Olivia awoke to the sound of a beep. Slowly, she examined her surroundings and discovered she was lying on a hospital bed. The room was large, luxurious even-more like a suite than a ward.

Her entire body throbbed in excruciating pain, and the wire in her hand connected to the drip irritated her all the more. Tears blurred her vision as emptiness hollowed her from the inside.

She ran her trembling hand over her stomach, hoping-praying-to feel some sign of life. But it was gone. A choked whimper escaped her lips, growing into uncontrollable screams.

Suddenly, the door burst open, and a young woman in a white uniform-around her age-rushed inside.

"STAY AWAY FROM ME! LEAVE ME AND MY KIDS ALONE! LET ME GO! I SAID STAY AWAY!" Olivia screamed, her voice raw with terror. Her eyes widened in horror as the nurse's features momentarily twisted into those of Marcus-approaching her with that same devilish grin that haunted her nightmares.

Fear rushed through her veins like acid. Adrenaline surged. She stumbled out of bed and began hurling anything within reach at the frightened nurse.

Her forehead glistened with sweat, strands of hair plastered to her damp face and neck. Her blue hospital gown clung to her body, soaked through with fear and exertion. She felt a strange combination of burning heat and freezing cold.

Realizing something was terribly wrong, the nurse grabbed the intercom and pressed a code. Within seconds, two doctors and a male nurse stormed into the room.

The sight of them pushed Olivia over the edge. She ripped the IV from her hand, grabbed the metal stand, and swung it wildly like a weapon. Her mind betrayed her-every face in front of her became Marcus and Alex, laughing maniacally.

A wave of dizziness hit her, and before she could comprehend, strong hands seized her from behind. Four pairs of arms restrained her-two pinning her legs, two her shoulders-and tied her to the bed despite her frantic thrashing.

A sharp sting pierced her forearm. Darkness consumed her once again, cold and endless-just like her life.

The next morning...

Olivia awoke with a dull headache and a heavy, weakened body. The same nurse from the night before quietly opened the window, allowing soft sunlight to spill into the room. She blinked against the brightness, her eyes slowly adjusting.

"Water... please," she murmured weakly. The nurse hurried to her side, helping her sit up and supporting her back against the headboard. The first sip of lukewarm water soothed her parched throat and stirred a faint spark of life within her.

For several minutes, Olivia simply sat there, gathering the scattered pieces of her emotions. The terror of the night before still lingered, but calmness now crept in.

The nurse stood beside her holding a towel and a fresh set of hospital clothes. Without a word, she gestured gently toward the bathroom. Too tired to argue, Olivia complied.

After her bath, the nurse returned with breakfast, a steaming cup of coffee, and a folded newspaper. Propping herself up, Olivia began to eat absentmindedly-until a bold headline gripped her attention.

Famous Lawyer Mr. Bruce Williams Missing for Four Days.

Below the headline was a photograph of a sixteen-year-old girl weeping uncontrollably-her grief almost palpable through the printed page.

The kidnapper has made no ransom demands. Could this be rivalry or revenge? So far, the police have found no clues.

Olivia checked the date-she had been admitted for a week. The realization tightened her chest. A dreadful thought began to form in her mind, one she desperately hoped would never come true.

That evening, she was transferred to the asylum. A new nurse awaited her in the neatly arranged room. But as soon as Olivia stepped inside, memories of that night surged through her like a flood. She clenched her fists, closing her eyes tightly to suppress the pain.

When she finally regained control, her gaze darted around, searching urgently. "Where is Mrs. Foster?" she asked the nurse beside her. Silence. The woman kept her eyes down.

"WHERE IS MRS. FOSTER?!" Olivia's voice cracked with anguish.

Startled, the nurse hesitated before whispering, "Ma'am... Mrs. Foster passed away last Friday. She was hit by a truck while returning home from her night shift."

A stunned silence blanketed the room."And... I'm sorry, ma'am, but I'm not allowed to speak with you any further," the nurse added nervously and hurried away before Olivia could respond.

