Olivia’s POV
I screamed—
And shot upright in bed.
My chest rose and fell violently as I dragged air into my lungs.
My heart was pounding so hard it felt like it might crack my ribs open.
The dream clung to me like fog — silver light, my grandmother’s voice, the altar, the three moons hanging low in the sky.
For a moment, I didn’t know where I was.
Then reality slowly pushed its way in.
This wasn’t my room.
The walls around me were dark stone, polished to a smooth sheen, decorated with black and obsidian-gold details that shimmered under warm light.
The ceiling stretched ridiculously high above me, carved with ancient designs I didn’t recognize.
A massive chandelier hung overhead, crystals catching the light and scattering it across the room like tiny stars.
Everything felt powerful.
Intimidating.
Masculine.
The bed beneath me was enormous, covered in dark silk sheets that felt far too expensive for someone like me to be touching.
Then I smelled it.
Jasmine.
But not the soft, sweet kind.
This scent was deeper.
Richer.
Layered with something dark and commanding.
My heart skipped.
Alpha Kingsley.
“Wait… why am I here?” I muttered, glancing down at the sheets twisted in my hands.
“A nightmare?”
I froze.
His voice was low, steady, and far too close.
I slowly turned my head.
He stood a few steps away from the bed, arms crossed over his broad chest.
He looked composed, as always.
Calm.
Controlled.
Untouchable.
But there was a small crease between his brows.
Was that… concern?
No.
Don’t be ridiculous, Olivia.
“You passed out at training,” he said evenly.
“The healer examined you. She said you’ll recover, but you need rest.”
His gaze moved over me slowly, deliberately — not in a lustful way, but assessing.
Searching.
Like he was checking for damage.
My fingers tightened around the mattress.
Why does he look at me like that?
“What really happened?” he asked.
I swallowed.
“I don’t know,” I admitted quietly.
“She grabbed my hand and then… everything went blank.”
The memory felt slippery.
I could remember Isabel’s touch.
The heat.
The pressure in my chest.
And then nothing.
He stared at me for a long second, like he was trying to see through my skin.
My heartbeat immediately sped up.
Why is he coming closer?
He stopped right beside the bed and bent slightly toward me.
My breath caught in my throat.
Was he going to—
My eyes slowly closed without my permission.
I could feel his warmth now.
The faint brush of his breath near my face.
My pulse roared in my ears.
And then—
A soft clink.
I blinked my eyes open.
He was reaching past me to grab a glass of water from the bedside table.
He straightened, holding the glass, amusement flickering across his face.
“What were you thinking?” he asked lightly.
Oh.
Oh no.
Embarrassment hit me so hard I wanted to crawl under the bed and stay there forever.
Why did I think he was going to kiss me?
Why am I like this?
“Take this,” he said calmly, handing me the glass.
A pill had already dissolved at the bottom.
“It’ll help with your recovery.”
I reached for it, determined to act normal.
Our fingers brushed.
Just a small touch.
But it felt like someone sent a spark straight through my veins.
I jerked slightly and nearly spilled the water.
“Careful,” he murmured, a slow smirk forming on his lips.
He definitely did that on purpose.
I quickly gulped down the water to avoid looking at him any longer and placed the glass back down.
“I should go back to my room,” I said quickly.
“I’m fine now.”
I swung my legs off the bed and tried to stand.
Big mistake.
The room spun slightly, and before I could steady myself, his hand shot out and grabbed my wrist.
The sudden pull threw off my balance.
I slipped—
But instead of hitting the floor, I crashed straight into him.
His arms instinctively wrapped around me to keep me from falling.
Hard chest.
Solid arms.
Warm body.
My hands grabbed onto him automatically, fingers pressing into firm muscle.
His scent surrounded me completely now, overwhelming and intoxicating.
My brain completely stopped functioning.
His heartbeat thudded steadily beneath my palm.
“What are you doing?” he asked quietly.
“I—I’m sorry!” I tried to push myself up.
In my panic, my hand slid lower in search of support—
And brushed against something very firm.
His entire body went still.
So did mine.
Oh.
Oh my God.
My brain short-circuited.
I snatched my hand back like I had been burned.
“I’m so sorry!” I blurted.
“I didn’t mean to! I swear!”
He looked down at me. This chapter was copied from novelping.com without permission.
Then slowly back up at my face.
And smirked.
“And what exactly are you apologizing for?” he asked calmly.
How is he calm?!
My face felt like it was on fire.
“I—You—That—” I couldn’t even form words.
He gently but deliberately set me back on the bed.
Like nothing had happened.
Like I didn’t just accidentally grope the Alpha King.
“Come back to earth, Olivia,” I scolded myself internally.
“You’re embarrassing yourself beyond repair.”
”Are you daydreaming about what you touched?” he asked suddenly.
I froze.
“No!” My voice cracked embarrassingly.
He raised one brow.
“Can’t even speak properly,” he teased.
I covered my face with both hands.
This is the worst day of my entire existence.
He stepped back slightly, watching me with that infuriatingly amused expression.
“You’re staying here,” he said.
My head snapped up.
“What?”
”The healer said you must avoid stress,” he replied smoothly.
“And clearly, you can’t even stand without causing chaos.”
”I can take care of myself!” I protested, sitting up straighter.
He gave me a look.
A look that said he didn’t believe me at all.
“Really?” he drawled.
“Because earlier, you were holding onto me quite tightly.”
My face burned again.
“You even held my—”
”Stop!” I cut him off, mortified beyond words.
He looked far too entertained by my suffering.
“That settles it,” he said calmly.
“The bed is large enough for two.”
My brain stopped functioning again.
Two?
Sleep?
Here?
With him?
“Relax,” he added casually, turning toward the door.
“Just keep your hands to yourself.”
He walked out with that confident, irritating Alpha stride, leaving me staring after him in disbelief.
The door closed softly behind him.
Silence filled the room.
I slowly fell back against the pillows and stared at the ceiling.
“Bastard,” I muttered.
My heart was still racing.
My skin still tingled from where he had touched me.
And the worst part?
When I fell against him…
He didn’t push me away immediately.
He held me.
And when our hands brushed earlier…
His breathing changed too.
I wasn’t imagining that.
Right?
I pressed my face into the pillow to hide from my own thoughts.
What have I gotten myself into?