HAILEY'S P.O.V
"C–Cole…" I stammered, my entire existence trembling under the weight of fear and submission. "I–I…"
My voice broke, the words refusing to form.
He stared down at me, rage burning violently in his stormy green eyes. Though his body was severely injured, blood soaking through torn fabric, he stood unshaken—unyielding—as he confronted me.
"Hailey," he began, his voice terrifyingly deep, laced with restrained fury and the ominous warning of a storm brewing beneath the surface. "Did you just say you wanted to kill Olivia?"
The growl beneath his words was low, oppressive—barely contained.
"Who gave you the right to touch her?" he demanded.
The moment he released his aura, my knees buckled violently beneath me.
"Ahh!" I screamed as pain tore through my body. My wolf howled inside me, crushed beneath his dominance.
"Cole—please—stop!" I begged desperately.
"You dare call your Alpha Prince by name?" he asked coldly, the pressure intensifying until I could barely breathe.
"I–I dare not," I whimpered, trembling uncontrollably. "Please—A–Alpha Prince," I forced out through clenched teeth. "Forgive me, Your Highness."
Cole walked toward me slowly, one arm clutching his wounded side as blood dripped steadily from his torn clothes. His movements were calm—far too calm.
Then suddenly, his hand wrapped around my throat.
He lifted me off the ground with terrifying ease.
"Don't ever touch Olivia again, Hailey," he warned, his fierce gaze locking onto mine. "Or else."
In that moment, I had never known fear like this before.
Howl—
A powerful growl echoed through the night.
Ahead, Reiden, Bianca, and Davis came rushing toward us. As they arrived, they shifted back into human form.
"Cole!" Davis called out—but the moment he took in the scene, he stopped himself from running forward.
Confusion and shock rippled across their faces.
"Oh my gosh!" Bianca cried. "Cameron—what happened?!"
She dropped to her knees beside him. His wound was nearly healed now. Cameron looked up, chuckling weakly despite the pain.
"Well," he said dryly, staring straight at Hailey, "I was stabbed by a viper—a monster." He laughed bitterly. "Ridiculous, right?"
He looked into Bianca's eyes. She instantly looked away, guilt flooding her expression.
"Cole," Reiden intervened, gripping his brother's arm.
Cole growled, fury still burning, but after a tense moment, he released me. I collapsed to the ground, gasping desperately for air.
Without another glance, Cole walked past us until he reached the edge of the divine protection surrounding Olivia.
Slowly—carefully—he bent down and lifted her into his arms as though she were priceless, impossibly fragile.
Olivia's head rested against Cole's chest as he held her tightly, his hands wrapped protectively around her petite waist. He studied her delicate features, breathing her in.
She smelled sweet—like strawberries. Just like she was.
Her cherry-red lips parted slightly, and in that moment, Cole knew.
He had fallen deeply, irrevocably in love with her. He realized with terrifying clarity—she already owned him.
"Let go," Reiden ordered firmly.
In an instant, we all shifted back into wolf form. Cole carefully laid Olivia across his back. Despite his injuries, he moved forward at a slower pace, flinching repeatedly—but refusing to let anyone else carry her.
I cursed inwardly.
Damn that bitch.