Pressed against the warmth of her husband's chest, Olivia rested her head against him as she watched her cousins, telling tales of yesterdays and weaving stories of the future. Kaizan had wrapped his arms around her waist and buried his face in the crook of her neck. The hearth blazed, chasing away the mist that swirled in the night, slithering in from the trees surrounding the courtyard and beyond. The servants were removing the last remnants from the table and collecting flutes and goblets and other scattered, rolling tumblers and coupes. 

"I heard someone saw Lucas only a few days back loitering at the borders," said one of the cousins, as she rested on her belly with her chin on her hands. 

"Those are just rumors," countered another. "That bastard doesn't have the guts to show up again." 

Olivia felt uncomfortable. Understanding her discomfort, Kaizan pulled her closer to him. He whispered, "Stop feeling awkward about something that is not in your control." 

She sucked in a sharp breath as she lowered her eyes. Uneasiness was wrapped around the name Lucas. And there was no way she could feel better. His name popped up once in a while making her cringe. Why couldn't she just leave the past? Why was it that it hounded her? 

Seeing her shrinking in her world, Kaizan called her, "Olivia?"

"Yes…" 

"Is there no way that you can't think of him? Do I lack somewhere?" 

"What?" Olivia became straights and snapped her eyes at him. "Kaizan, why did you say that? Gods, I love you more than my life!" Her heart accelerated. "Why did you feel insecure even for a moment?" 

Kaizan tilted his head. His warm honey gaze met her blue ones. "Then why does his name affect you so much, love?" 

Olivia swallowed her saliva and bit her lip. "I hate him…" 

"Is that all?" he asked.

"What do you mean?" she said, seething even while thinking about him. 

"He is not worthy of your hatred also, Olivia. Even if you hate him, that means you care for him. Do you care for him?" 

"Hell no! If it were for me, I would plunge my dagger in him and then be free of this hatred." 

"Then stop thinking about him and free yourself. I don't like when you think of anyone else other than me, even if you hate that person," said Kaizan in a serious voice. "You know I have lost my mind from thinking about you all the time." 

Olivia's heart went out for him. Her beautiful, possessive General who felt insecure because of her. "I am sorry, honey… I promise that I will try my best." 

His full lips curved up and those dimples came into view. "And I am happy with just that much effort from you." 

Olivia closed her eyes and rested back on her husband's chest. He turned her head towards him and placed a lingering kiss. "Do you want to go inside? It is beginning to get cold and I know you are tired." 

She shook her head. She looked at her chatty cousins and said, "I won't be meeting them for a long time after this gets over. I will stay till they are here and then go to sleep." 

"As my wife wishes," he replied and then gestured to a servant to bring a blanket for her. The servant quickly brought the blanket and Kaizan tucked her in it. Olivia joined the conversation with her cousins, and he reveled in seeing how happy she sounded. Lucas was out of her mind, and Kaizan was determined to throw him out of their life. 

It was not even a few minutes, when the servant who Kaia had sent to give the purse, returned. Looking panicky as hell, he made his way to Olivia and Kaizan. Olivia's face was etched with worry. All the cousins stopped talking as they stared at the servant. 

"What is it?" asked Kaizan with a cold, dark look. 

"Rogues have attacked Lady Claire and Morris," he said breathlessly. "I followed them to give the purse, but I saw that they were surrounded by the rogues. Both Master Morris and Lady Claire are fighting with them, but they are outnumbered!" 

A rumble vibrated in his chest. Kaizan's jaw clenched. He drew in a shaky breath and said, "I am going to see them. Arrange for backup." He got up to leave. "Where are they right now?" 

"Two left corners away from Lady Claire's house," he replied with tangible fear in his eyes. "They are heavily armed, my liege. Please don't go alone." 

But Kaizan was boiling with rage. Yesterday the rogues attacked the border patrol and today they had ambushed the relatives of Vaarin. He had to quash it as soon as possible. If they were trying to send a message, he was going to send it back to them. "Like I said, send the backup as soon as possible!" 

"Be careful!" Olivia rasped with trembling lips. Ever since they had come to the Whiteclaw pack, Kaizan was facing one or the other problem. When would the problems be over? 

He nodded and then rushed out of the courtyard. He ran through the corridors towards the stables. From there he picked up the horse from the nearest stall and rushed to the spot. Through the deserted streets at this time of the night, Kaizan dashed to where the servant had directed. When he reached there, he saw Morris and Claire, all bloodied up and in the midst of an ambush. They were fighting against five rogues, who had masks on their faces. Claire was in the middle. She had two daggers crossed in the front over her head as she stopped a rogue from slashing her. Morris had ducked and had sliced through the thighs of a rogue. 

A roar left his chest and Kaizan leapt at the rogues, unsheathing his sword. And then he unleashed his wrath. With speed that even the rogues couldn't believe, Kaizan sliced the necks of two rogues that planned on plunging their dagger in Morris. As soon as they fell on the ground with a loud thud, Kaizan took to the rogue who had attacked Claire. He swirled his sword in his hand as if it was a child's toy and then with a guttural snarl, slashed the rogue in half. Blood sprouted like a fountain from the torso of the slain and sprayed all over his tunic and Claire's face. Seeing that only two rogues were left, Kaizan wanted to capture one of them. However, just as he was about to kill one and then capture the next one, he saw that Morris had accidentally sliced the mask of a rogue and was now standing shocked as hell. 

"Lucas," Kaizan snarled. He smelled of linden. 

With his chin dipped, Lucas looked from Morris to Kaizan. 

"So, the rumors that you were spotted on the borders were true," Kaizan said, his voice deep and his mien, dark. 

Morris' blood drenched from his face. It was as if he had seen a ghost. His brother was out to kill him? The shock was too much to bear and his hand dropped to his side. "Lucas?" he said as a shudder passed through his body. He was fighting with his brother?

Suddenly—

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