Chapter 214

Olivia

The wind howled outside, its mournful voice echoing through the dense trees that surrounded the cabin.

Inside, the room was bathed in a dim, golden light from a single bedside lamp. The warm duvet wrapped around me felt like a thin shield, one that seemed increasingly insufficient against the unseen terrors lurking in the darkness.

Every creak of the floorboards, every rustle of the leaves, made my heart skip a beat. I found myself holding my breath, straining to decipher if the noises were just nature’s whims or something more sinister.

Beside me, Nathan lay still, his eyes trained on the ceiling.

Every so often, he would turn to me, his gaze searching mine, trying to decipher the tumult of emotions I felt. I could sense his own anxiety, tightly reined in but palpable.

“Do you think someone’s out there?” I whispered, clutching the sheets closer.

He paused, considering. “It’s probably just the wind and animals. This place has always been filled with sounds at night.”

Yet, despite his reassuring words, I could tell he wasn’t entirely convinced. That paw print earlier was enough to set us both on edge.

A sudden thud outside caused me to jump, pulling me closer to Nathan. He wrapped an arm around me, holding me tight against him, a silent promise to protect.

“We’re safe in here, Liv,” he murmured, his voice low and soothing. Yet, there was a tension in his body that belied his words.

I hesitated, then voiced the fear that had been gnawing at me. “What if someone followed us? What if it’s the same person who informed Ryan about the baby shower?”

Nathan stiffened, his gaze locking onto mine. “You think there’s a mole in our pack?”

I shrugged helplessly. “I don’t know, but how else would Ryan have known?”

Nathan ran a hand through his tousled hair, frustration evident in his features. “If someone did spill the beans about the baby shower, who in the pack would do such a thing?”

“I can’t even begin to guess,” I admitted, my voice shaky. “Everyone has been so supportive, so loving. The idea that one of them might be betraying us is... unthinkable.”

“But not impossible,” Nathan pointed out gravely. “If there’s a traitor among us, this isn’t just about the baby shower. They could endanger all of us.”

“They already have.” I felt a cold shiver run down my spine. “Do you think we should start questioning people?”

Nathan pondered for a moment. “It’s a serious accusation to make. We can’t just throw it around without any concrete proof, especially not now with everything going on. It might cause problems in the pack.”

Drawing in a deep breath, I tried to steady my racing heart. “Maybe we should just lay low for a while. Wait and watch. If there’s a traitor, they’ll reveal themselves sooner or later.”

Nathan nodded slowly. “You’re right. But until then, we take every precaution.”

With that, he got up, moving swiftly and silently through the cabin, double-checking each window and door, ensuring they were securely locked. I watched him, the tight set of his shoulders and the grim line of his mouth making it clear how seriously he was taking the potential threat.

He returned to bed, pulling me close again. Yet, for all the warmth and comfort his embrace offered, neither of us could find the solace of sleep. Every noise, every whisper of the wind seemed amplified, a constant reminder of the unseen dangers lurking outside and, possibly, within our very pack.

Hours seemed to stretch on, but Nathan’s eyes remained open, vigilant. His fingers caressed my arm in gentle strokes, an attempt to soothe my fears.

“We’ll figure this out,” he whispered against my hair. “Together.”

His words, filled with determination and love, were a balm to my frayed nerves. But as the night wore on, one thought kept circling back—who in our pack would betray us, if anyone? And why?

…

The morning was drenched in a serene stillness, the sun filtering through the trees, casting golden glints onto the forest floor.

“I need to stretch my legs quickly,” I said, tugging my boots on by the front door. “And clear my head. I won’t be out for more than fifteen minutes.”

Nathan nodded groggily, still nursing the cup of coffee in his hands. “Alright,” he said. “Just be careful. After that paw print last night, I’ll admit I’m still a little on edge. And don’t be too long, because…”

“Right. I know,” I said with a nod. “The witch. Ryan and the Elders. We don’t have much time.”

With Nathan and the twins inside, I ventured out for a short solitary walk, hoping it would help calm my unsettled nerves from the previous night’s disturbances.

As I meandered through the woods, the remnants of last night’s unease persisted. The morning was so beautiful, with the birds serenading from the treetops and the scent of pine and earth in the air.

But then, my eyes caught sight of something that made my blood run cold: the paw print, perfectly imprinted in the soft, damp earth. The size was unlike anything I had ever seen before.

Kneeling beside the print, I traced its outlines with my fingers, my mind racing.

The only wolf I could think of that could possibly leave such a massive print was Alvin.

Memories of his imposing form and the issues he posed for our pack surfaced. But it couldn’t be... Alvin had been gone for months, disappearing after his confrontation with Colin.

I stood, my thoughts spiraling. Was he back? Was he the reason for the sounds last night?

I hurried back to the cabin, my heart thudding loudly in my chest. Bursting through the door, I found Nathan playing with the twins, their innocent laughter filling the room.

“Nathan,” I began, my voice edged with panic, “I saw the paw print…”

He looked up, sensing my distress. Gently placing the babies down, he stood and came over to me. “What is it, Liv?”

I quickly explained about the oversized paw print, watching his face darken with concern. “It’s huge, Nathan. The only wolf I’ve ever seen that big was Alvin.”

He sighed, running a hand through his hair. “Liv, Alvin’s been gone for months. And besides, no matter his issues with us, he wouldn’t... stalk us. It’s just not his way.”

“But the print, Nathan! It’s unmistakable,” I pressed, feeling the weight of my anxiety.

He took my hands, his touch warm and reassuring.

“We don’t know for sure if it’s Alvin. And even if by some strange chance it is, it doesn’t mean he’s a threat. Remember, there are many mysteries in the woods, many creatures we don’t understand. Jumping to conclusions won’t help.”

“But what if—”

“Olivia,” he interrupted softly, his green eyes locked onto mine, “I won’t let anything happen to you or our babies. We’ve faced challenges before, and we’ve always come out stronger.”

His words, spoken with such conviction, soothed the frantic beating of my heart. But still, the shadow of doubt lingered.

He pulled me into his embrace, holding me close. “Let’s pack up and head home now. We’ve got a lot on our plate right now, and the witch will be waiting for us.”

I nodded against his chest, feeling a bit more grounded. The presence of an unknown, potentially dangerous wolf was concerning, but I trusted Nathan.

Together, we could face any challenge.

However, as we packed up and headed out, the cabin’s walls seemed to close in, every creak and rustle outside sending my imagination into overdrive.

The question remained, echoing in my mind: Was it Alvin? And if so, why was he back?

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