Fated To Not Just One, But Three

Chapter 453: prepare for the worst

Levi’s POV

Olivia was drifting again, her eyes glassy, her mind somewhere far away. Every few seconds, I had to reach out and tap her cheek gently, trying to pull her back.

"Hey," I whispered, brushing my thumb over her face. "Stay with me, okay?"

She blinked slowly, her gaze unfocused, then turned to me with tears pooling in her eyes. For a heartbeat, she seemed to see me, and then she faded again, lost in whatever storm was raging inside her.

"Hey... back," I said again, this time more firmly. I pulled her against me, guiding her head to my chest. Her body felt so small, so fragile in my arms. I could feel her silent sobs, the way she shook, the way her fingers clutched weakly at my shirt.

Each shudder tore through me.

I was breaking too.

My other half, my brother, lay on the edge of death, and every instinct in me screamed to fall apart. But I couldn’t. Not now. Not when she needed me to be her anchor.

I held her tighter, pressing my chin to the top of her head. "It’s okay," I whispered even though it wasn’t. "I’m here."

My throat burned, and for a moment, I couldn’t tell whose pain I was feeling, hers or mine. All I knew was that the woman in my arms and the brother in that room were both pieces of me.

And I couldn’t lose either.

Olivia stirred weakly in my arms, her breathing uneven. Then, all at once, she pushed herself up, her eyes wide and wild.

"I need to see him," she said, her voice shaky but firm. "Lennox, he needs me. I can heal him."

I caught her wrists before she could stand. "Olivia," I said softly, "you can heal him, maybe, but not now."

Her lips trembled. "No."

too much. If you push yourself again, you’ll end up beside him, and I can’t lose both

"He’s my mate," she whispered, her voice breaking. "I have to be by

him," I said. "He won’t leave Lennox’s side for a second. You need to rest. Let

shook her head violently. "No! He needs me!

from shaking, "I know. I know you want to be there, but right now,

and she tried to pull away, but I held her firmly, drawing her back

against her

pressed against my chest, then finally,

whispered, brushing her hair back gently. "Rest,

her head weakly. "I can’t, not while

to hers, letting our mate bond hum between us, a quiet, soothing pulse of warmth and comfort. It wasn’t as strong as it used to be, but it was enough to

running a thumb over her

mate bond to command her into doing something. I

slowed, the tension in her shoulders fading little by little. I felt her wolf surrender to

close, listening to the fragile rhythm of her heartbeat. For a

silence became

I turned my head toward the dark ceiling. "Lennox," I whispered. "I know

going. "You promised me, remember? You said, No matter what happens, we’d face it

My voice broke.

bastard," I choked out, a tear slipping down my face. "You can’t just

don’t want to fight for me and Louis, then fight for her," I said hoarsely. "For our mate. Because she won’t survive this, Lennox. She’s

a whisper. "So please, come back

long, painful moment, there was nothing, just

the door creaked

didn’t say anything at first; he just looked at Olivia asleep in my arms,

closer, sitting on the edge of

shook my head.

Slowly, I untangled myself from Olivia’s