Chapter 227

Olivia

The abrupt knock reverberated through the dimly lit living room, casting ripples of tension into the serene bubble Nathan and I had been sharing. We both jumped, eyes darting towards the door, startled by the unexpected intrusion of the outside world.

“Who could that be at this hour?” I whispered, glancing curiously at the front door. “Angela, maybe? She must have forgotten something.”

Nathan’s forehead creased in thought, shadows from the softly flickering candlelight dancing across his sharp features. “I’m not expecting anyone,” he replied, voice thick with caution. “Let me check, just to be safe.”

We approached the door, the polished wooden floorboards cool beneath our feet. Outside, the night was a tapestry of silence, broken only by the distant chirp of a cricket and the whispering leaves of the nearby trees. The full moon above cast a silver sheen, bathing everything in its muted glow.

Peeking through the peephole, Nathan paused for a moment then pulled away and made a face. “No one’s there,” he said. I watched in confusion as he opened the door cautiously, eyes narrowing as he scanned the yard. “Nothing. Just an empty night,” he murmured, stepping out onto the porch.

I followed, quickly discovering that Nathan was right. The front porch, cast in a warm amber glow from the porch light, was empty. An eerie quietness settled, making the back of my neck tingle.

I let out a sigh, a mix of relief and confusion. “Perhaps it’s just those kids from next door again?” I asked. “Playing another one of their little pranks?”

Nathan chuckled softly. “You know how kids can be. But at this time of the night? It’s almost midnight.”

As we began to retreat back inside, my foot brushed against something unexpected. Glancing down, I noticed an envelope. It was oddly out of place, resting innocently on our doorstep. No name, no address.

I stooped down to retrieve it, the crisp paper feeling ancient beneath my fingers.

Nathan peered over my shoulder as I carefully broke the seal. Unfolding the note, I began to read out loud.

“‘There is help for you and your wolf. Meet at the Ancient Wolf cave when you are ready. There, you shall receive guidance on reuniting with your wolf.’”

My heart raced, a torrent of emotions flooding me.

“Could it be genuine?” I murmured, looking up at Nathan, hope lighting up my eyes. After all the years of feeling incomplete, the void of my wolf’s absence weighing heavily on my soul, this message felt like a lifeline.

Nathan sighed, his eyes reflecting deep concern. “It could be, but it could also be a trap. With all the enemies we’ve made, Liv, we can’t just rush into things.”

“You’re right,” I said, nodding stiffly.

We retreated to the living room, sinking into the plush couch, the letter resting on the coffee table before us. The room, awash with the warm glow of candles, felt safe, contrasting starkly with the uncertainty the letter brought.

The fire crackled, casting a soft glow around us as I pondered. “The Ancient Wolf cave... I don’t know how I feel about going there after…”

Nathan nodded, eyes distant. “I feel the same way,” he said. “But you know, that cave is special. Stories passed down from generation to generation of Alphas. It’s a place of power, of ancient rituals. Some say it’s where the first wolf spirit bonded with humans, creating what we are now.”

“So you think that whoever sent this letter…” My voice trailed off, my eyebrows knit together in confusion.

Nathan shrugged. “Maybe they want you to meet there for a good reason,” he said. “There’s a certain magic there.”

“And it’s also secluded,” I chimed in. “The perfect place for a ritual—”

“Or a trap.” Nathan’s eyes flickered in the candlelight.

I clutched the letter, my fingers trembling. “Let’s just pretend for a moment that this isn’t a joke or a trap... Nathan, this could be my only chance to feel whole again. And maybe… it could help us with Ryan.”

He reached out, capturing my hand in his. His grip was reassuring, grounding. “I understand how much this means to you, Liv. But it’s risky. Whoever left this note didn’t even have the courage to face us. What does that tell you?”

The doubts gnawed at me. “Maybe they couldn’t face us, Nathan. Maybe they’re in hiding or... or they want to remain anonymous to protect themselves.”

Nathan’s eyes glinted with a mixture of doubt and determination. “Look, if you decide to pursue this, you’re not going alone. We’ll scope out the cave, take precautions. But, Liv, we have to be ready for anything.”

We sat in silence, the crackling fire and our intertwined fingers the only connection tethering us to the moment. “What if it’s a message from an ally? Someone who couldn’t approach us openly because of the Elders?” I pondered aloud.

Nathan’s gaze hardened. “The Elders... Ever since they tightened their grip on our pack, things have become... unpredictable.”

Drawing a deep breath, I let the scent of burning wood and aged parchment fill me. “I need to know, Nathan. If there’s even the slightest chance that this is real, I need to take it.”

His blue-green eyes softened, love and concern spilling from them. “Then we’ll go together. But first, we need a plan. We can’t walk blindly into potential danger.”

Nodding, I leaned into him, the warmth of his embrace offering a comforting shield against the world’s uncertainties. “Thank you, Nathan.”

He kissed the top of my head, murmuring, “Always, Olivia. Always.”

…

The throbbing pain from my injuries kept me from finding any semblance of rest that night.

Each time I closed my eyes, the room spun with anxiety and the impending dread of the meeting with Ryan. The sheets felt like chains, trapping and tightening around my aching legs. Nathan’s rhythmic breathing next to me was the only anchor in that tumultuous sea of emotions.

But eventually, I couldn’t take laying there anymore.

I carefully slid out from under Nathan’s arm, desperate not to wake him. He needed his strength for tomorrow. The dim lights in the hallway faintly illuminated my path to the nursery. My heart raced as I gently pushed the door open.

Elliot, my beacon in the darkest storms, was deep in a peaceful slumber.

Watching him there, all innocence and vulnerability, a torrent of fears and concerns rushed forward. The possibility of Ryan demanding our son once more despite our pleas, wanting Elliot as his heir, was a nightmare I couldn’t shake.

The sheer uncertainty of what awaited us was almost too much to bear. What if he tried to take him by force? What if we couldn’t protect Elliot?

The past echoed sharply in that quiet room.

Ryan had always been a puzzle to me, even during our time together. His facade of calmness, which I once found magnetic, later revealed itself to be more of a cold, emotionless shield.

Those moments when I felt like I was looking into a void instead of the eyes of the man I loved haunted me now. And it seemed, after his father’s death and the accident that left him barren, his intentions seemed to warp even further.

Was this who he truly was all along? Or had recent events simply twisted him further into darkness?

A memory of his cold eyes as he had unceremoniously thrown me out of our shared apartment flashed before me. That was the moment I truly realized the depth of his coldness, the potential for cruelty in him.

Looking back at Elliot, I felt a surge of protectiveness.

I brushed my fingers against his cheek, and his tiny hand curled around my finger, grounding me in that moment. I made a vow right there, next to his crib.

“Elliot, I won’t let him take you. I promise.”