Chapter 166

Olivia

That night, I walked into the kitchen to find Nathan, clad in an apron, stirring a pot of something that smelled divine. It was his first night back, and it seemed he was hell-bent on making a lasting impression.

“Wow, this smells amazing! What's cooking?” I asked, watching as he expertly seasoned whatever was in the pot.

He turned to me with a gleaming smile. “Potato and leek soup,” he replied. “And I’ve got a chicken in the oven, and rice cooking as well.”

“That’s… amazing, Nathan,” I said, walking over and peering into the oven to see a glistening chicken sitting on the rack, surrounded by vegetables. I furrowed my brow and looked up at Nathan with surprise on my face. “But why do all of this? You don’t have to go all out like that.”

“I know, I know,” Nathan replied, wiping his hands on his apron. “But, check this out.” He paused, pulling out a cookbook from the drawer. It was titled ‘100 Recipes for Expecting Mothers’ and had an illustration of a pregnant woman on the front.

“What’s this?” I asked, furrowing my brow even further as I took the book and began to flip through it.

Nathan’s smile grew. “I picked it up a couple of days ago,” he said. “I wanted to cook some really nutritious meals for you. This meal in particular that I’m making right now has all of the major food groups, and plenty of vitamins and minerals for you. It’s the perfect diet.”

“Diet?” I leaned against the kitchen counter, eyeing him curiously. “Really now? And since when did you become a nutritionist?”

He laughed, tapping on the cover of the cookbook. “It’s not just this book,” he said. “I’ve been doing tons of reading on pregnancy nutrition, actually. I want to make sure you’re eating right. Speaking of which, how has your diet been? How much protein are you getting?”

I raised an eyebrow, crossing my arms. "I don’t know,” I replied, shrugging. “I don’t really keep track, you know. I just try to eat healthy enough and feed my body what I’m craving.”

My words seemed to displease Nathan. “That’s not the best way to go about these things, Olivia,” he said, his tone somewhat scolding. “Man, I’m glad I’m here. How did you even survive this long?”

“Survive this long?” I asked with a wry chuckle. “I’ve survived twenty-six years just fine without your help.”

Nathan’s face paled slightly. “Well, sure, but the baby—”

“Nathan, I appreciate the effort,” I said, “but I've got my diet under control. Thank you for the meal, but you don't need to worry so much about how I take care of my body."

He paused, looking a bit taken aback. “I’m just concerned, Liv. You’ve been having complications, and I thought this might help.”

I felt a sting of irritation at his words. “My complications are out of anyone's control. They’re common for a late-stage pregnancy, and I’m handling it.”

Nathan set down the wooden spoon in his hand, walking over to me, his eyes filled with concern. “Olivia, I didn’t mean to imply anything. I just wanted to help.”

I sighed, feeling a mix of frustration and affection. “I know, Nate. It’s just that these complications aren’t my fault, and it’s a little overwhelming having you dive into caretaker mode. Especially so soon after you just moved back in.”

His eyes softened, his face flashing with understanding. “I’m sorry, Liv. I just want to be involved. It’s been a long time, and I want to be here for you.”

We stood in silence for a moment, and then a chuckle escaped my lips.

Look at us. Bickering already. It's just like old times, isn’t it?”

He joined in my laughter. “I guess some habits die hard.”

I reached out, touching his arm. “I missed this, you know? Even the arguing.”

He grinned down at me, his voice warm. “I missed it too, Liv. I’m glad to be back.”

We spent the next hour talking about everything and nothing, reminiscing about the past, sharing our thoughts on the future. Nathan’s culinary skills turned out to be quite impressive, and the meal was delicious.

“Remember when we thought we found some buried treasure out by the tree in the park?” Nathan asked at one point, his eyes dancing with mirth while his cheeks flushed red from the wine he had been drinking.

I smirked, remembering that day. “Yeah,” I said, holding back laughter. “What was it really, again? An old shoebox filled with acorns? Quite the treasure.”

Nathan threw his head back, laughing loudly. Alcohol always made him a little loud and quick to laugh, but I liked it. It was cute.

“By the way,” he said, turning slightly to look out the window onto the back patio. “I saw earlier that you’ve started a garden out there.”

“Oh, yeah,” I said, waving my hand dismissively. “It was just something to pass the time and save some money on produce. It’s nothing special.”

Nathan smirked. “Nothing special, indeed,” he said. “All of the vegetables we’re eating right now are from your garden.”

My eyes widened. “Really?”

“Yes, really,” Nathan said. “You’ve always had a green thumb, Olivia. I hope you keep on gardening.”

At Nathan’s words, I felt my cheeks flush a bit. I nodded, returning my attention to the plate of food in front of me. “I will,” I murmured, stabbing a roasted carrot with my fork and inspecting it. “I promise I will.”

As we enjoyed dessert, I couldn’t help but feel content. The house was filled with the soft glow of candles, our favorite music played in the background, and Nathan was here, with me. It was perfect.

Finally, as we were finishing up and washing the dishes, Nathan looked at me with a serious expression. “Olivia, I know I might have overstepped earlier. But I just want to make sure you’re taking care of yourself. I worry about you.”

“I know you do, Nathan,” I said gently. “And I appreciate it… I really do. But I promise, I’m taking care of myself just fine, and I’d appreciate it even more if you’d have a little trust in me.”

He reached out suddenly and squeezed my hand, that small gesture sending a secret shiver down my spine. There was soap on his fingers from washing the dishes. “I do trust you,” he murmured. “I just needed to hear it.”

I smiled, feeling a warmth spread through my chest. Although I gently pulled my hand away, the warm feeling lingered.

“I’m glad you’re back, Nathan. Arguing and all.”

He grinned back, pulling me into a hug before I had a chance to resist. “Me too, Liv. Me too.”

It was then, as Nathan was hugging me tightly, that it happened.

A voice, clear as a bell, echoed in the back of my mind.

“My name is Jade, and I'm your wolf. Remember me?”

My eyes widened, and I froze in Nathan’s arms, the voice resonating in my head. The room seemed to fade away, and all I could focus on was that voice.

Jade.

My wolf.

The past had reached out to me, and in that moment, everything changed.