Chapter 152

Olivia

After sitting at the duck pond for a while, Nathan was pulled away for some Alpha duties. I watched him leave, his form taking on the posture of a true Alpha.

Soon, with the proper training and approval rates, he would become our pack’s Supreme Alpha; and I knew that he would be the best we had ever had.

Afterwards, I made my way to Angela’s house.

“Tea?” she asked, opening the door to let me in. I nodded, swallowing. My throat felt dry and cracked.

As we walked into her little kitchen, I sank exhaustedly down into a chair at the table.

“I saw the press conference on TV,” she said, placing a cup of steaming hot chamomile tea in front of me. “You okay?”

“I’ll be fine,” I lied, stirring my tea with a spoon. “It’s just…”

“I know,” Angela interrupted. “It’s a lot. But you’ll get through it. Both of you. I have faith that you two will work things out; you’re like two peas in a pod.”

Angela’s words, although kind, only made me feel worse. I felt worse because I knew she was right about us being two peas in a pod, which only meant that it would hurt even worse if we had to be separated.

“Thanks, Angela,” I said, forcing a weak smile. I took a sip of the tea and winced, setting the cup back down with a clatter. Too hot.

“You don’t have to pretend,” she said, nudging my foot under the table with hers. “It’s okay to be upset.”

In fact, I took Angela’s advice literally. Suddenly, and without warning, I broke down crying. We spent the next hour holding each other and talking until I finally felt stable enough to focus my mind on other things.

…

I didn’t return home until later that night, the weight of the day’s revelations still heavy on my heart. But there was hope there, too, seeds sown by Angela’s reassuring words.

And yet, as I pushed open the door, a strange feeling settled over me. Instantly, I felt as though something was amiss. And then I saw Nathan, standing in the living room, packing his bags.

“Nathan!” I exclaimed, my voice high-pitched with shock. “What are you doing?”

He looked up, his expression grim, his eyes shadowed with something I couldn't quite identify. “I’m leaving, Olivia. Moving out.”

My heart stopped, panic and disbelief coursing through me. “Leaving? Where are you going? What are you talking about?”

“Our charade is over,” he said quietly, his voice tinged with sadness. “There's no need for me to stay here anymore.”

“You’re joking,” I said, storming over to him as my heart leaped into my chest. “Tell me you’re not leaving.”

But Nathan just shook his head and continued packing his bags, his blue-green eyes refusing to meet mine.

“But… but what about the two deeds?” I stammered, my mind racing. “What about everything we’ve been through together? Surely you won’t just leave like that, without warning.”

He shook his head, his movements slow and deliberate as he continued to pack his belongings. “I had my deed shredded. Everything’s taken care of, Olivia. This is your house now.”

“My house?” I echoed, my voice breaking. “But what about you? Where will you go?”

“I’ll be selling my parents’ mansion,” he said, his voice firm but gentle. “It’s too painful there. I’ll be living in an apartment in town in the meantime.”

“But you can stay here,” I protested, tears welling in my eyes. “At least until you get another house. Nathan, you don’t have to go.”

He stopped what he was doing and looked at me, his eyes filled with a sorrow that matched my own. “I appreciate the offer, Olivia, but it's time for me to move on. I need to start fresh, build a new life for myself. Being here…”

He looked around for a moment, taking in our surroundings as though he was drinking it all in for the last time. Then, with one last painful look at me, he cleared his throat and spoke.

“Being here is painful, too,” he said. “And… It’s not healthy for either of us. You know that as well as I do.”

My heart caught in my throat. He was right; there was no denying that. The two of us living in such close proximity had already put a strain on our friendship because of confusing feelings and mixed signals.

“But… Why didn’t you tell me?” I whimpered, my hands shaking. “You’re just leaving? Like that? Without any warning?”

Nathan let out a deep, shaky sigh and turned away to rifle around in one of his bags, but I knew that he was just avoiding looking at me.

“I’m sorry, Olivia,” he said quietly. “I know it’s shitty. But I figured it was better this way. Like ripping off a band-aid. And besides, my approval ratings are still shaky. I need to get my own place, create an image of a strong and independent Alpha. The longer I stay here, the more it will seem like I’m wishy-washy about my relationships.”

As he spoke, ever the image of a perfect Alpha, I felt my knees turn to jelly. I reached out and grabbed the door frame to steady myself, feeling as though I might fall.

“I can’t believe this,” I murmured.

After a moment, Nathan finally turned around. He stepped closer, reaching out to cup my face in his hands. But at the last moment, his hands fell to his sides, and he dropped his gaze to the floor.

“You’re an amazing friend, Olivia,” he said gently. “Nothing will ever change that. But we can’t live together anymore.”

“Nathan…” I choked out, tears spilling down my cheeks.

Suddenly he pulled me into a hug, holding me tightly as I sobbed against his chest. “Thank you, Olivia,” he whispered into my hair. “Thank you for everything.”

And then, before I even had a chance to respond, he was gone. The door closed behind him with a soft click that seemed to echo through the now-empty house.

I stood there, frozen, tears streaming down my face as I tried to come to terms with what had just happened. Nathan was gone. The man who had been my partner, my confidant, my friend through the most tumultuous period of my life, had walked out the door, leaving me alone with my grief.

“I know we’re just friends,” I murmured out loud to myself, “but why does it hurt so much to see him leave?”

That night, I wandered through the house, my steps aimless, my mind numb. The rooms that had once been filled with laughter and shared memories now seemed cold and lifeless, each corner a reminder of what I had lost.

The emptiness was overwhelming, a gaping hole that nothing could fill.

I had thought that we would move on together, that our friendship would continue to grow and flourish. Maybe I even wanted a little more. Maybe I wanted him to stay indefinitely, to be like a father to my child.

But now, I was left to face the future alone, without the one person who had understood me, who had stood by me, who had been there for me when I needed him most.

As the night wore on, I found myself drawn to the window, staring out at the dark street, my eyes straining to catch a glimpse of Nathan, hoping against hope that he would come back.

But he didn’t.

The street remained empty, the world outside a dark and silent void that mirrored the emptiness inside me.