Andre’s POV
I was in a meeting with Pierre and Doran inside my study.
“I need to go for a few days and find Olivia. I’m worried that something will happen to her, and I won’t forgive myself if my hunch is right and I didn’t do anything about it. I am leaving the both of you in charge of pack matters until I get back.”
Doran and Pierre nodded, but I could still see the scepticism in Doran’s eyes. He was still maintaining that I should allow Olivia to come home by herself, but there was no way I was going to allow that.
He knew, better than anyone, how long I had waited for Olivia. I wasn’t just going to let her slip through my fingers when I got her and finally felt happy.
Suddenly, there was a knock at the door. Pierre stood up to open it, and Nicole walked inside. She looked around the room, and I saw an expression of disappointment creep on her face.
“Seems like an important meeting is going on here, and I wasn’t invited to it.”
I ignored her and glared at her.
“What do you want, Nicole?”
She took a deep breath and looked at me. Her lips were a bright red with her signature lipstick, and her hair fell across her shoulders.
“Nothing. I just wanted to let you know that we have an important meeting with the Alpha of the Crescent Moon pack.”
I stood up and stared at her while I re-adjusted my tie.
“Unfortunately, I won’t be present for that meeting. I am going on a business trip for a few days, and I have left Doran and Pierre in charge of the affairs. You will direct it to them if you need to report anything.”
“And might I ask where you are going that would make you want to miss such an important meeting?”
I chuckled sarcastically and glared daggers at Nicole.
“Do you know that it’s very funny that you want to be my Luna, yet you have no motherly instinct or feeling of responsibility towards your own child? Are you blind, or have you simply not noticed that your daughter is missing? You haven’t seen her in a day, and you aren’t even the tiniest bit concerned. You disgust me, Nicole.”
Nicole scoffed.
“So you knew she was missing the entire time, and you refused to say anything?! Why?!”
Nicole threw her head back, and she spoke nonchalantly.
“The little brat took the note that her late father had written to me along with some of my money. She obviously knew what she was doing. She is old enough to make her own decisions, and I see no reason why I should be bothered about it.”
I was astonished at her reply. Doran looked stunned as well, and Pierre looked the same way.
I asked both of them to leave the room and give Nicole and me some privacy.
They left, and I took a menacing step towards Nicole and snarled at her.
“I demand to know what was in the letter that she took.”
Nicole took a step back, but I grabbed her arm roughly, my fingers sinking into her skin.
I squeezed harder, and she groaned in pain.
“You have ten seconds before I lose my patience. One, two, three…”
She yanked her arm out of my grasp and rubbed the red spot on her skin.
“Ouch. Okay. I’ll tell you. Her father knew that some people were after him, and he asked me to take care of her in case something ever happened to him. He asked me to protect her with my life and that everything he had done was because of her.”
I stepped away from Nicole, and my eyes washed over her. She was a terrible mother.
“Well, it seems that you have let your late husband down. You have been nothing to Olivia ever since she got here. I can only imagine how disappointed he would be in you.”
She stepped away from me, placed her hand on her hip and glared at me.
“I have already told you what she was up to. I see no reason why you should be concerned about Olivia when I am not. She is my daughter…”
“And she doesn’t deserve to be,” I said, cutting her off.
Nicole glared at me suspiciously.
“Is there something between the both of you that I am not aware of? Since Olivia came into this home, you have changed a lot.”
Nicole glared at me suspiciously. I could tell she wanted to say something, but I wouldn’t give her that liberty. I also didn’t plan to give her an answer.
I called Doran and Pierre back inside and asked her to leave. They took their seats and listened to me with rapt attention.
“Andre, I still think you should let her do this alone. I have this feeling that if you find her, it will upset her, and she will think that you are meddling in her private affairs. She’s not Nicole.”
“I realised at dinner that she seemed nervous and uneasy about the dinner you set up. She tried her best to hide it, but I saw right through her. You should give her some space.
“I agree as well,” Pierre added. “She is still young and needs to spread her wings. I think you should give her two days at least. I am not sure how much she took from Nicole, but if it runs out in two days, she will return home on her own. If she doesn’t, you can go after her.”
I looked at Doran and Pierre. Maybe they were right. I needed to give Olivia some space. It was probably the right thing to do. The only question was: could I do it?
I tried to relax, but my mind was agitated.
“One day, kitten and I will turn the entire world upside down just to look for you…”