Chapter 22: The Unspoken Oath

When Olivera had finished recounting a sanitized version of her life, her eyes glistened with unshed tears. The act of reliving her experiences had left her drowning in self-pity. She was astonished that the tears had not yet spilled over her cheeks. The stillness in the room was oppressive, and she couldn’t shake the unease that accompanied the silence. Was Nick not going to respond? Did he have nothing to say after her lengthy and painful disclosure? After a few moments of tense waiting, Olivera slowly pushed her hair back from her face, revealing her tear-streaked expression. She raised her eyes to meet Nick’s gaze, her heart sinking at the sight before her. Nick’s face was etched with an expression of deep pity and sorrow, his eyes clouded with an emotion that almost shattered Olivera’s resolve. She found herself wondering if all pack doctors were this emotionally engaged. Her previous experiences with her pack’s doctor had been clinical and detached, a stark contrast to the comp