3. "Crime and Punishment"

Olive's POV

I woke up on a soft sheet as a streak of sunlight trickled in through the window.

Slowly and reluctantly, I opened my eyes. I blinked several times to clear the hazy vision as I scrutinized my surroundings in confusion. And then, I found myself in Vincent’s room.

‘What happened last night?’

I sat up, but my head throbbed, and the gravity was hard to fight against. I barely moved up while trying to recall last night’s event.  

“Last night, Vincent and I were on our way back home. It was r-raining, and he was driving fast. Then…”

Then… what?

My fingers brushed against the bandage wrapped around my head, triggering a sudden surge of memories.

‘Woman, blood, accident…’

While I was trying to put the puzzles together,, it was then I heard the news on the television which was left on.

["Earlier today, a devastating hit-and-run incident occurred in Westford.”]

My eyes were glued to the TV screen while my hands regained their vigor and I continued to listen.

[“It appears that the driver responsible for this accident fled the scene, leaving no trace behind. The victim was brought to the hospital, but she was dead on arrival, and…"]

‘Hit and run.’

‘Westford.’

My heart pounded when the unspeakable horrific deeds Vincent had done last night flashed back in my mind like thunder. It left me utterly stunned, and my hand instinctively covered my mouth to stifle any audible reaction.

 The news clearly stated that the victim had died, so Vincent failed to save her after I lost means, Vincent failed to save her after I lost my consciousness.

‘Did he really leave her behind?’

Unable to finish the news report, I hopped out of bed, determined to find Vincent and hear his whole story. Along the way, I encountered Grace, the Omega maid, who works for Vincent’s family.

She blocked my way with a grimace painted on her freckled face.  “M-Miss Olive. Are you alright?” Grace asked.

“Where’s Vincent? I really need to see him right now.”

“He’s in his parent’s room. They were discussing important matters.” Grace held my shoulders. “But Miss, Sir Vincent said to keep you inside the room because you were severely injured. Please, go back in and rest.”

Despite her opposition, I shook her hands off and firmly stated, “NO. I HAD TO GO. Please don’t block my way.”

Grace had no choice but to move aside and let me go. Swiftly, I hastened towards Alpha’s room as my mind raced with a vortex of emotions.

Standing next to the room, the door was slightly open. While I still have the courage to face everything head-on, I reached the doorknob but stopped when a screeching voice of terror reverberated from the room.

“WE WARNED YOU ENOUGH, VINCENT! BUT YOU DIDN’T LISTEN! AND LOOK WHAT HAPPENED!”

I felt a rising tide of fear from my head to toe the second I recognized the source of that frantic voice. Slowly, I peeked inside and saw Vincent’s mother, Luna Rose.

“Nothing happened, Mom,” Vincent rebuked. He was lounging comfortably on the couch while his parents stood before him. “I came back as a whole. No fractures or dislocation. So, calm down.”

“You clearly know this is not what I was talking about, Vincent,” Rose shot back. “YOU KILLED SOMEONE.”

“And not just anyone, son. IT WAS VERA!” Even Vincent’s father chimed in, “She was engaged to Lycan Aaron. Do you know what that means? If they find out you're responsible for her death, it'll cause a major uproar in our pack."

Vincent said the same thing when I asked him to take Vera to the hospital. They were worried about the Pack, notwithstanding that someone had died. It pained me so much, considering how Vera suffered alone, slowly dying on the road.

‘But I know I could only think of this because I am not Vincent. I don’t have a Pack to lead and to protect.’

“Aaron is not just any Lycan,” Vincent’s father continued. “He is powerful, and his family holds considerable sway. Aaron could wipe us out, along with our entire pack, whenever he damn well pleases.”

Vincent’s father, George, didn’t look fazed at all. He seemed so calm, but his voice was dread cold, showing the severity of this case.

"Vincent, you're the future Alpha of our pack. Why didn't you consider the consequences before engaging in such reckless behavior? You couldn't even be bothered to help Vera and ensure she survived," Vincent's mother spoke, her voice escalating slightly.

“And then what, Mom?” Vincent chided, “If I brought her to the hospital and she died, would that keep me out of jail for reckless driving and our pack safe from Aaron? Even if she survives, I will be left scathed.”

