Chapter 867 – Hidden Desires of the Werewolf King Novel

Filed To Story: Veiled Desires of the Alpha King Novel

Olivia’s eyes teared up. “You say he is my mate, but I don’t feel it.”

“I know your wolf is weak, but can’t you sense his scent?” Talia reached to take Travis’ hand and she guided him to put his hand over Olivia’s. “Don’t you feel the sparks even a little bit? Aren’t your instincts telling you that this man is your other half?”

Olivia stared at their connected hands. Did she feel something? There was the prickling sensation, and Travis’ touch felt good but… “The sparks were wrong before.” She pulled her hand away and hid it under the blanket.

Talia could see Travis’ disappointment and Olivia’s doubts, and her heart ached for both of them.

“I don’t know why the Moon Goddess gave you Luis as a mate,” Talia said. “Maybe he was necessary so you can end up here and meet Travis. Travis is a good man. He taught me about herbs and medicine and helped me heal when others thought that my wolf was gone for good. Take your time, Olivia, but don’t reject him. He would never harm you. If he dares to raise his voice in your presence, let me know and I will teach him a lesson.”

Olivia’s shoulders shook and she lowered her head. Talia wrapped her arms around Olivia and patted her back gently.

‘I’m so sorry, Travis,’ Talia spoke through the pack link. ‘I know that this is not how mates usually meet, but Olivia is traumatized. You will need to be patient with her. She is a good female, but her mate abused her for the last few years. She broke the bond today. Everything is fresh.’

Travis’ wolf was urging him to get closer to Olivia and not touching her was torturous. ‘Tell me what her mate did to her.’

Talia didn’t think it was a good idea. ‘Are you sure you want to know?’

‘I need to understand what I’m dealing with if I am going to help her.’ His wolf needed to understand also.

‘It won’t be pretty,’ Talia warned him.

Travis steeled his resolve. ‘I can take it.’

‘Relax. Open up your mind…’

Travis wondered what Talia was up to, but he did as she asked.

Travis recoiled when images started flooding his mind.

Olivia looking at him and smiling… Olivia’s expression changed into confusion and then fear… Olivia in tears… Olivia bruised… Olivia setting up the table with shaky hands… Olivia with her head lowered while keeping her eyes tightly closed like she was bracing herself for impact… Olivia crying and begging for the hitting to stop, and then she stopped making noise as she curled up into a ball while wishing for the pain to stop.

Talia didn’t show the ones that were of sexual nature. She wanted to spare Travis from seeing that, knowing that even this would be too much.

Travis felt his insides churning in dejection and helplessness because it felt so real like it was happening right there. He saw his mate suffering, yet he just stood there and watched. Even worse. He was the one who made her suffer.

Travis put his hand over his mouth and ran outside.

“Can you go with him?” Talia asked Dayson.

Dayson grimaced. He was not willing! They could hear Travis puking his guts out in the hallway. Why would he go there? But Talia was looking at him pleadingly and he stomped outside.

“Why did they leave?” Olivia asked.

“Just as you need time to adjust to this situation, Travis needs the same,” Talia explained softly. “He won’t force you to accept the bond or his mark, but it’s hard to fight the urges to claim his mate. He will be back in a few minutes once he calms down.”

Olivia nodded in understanding. “Will you tell me how you became the Alpha? How did you meet your mate?”

Talia didn’t know where to start. “Tell me what you know, and I will fill you up.” She assumed that Olivia knew at least something about the waves caused by the appearance of Alpha Natalia.

Olivia shook her head. “Since I left the Red Moon pack, my contact outside the Shadowbite pack was cut off. I had no access to television or media. Some rumors would drift in occasionally, but it was more for entertainment because no one knew how reliable they were.”

“Well… The Red Moon pack is gone,” Talia said. “Alpha Edward fell in the Alpha challenge.”

Olivia was visibly shaken up by this information. “Who would dare to challenge the Red Moon pack?”

“He was the one who issued a challenge to the Shadow Fang pack.”

Olivia glanced at the door fearfully. “Your mate killed Alpha Edward?”

“No. He used a Champion.” Talia didn’t want to spend time explaining about George and his history, so she stuck to the relevant parts. “The territory and members of the Red Moon pack were divided among other packs, and their packhouse is now a neutral territory that we use for settling disputes.”

“What about my dad?”

“He is in the Lightclaw pack, working as a pack doctor. I didn’t contact him because I didn’t know how long you will need to recover. Let me know when you want to see him, and I will set it up.”

Olivia looked toward the window, and she could see her reflection in the glass. She reached to touch her sunken cheek. “Maybe later.”

The door opened and Travis and Dayson walked inside.

