Chapter 230

Olivia

The car’s tires crunched over the gravel road, a subtle reminder of how isolated this meeting point really was. Tall, gnarled trees stretched up to the sky, their branches casting eerie shadows in the evening light.

Nathan and I had arrived at the clearing just outside the abandoned warehouse, the sky overhead darkening and shifting from a pale blue to a muted gray as storm clouds began to blot out the sun.

I could feel my heart drumming loudly in my ears as we sat for a moment, wrapped in the uncomfortable embrace of the impending confrontation. I glanced over at Nathan. There was an unreadable expression on his face; a mix of determination and concern.

“This is it,” I said quietly as we both watched Ryan, who was seemingly alone, up ahead. “Elliot, or… war.”

Nathan pulled his shoulders back, but said nothing. When I glanced over at him again, I could see his blue-green eyes darting around, but not nervously. He was checking our surroundings.

“Stay in the car,” he said, unbuckling his seatbelt. “Get in the driver’s seat. If anything happens, I want you to drive away. Understand?”

My eyes widened slightly. “No,” I hissed, shaking my head. “I won’t leave you. If anything happens, I—”

“What, Olivia?” Nathan asked. His voice was firm, but surprisingly calm given the circumstances. “You can’t fight. Not in your condition, and not without a wolf.”

“Let me at least do something,” I replied. “Give me a gun, or—”

“You don’t know how to shoot.” Once again, Nathan’s voice was calm, but firm. “And even if you did know how to shoot, I don’t want you getting involved. Our kids need a mom.”

Nathan’s words left me speechless. They were so matter-of-fact, so calm, when uttered from his lips. But the meaning of them was enough to make my legs feel weak.

He was right: my kids needed a mom. I was already in enough danger just by being here, let alone getting involved if the meeting turned to violence.

“Fine,” I said, inwardly cursing my lack of a wolf once more. “But I’m not going to just sit idly in the car.”

Nathan let out a soft, almost inaudible, sigh before he nodded solemnly. “Alright. Just keep your distance. And like I said, if anything happens…”

“I know,” I murmured. “Run.”

He reached to open the car door when I, without thinking, gripped his arm tightly, my fingers digging into the fabric of his shirt. “Nathan,” my voice came out hoarse, fear evident, are you sure that this isn’t a trap?”

He paused, turning slowly to face me. His ocean blue eyes met mine, their depths hiding a storm of emotions within them. “I know,” he admitted softly, his gaze flicking momentarily towards the bushes that rustled with the soft breeze. “I saw some movement when we pulled in.”

Terror gripped me. “Then maybe we should leave,” I urged, my voice rising in desperation. “Our kids need a father, too. This all should have been done in the safety of the Council building…”

Nathan gave me a faint smirk, the corner of his mouth twitching upward. “You think I would come here unprepared?” He nodded subtly towards the distant trees. “I’ve got our own men hiding out there. Ready to move on my command.”

Stunned, I blinked, trying to absorb the revelation. “You didn’t think to mention that earlier?”

A serious gleam danced in his eyes. “I needed to keep those cards close to my chest,” he said. “Just in case; you never know who might be listening. But just trust me, alright?”

My heart swelled at his words, the gravity of the situation momentarily forgotten. The love, the shared danger, the intensity of it all; it was overwhelming. “I can’t believe how deep we’re in this,” I muttered, more to myself than to him. “But I’m glad you’re by my side.”

He winked. “Always.”

With renewed vigor, Nathan swung the car door open. The cool morning air greeted us, carrying with it the scent of damp earth and moss. The muted songs of morning birds and the distant murmur of a creek added to the ambience, creating a stark contrast to the dangerous game we were about to play.

We stepped out, Nathan’s hand reaching back to give mine a reassuring squeeze. The towering trees, ancient witnesses to countless events, seemed to watch us with bated breath. I leaned against the car, its cold metallic surface grounding me. Nathan began to stride forward, the gravel crunching beneath his boots.

From the opposite end of the clearing, Ryan pushed himself away from the tree he was leaning on, his silhouette illuminated by the soft glow of the setting sun. The sight of him sent shivers down my spine. He was a ghost from my past, a relentless specter that refused to leave us be.

And he no longer had crutches. In fact, he looked positively…

Powerful.

“Where’s the boy, Nathan?” Ryan’s voice pierced the quiet, dripping with smugness as his dark eyes scanned the forest, momentarily landing on me before flickering away again as though I was just Nathan’s accessory. “Brought him to trade?”

Nathan stopped in front of Ryan. His stance was defiant, his voice cold. “Looking good, Ryan. Still on the verge of death?”

Ryan smirked. “Tell me where the child is,” he growled. “This can be over in a jiffy. You could be home in time for brunch.”

There was a heavy, palpable silence following Ryan’s words. Nathan was calm, calculating. His broad shoulders were unwavering when he finally spoke. “We didn’t bring Elliot. We won’t sacrifice our son to your whims.”

A mocking laugh escaped Ryan’s lips, echoing eerily around us. “You really thought you could negotiate peace without fulfilling your end?”

“It was never a fair deal,” Nathan shot back, anger evident in his voice. “Your pack has always wanted control, Ryan. Power. But using an innocent child as a pawn? Even for you, that’s a new low.”

Ryan shrugged, a cruel smirk playing on his lips. “It’s all a game, Nathan. You play to win, no matter the cost. And besides, you knew what you were getting into when you decided to take my leftovers.” He nodded his head toward me, indicating me as his leftovers, and I felt my blood boil.

Nathan’s face hardened. “If you’re looking to start a war, Ryan, then so be it. But remember, it’ll be on your head.”

The tension was palpable, the air thick with unsaid words and looming threats. As they continued their verbal dance, the world around us seemed to blur. All I could focus on was Nathan’s unwavering posture and Ryan’s sinister grin.

The clearing, which moments ago felt vast and endless, now seemed too small, too confining. The distant chirping of crickets and the soft rustling of leaves felt muffled, overshadowed by the intensity of the confrontation.

The wind began to pick up, rustling the trees and sending whispers through the grass. The two men stood facing each other, the distance between them both physical and ideological.

Suddenly, a flock of startled birds erupted from a nearby tree, their wings flapping loudly as they took to the sky, further heightening the tension.

Nathan’s voice broke through, filled with conviction. “This is your last chance, Ryan. Walk away now, or face the consequences.”

Ryan’s sneer was the only response, a chilling promise of the storm that was about to be unleashed.

To be continued......

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