Silver Rain

Chapter 5

Olivia's heart skipped a beat at the alpha's words, her stomach churning with a mixture of fear and disbelief. "Bait?" she repeated, her voice barely above a whisper. "You want to use me as bait?"

"I know it's a lot to ask," he admitted, his voice tinged with regret. "But we need to draw out the killer before it claims another victim. And you may be our best chance at doing that."

Olivia's mind raced as she struggled to process the enormity of the alpha's request. The thought of putting herself in harm's way once again filled her with a deep sense of dread, but she also understood the urgency of stopping the killer before it struck again.

"Absolutely not." Olivia shook her head but stopped just as quickly as her headache deepened.  It felt as if there was a bowling alley around up there.  She couldn't believe she was saying 'no', especially to an alpha.  "I'm not just something you can use to lure out whatever thing you've been unsuccessful at catching."

Olivia's voice trembled with a mixture of fear and defiance as she stared up at Felix, her eyes flashing with determination. She refused to be reduced to mere bait, to be used as a pawn in a deadly game of cat and mouse.  She knew it had every bit of her being human.  Prey is what Ethan called her.

A low growl came from Calvin's throat.  "We were close last night,"

She blinked.  At least she knew now how long she'd been knocked out.  "Then it turned to ash, right?  It seems like you're playing with something far more than I can help you with."

Olivia knew she should be terrified of the two men but between the bullying with Ethan and hateful comments from other strangers, she had built up a resilience, a defiance that refused to be cowed by the looming threat of danger. Despite the fear that coiled in the pit of her stomach, she stood her ground, refusing to be manipulated or exploited for someone else's agenda.

"I know this isn't easy for you, Olivia," Felix said, his voice firm. Olivia stared into his eyes, a swirling mess of... she didn't know.  "But we're running out of options. The killer is growing bolder, and we need to act fast if we want to stop them."

Olivia's jaw clenched as she wrestled with conflicting emotions, her mind a whirlwind of doubt and uncertainty. She knew that Felix was right – that the killer needed to be stopped before more innocent lives were lost. But the thought of willingly walking into the lion's den filled her with a bone-deep dread that threatened to consume her from within.

"I can't," she whispered, her voice barely audible above the hum of the fluorescent lights. "I won't."

Calvin stepped forward, his gaze piercing as he fixed Olivia with a steady stare. "We understand your reluctance," he said. "But lives are at stake here. We can't afford to sit back and do nothing while the killer continues to roam free."

Olivia felt a surge of frustration bubble up inside her, a fierce determination to prove that she was more than just a pawn to be sacrificed in a game she had no control over.

 "And what if I refuse?" she demanded, her voice trembling with barely contained anger. "You two realize that I'm quite literally only human?"

"Then we'll find another way." Calvin shrugged, but his eyes flashed dangerously.  "But I'm sure you understand the gravity of the situation, Olivia. You've seen firsthand what this killer is capable of. We need your help to put an end to it."

"You'll be safe," Felix said, lacing his fingers together.  "You'll have someone with you at all times, watching over you."

"I don't need a babysitter," Olivia grumbled.