Chapter 129

Olivia

No matter how hard I tried, sleep eluded me that night. Despite the plush bedding and the soothing hum of the night crickets outside, my mind whirred with a thousand unsolved puzzles.

The strange behavior of Jen and Colin, the peculiar dynamics between the guests, and Nathan’s confession in the study—each detail gnawed at me.

I needed fresh air.

Throwing my blankets off of myself, I threw on my robe and padded down the hall, past Nathan’s room, then down the steps. A moment later, I stepped out into the expansive yard.

The cool breeze kissed my skin, and the soft glow of the moonlight painted everything in muted hues. But the serenity outside was in stark contrast to the turmoil inside of me.

What was the story behind Jenifer’s particular rudeness tonight? Why had Colin vacationed without Maria and Nathan? Where was Maria, and why… Why was there a sultry portrait of Jenifer hung above the fireplace, where I was pretty certain Maria’s portrait used to hang?

Lost in thought, a sudden grip on my shoulder startled me. I gasped, spinning around, half expecting to come face to face with a ghost or some lurking figure from a forgotten past.

Instead, it was Nathan, his face etched with fatigue and concern.

“Nathan!” I hissed, pulling my robe more tightly around my shoulders. “You scared me half to death!”

“Couldn’t sleep either?” His voice was low, tinged with a hint of amusement.

I nodded, the tension in my shoulders easing a bit. “Just needed some fresh air, you know? Clear my head.”

He gestured forward. “Walk with me?”

Gratefully, I fell into step beside him, the soft crunch of the gravel beneath our feet the only sound for a moment. The quiet comfort between us was palpable.

Over our heads, the full moon hung heavily in the night sky. I knew that Nathan’s wolf was pulling at him more than usual because of it. I craved that feeling; I would have given anything to shift with him tonight and run through the forest.

In the distance, I could hear the occasional howl and yip of someone else who had given into their animal urges, allowed their wolves to take control for one night. It was a pity that I hadn’t experienced that in almost a decade.

“Did you,” he hesitated, looking for the right words, “overhear the conversation in my dad’s study earlier?”

My heart skipped a beat. I hadn't expected him to bring it up. Looking away, I chewed my lip.’

“Some of it,” I whispered.

Nathan exhaled deeply, stopping to face me. His eyes, usually so guarded, now seemed vulnerable.

“Look, Olivia, about what I said... I needed to keep up the pretense of our fake relationship. I said it to protect you. I hope you understand.”

For a moment, my voice failed me. The wind rustled through the trees, whispering secrets of its own. I met his gaze, struggling to keep my emotions in check.

“I do,” was all I could muster, but inside, a little voice gnawed at me. Did I want him to mean it, though?

Eager to shift the focus, I ventured, “I may have been a tad nosy in the car the other night. Colin going on a vacation without Jen just struck me as... odd.”

Nathan raised an eyebrow. “After tonight, I’m beginning to think that there’s more to their story than meets the eye. Can you keep a secret?”

I nodded. “Of course,” I murmured.

For a moment, Nathan was quiet. His eyes betrayed a myriad of emotions, everything from disgust to anger. Finally, he parted his lips to speak, and what he said left me feeling disgusted as well.

“I found one of my dad’s shirts in her room,” he said. “In Jenifer’s room.”

My eyes widened in surprise. “You’re kidding.”

Nathan grimaced. “It was there. And believe me, it wasn’t for laundry.”

I shuddered. “What’s going on, Nathan? This family... Everything feels so twisted.”

He looked away, running a hand through his hair. “Honestly? I’m not sure I want to know. But every day, it feels like I’m discovering a new side to Jen. Maybe she’s not the innocent little sister I thought I knew.”

As Nathan spoke, his eyes lifted to the moon. I watched him for a moment, noticing how they flashed red for the briefest of moments. His wolf.

“You should run tonight,” I said suddenly, gesturing toward the line of trees. “It’s the full moon.”

A soft smirk came across Nathan’s lips for the briefest of moments before he shook his head, his blue-green gaze settling on me once more.

“I’m alright,” he said. “Too tired. But… Olivia?”

“Yes?” I asked, cocking my head.

“Do you miss it?” he asked. “The feeling?”

“The feeling of what?” I replied. “Of my wolf? Of course I do. I’m wildly jealous of you, you know. I would be out there tonight, letting my wolf run free. But she won’t come out.”

A long, heavy silence fell between us, punctuated only by the sound of the howls and yips in the distance.

“I could carry you, if you want,” he said quietly, unintentionally closing the distance between us. “Only if you wanted me to.”

At the mention of this, I felt my stomach lurch with excitement. I found myself transported back to the day of the hunt, when I rode on his back and felt so free and powerful. I craved feeling his soft fur tangled between his fingers, the wind in my face, the wild feeling in my chest.

But the pregnancy had progressed since then. Not to mention how he had only just told me that his words earlier in his father’s study meant nothing…

“I can’t,” I replied, gesturing toward my belly. “Sorry.”

Nathan nodded slowly. “You’re right.”

Another long silence. We continued to walk for a little while longer, our feet carrying us in a wide arc around the villa. Behind us, the little beach that was all our own was lapped gently by the ocean, which was particularly calm tonight.

I could smell the salt and brine of the water from where we stood, and every time there was a bit of a breeze blowing in, I felt the salt spray into my hair.

In the darkness, I chanced another glance over at Nathan. There was a sadness in his eyes as he stared down at the ground, but I knew that it wasn’t really about me. It was about his father, about Jenifer and his mother.

My heart ached for him. Drawing closer, I gently took his hand. “Nathan, whatever you decide—to delve into this mess or leave it behind—I’ll stand by you.”

He glanced down at our intertwined fingers, and for a brief moment, there was a spark in his eyes. But as swiftly as it appeared, it vanished. Pulling away gently, he sighed.

“It’s getting late. Let’s go inside. It’s safer there.”

A mix of confusion and understanding swelled within me. Without another word, I followed him back, letting the dark villa swallow us whole once more. As we retreated to our separate rooms, I realized that while each house in our pack held its own secrets, so did our hearts.