Chapter 209

Olivia

Nathan and I walked the distance back to our home in silence. The events of the day seemed to weigh him down, his broad shoulders slightly hunched and his stride slightly slower than usual. I stole glances at him, noticing the furrow of his brows and the slight tension of his jaw.

The door to our home clicked shut behind us, and the familiar scent of our safe haven enveloped me. Nathan exhaled audibly, like he had been holding his breath throughout our journey. He leaned against the door, looking more exhausted than I had ever seen him before.

But there was a glint in his blue-green eyes—a sort of satisfaction, perhaps, that he had taken a stand against the absolute rule of the Elders, even if doing so was a gamble.

…

The muted light of dusk gently poured into the room, casting a serene glow that seemed to wrap around us like a comforting embrace. Elliot and Aurora, swaddled in soft blankets, lay nestled on the plush living room rug between Nathan and me.

Aurora, with her dark locks just starting to grow in, had her tiny fingers curled around a soft, stuffed unicorn. Every now and then, she would emit a gurgling coo, the corners of her mouth curling up in delight. Elliot, his raven-black tufts an exact match to his sister’s hair, blinked his big blue eyes, transfixed by the ceiling fan’s slow rotations.

Nathan, with a tenderness I found endlessly endearing, leaned over and wiggled a stuffed wolf puppet above Elliot, making playful growling sounds. Elliot’s eyes widened, his baby lips forming into an amazed ‘O’ before he let out a jubilant laugh.

“Do you like that, little man?” Nathan whispered, his face lighting up with a grin that mirrored our son’s.

I shifted my focus to Aurora, gently shaking a tiny rattle. Her eyes locked onto it, and she released a series of excited kicks and flails. “You’re a strong one, aren’t you, my sunshine?” I cooed.

Nathan and I exchanged smiles, a silent communication of our shared joy. It was moments like these, simple and profound, that I treasured the most. For the time being, everything else could fade away. We could just be a family together, and nothing else mattered.

Drawing Aurora into my arms, I gently rocked her, humming a soft lullaby. Her eyelids grew heavy, her gentle breaths becoming rhythmic. Nathan did the same with Elliot, whispering soothing words as he cradled him close.

The world outside, with its trials and tribulations, seemed so distant, so irrelevant in the face of our little universe here in the living room.

But as Nathan and I locked eyes, the same thought that had been plaguing me all day emerged.

Thirty days. The uncertainty of what lay ahead cast a shadow over this beautiful moment. Our children were too young, too innocent, to understand the complexities of the world they were born into.

Seeing my troubled expression, Nathan whispered, “It's going to be alright, Liv. We’ll find a way. For them.”

His assurance, while comforting, couldn’t entirely dispel my fears. “I know,” I murmured. “But what if we can’t prove our bond in thirty days?”

He pulled me close, Elliot in one arm and his other arm wrapped around Aurora and me. “We have each other, and we have them. No matter what happens, we’ll always be a family.”

I buried my face into Nathan’s chest, drawing strength from his presence. “I just wish they didn’t have to grow up with any shadows looming over them.”

Nathan kissed the top of my head. “Whatever comes our way, we’ll face it together.”

Together, we made our way up the stairs to the nursery, where we gently laid the sleeping babies down for the night. It was a comfort to see them sleeping so peacefully, but as we kissed them goodnight and left the room, my mind continued to whirl.

“Nathan,” I started, my voice shaking despite my best efforts, “how on earth are we going to prove our matehood in thirty days when... when my wolf isn’t even awake?”

He straightened, pushing himself away from the door, and took a step towards me, taking my hands in his. The warmth of his touch was grounding, reassuring.

“I’ve been thinking about that, Liv,” he admitted. “I think it’s time we sought some outside help.”

My brow creased in confusion. “Outside help?”

He nodded. “There’s a witch. The same one who helped us with Alvin, remember? If there's anyone who might know how to awaken your wolf or help us understand why it’s dormant, it’s going to be her.”

I hesitated, my mind flashing to the stories I had heard about witches—especially the powerful ones. Their abilities were vast, but every spell, every potion, came with a price.

And yet, Alvin’s hand had been restored, no strings attached; not counting the fact that he had been pissed at us for doing it.

“The witch?” My voice betrayed my unease. “You think that’s wise? After everything we’ve been through? After… Alvin?”

He sighed, squeezing my hands gently. “Liv, I know it’s a risk. But if we don’t try, we might lose everything. Our family, our home, our place in the community.”

I looked away, memories of our children’s laughter filling the air, the way they clung to me each night before bed, their bright eyes and boundless energy. The thought of anything happening to them tightened a knot in my stomach.

“What about the twins?” I whispered, my throat tight. “What if this backfires? What if there’s a price we can’t pay?”

Nathan pulled me into his embrace, wrapping his arms around me, and I buried my face in the crook of his neck. “I won’t let anything happen to our family,” he murmured. “I promise.”

After what felt like an eternity, I pulled back, looking into his earnest blue eyes.

“Okay,” I breathed out. “We’ll talk to the witch. But Nathan, if things go south, if anything seems off, we back out. We find another way.”

He nodded. “Agreed.”

The gravity of the situation hung in the air, but there was also an undercurrent of hope. We were together in this, and as long as we had each other, we'd find a way to face any challenge.

We moved into the living room, sinking into the familiar embrace of our couch. The comforting scent of home surrounded us, yet my thoughts were still a whirlwind.

After a few minutes, Nathan spoke, his voice soft but firm. “The witch’s name is Elara. She’s powerful, Liv, and she’s been around for centuries. She helped us when no one else could. She’s... unconventional. You know that. But I trust her after what happened with Alvin.”

I let out a shaky breath. “Okay, when do we see her?”

Nathan’s gaze locked onto mine. “Soon. We don’t have much time.”

A shiver of apprehension ran down my spine. Meeting with the same witch who helped us restore Alvin’s hand was both daunting and exciting all at once. Could she really help me restore my wolf, just as easily as she had restored Alvin’s hand?

“I’m scared,” I admitted, my voice barely above a whisper.

He leaned in, pressing his lips to my forehead. “I know, love. But we’ll get through this, like we always do. Together.”

And with that promise echoing in the silence of our home, I found the strength to face whatever lay ahead.