Fated To Not Just One, But Three

Chapter 49: Bitten

Chapter 49: Bitten

Olivia's POV

We raced into the woods, the wind whipping past my ears, and the ground blurring under my feet. My heart pounded, adrenaline surging as Jerek and I moved in perfect rhythm. I could hear others stumbling behind us—branches snapping, someone letting out a frustrated growl—but we kept going, swift and focused.

Memories replayed in my head. Sweet memories of how I raced with the triplets in these same woods. Those were the moments when I was truly happy.

"Don't slow down!" Jerek shouted, his breath steady beside me.

"I wasn't planning to," I shot back, pushing harder.

The familiar trees blurred around us, moonlight seeping through the leaves in streaks of silver. I could feel the energy of the race pulsing all around us, but for a brief moment, it felt like just Jerek and me out here. Free. Wild. Almost like the old days.

We reached the towering oak that marked the halfway point. Its wide trunk stood tall like a silent guardian, roots digging deep into the earth. We didn't stop—just touched its bark briefly, then pivoted and launched ourselves back toward the yard.

But then—

A sharp, guttural hiss of pain sliced through the air.

I skidded to a halt, my boots digging into the dirt. My wolf whimpered, a deep ache piercing my chest as if she felt the pain too. Something was wrong.

"What is it?" Jerek called, stopping a few feet ahead when he realized I wasn't beside him anymore.

I didn't answer. I couldn't. My head snapped toward the sound, and my body moved instinctively, veering off the path and into the thick brush.

"Olivia!" Jerek called after me, but I barely heard him.

thick, tense. I followed the scent—the faintest trace of

restless now, pacing inside me.

like that of Lennox. My heart

kept running until the trees parted into a small clearing, the moon casting a silver

Lennox.

was on the ground, writhing in pain, his leg swollen and already starting to bruise. Beside him lay the crushed remains of a large, venomous snake—its body coiled awkwardly. The ground was splattered with

I breathed, rushing

uselessly over his injured leg. She looked pale, her

do," she cried, her

arm, his face contorted in pain. "The

shaking her head violently. "I can't—I can't do

roared, his

just kept shaking

was enough for

my knees beside him. His eyes widened in shock as I grabbed his leg

panting, his skin clammy and

your life," I

over the bite wound. The taste of venom was metallic and foul, burning my tongue as I spat it out again and again, ignoring the sickening taste and the tremble in my hands. I sucked, spat, sucked again, until the swelling stopped rising, and the

tore the bottom hem of my shirt and wrapped it tightly around the wound to

groaned, his hand weakly

at him, my chest

moment, a rustling of branches

trees, eyes scanning the scene

to Lennox's side, while

my mouth with the back of my hand. "He got