Her world crumbled. How low would Marcus go for his obsession? How could he harm someone so innocent-like Megan and Nathan?

Her cries echoed only in her mind, silent and raw. Exhaustion finally dragged her into a restless sleep-her eyes swollen, her heart numb.

Three weeks passed.

Her wounds had healed, but her soul remained in ruins.

Sitting on her bed, back against the wall, Olivia gazed at the moon through the window-its pale light casting an eerie glow across her face.

The door creaked open and closed quietly, yet no one entered. Then, a familiar presence filled the air. Slowly, a figure materialized beside her-it was her twin sister, Ivana. The dark circles under Ivana's eyes told a story of sleepless nights and shared pain.

"I'm exhausted, Iva," Olivia whispered, her voice hollow. "I've lost everything. I'm sorry for being rude the other day, but... I'm tired. At first, I wanted Marcus dead-but now I believe death would be a mercy for him."

Her tone hardened, raw hatred sharpening every syllable. "Death ends suffering. I want something else. I want his arrogance broken, his reputation shattered, his pack ruined-and most of all, I want his son destroyed the way he destroyed mine. I'll haunt him until he begs for death."

Her voice dropped to a whisper. "And then I'll kill him out of pity."

Ivana's tears spilled freely as she rested her head on Olivia's shoulder. Though her sobs dampened Olivia's neck, Olivia remained still-frozen in her grief.

"I'm sorry, Olivia," Ivana wept. "I was too late-again. You were never meant to live among humans. You're a witch. You belong with the coven. You should have listened to me."

Olivia exhaled shakily. "Tell Cathiya I'm ready to join the coven... though I have no powers left."

"Your powers aren't gone," Ivana insisted. "Your pain has clouded your mind. You don't lack power-you just can't control it yet. That's why there are schools for witches."

Her words stung. If only Olivia had joined earlier-perhaps she could have saved everyone.

"Megan and Nathan would still be alive if I'd known how to use my powers," Olivia whispered, her voice breaking. Guilt clawed at her heart.

"It's not your fault," Ivana soothed softly. "Wait for me until the new moon. I'll come for you."

She turned to leave but paused at the door, walking back to wrap her arms tightly around Olivia. The warmth of her embrace was tender, but Olivia remained motionless, unable to return it. Ivana's heart ached as she smiled weakly and left the room.

New Moon Night - Alpha Marcus's Castle, Western Wing

The grand ballroom glittered beneath an enormous chandelier. The air reeked of wealth and arrogance as glasses clinked and laughter echoed. Representatives from the Werewolf and Lycan Councils filled the room, all gathered to celebrate Marcus's appointment as A.O.A.

Marcus basked in triumph, his arrogance visible in every gesture. By his side stood his chosen mate, Cathrine, radiant and poised.

As he made his rounds, his eyes swept over the crowd, searching for a familiar face-and not finding it.

Coward, he sneered inwardly, smirking.

Then his phone vibrated. Frowning, he excused himself and stepped onto the balcony. The caller ID read Alex.

"I told you not to call me tonight," Marcus hissed through clenched teeth, his voice leveled in quiet fury."A-Alpha," Alex stammered, voice quaking, "Olivia's gone. Her room's empty-we can't find her anywhere. She escaped from the hospital."

Cold silence followed.

"Find. Her," Marcus growled, each word deliberate. He ended the call before Alex could respond. Anger burned beneath his skin, but he forced his expression into composure before returning to the party.

For the rest of the evening, unease gnawed at him. He made his excuses and retired early.

Meanwhile, Olivia stood on the patio of her former home, the night sky draped in silver. She held her mother's journal close to her chest, whispering to the darkness.

"I promise myself, Marcus... one day I'll find my way back to you. And when I do, I'll reclaim what's mine-tenfold."

For the first time, she felt the cold embrace of darkness within her-and, terrifyingly, she welcomed it. She never imagined she would walk down the path she now faced.

But destiny had other plans.

( The End of part 1)