Chapter 173

Olivia

The chimes of the grocery store’s entrance jingled as I walked through the automatic doors, my shopping list crinkled in my grip. It was a pleasant, sunny afternoon, and my spirits were lifted with the brightness outside.

Perusing through the aisles, mentally ticking off items from my list, I caught sight of a familiar face in the produce section. Carol, from my yoga class, waved enthusiastically, her curly auburn hair bobbing as she approached.

“Olivia!” She greeted, grinning widely. “How have you been? And how's everything going with your husband?”

Confused, I blinked back at her. “My what?”

She laughed, a little too loudly, drawing some attention from other shoppers. “Oh, come on! Nathan, of course! Aren't you two married and living together now?”

My cheeks flushed, the warmth of embarrassment spreading across my face. “No, Carol, we’re not married. We’re just...friends. But yes, he's living with me right now to help me with the pregnancy.”

“Oh, my mistake! You two just look so close, it’s hard not to think of you as a couple,” she winked, her playful demeanor bringing a small smile to my lips.

With a chuckle, I replied, “Seems like there are a lot of gossips around here.”

“Tell me about it,” she winked, pushing her cart onward. “Catch up soon?”

“Absolutely,” I responded, waving her off. As I watched her leave, my mind wandered back to that passionate kiss with Nathan. It was a moment I couldn’t shake, no matter how hard I tried. The idea of being married to Nathan seemed absurd at first, but given our recent closeness, it wasn't entirely unthinkable.

It wasn’t just any kiss; it was an unexpected surge of emotions, a tidal wave that I hadn’t seen coming, yet it swept me away completely.

The room had been silent except for our heavy breathing. The soft glow from the setting sun had painted the room in hues of gold and pink.

I could still feel the warmth of Nathan's fingers as they gently cradled the back of my neck, pulling me closer, and the other hand resting against the small of my back. The world around us had blurred, and for that moment, it was just the two of us—two souls caught in a tempest of feelings they didn’t fully understand.

His lips had been soft, warmer than I remembered, and they moved against mine with a mixture of urgency and tenderness. The initial shock had given way to a deep yearning, one I hadn’t even realized I’d been harboring. Every hidden emotion, every suppressed desire seemed to flow between us, communicated through the melding of our lips.

When he had deepened the kiss, I had felt my knees grow weak, my heart racing in a rhythm that mirrored his. The world around us had faded, replaced by the intoxicating scent of him—grapefruit salt. That uniquely ‘Nathan’ scent that I had become so familiar with over the recent months.

But it wasn’t just the kiss that was on my mind. It was my wolf’s presence, her words. Someone had put a spell on me to keep my wolf dormant, and somehow, Nathan was the key to unlocking it. At least for the time being.

I wanted to kiss him again. It had been a few days since our last kiss, but it still felt fresh on my tongue.

The question was, though, did I want to kiss him again simply to contact my wolf once more, or because I craved the taste of his lips?

“Excuse me? Miss?”

A male voice jostled me out of my deep train of thought. I looked up to see an older man standing beside me, his gaze flickering back and forth between me and the shelf of pasta that I had been blocking during my reverie.

“Oh—sorry,” I murmured, stepping out of the way.

Brushing the thought of the kiss aside for now, I quickly finished my shopping, eager to get back home and dive into another book from my ever-growing reading list.

…

Upon arriving home, I noticed an unfamiliar car parked outside. My heart raced as confusion bubbled up, and the grocery bags suddenly felt heavy in my hands.

Maybe I was more paranoid than I thought, but for a split second, I wondered if the local gossip about Nathan and I had attracted unwanted attention.

“Nathan?” I called out, cautiously pushing the front door open. My voice echoed back in the eerie silence, amplified by the darkened interior of the house. The curtains were drawn shut, and the dim light gave the familiar setting a mysterious ambiance.

Moving carefully, I made my way further inside, clutching the bags close to my chest. A myriad of thoughts raced through my head. What if something had happened to Nathan? What if—

“Surprise!”

The lights suddenly flicked on, revealing a sea of smiling faces. Balloons in pastel shades floated around, and the living room was transformed with decorations—elegant drapes, shimmering fairy lights, and a table groaning under the weight of delicacies.

I let out a shocked laugh, placing a hand over my rapidly beating heart. The room was filled with familiar faces—friends from yoga, close family members, and colleagues.

But there were four faces that particularly stood out—Angela, with her ever-bright smile, Levi with his arm around Angela’s shoulders, Clint, who was trying to stifle a laugh at my surprised expression, and Nathan, whose blue-green eyes held a mischievous glint.

“Did we get you?” Angela teased, coming forward to take the grocery bags from me.

“You sure did,” I laughed, still trying to process the unexpected party. “But what's the occasion?”

Nathan stepped forward, a playful smile on his face. “Do you really need to ask? It’s your baby shower, Liv.”

My eyes widened in realization. In the midst of everything, I had completely forgotten about the possibility of a baby shower.

“But... who organized all of this?” I stammered, glancing around the room. Clint waved from the corner, a cheeky grin on his face, while Nathan stood by the window, his eyes soft and caring.

Angela nudged Nathan, who raised an eyebrow. “It was Angela’s idea,” he murmured, giving her a playful glance.

She smirked, her eyes twinkling with mischief. “Sure, put it all on me. It was Nathan’s idea, trust me.”

The party progressed smoothly. Friends from all walks of my life congratulated me, offering kind words and hugs. As the afternoon turned to evening, it was time to open the presents. Each package was a testament to the love and care my friends and family felt for my unborn child—tiny shoes, soft blankets, and the cutest baby outfits I had ever seen.

Then Nathan stepped forward, a modest-sized box in his hands. I could tell he was nervous, a faint blush on his cheeks. “For you,” he whispered.

I opened the box to find two matching baby onesies. One was embroidered with a delicate honeycomb, and the other with a vibrant bumblebee.

A flood of memories rushed back—the cabin, our childhood, the endless summers we spent chasing bees and tasting fresh honey.

“Just in case it’s twins,” Nathan murmured, a smile dancing across his lips. “And if not… well, I guess someone’s getting two onesies.”

I felt a lump form in my throat, my vision blurred with emotion. Without a word, I set the onesies down and pulled Nathan into a tight embrace, my heart swelling with gratitude and love.

“Thank you,” I whispered, tears streaming down my face. “Thank you for everything.”

He hugged me tighter, his voice soft. “Always, Liv. Always.”

To be continued......