“I’m sorry. But I already did.”
Every eye in that room widened at Olive’s words. They were shocked even though they knew the graveness of the matter. If not for Ami, Olive would have been long dead by Wayne’s hands. And this wasn’t the first time it had happened.
“Olive,” Dolly called gently, begging her with her eyes to please reconsider her decision. She had never seen her brother care so much for anybody. She had hope for her brother because of Olive. But if she leaves… Wayne would even become worse.
“Please, don’t… don’t do this to him,” Shem pleaded too. Vanessa was not there because she had gone back while Olive was in that vision.
“Olive,” came Jericho’s voice. In all this, Wayne just stood like a dry tree. Unmoving and lifeless. His eyes welled up with liquid which didn’t fall. But one could tell that what she said had broken him totally. Mufasa was the only one not looking surprised or shocked. He just kept peering at Olive as if he could see her soul and would then glance at all of them.
“We don’t have to make her change her mind. It’s her life that’s in danger,” Jake spoke up.
He was acting as if he stood with Olive, but everyone knew he was the one who needed Olive for Wayne more. Wayne was his best friend and they shared secrets.
“But still, we can rectify this. The Healers helped the last time. They can help again,” Dolly counteracted.
Wayne took a step forward and everywhere became silent. He took another step and Olive gulped. She clasped her hands around the warm mug and kept walking backwards while Wayne took several steps forward.
She wanted to cry for help because this was a replica of what had happened earlier, but then she saw Jake and Terry moving to hold him again. However, Mufasa raised a hand, signifying that they should not stop him. She glared at the old man and tried to run but Wayne materialized inches away from her and held her arms. He still looked pathetic, but there was a disbelieving look in his eyes. Olive shook in fear. What was he going to do to her? And why was Mufasa stopping the others.
Wayne’s face drew closer to hers and she was sure her heartbeat was already deafening the ears of everyone present. She was so scared because of that near death experience earlier. If Ami hadn’t come in…
“You are lying,” Wayne finally spoke. Olive’s breath hitched.
“Wha-what?” she stammered.
“You are lying, Olive,” he repeated.
“What do you mean by she’s lying?” Dolly asked, as confused as the others in the room.
Wayne just stood there staring deep into her green eyes.
“I was going to say it, but I was surprised why you didn’t realize quickly,” Mufasa spoke up for the first time since they arrived.
“Now what is this old man saying?” Dolly blurted out at him while giving him the daggers.
“That I was going to say that Olive was just lying about leaving Knight.”
“What?”
Dolly and the rest looked at Olive immediately.
“I… I wasn’t lying,” she lied again, it was obvious this time.
“Gosh. Why would you scare us like that? I almost began to cry because I have become so fond and used to you. Goodness!” Dolly rasped and Olive tried hard to not laugh or smile.
“I’m leaving Wayne. He tried to kill me again. I’m scared of what he might do,” she stated but everyone now sensed there was no depth to her words. They finally let out the breath they had been holding. Even Ami wasn’t left out of the tension in the room.
“It will not happen again. I’m working on a drug that would diminish the effects of the possession in case it happens again. So don’t worry, you’re safe now,” Mufasa stated and got on his feet.
“Well, let’s excuse these two,” he said and walked away with his hands clasped behind him and limping slightly. He couldn’t walk straight. Olive wondered if that was age or an accident that was responsible.
Everyone left the hall and it was just Olive and her mate left. She darted her eyes everywhere but on him, not wanting to look at him at all. Wayne was hurt by his actions. He would have killed himself for it. But how could he get her to forgive him if he killed himself?
“Olive,” he called gently and moved backwards to give her breathing space. He released her from his grasp and watched how she walked to one of Mufasa’s desk and dropped her mug. She exhaled deeply and sat at the edge of it, rubbing her palms against her arms.
“Babe, I’m sorry,” he apologized again.
“You don’t have to repeat it. I know you are,” she replied without looking at him. He rubbed the back of his neck and sighed worriedly.
“I just… I just don’t know what else to say. I deserve a huge punishment for doing this to you… again. Olive, I…” he trailed off and palmed his face in his hands. He was feeling like the worst creature on earth. This was why he didn’t want a mate totally. He knew he didn’t deserve one. He was… he was a monster who deserved to be killed by a thousand knife stabs.
Olive somehow connected to him and felt what he was feeling. She blinked back tears but they still stubbornly fell.
“Why us Wayne?” she asked as they fell freely. He looked up at her and froze at the sight of her tears.
“Why can’t we just have a normal mate life like every other werewolf does? Why do we have to go through battles every day and escape near death experiences? Heck! We haven’t even mated fully!” she blurted and wiped her tears even though they fell as she wiped them.
“Olive, I don’t… I can’t explain. I don’t know what to do. I’m so clueless right now and it’s just killing me,” Wayne rasped and looked at her, his eyes blue. He walked to her and held her shaky hands.
“Baby… please don’t hate me. Trust me I’m not after your life even if it appears I am. I… don’t want to hurt you.”
“But you know what’s happening and you won’t tell me.”
Wayne sighed.
“There’s… there’s a lot of prophecies surrounding my mate. I guess that’s why… that’s why these things are after you,” he muttered and coughed nervously.
In just a few minutes, Wayne had turned into a man looking like he hadn’t slept for days at all. He looked so pitiable.
“I want to hear everything. And I want to know everything I don’t know too. You will tell me everything Wayne… if you want me to stay,” she said the last part with difficulty. She wanted to stay with him no matter what. She couldn’t leave him. But wouldn’t she be daft to run into naked fire?
“I promise I will. One at a time,” he replied and played with her fingers without looking at her face. It was like he was scared of looking at her.
“Wayne,” she called and stepped down from the desk.
“Mmm hmm,” came his throaty reply.
“I won’t leave you no matter what darkness you’re hiding inside. If you want it gone, then we’ll chase it away together. If you want it tamed, then I can as well be your taming assistant. If you want it to overwhelm you, then I’ll be here to knock some sense into you,” Wayne laughed at that. The first laugh since he found out he tried to kill his mate again.
“All in all, just know I’m here. I’m not leaving you alone. I won’t because…” she trailed off. The next words she wanted to say were so heavy.
“I love you,” Wayne affirmed much to Olive’s surprise.
“Wh-what?”
“I love you, Olive. I love you so much. More than I ever imagined I could love someone,” he stated and Olive broke down into sobs. She ran into his embrace and he held her tenderly. He placed his palm behind her head and his other arm hugging her back. He loved this woman and that was one thing he was so sure of.
“I love you, Wayne,” Olive affirmed after crying. They unlocked from the hug and stared into each others eyes.
“You beat me into saying it first but… I love you,” she reaffirmed. Wayne felt like all his burden and fear had melted off him like ice cream in the summer sun. He stared deep into her eyes with his blue eyes. Then he bent down and began to kiss her… not making any plans to go rough or even let go any moment soon.