CHAPTER NINE
A quiet hope settled in Olivia's eyes. "I really want to go back to school," she stated, her voice clear but holding a slight hint of nervousness.
Ever since the terrible murder she'd been wrongly accused of, her father, Bryan, the Alpha, had been adamant. Protecting the pack's reputation was paramount to him, even if it meant isolating his own daughter. He'd carefully crafted a story about Olivia's recurring illness to explain her absence from school, effectively silencing the whispers and preventing any tarnish on their name.
But Olivia yearned to return to school because her plans of securing her mothers company LEGEND included finishing school to take that over. "I want to return to school," she repeated, her gaze fixed on Ryan, hoping for a flicker of understanding in his usually cold guarded expression.
Before Ryan could even register her words, let alone respond, Vince playfully leaned forward, a mischievous glint in his eyes. "Whoa there, Livy! Going back to school, huh? Remind me, how old are you?"
A faint blush touched Olivia's cheeks. "I turned nineteen not too long ago," she replied, meeting Vince's gaze steadily.
"Nineteen..." Vince drawled, rubbing his chin thoughtfully before a smirk spread across his face as he glanced at Ryan. "Well, well, well, Ryan. Didn't know you had a thing for younger she-wolves. I always pegged Cole as the wild one when it came to the ladies, but it seems you might just take the crown," he added with a chuckle.
Cole, who had been quietly observing the exchange, instantly chuckled, shaking his head. "Hold on a second, Vince. Let's get our facts straight. None of my past flames were under twenty, thank you very much."
Amidst the teasing directed at him by his two friends, Ryan's face remained impassive. He showed no outward amusement, his attention seemingly glued to the Ludo board in front of him. He didn't even offer Olivia a glance, making it abundantly clear that her desire to return to school held little interest for him.
Olivia hesitated for a moment, a wave of disappointment washing over her. But she wasn't one to give up easily. Taking a deep breath, she slowly moved to sit beside Ryan at the table. With deliberate gentleness, she reached out and lightly grasped his sleeve, her fingers softly tugging at the fabric. As she did so, she subtly shifted her posture, hoping to draw his attention with a hint of her cleavage. "My Alpha..." she began, her voice soft and slightly breathy, her eyes fixed on his, completely ignoring the presence of Cole and Vince.
Ryan froze. The unexpected touch, the boldness of her action, caught him off guard. No one in the pack dared to behave so intimately with him, especially not so openly. And then there was her scent – that sweet, irresistible candy aroma he found himself drawn to. The slight warmth of her skin brushing against his sent a surprising stir through him.
Vince let out a low whistle, a wide grin spreading across his face. "Come on, Ryan! Where's your sense of fun? Grant the girl her little wish, and who knows? You might just get a very… interesting thank you present tonight."
Ryan finally lifted his gaze, his eyes meeting Vince's with a sharp edge. "I don't think you two are here solely for a game of Ludo," he said, his voice cool and dismissive. "Why don't you leave?"
Vince, unfazed by Ryan's cold tone, simply stood up, his smile unwavering. "Olivia, my dear," he said, turning to her with a knowing look. "It seems you might need to turn up the charm a little. Keep trying, and just maybe, after a few more attempts, he might finally cave."
Cole glanced at Vince, a hint of disapproval in his eyes, before also rising to his feet. "Yeah, I think it's probably time we headed out," he said to Ryan, his tone more subdued.
Ryan offered a curt nod, his gaze already returning to the Ludo board.
As they walked out the door, Cole turned to Vince, a sigh escaping his lips. "What exactly are you playing at, Vince? You know how much Ryan dislikes being pressured. Why did you have to drag Olivia into this?"
Vince merely chuckled, his hands casually tucked into his pockets. "I don't have your soft spot for the ladies, Cole. You know what Zelda is capable of. Sending someone as innocent as Olivia to try and sway Ryan was already a cruel move. I think it's better to resolve this sooner rather than later, before things get even more complicated for her." Cole shook his head, a troubled expression on his face, but remained silent.
Meanwhile, back in the room, Olivia hadn't given up. Her fingers still lightly clung to Ryan's sleeve, her hope flickering.
She couldn't quite gauge Ryan's reaction. Was her little display having any effect? He certainly wasn't showing it, but then again, he wasn't exactly pushing her away either. It was a confusing mix of signals, or perhaps a complete lack thereof.
