Fated To Not Just One, But Three

Chapter 179: In The Garden

Olivia’s POV

I frowned and stepped closer to where he lay. "I was just taking a walk," I murmured, lowering myself onto the grass. I didn’t know why I sat—when I should’ve kept walking.

His gaze lingered on me. "You always come here when you’re overthinking."

I frowned. He still knew me—too well. Even after everything.

"I could say the same about you," I replied softly, folding my arms. "Why are you out here? What’s got you tossing and turning?"

Levi looked back up at the stars, sighing through his nose. "Just... stuff. Couldn’t stay in that room. Too many memories."

The silence stretched between us, not uncomfortable, just... heavy.

Not able to endure it anymore, I stood up to leave, but Levi spoke. "Please stay," he pleaded.

I looked at Levi for a long moment.

His eyes were still closed, facing the sky, but his voice... it shook something deep inside me.

"I’m running mad... please just stay."

My chest tightened. I felt it—the bond pulling at me, gently but strong. My wolf whined inside me, begging me not to walk away. And then I felt it.

His pain.

It was quiet, buried deep, but real. Like a slow, heavy weight pressing down on him. His energy felt dim, like a candle struggling to stay lit.

I didn’t understand how, but I knew it—he was draining. Like he had nothing left in him.

Without thinking, I walked back and sat beside him again, closer this time. I didn’t speak. I didn’t need to.

He didn’t look at me. Just whispered, "Thank you."

We sat there in silence, the grass cool beneath us, the moonlight soft and silver. The air smelled like flowers and earth, and for a moment, I let myself breathe him in.

Then Levi spoke again, his voice low, almost like he was talking to himself.

"Do you remember your twelfth birthday?"

I turned my head slightly, frowning. "Of course I do. I wished for something impossible that day."

He chuckled softly, but there was no real joy in it. It was a bitter sound. "You looked up at the sky with those big, dreamy eyes and said, ’I wish the triplets would give me one of the stars.’"

I blinked, surprised he remembered that.

staring at the stars. "You didn’t want gifts

was a kid.

to look at me, and there was something wild and haunted in his eyes. "We

deepened. "What do

his voice quieter now. "We were seventeen, and so damn stupid and in love with you. We actually visited

caught.

dragged a hand through his messy hair. "She

what to say. My heart was pounding now, and part of me didn’t want to believe him. But the look in his eyes said it

something like that?" I asked, barely

was you. You asked for a

too close to the surface. No!

this. Not now.

after what they

his words had already pierced through the walls I spent years building. And that

to myself, shaking my head.

heart

Neither did the bond.

could. That was the curse of the

and Gabriel seeing each other now?"

I wondered what kind of wolf asks his mate—his

kept his eyes on the sky like it would save him

"Do you have a problem with

for a second

he said, "No. Do I even

harder than I expected. Not because they were sharp, but because they were so...

from his pants, not once looking at

then," he muttered, voice distant.

away. Slow steps,

head toward the pack

But he didn’t.

passed the path that led to the house and kept going—toward

sitting up straighter, unsure at first if

But no.

heading back into

not to care. Let him go. Let him do whatever he wants. It’s not

But I didn’t move.

gate

alone was enough to shove panic into my chest. A dozen questions rushed through my

was he going? Why

I could talk myself out of it,

track in the night air. I saw him just ahead, walking into the woods, his steps