Chapter 170

Nathan

The morning sun spilled through the gaps in the curtains as I uncapped the first can of yellow paint, the aroma of fresh possibility filling the room.

Olivia had showed me the nursery last night, a room filled with hope but untouched by human hands. It was one of the sunniest rooms in the villa—it used to be her aunt’s study, but had been left empty since her aunt passed away—and deserved a bright, cheerful interior.

I could see the anxiety in her eyes last night, the embarrassment, and the longing. But mostly, I saw the love she had for the child she was yet to meet. And I decided to surprise her with a freshly painted room when she awoke.

That morning, I woke up extra early, just as the sun was rising, to get to work. With any luck, I would have the first coat of paint finished by the time she awoke. But I had more plans than just painting the walls yellow. I had a special surprise for Olivia, and I hoped that it would make her smile.

As I dipped the brush into the soft yellow paint and got to work, my wolf’s thoughts intermingled with mine, a curious sensation of mingling consciousness that had become so familiar over the years.

“You’re happy,” my wolf commented, an emotion rather than words, a feeling shared between us.

I couldn't help but smile, feeling his joy mirroring mine. “Yes, I am. This is a new start for both of us.”

I started spreading the yellow paint on the wall with the roller. The scent of the paint was strong, but it was the scent of creation, of something being born anew. I liked the smell; it was clean and fresh.

My wolf’s thoughts took a sudden turn, a shadow of concern coloring his emotions. “I’ve sensed her wolf lately.”

I paused, the brush suspended mid-air. Olivia’s wolf? The one that had been dormant for almost a decade?

“You must be mistaken,” I replied, my voice firm, even in our silent communication. “Her wolf has been asleep for a long time. It’s not coming back.”

The sensation of his doubt was like a cold breeze, chilling my enthusiasm. “I’ve felt it, Nathan. Only when you two touch. It’s faint, but it’s there.”

I shook my head, resuming my painting, but his words had unsettled me. “It’s wishful thinking on your part. You want to meet her wolf. We all do. But it’s gone.”

The conversation lapsed into silence as I continued my work, but my wolf’s words lingered, nagging at the back of my mind. I tried to lose myself in the painting, focusing on the delicate shapes and colors, on the joy that this room would bring to Olivia and the baby.

Eventually, I finished my first coat of paint. However, I left some areas blank and dry, with the intention of adding a little something extra to make Olivia smile.

In one of those blank spaces, I started working on a family of elephants, the little one trailing behind its parents, its trunk raised in joy. My wolf watched in silence, the connection between us filled with a quiet understanding. We had been through so much together, shared joys and sorrows, triumphs and failures.

“You love her,” my wolf’s voice broke through my concentration, a simple statement filled with knowing.

“Maybe I do,” I admitted, my heart swelling with the emotion. “And I want to make everything perfect for her.”

The wolf's thoughts were gentle now, supportive and understanding. “I know. I want that too.”

The hours slipped away as I lost myself in the task.

It took a lot of extra time to execute my idea—a whimsical touch that would light up Olivia’s eyes. I had decided to paint little animals by hand around the room: bunnies, kittens, elephants, and more. I wanted the nursery to be a world of imagination and joy for the baby to grow up in.

But even though it took all of this extra time, it was worth it in my eyes to see it unfold.

As the morning wore on, I became more and more absorbed in the task, meticulously sketching and painting each little creature with care and affection, carefully filling in the spaces with yellow paint so as to blend everything seamlessly into the wall. I felt a strange connection to each one, imagining the delight in the baby’s eyes as they explored their new world.

It was a task that required concentration and patience, but as I continued, I began to feel a strange light-headedness and giddiness. My hands started to tremble, my vision blurring slightly. But I pushed on, dismissing it as mere fatigue.

I didn’t realize how the paint fumes were beginning to affect me, how the closed windows and doors had trapped the vapors, slowly affecting my senses. I was so caught up in the joy of creation, so lost in the world I was painting, that I failed to recognize the danger.

It was Olivia’s sudden arrival that snapped me out of my stupor.

The door burst open, and her eyes went wide as she took in the room and me, her face filled with alarm.

“Nathan!” she exclaimed, rushing around the room and flinging open the windows. “What have you done? You didn’t open any windows, and your face is all red!”

I looked at her, a goofy grin spreading across my face as I held up my paintbrush like a trophy.

“Look!” I laughed, gesturing to the walls filled with colorful animals. “Bunnies, elephants, and kitties! Just like a zoo.”

Olivia’s face softened as she took in my handiwork, her eyes sparkling with admiration and affection. But she quickly turned back to me, her concern returning as she began to fan me with a magazine she had grabbed from a shelf.

“You silly man,” she scolded, but her voice was filled with affection. “You really need to go out and get some fresh air. You’re all loopy now; you could’ve passed out!”

But all I could do was laugh, the joy bubbling up within me. I reached out and gently took her hands in mine, kissing them affectionately. “But look at what I’ve done, Liv. Look at our baby’s nursery. It’s perfect, just like you.”

She blushed at my paint-fume-induced-affection, quickly looking away without bothering to correct my blunder. It wasn’t our baby—not really. It was hers. But at that moment, it didn’t feel that way.

Her voice was barely above a whisper as she replied.

“I love it, Nathan. I really do. You did such a nice job. But please, let’s get you outside. You need to breathe.”

Without another word, Olivia took my hand and pulled me out of the room. I followed her obediently, a goofy grin on my face.

It wasn’t until a little while later, when I was sitting on the front step and inhaling the fresh air, that the fog lifted from my brain and I returned to my senses.

But the grin remained, because when Olivia held my hand, I finally felt it.

Not her wolf. Not anything like that…

But I felt love for her, and that was all I needed.