"That's what you should have thought about before sneaking out with that Olive for the mating ceremony!"

"Mom, could you please lower your voice? Olive's asleep in the next room. How do you think she'd react if she heard you?"

"I don't care about how your little girl reacts! If she hadn't persuaded you to drive her to the ceremony in the first place, none of this would've happened."

"Mom! Don't talk about Olive like that. It's not her fault. Okay? I asked Olive to come with me to the mating ceremony.”

“You insisted on her?” George interjected abruptly. “You f*cking know that Olive is underage, and she’s not permitted to come. YET YOU DID.” There was sarcasm at the end of his tone, which brought a shiver to my spine.

“W-Well,” Vincent stuttered as if his reasoning started to crumble. “It is just f-for fun! Yeah. Olive is my girlfriend, and she might also be my Luna. I am the future Alpha so I can bring anyone I want to the ceremony. That’s what I… thought.”

“Luna. Huh!” An abrupt scoff slipped out of his mother’s mouth. “Your father and I don’t want that OLIVE for you. And you knew why. She’s a nobody and of course, a 'nobody' like her would not fit to be part of our Pack. Her werewolf blood isn't even pure."

"Mother, please, we've had this discussion already. I don't want to debate again who I'll choose as my Luna once I become the pack's Alpha, because you damn well know who I've chosen."

Despite Vincent's decision to make me his mate and Luna, I knew his parents would never accept me. It was just heart-wrenching that they couldn't see the depth of my love for their son, and how I tried my best to show my worth as the future Alpha’s woman.

To make matters worse, they had to bring up the fact that I wasn't even a pure-blooded werewolf, as if it disqualified me from being their son's chosen one.

Feeling the heavy weight in my heart, I went back to Vincent’s room. I don’t think I can continue listening to their conversation.

Sitting on the bed, I saw my phone on the table. It has a crack on it, perhaps because of the impact of the accident last night. I checked my phone to see if it was still working. It still does.

‘Who shall I call?’

I thought of two people.

First, the police. And second, my grandma.

‘Grandma?’

“That’s right! Grandma had no idea what happened to me last night!”

She’s probably waiting for my call!

Hastily, I looked at my phone call histories and saw Grandma’s voice messages.

[“Olive, my little pumpkin. Grandma is worried. Where are you?”]

[“Please call me, okay?”]

[“Dear, I saw the news about the car accident. I was praying it wasn’t you.”

Grandma panicked. My all-nighter must have driven her nuts, and I was so stupid for recalling it belatedly.

And so, I dialed Grandma’s number. A few rings after, she picked up the call.

“G-Grandma,” my voice cracked, and tears welled up.

[“Olive, my little pumpkin! Goodness gracious, I’ve been freaking out all night! Where are you?”]

Hearing her voice gave me extra strength and instant relief. “G-Grandma, I’m fine. But something bad happened.”

[“W-What happened, sweetheart? Grandma is listening.”]

"The accident on the news, it was me and Vincent," I sobbed.

["God, are you hurt?"] Grandma's first concern was if I got hurt, and that just made me more distraught.

"Bumped my head. But that wasn’t a big deal. Physically I am fine but… but…”

I cried hysterically, covering my mouth as I remembered Vera lying on the ground and covered with blood.  Nausea swirling inside me, I hugged myself, trembling.

Breathing heavily, I gulped with difficulty. Grandma was still on the other line, listening.

“Grandma, what should I do?” I asked, weeping. “I really wanted to save Vera. But… my head was bleeding and I passed out. When I woke up, I… I just heard the news that she died.”

[“Oh my, may the Moon Goddess forgive our sins. I know it is hard to cope with this. But Olive, a life was taken because of a mistake. And you must face this head-on,” Grandma said, her voice like a broken phonograph.]

Although Grandma showed her perturb, she let me realize what I should do right now. And that is…

“I… I will go to the police station and confess everything, Grandma.”

I shut my eyes, and tears fell.

“No matter what happens, please stay with me. I really need your support.”  

"Are you going to turn me in?"

I heard a voice behind me. The phone in my hand had gone missing and when I looked back, Vincent stood. He was holding my phone, and his expression was sunless, lacking any light.