Chapter 32

OLIVIA’S POV The ride back from the shopping mall had left a lingering warmth in my chest, but it was overshadowed by the question that had been eating away at me. As we pulled into the packhouse garage, I turned to Dominic, my fingers tightening around the hem of my dress. “Dominic,” I asked hesitantly, “am I truly not allowed to attend the Pack Annual Ball?” He didn’t answer right away. He stared ahead, knuckles tightening on the wheel. Then, finally, he nodded. “The bearer of the Phoenix Mark must stand beside the Alpha at the summit. That’s what the prophecy says. You… aren’t that person. You have to understand, Olivia that Evelyn is the person with the mark and only she can stand beside me.” His voice was calm. Firm. As though he were stating something as obvious as the color of the sky. “So, all this—” I motioned to the dress still clinging to my skin, “—was just to cheer me up or to distract me?” He looked at me then. “I didn’t want you to feel left out completely.” But I did fe