Olivia’s POV
I couldn’t remember when exactly I woke up but I felt my eyes flutter open briefly and then close.
In those few seconds, I noticed that Andre’s space was empty but I was too tired to do anything about it.
My eyes sprung open again and this time, I saw Andre in our room, already dressed and smiling at me.
“Good morning, my queen.”
He leaned towards me and gave me a steamy kiss on my lips.
When he finally pulled away, my cheeks were a bright red.
“Andre, I have morning breath. I’m filthy.”
He smirked and lowered his head towards my ear.
“I wasn’t complaining, kitten. Besides, I love filthy.”
His husky and seductive words made shivers run down my spine.
He kissed me again and I groaned against his lips.
When I finally sat up, I noticed the steamy breakfast lying on my bedside table, the neatly packed suitcases, and a lovely dress spread out on the bed.
“What’s all this?” I asked Andre with eyes full of surprise.
It was then that I noticed the smile and joy on Andre’s face vanish in an instant and was replaced by a cold expression.
“While you slept, Jonas’ family arrived. They are here right now, and they have volunteered to escort us back to his pack.”
There was an icy tone in Andre’s voice and his eyes were dark and narrowed.
I grabbed his arm gently and pulled him close to me, planting a soft kiss on his cheek.
“You should be happy, Andre. At least we’ll get a proper escort to his pack.”
I tugged the corners of his lips slightly into a smile, and he finally gave in.
I, on the other hand, was bubbling with excitement. I was finally going to meet Jonas’s family. I wondered what they looked like and who they were.
I was just about to jump out of bed when Andre grabbed me and pinned me down on the mattress.
“Not so fast, Little Miss Happy. You have to get ready. Let’s have breakfast together.”
His words became husky and seductive again as he leaned closer to the crook of my neck and tickled my earlobes with his lips.
I giggled as I felt his warm breath fan against my skin and I finally lost all resolve to rush downstairs to meet his parents. Andre was right. It was best that I got ready.
Andre and I had breakfast together and my heart felt light and happy. He would dote on me, and every few spoonfuls were peppered with kisses on my face and lips.
I reached for his hand and squeezed it tightly as I gazed and lost myself in his green eyes. I felt his love burning strongly in my heart and I couldn’t hold back the tears and the smile that stole my face.
“Olivia, you’re crying.”
Andre rushed to wipe my tears away with his thumb, and I giggled and pushed it aside as nothing.
“Olivia, are you…”
“Andre, I’m fine. I’m just… Just so happy. I never thought that the Moon Goddess would bring me someone like you. I’m happy that you’re mine, and I’m just feeling so overwhelmed.”
The tears of joy began to fall even more, and my happiness slowly morphed into guilt.
I began to sob lightly and covered my face with my hands in shame.
“Olivia?”
“I’m so sorry, Andre. I am so sorry for everything that I have done. I didn’t mean to run away. I didn’t mean to leave you. I don’t know what got over me, and I only want you to forgive me. I want to be a better me to you. I want to be…”
I felt two strong arms grab my shoulders. I was pulled forward, and a pair of lips smashed against my own, filling me with warmth and love.
Andre kissed me deeply, and I could hear him groan as his lips felt mine. My body relaxed slowly, and I threw my arms around his neck, pulling him close and relaxing into his soft, lush lips.
We were that way for a while. I enjoyed the taste of his tongue. He tasted like breakfast – warm and comforting.
When he finally pulled away, his green eyes clashed with mine and filled my stomach with butterflies.
“Olivia, you don’t need to worry. You ran away in the past, and I have forgiven you. I’m just happy and relieved that I was able to find you, and now”
We clasped our fingers together like new lovers, and he cupped my face.
“I have you forever, and I am never going to leave you. I don’t want to lose you or leave you. I love you.”
Another tear streamed down my face and wet his palm. I kissed it away, rested my head on this open hand, and gazed at the blessing the Moon Goddess had given me.
“I love you too, Andre. I promise that nothing will happen to me, and you won’t lose me.”
He pulled me into a hug, and his expensive perfume filled my lungs and stayed there, etching his scent in my heart. A smell that I would never forget in my lifetime.
As I rested on his chest and listened to his gentle, thudding heartbeat, I thought about the mysterious ways the Moon Goddess worked. The way she intertwined destinies was complex, and no one would ever know who she would make them meet.
“Andre, the Moon Goddess, gave me to you. If Nicole had never forced me to leave my home behind, I never would have met you. Maybe it’s also the Moon Goddess that made me meet Jonas so that I can find out about my father’s death.”
“Maybe,” Andre said, his tone light and not convinced.
He pulled away from me and looked me deep into my eyes. His expression was different; he looked grim and serious.
He took my hands, kissed my fingers softly, and smoothed my skin with his thumb.
“Olivia, I have been meaning to ask you something, and I think this is a good time.”
The solemnity in this voice made my heart skip a beat. What was he talking about? What was going on?
“When you told me about your dad, and you told me that he was killed, I sympathized with you. Now, we are in Elvis Pine, the home of the people that murdered your father and we are here to find out about what happened and who killed him. I can’t help but wonder…”
He stopped mid-sentence and looked at me. His eyes seemed heavy, as if he was unsure of how to put forth his next words.
“Andre, talk to me.”
He took a deep breath and was hesitant to continue. He ran his tongue along his lips and closed his eyes, summoning the courage to keep talking.
“Olivia, we are here in Elvis Pine. We might or might not find your father’s killers. But if we do, what are you going to do?…”