Silver Rain

Chapter 45

Olivia spent the next two days with Mira, who, inconceivably, enjoyed the life of an alpha princess. Mira quite literally took it upon herself to treat Olivia to any sort of pageantry Mira had for that day, whether that would be eating with friends or members of the pack, playing with children, or shopping. And God, did Mira love shopping.

Felix had kept a wide birth from Olivia and she was fine with it. They would acknoledge each other with a nod of their head or with their eyes sliding to each other whenever the other spoke, but never to each other. The distance between Felix and Olivia was palpable, a quiet tension that everyone around them seemed to tiptoe around. It wasn't hostile, exactly—there was no glaring or cold shoulder. But it was... strained. Polite. Painfully so.

Felix kept his interactions with Olivia minimal, communicating in stolen glances or barely perceptible nods whenever they crossed paths. Olivia mirrored the behavior, even though her stomach churned every time she caught sight of him. His presence was impossible to ignore, no matter how hard she tried.

Olivia also refused to sleep in his room to solidify that boundary. Which, on her behalf was a poor decision. She had hardly gotten any sleep the past two nights, the silence in her own room amplifying every restless thought and every pang of longing for something she couldn't seem to grasp. The bed felt too big without him, and the absence of his presence in her space only made the rift between them feel more painful. Even though she told herself it was the right thing to do, her body disagreed

Mira noticed, of course. She wasn't subtle about her disapproval, either. Every now and then, Olivia would catch her shooting Felix a pointed look or muttering something under her breath when Olivia pretended not to notice. And yet, Mira could tell. She always could tell when something was completely and utterly wrong.

Mira had an effortless way of balancing maturity with youthful energy that often left Olivia caught between admiration and exasperation. Despite still being in high school, Mira moved through the pack, and within her family, with a confidence that seemed well beyond her years. Her charisma and seeing through others were magnetic, and Olivia couldn't help but notice how people gravitated toward her, whether it was the young kids who idolized her or the pack members who respected her.

But Mira's enthusiasm for shopping? That was a force of nature.

"Come on, Liv," Mira urged, pulling Olivia into yet another boutique. "You can't spend your life in jeans and T-shirts. You're basically a Vaughn—you need to look the part."

Olivia sighed, trailing behind her. "Mira, I'm not a Vaughn, and definitely don't need to look the part."

Mira waved her off, already rifling through racks of dresses with a practiced eye. "Semantics. Besides, how else are you going to go to those fancy doctor meetings?"

"In scrubs," Olivia flopped down on a chair in the boutique. It was the eighth one of the day and the bags around her feet were starting to pile up.

Mira scoffed and held out a pink shirt with a frilly bow on it, as if imagining someone wearing it. She made a face and put it back on the rack. "Listen, I'm all for you borrowing my clothes and all, but you need to get some of your own too."

Olivia rolled her eyes, though a small smile tugged at her lips. "I have plenty of clothes. And for the record, borrowing from your wardrobe is usually a last resort."

"Last resort? Rude," Mira shot back, feigning offense. "You wore my sweater yesterday, and Felix practically tripped over himself when he saw you. You're welcome, by the way."

The mention of Felix made Olivia's stomach twist, her smile fading. Mira must have caught the shift in her expression because she hesitated, her fingers still brushing through a rack of dresses.