked at the man entering from the main door. He was handsome. With deep brown hair, hazel eyes, a straight nose and high cheekbones, the man looked like a god. His broad shoulders were enough to lift three women like her. He was wearing gold vambraces on his upper arms and two swords in the shape of V decorated on his back. A dagger was sheathed on his belt. And at that moment Bernice knew that she had to have this man as her husband by hook or by crook. He was too good for Olivia. She didn't deserve him because she was against the marriage. Soon, she would reveal it all to Kaizan.
A smile spread on Kaizan's lips when he saw his wife. He wanted to go and pick her up and kiss her. He wanted to touch her to calm his wolf, to calm himself. But who were these two women? He had not seen them before. He narrowed his eyes at their close proximity with her. His hand went to the hilt of his dagger when his wolf cautioned him.
Scared that he might react to protect her, Olivia immediately said, "These are my aunt and cousin. They have just arrived from the Whiteclaw pack. They have come to meet me." She was finding it very awkward to tell Kaizan that people from her pack had followed her only a few days later. It was as if no one trusted him or the peace treaty that he had signed. A blush rose on her cheeks at the thought as embarrassment surged.
"Oh!" Kaizan said and dropped his hand from the dagger and bowed out of respect. "I hope you have a pleasant stay here."
Fuchsia and Bernice bowed back. "It's such a pleasure to meet you," said Fushsia with a snake's sincerity. "Both Vaarin and Kaia couldn't come and instead sent Bernice and me. Actually, Bernice was eager to come and visit her cousin.. After what happened in the wedding, she wanted to apologize personally."
