Chapter 155

Nathan

I was startled by the sound of Olivia banging on the door, calling my name as though she suddenly remembered something. But by the time I opened the door, she stood there, looking lost and forlorn with a painful expression on her face.

My heart ached, wanting to reach out to her, to pull her back in. But I knew it was better this way. I had to let her go.

I turned away from the window, refusing to witness her departure, fighting back the wave of emotions that threatened to overwhelm me. It was over. There was no going back.

“Did you sense that?” My wolf’s voice suddenly echoed in my skull, taking me by surprise.

“Erm… Sense what?” I asked out loud.

My wolf paused. “A scent… I thought… No. Nevermind.”

…

The weeks turned into months, and I buried myself in my responsibilities as the new Alpha, working tirelessly to remedy the mistakes my father had made.

The land matters were a tangled mess, filled with power imbalances and unresolved disputes. I poured my heart and soul into resolving them, driven by a need to make things right, to restore honor and fairness to the pack.

The harbor was another challenge, one that demanded my attention and my efforts. I knew that opening it up for trading would bring prosperity to our people, providing jobs and opportunities that had been lacking for far too long.

However, despite my best efforts to focus on my duties, I couldn’t shake the haunting image of Olivia, her eyes filled with pain, her voice trembling with emotion.

Our paths crossed occasionally, brief and painful encounters that left me feeling hollow and lost.

I quickly learned that when people say they’ll keep in touch, they rarely mean it. Life got in the way of our friendship, and so did fear. I was afraid that if I let her get close again, we would only fall back into our old routine of push and pull.

It was easier this way. It still hurt, but it hurt less than kissing her, only to discover that we couldn’t be together.

I got a lot better at putting on a fake smile. Working as a true Alpha gave me that skill.

But it was during one fateful trip to the grocery store that everything changed. I was walking down the aisle, lost in thought, when I saw her. Olivia.

She looked beautiful. Her golden hair was pulled back into a ponytail that cascaded down her back. Her skin was tanner than usual, a sign that she had been spending more time outside now that summer was here. She wore a tight pair of black leggings that showed off her legs, and a slim t-shirt that showed off something else.

Her belly. It had grown considerably. How far along was she now? Six months? Seven? I had lost count. But even for someone who was that far along, her belly was abnormally large. Was it possible that it was twins?

But that wasn’t all that caught my eye; she wasn’t alone. Standing beside her was another man: Levi. Her old bodyguard, and the man who I had accused her of flirting with all those months ago when I had my jealous streak.

They were standing close together. She was pointing at some cheeses on a deli shelf, and he was nodding along with her as she talked. There was a distinct sense of familiarity between them, far more than a simple friendship. I was sure of it.

My blood boiled instantly, an unexpected rush of anger and betrayal surging through me. I couldn’t believe what I was seeing. Had she moved on so quickly? Was I that easily replaced?

“Enough, Nathan,” I murmured to myself, turning to look at the produce in front of me. “She’s allowed to be with anyone she wants.”

I took another glance over my shoulder and cursed under my breath. They were coming my way.

Just like I practiced, I took a deep breath, put on my fake smile, and turned to face them.

“Hey, Olivia,” I said. “Hello, Levi.”

“Hello, Nathan,” Olivia said, her voice soft and filled with a warmth that sent a pang through my heart. “How have you been?”

“I’ve been well,” I replied, forcing a polite smile onto my face. I couldn’t help but glance at Levi, feeling another surge of anger course through me that I couldn’t quite understand.

“That's good to hear,” Olivia continued, her eyes searching mine. “We’ve noticed how hard you’ve been working. The harbor is really coming along, isn’t it?”

I nodded. “It’s a lot of work, but it’s almost ready. Hopefully, by the end of the year, we’ll have our first trade route set up.”

Olivia cocked her head. “Trade route? I thought we were just focusing on fishing.”

“We are, for the most part,” I said. “But there aren’t any other packs around this area that are involved in water trade routes. I think it could be beneficial, especially since the mountain roads get gummed up with snow during the winter. It could open up a lot of opportunities.”

Olivia nodded slowly, chewing on my words. “That’s amazing, Nathan,” she said quietly. “You’re a great Alpha. The people really love you.”

I felt a heat creep into my cheeks. “Thanks,” I muttered. I turned to Levi then. “Long time no see.”

“Levi is living with me now.”

Olivia’s words cut me like a knife.

Levi smiled at me, his eyes sincere, but I couldn’t shake the feeling of anger that was simmering within me. I wanted to be happy for Olivia, to wish her well and mean it, but the words stuck in my throat.

“I…” My voice faltered and I swallowed.

“Nathan?” Olivia said, shooting me a concerned look. “Everything okay?”

“I… I guess I just didn’t expect you to move on so quickly,” I blurted out, my voice sharper than I intended. I saw Olivia’s eyes widen, her face pale with shock.

“Nathan, I didn’t mean to—” she began, but I cut her off.

“I wish you well, Olivia,” I said, my voice cold and distant. I turned away from her, unable to bear the look of hurt in her beautiful hazel eyes. “I really do.”

I walked away before she or Levi could say anything else, leaving her standing there, her face filled with confusion and pain. I could hear her calling my name, but I didn’t stop, didn’t turn around.

Without even paying for my groceries, I left my cart in the store and walked out. I could come back another day to grocery shop. Right now, the very thought of food made my stomach churn.

I didn’t entirely know why I had reacted that way, why I had let my anger get the best of me. I wanted to be happy for Olivia, to see her find love and happiness. But all I felt was betrayal and loss.

I knew that I had hurt her, that my words had cut deep. But I couldn’t help myself.

I was angry, and I didn't know why. Or maybe I did know.

Over the past few months, I had occasionally visited Jenifer in the mental institution.

Our weekly chats were something that I somewhat looked forward to, although I had to admit that her treatment didn’t seem to be changing much. She was still and would always be vindictive and angry, traumatized by a life of horrors caused by my father.

But she did have lucid moments every so often.

“I can tell how much you love her, Nathan,” she would say. “Every time you talk about her, your eyes light up. You should go to her.”

I never followed her advice. But right now, as I walked out of the grocery store, I almost wished that I had.