Chapter 187

Olivia

It felt like I had waited an eternity for this moment, even though it had been mere hours. The room around me seemed to grow brighter, its walls echoing with faint laughter and joy, as Nathan and Angela wheeled in a small crib with two tiny bundles inside.

My heart swelled with emotion.

Lying on the bed, weakened but filled with an indescribable love, I tried to sit up a bit more, my arms reaching out instinctively. My body ached from the ordeal, and it would be a while before my strength returned, but right now I felt as though I could leap over the moon.

“They’re absolutely perfect, Liv,” Nathan murmured as he gently picked up one of the bundles and handed it to me.

The baby was so small, so delicate. Holding him in my arms, I felt a rush of love and protection like I’d never experienced before. I traced a finger along his soft cheek, marveling at the perfection of his little features.

“And here’s your daughter,” Angela said softly, placing the second bundle into my arms. The little girl looked so peaceful, her tiny fingers curled around a fistful of her blanket.

I looked from one baby to the other, tears pooling in my eyes. “They’re so beautiful,” I whispered.

“You did wonderfully, Olivia,” Angela praised, her voice filled with warmth. “They’re both strong and healthy.”

“I didn’t do anything,” I said, shaking my head. “It was all you guys. And my wolf.”

Nathan made a face at my words. “Don’t start with that, young lady,” he chided, pointing his finger at me. “You were a warrior through and through.”

I rolled my eyes, but there was still a smile plastered across my lips. As I looked down at the two little bundles in my arms, seeing how serenely they slept and hearing how sweet their little sounds were, I felt my heart swell to five times its original size.

“What will you name them?” Angela asked, a knowing smile playing on her lips.

I hesitated for a moment. “For the boy, I’m thinking of Elliot,” I replied, gazing down at my son, who was now starting to wriggle and stretch in my arms.

“That's a strong name,” Nathan commented, brushing his finger against the boy’s soft cheek. “I like it.”

“Elliot it is,” Angela said, then looked at me expectantly. “And the girl?”

I bit my lip, uncertain. “I... I haven’t really thought of a name for her yet.”

Nathan looked thoughtful for a moment, his eyes lingering on our daughter. “How about Aurora?” he suggested gently. “She’s the goddess of dawn, and your—our—little girl arrived just as the sun was breaking over the horizon.”

I looked down at the precious face of our daughter, imagining her growing up with such a powerful and radiant name. “Aurora,” I whispered, testing the name on my lips. It felt right. “I love it.”

Nathan beamed, pride evident in his eyes. “Aurora and Elliot,” he mused, wrapping an arm around me and drawing us into a gentle embrace. “Names fit for kings and queens, if you ask me.”

“Hey, don’t get too ahead of yourself,” I teased, smirking. “Let’s just let them be babies first. Then kids. Then maybe, someday, they can be kings and queens.”

Nathan smirked, but said nothing. His eyes were fixed unwaveringly on the two little lives in my arms. It was crazy to imagine that just a day beforehand, they had been inside of me. And now, here they were, in the outside world. It was both beautiful and a little saddening at the same time.

I wiped a tear from my eye and shook my head, laughing. “Is it bad that I’m already getting emotional knowing that they’ll grow up and leave me someday?” I asked.

“Now who’s the one who’s getting ahead of herself?” Nathan teased.

I looked up at him, smiling. For a moment, something else flashed through my mind: a possibility. More children, with Nathan as the biological father. I felt a blush creep into my cheeks just at the thought of it, and I quickly looked away before he could see.

“I never thought I would feel something like this,” I confessed, kissing each of the babies on their foreheads. “It's like... my heart is outside my body, split into these two little beings.”

Angela chuckled softly, moving closer to get a better look at the twins. “They really are miracles, you know. You all are.”

The room was silent for a moment, the only sound being the soft coos and whimpers of the babies. I felt enveloped in a bubble of love and warmth, a world where nothing else mattered but the tiny lives in my arms.

“It’s a new beginning for us,” Nathan whispered, pressing a soft kiss to my temple. “A fresh start. With our family, in all of its unconventional and strange nature.”

“I know,” I murmured back, lost in the wonder of the moment.

Angela stood up, adjusting the drape of her shawl. “I’ll leave you three to bond,” she said with a wink. “No offense, but I’m bloody exhausted. But remember, Liv, you need to rest too. And if you need anything, just call.”

“Thank you, Angela,” I said sincerely. “For everything.”

She nodded, a soft smile on her lips. “It was my pleasure. Take care of each other.”

With that, she left the room, closing the door softly behind her.

Nathan sat down beside me on the bed, carefully cradling Aurora in his arms. “I still can’t believe they’re here,” he said in awe. “They’re real. Your children.”

“Our children,” I corrected, shooting Nathan an affectionate glance. “Remember our promise?”

At my words, Nathan’s face turned a slight shade of pink, and he nodded. “I do remember,” he murmured quietly. “Are you… Are you really sure you’re okay with that?”

I nodded vehemently. “Of course I am,” I replied. “I want Elliot and Aurora to grow up knowing that you are their father, regardless of biology. I wouldn’t want it any other way.”

Nathan fell silent. His silence seemed almost pensive, but his eyes showed nothing but love and affection as he gazed down at Elliot and Aurora. It was just like my dream after all. Maybe, in my dream, I had gotten to see a little snippet of my future with Nathan and our strange little family.

I smiled, adjusting Elliot in my arms so that I could see his face better. “It feels like a dream,” I admitted. “But it’s the best kind of dream.”

“We’ll get through this, Liv,” Nathan said with determination. “All the challenges that come our way. We have each other, and now we have them. We’re a family.”

I nodded, tears of happiness threatening to spill again. “We are. And we’ll face everything together.”

We sat in comfortable silence, the weight of the moment sinking in. The journey had been long and filled with obstacles, but in the end, it had led us to this – a moment of pure joy and love.

Holding my babies close, I felt a sense of completeness that I had never known before. Everything had changed, but it was a change for the better. I had Nathan by my side, and together, we were ready to face whatever the future held for us and our beautiful children.