Taking a deep breath, Olivia decided to be even bolder. Slowly, she moved closer, her arms tentatively wrapping around Ryan's shoulders as she gently settled onto his lap. "My Alpha… please," she murmured, her voice soft against his ear. "Just agree to my request. I promise I won't be a bother to you."
Ryan finally looked down at her, his gaze lingering on her face for a fleeting moment. Slowly, his hands moved, as if involuntarily, along her arms. But then, in a swift and unexpected motion, he pushed her away. Olivia stumbled and fell to the floor, looking up at him in utter confusion, her eyes wide with surprise and hurt.
Ryan's face had hardened, his expression now cold and unyielding. "Who gave you permission to touch me like that?" he demanded, his voice sharp and devoid of any warmth.
Olivia was still reeling from the sudden rejection. She had genuinely thought, for a brief moment, that her little act had worked. "Please forgive me, my Alpha," she stammered, scrambling to her feet and dusting off her clothes. "I just… I really wanted you to grant me this one favor."
"I'm sorry," A wave of frustration washed over Olivia. Ryan was proving to be far more difficult than she had anticipated. Turning away, she started to walk towards the door, her shoulders slumped in disappointment. But just as she reached the threshold, she heard Ryan's cold voice cut through the silence. "You can go to school if that's what you want."
Olivia froze, her hand hovering over the doorknob.
She wondered what had changed his mind so quickly.
But had she heard him correctly? Had Ryan actually agreed? A surge of disbelief and overwhelming joy flooded through her.
A wide, unrestrained smile bloomed on Olivia's face. She spun around, rushing back to Ryan and throwing her arms around him in a tight hug before planting a quick kiss on his cheek. "Thank you so much, My Alpha!" she exclaimed, her voice filled with elation.
Without waiting for a response, she turned and practically skipped out of the room, leaving Ryan utterly stunned. He slowly raised a hand to his cheek, his fingers lightly touching the spot where her lips had been. A strange sensation lingered there, a warmth and softness that was both unexpected and unsettling. For a fleeting moment, he felt a little overwhelmed. But then, as quickly as it had come, the unfamiliar feeling vanished, and his eyes turned cold once more.
On the other hand, Olivia left the room feeling an immense sense of relief. She had braced herself for a difficult battle, fully expecting Ryan to dismiss her request outright. But it seemed a little bit of charm had been enough to sway him, or at least, to make him give in.
Her spirits lifted, Olivia decided to take a stroll through the pack, basking in her newfound happiness. Lost in her thoughts, she wasn't paying close attention to where she was going and accidentally bumped into someone. Olivia looked up, her eyes widening slightly as she took in the sight of the girl she had collided with. The girl was impeccably dressed in designer clothes, surrounded by a small entourage of servants who hovered attentively. The girl standing before her was undeniably beautiful but her face was currently etched with annoyance.
Not wanting to cause any further trouble, Olivia immediately turned to leave, but the girl swiftly reached out and grabbed her arm, stopping her in her tracks. "Haven't you been taught how to apologize?" she said, her voice dripping with disdain as she scrutinized Olivia with critical eyes. "Oh, wait. You must be Olivia, the little nobody who thinks she can help my dear cousin brother finally produce an heir."
Olivia instantly recognized her. This was Sarah, Ryan's cousin, and a force to be reckoned with within the pack. Coming from a powerful lineage, almost no one dared to cross her. She was notorious for her arrogance and sharp tongue.
Anxious to avoid a confrontation, Olivia lowered her head and offered a sincere apology. "Sorry for my mistake."
Sarah sneered, her lip curling in distaste. "You ugly piece of trash. You're definitely a perfect match for my lunatic brother. As the saying goes, birds of same feather flock together as one. You two are truly made for each other."
Olivia honestly didn't care how much she was insulted by others. She had grown somewhat accustomed to the people's disdain. But for some inexplicable reason, hearing Sarah insult Ryan ignited a spark of anger within her. Without thinking, she retorted, "Do you always think you can speak to anyone like that? What kind of manners were you taught?"
Sarah was taken aback by Olivia's unexpected defiance. Her eyes narrowed, and her face flushed with anger. "Just because you're going to worm your way into my family doesn't give you the right to speak to me in that tone! Who do you think you are? How dare you suggest that I have no manners?"
Sarah's hand shot up, ready to strike Olivia across the face, but before her hand could connect, someone's strong grip caught her wrist in mid-air.