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.

you…" Levi began slowly, his voice quiet, almost hesitant. "Do

froze for a split

they going

masking the alarm buzzing under

could feel their attention

I hesitated, then gave a soft

slightly, voice laced

sadness in my eyes.

expressions changed—subtle, but

They knew.

the truth. My father hadn't died—he had been arrested. They

correct me. Just

I didn't blink.

you… receive three gifts that

inside. I knew exactly what

were talking about their

me, which

crying over it, but never had the

said calmly, meeting

hope lighting up in their eyes. That spark of eagerness that made my chest

was low, careful. "Do you

I smiled gently. "Gabriel."

faltered. Slightly. But

I wasn't done.

added softly. "The gifts

true. But I let them draw their

heavy silence settled

then I saw

Realization.

Pain.

They understood.

had never opened their

parted slightly. "You never opened

overwhelmed. And then everything that happened with my

his jaw tight. There was something in his

looked as if he wanted to say

But he didn't.

He held himself back.

my head, with a

a chord too deep—told me something was important in

boxes were stolen?" Lennox asked, not able

nodded slowly. "I think so. When I remember about the gifts and went to

serious. "Do you remember what color they

me off guard. But I

silver ribbons. Another was red velvet with a gold ribbon. And the

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