Chapter 395: The Act
Olivia’s POV
The car ride was quiet, Frederick sitting beside me with a strange calm that unsettled me more than his rage ever did. When we arrived at the estate, music and laughter spilled into the night. The birthday celebration was in full swing—nobles mingling in fine silks and jewels.
The moment we stepped into view, all heads turned. Whispers rippled through the crowd. Frederick’s hand brushed my back, possessive, guiding me forward. "Walk with me," he said smoothly, his pride radiating like fire. "Let them see you."
I gritted my teeth, forcing a soft smile onto my lips. My wolf snarled at his touch, but I composed myself, forcing out a smile.
As we moved through the hall, I caught sight of Selene. She was across the room, dressed elegantly, her posture poised. She held a glass of wine in her hand, laughing softly with the birthday celebrant—a noblewoman she clearly knew well. But her eyes weren’t truly on the party. They flicked, just once, toward me. Toward us.
The bond between my mates and me buzzed faintly in my chest. I knew they were watching, waiting, trusting this plan to unfold.
Frederick didn’t notice her at first. But fate—or maybe Selene’s subtle game—ensured their paths crossed. She brushed past him with a polite bow, her hybrid scent faint but distinct. Frederick’s head snapped toward her instantly.
I felt it. His desire. His hunger.
Selene dipped her head again, murmuring a greeting, before slipping away like it was nothing. But Frederick’s eyes followed her retreating figure, lingering, calculating.
I swallowed, my stomach twisting.
It had begun.
The trap was working.
"You like her."
The words slipped out of my lips as my gaze was fixed on Frederick, whose gaze had been glued to Selene since she passed.
He scoffed, shaking his head. "Don’t be ridiculous."
"Don’t lie to me," I hissed, pretending to be jealous. "You’ve been staring at her since she walked in."
His lips twitched in something between annoyance and amusement. "Her scent is... unique. That is all."
"Unique?" I shot back, my jaw tight. "But I’m the special one, aren’t I? Or has that changed already?"
Frederick’s brows lifted, interest flickering in his eyes. He leaned a little closer, lowering his voice. "Are you jealous, Olivia?"
I scoffed inside me, joke on him to think I would ever be jealous of him being interested in any other lady.
I lifted my chin stubbornly, pretending to be annoyed. "The triplets would never look at another woman. Not the way you just did."
His expression darkened, his pride clearly pricked by the comparison. But before he could reply, the music shifted, and couples began gathering at the center of the hall.
Frederick’s eyes locked onto mine, a slow smile curving his lips. He extended his hand toward me, his voice smooth and commanding.
"Dance with me."
Every muscle in me wanted to refuse. To spit in his face. But I forced my wolf down, plastered on a smile, and slid my hand into his.
If Selene was playing her part, then so would I.
And as Frederick pulled me into his arms, guiding me onto the floor under a thousand watching eyes, I realized something terrifying—his smile wasn’t cruel this time. It was genuine, like he was really happy being with me.
Frederick’s hand rested firmly at the small of my back, his other clasping mine as he guided me across the polished floor. For once, his movements weren’t harsh or demanding—they were smooth, steady, almost tender. His gaze never wavered from my face, and that smile... gods, it was still there. Soft. Real.
"You look beautiful tonight," he murmured, his voice low enough that only I could hear.
I forced a polite smile, keeping my wolf pressed down. "You say that because people are watching."
He shook his head slowly, his fingers tightening ever so slightly on mine. "No. I say it because it’s true. You glow, Olivia. And it kills me to think the triplets are the only ones who get to see it."
My chest tightened, but I kept my expression cool. "You’re imagining things."
His eyes darkened, his tone shifting, heavy with unspoken meaning. "Am I? Because when I look at you now, I don’t see the woman who spits fire at me. I see the woman who could have been mine... if things had been different."
I stiffened, but he pulled me closer, spinning me into a graceful turn before I could answer. His breath brushed my ear as he whispered, "Do you know what I envy most about them? Not their power. Not their pack. It’s the fact that when they reach for you, you don’t pull away. You let them hold you. You let them love you."
My wolf growled inside me, furious at the dangerous intimacy of his words. But beneath it, my mind screamed a reminder—this was the game. Keep him hooked. Act along. Still, the sincerity in his voice unsettled me more than any threat ever had.
"I really like you, Olivia..." he whispered, sounding wholehearted.
I scoffed. "Like? Not even love?"
He smiled. A genuine one. "My heart was broken years ago... I am scared of loving..." He paused and tucked a strand of hair behind my ear, his ice-cold fingers brushing my warm skin. "But I can love you if you want me to."
My wolf growled low in my chest, disgusted, but I didn’t answer. Couldn’t. Because right then, movement in the corner of my eye caught my attention.
Selene.
She had drifted away from the noblewoman she’d been speaking with, as she eased closer to where Frederick and I danced. Every step she took was calculated, deliberate, weaving her scent into the air like bait on a hook.
Frederick’s grip on me tightened just slightly. His nostrils flared, and I felt it—the way his hunger sharpened. Not for power, not for control... but for her. For that hybrid blood he didn’t yet understand he craved.
Perfect. The plan was taking shape.
Selene passed nearby, speaking to a nobleman. Her hair shifted just enough to reveal the faint shimmer of her hybrid aura, and I didn’t miss the way Frederick’s gaze snapped to her again.
I pulled back slightly, forcing his attention on me, even as I marked the success in Selene’s move. Good. He’s noticing. He’s tempted.
Frederick spun me once more, his lips brushing dangerously close to my temple. "There’s something... unusual here tonight," he whispered, almost to himself.
I feigned confusion, tilting my head. "Unusual? Or distracting?"
His eyes narrowed, but he didn’t answer. His focus flicked again toward Selene, who now stood laughing softly at some joke, her posture graceful, her presence impossible to ignore.
And I knew, with a surge of both relief and dread—the hook was set.
Frederick wanted her.
Now, all we had to do was let him take the bait.