Fated To Not Just One, But Three

Chapter 124: Never Got To Open THEM

Olivia's POV

I blinked at Lennox's question, pretending to think deeply.

"Hmm… other memories?" I tilted my head slightly, letting my fingers play with the edge of the blanket. "Well… I remember when Gabriel and I were younger, we used to sneak into the pack house kitchen at midnight just to steal cookies. The chef would always pretend not to notice." I gave a soft, fond laugh.

Lennox stiffened.

Levi's brows twitched, and Louis looked down at his hands.

I had done that with all three of them.

I continued, my voice light and dreamy. "Gabriel used to braid my hair when I was ten. He wasn't very good at it, but he always tried. Once, we ended up tangled in my ribbons for hours."

I glanced up briefly, watching their expressions shift into shock, pain.

That day had been with all three of them… and it was hilarious.

"There was a time," I added, as if reminiscing warmly, "Gabriel helped me build a treehouse behind the pack house. It was crooked and ugly, but I loved it. We spent the whole summer in that treehouse, pretending we were explorers."

The silence in the room thickened.

That had been Levi.

He was the one who built that treehouse with me. He'd scraped his palms and bruised his knees. We painted it together, made up stories inside it. But I acted like I didn't know.

"And once," I said with a wistful smile, "Gabriel gave me this necklace for my twelfth birthday. It had a little wolf charm on it. I never took it off."

Louis's jaw clenched. He'd saved up for months to get that necklace. I'd cried when I opened it.

"I think those are the strongest memories," I said, folding my hands neatly in my lap. "Gabriel was always there. Like my anchor."

I finally looked up—really looked.

Lennox's eyes were filled with tears.

Levi looked like he'd just been slapped.

Louis looked like a child who'd been mistreated.

I tilted my head. "Why do you ask, Lennox?"

He didn't answer right away. He just stared at me, his jaw tight.

I held Lennox's gaze for a moment longer, then looked away, acting calm, though I could feel the pressure building in the room like a rising tide. Something was shifting—subtle, but undeniable. They were digging now. Prodding in places I hadn't prepared for.

I had to stay ahead.

voice quiet, almost hesitant. "Do you remember your fourteenth

for a split second, my pulse

are they going

nodded slowly, masking the alarm buzzing under my

feel their attention sharpen like

then gave a soft sigh, eyes dropping

stepped forward slightly, voice laced with concern. "Why? What

sadness in my eyes. "I

changed—subtle,

They knew.

hadn't died—he had been arrested. They were

correct me.

I didn't blink.

Louis spoke again. "Did you… receive

knew exactly what

talking about their

me,

gifts had gone missing. I remembered crying over it, but

I said calmly, meeting

saw it instantly—the hope lighting up in their eyes. That

voice was low, careful. "Do you remember… who gave

I smiled gently. "Gabriel."

faltered. Slightly.

I wasn't done.

never got to open them, though," I added softly. "The gifts

true. But I let them draw their

silence

then I

Realization.

Pain.

They understood.

never opened their

opened

was too overwhelmed. And then everything that happened with my father…" I trailed

closer, his jaw tight. There was something in

if he wanted

But he didn't.

He held himself back.

my head,

them tensed—like someone had struck a chord too deep—told me something was important in those boxes which I

stolen?" Lennox asked,

remember about the gifts and went to check on them, they were just

looking serious. "Do you

off

ribbons. Another was red velvet with a gold ribbon.