Chapter 212

Olivia

The landscape of my vision was surreal, like the heart of a dream. Everything was tinged in an ethereal glow, and the boundaries of reality seemed to blur. Standing before me was a majestic figure—my wolf.

With piercing eyes and an aura of power, she exuded an air of both familiarity and mystery.

“You must lift the spell, Olivia,” she rumbled, her voice echoing through the space. Her gaze held mine with an intensity that was almost palpable. “Only then will you realize your destiny.”

The words resonated within me, filling me with both dread and hope. But they also brought forth a thousand questions. “But… how?” I pleaded. “How do I lift the spell?”

But even as I asked, the vision began to disintegrate. The ground beneath me became insubstantial, and the colors started to fade, blending into a monochromatic haze.

My wolf’s form wavered, like a mirage on a hot day.

She took a step closer, her voice strained, fighting against the encroaching void. “To find your way, you must find friends in unlikely places. Remember…”

But her voice trailed off as the world around me continued to dissolve. I reached out, trying to grasp onto something, anything that would anchor me to this place, to her wisdom.

“Remember what?” I cried out, desperation clawing at my throat.

But it was too late. The last remnants of my vision were swept away, leaving me with an overwhelming sense of loss. Yet, nestled within that void was a sliver of hope—a clue, a direction. Friends in unlikely places. Whatever it meant, I was determined to find out.

The sensation of being ripped out of my vision was jarring, like being thrown back into the present.

My body jerked with a start and my eyes snapped open abruptly, the vivid imagery of the vision still swirling in my head. The sunlight, which had once been comforting, now seemed too intense.

I squinted, trying to make sense of my surroundings.

Directly in front of us, the waterfall cascaded down with a rhythmic and hypnotic hum. The water was crashing into a serene pool below, its surface reflecting the azure of the sky, interrupted only by the occasional ripple or the glint of a fish’s scales as it darted about.

Moss-covered stones lined the edges of the pool, their surfaces slick and gleaming with vibrant green, and small ferns and grasses peeked out from their crevices, thriving in the constant mist.

Nathan was leaning over me, a look of concern marring his usually calm features.

“Olivia? Are you okay?” he asked. “Bad dream or something?”

I shook my head, swallowing, unable to find the right words.

“Sorry to wake you,” Nathan said. “I tried to keep him quiet, but Elliot started to fuss.”

I took a moment to steady myself, the words from my vision echoing hauntingly in my ears. I propped myself up on my elbows, my voice trembling when I finally found the strength to speak.

“It wasn’t just a nap,” I explained. “I had a vision... about my wolf.”

His brow furrowed. “What do you mean?”

I hesitated, the weight of the revelation sinking in. “My father,” I began, “I saw my wolf in the vision. She said that my father was the one who placed a spell on me, Nathan. He was the one who suppressed my wolf... made her dormant.”

Nathan’s face paled, and he moved closer, offering his support. “But... why would he do that? Why not tell you?”

“That’s the thing. He wanted to protect me. There’s something special about my wolf, something he wanted to keep hidden. I’m sure of it.”

I ran my fingers through my hair, frustration evident in my gesture. “It’s not fair. All these years, I’ve felt incomplete, wondering why my wolf was different. And it turns out, it was all orchestrated by my own father!”

“Orchestrated seems like a strong word,” Nathan said softly. “Your father only ever loved you, Olivia.”

“Then why would he do this?” I asked. “All he ever said was that I shouldn’t shift in front of anyone else. And then to go behind my back and put a spell on me, condemning me to having a dormant wolf? It makes no sense.”

Nathan squeezed my hand. “It must have been hard for him too. Maybe he was just trying to protect you from something bigger.”

Nathan’s words were calm and collected, but they made me angry in an irrational way. For some reason, I almost wanted him to be angry and feel betrayed with me.

Damn you, Nathan, and your level headedness! I thought to myself.

“I understand wanting to protect me,” I said, tears brimming in my eyes, “but why not give me a choice? This has set me back, Nathan. Not having an active wolf... It’s like being stripped of a part of myself.”

He pulled me into a comforting embrace. “We’ll figure it out, Liv. We always do. But first, we need to find out why your wolf is special. Did she say anything else during your vision?”

I shook my head, wiping away my tears. “Not much,” I said. “The vision started to fade. She said that I would have to find friends in unlikely places, but I don’t know what that means.”

Nathan nodded slowly, thinking. “Friends in unlikely places… she’s trying her best to guide you, that’s for sure. Maybe she’s trying to say that there’s someone else out there who’s willing to help; someone who you wouldn’t immediately think of.”

Before I could answer, our conversation was interrupted by soft coos and giggles.

We turned to see Elliot and Aurora, captivated by a butterfly that had alighted on Aurora’s tiny nose. The sight brought a smile to my face, despite the turmoil inside.

Nathan laughed, his eyes filled with warmth. “Looks like we were right about Aurora’s ability,” he murmured.

I chuckled, watching as Aurora’s tiny fingers reached out, trying to touch the butterfly. “Being able to calm animals like that... It’s a wonderful gift.”

But as the butterfly fluttered away, something else caught our attention.

Elliot and Aurora were looking at each other, their gazes unwavering, locked in an intense, silent communication. It was a connection deeper than words, an unspoken language that seemed to transcend the ordinary.

Nathan and I exchanged glances, both fascinated and awed by the scene unfolding before us.

“The twin bond,” he whispered, “It’s said to be powerful among werewolf babies.”

“I’ve heard stories,” I replied, “but seeing it... It’s truly magical.”

We sat there, entranced by our children, the weight of our previous conversation momentarily forgotten. The bond between Elliot and Aurora was palpable, a testament to the strength and uniqueness of their connection.

“They’re going to be something special, aren’t they?” Nathan said, his voice filled with wonder and pride.

I smiled, nodding. For a few moments, everything else seemed to slip away. The Elders, Ryan, my wolf, the spell… none of it mattered so long as my babies were in front of me, smiling, happy, and healthy.

“They sure are,” I said, reaching out to pinch Aurora’s cheek and brush a flower petal off of Elliot’s forehead. “They sure are.”

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