Talia and Dayson exchanged knowing nods, and Talia said to Olivia, “If you need anything, tell Travis or the nurses. If you want to reach me, they can help you until we get you a cell phone.” Or until she joins the Shadow Fang pack.

Olivia felt fear gripping her insides. “You are leaving?”

“I will come tomorrow. Until then, spend time with Travis, Olivia.”

Olivia’s eyes darted to Travis.

“He is your mate,” Talia reminded Olivia. “He will take care of you. Give him a chance.”

“I don’t know how.”

“Listen to your instincts. I know it’s hard but give him a chance. You owe that to yourself. You can sit in silence, talk, hold hands, or whatever. If it feels good, go at it. If it’s making you uncomfortable, let him know and he will stop.”

Travis looked at Talia gratefully. “Thank you, Luna.”

Talia smiled sadly. She didn’t resist when Dayson’s hand wrapped around her, and Dayson led the way outside.

“Olivia,” Travis spoke first. “You are the daughter of the pack doctor from the Red Moon pack.”

“Do you know my dad?”

“Only from stories.”

“How do you know who I am then?”

“Talia told me stories about you.”

Olivia blinked. “What did she say?”

“Talia said that she had one friend while growing up. And it was a kind girl who went out of her way to help her out when no one else would…”

Olivia smiled a little while Travis reminded her of how Olivia taught Talia about herbs and the basics of medicine, and how they read and studied together.

Olivia didn’t realize at what point Travis sat on the edge of her bed. He was close, and she could feel his behind against her leg through the blanket, but he didn’t initiate any physical contact.

Did she want him to hold her hand? She was not sure but being with Travis like this didn’t feel scary at all.

Travis was talking about his early days as a doctor, unaware that Olivia’s hand inched closer to his.

Travis jolted when he felt prickles at the tips of his fingers.

“Can I touch your hand?” Olivia asked.

In less than a heartbeat, Travis’ hand was palm up. “Of course you can, Olivia. But… don’t force yourself.” It took everything in him not to grab her hand and hold her, and he wanted to hold the rest of Olivia also.

Travis remembered Dayson’s words from the hallway. Dayson told him to man up and stop vomiting. Something along the lines, “Look at you, like a pampered human girl who smelled something icky and got collywobbles. Get your shit together, Travis. Your mate needs you. This is not about you…”

Travis knew that Dayson was right. This was not about Travis. It was about Olivia and her overcoming the trauma of abuse.

Normally, Travis would be the one to advise others about physical and mental health, but it seemed that when it came to his own mate, Travis turned stupid to the point of needing Dayson to remind him of what was important.

Considering that Dayson’s EQ was negative, Travis realized that he needed to step up his game.

If he gave in to his instinct, he would scare the female more, and she will see him as another abuser, a guy who can’t respect her wishes and boundaries.

Just saying he won’t do anything against her will was not enough. Travis needed to show it.

Olivia inched closer until her palm was over Travis’.

“What is your wolf doing?” She asked.

“My wolf…” Travis shook his head. “You don’t want to know.”

Olivia bit her lip nervously. How could she not know? She remembered when she met Luis, her wolf was urging her to pounce on her mate, and she was confident that Travis felt the same, yet he was holding back. For her.

Olivia licked her lips nervously. “You don’t need to contain your instincts.”

Travis’ heart cracked. He lifted his free hand and cradled her cheek gently, and he didn’t miss that she stiffened upon contact.

“No matter what my instincts are urging me to do, it won’t be good if both of us are not enjoying it, Olivia,” Travis said. “I am sorry that your first mate was a monster, and I’m sorry I don’t have the power to erase your past, but I give you my word that I will devote my life to healing your scars; physical, mental, and emotional ones. I will be patient until you are ready to open up and accept me completely. There is no need for us to rush into anything. Take your time.”

Oliva’s vision was blurred from tears. It has been a long time since a male spoke to her about consent and healing.

“Am I making you uncomfortable?” Travis asked while caressing her cheek with his fingers.

Olivia blinked her tears away and looked at him.

Travis realized that this would require another approach. Olivia forgot how to stand up to herself, and she would never tell him if something was wrong. That Luis bastard broke her.

Travis pulled his hand away, and Olivia felt the loss of this touch. It was warm and gentle, and she didn’t hate it, but she didn’t dare ask for it back either.

“How about we come up with a signal?” Travis suggested. “It can be something subtle.”

Olivia didn’t understand. “A signal for what?”

“For when you want me to stop. Will you be alright with…” Travis thought for a moment. “Touch your ear.”

“What?”

“When I am making you uncomfortable, touch your ear. Like that, I will know that I need to stop whatever I’m doing. You won’t need to explain, and I won’t ask questions. What do you say?”

“I can try.”

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