Chapter 233

Nathan

In that charged moment, the clearing erupted into a frenzied dance of fur, teeth, and rage.

The howls and growls of my men clashed with those of Ryan’s, forming an eerie and gut-wrenching symphony. Through my wolf's eyes, everything was painted in heightened colors and sharp contrasts.

Each scent, every movement, felt accentuated.

The moment Ryan and I locked eyes, it was clear that this wasn’t just any fight; it was deeply personal. We circled each other, our growls echoing with decades of pack rivalry, betrayal, and anger. The world around us seemed to blur as our focus narrowed to just the two of us.

“You should’ve just given him up, Nathan,” Ryan snarled, launching himself at me with a swift move. His form, larger and more muscular, was intimidating, but I was ready.

I dodged him, snapping my jaws at his exposed flank.

“I knew your injuries were all a lie,” I shot back, narrowing my eyes at him as we began to circle each other once more. “You never had us fooled.”

“Ah, but didn’t I?” Ryan replied. “I still can’t bear children; that much is the truth. But I suppose I bent the truth just a little. Olivia is horribly sentimental, as you well know; but it seems as though you’ve become a voice of reason to her.”

A low, annoyed growl rumbled in the back of my throat in response to Ryan’s words.

Around us, the scene was a mix of chaos and coordination. My men, fiercely loyal and well-trained, defended our territory with everything they had. Every so often, I caught a glimpse of one of my own taking down one of Ryan’s men.

But with each victory came a loss, and the metallic scent of blood hung heavy in the air.

“What’s it worth, Nathan?” Ryan spat, nipping at my heels as I evaded another of his attacks. “All this for a child that isn’t even yours? For Olivia?”

It wasn’t just about Elliot or Olivia. It was about honor, about protecting what was mine. “It’s about family, Ryan,” I growled back, lunging at him with renewed vigor. “Something you seem to have forgotten.”

Our scuffles grew more intense. Each swipe of claws, each bite, was meant to wound, to cripple. As much as I hated to admit it, Ryan had the upper hand for most of the fight because of my injuries from the crash, although they had healed somewhat.

He landed a brutal bite on my hind leg, and the pain was immediate and blinding. I howled, but not in defeat.

Using his momentary smugness to my advantage, I lunged with all the force I could muster, sinking my teeth deep into his shoulder.

The taste of his blood filled my mouth as he let out a blood-curdling yowl.

Ryan staggered back, eyes blazing with fury and pain. But before he could recover, several of my men, sensing his weakness, lunged at him, forcing him to retreat further.

His remaining men, seeing their leader injured and outnumbered, began to falter. The tide was turning.

“You might’ve won today, Nathan,” Ryan hissed, limping and bloodied. “But this isn’t over. I’ll come back with more men, stronger allies. Your precious pack will crumble, and that child... Elliot... he’ll be mine.”

A low growl resonated deep within my chest, and I replied with a menace that seemed to come from the very core of my being. “Come back, and you’ll find us ready, Ryan. I’ve bested you once, and I’ll do it again. You can’t break the bonds of my pack.”

Ryan’s eyes flashed with hatred. “You’ll regret this,” he seethed. Then, with a flick of his tail, he signaled his men to retreat.

As they vanished into the thick woods, a tense silence settled upon the clearing. The aftermath of the battle was devastating. Injured wolves limped around, some shifted back to their human forms, clutching their wounds.

The sight of Ryan and his men retreating, tails tucked and limping in defeat, filled me with a fleeting sense of triumph. I shifted back, letting out a deep sigh of relief. I was mostly uninjured, and so were my men.

No one had died. Not yet, at least.

But that satisfaction was short-lived as I scanned the clearing and couldn’t spot Olivia anywhere.

My heart rate picked up, the anxiety clawing at my insides. “Olivia!” I called out, my voice echoing in the eerie silence following the battle. No response.

Panicking, I started to run wildly through the woods, my eyes darting in every direction. The world seemed to blur past me, the dense trees providing no hint of her presence. As I ran, the only thing I could hear was the pounding of my heart and the ominous whispers of the wind.

Suddenly, I caught a glimpse of a familiar form crouching up ahead, his back turned to me. “Levi!”

As I approached, the sight that greeted me was one I hadn’t been prepared for. Olivia lay against a tree, her once vibrant eyes now clouded with pain and fear, a stark contrast to her usual fierce determination.

“Nathan,” she murmured, reaching for me with both hands. “You’re okay.”

“I’m okay,” I replied. “But you’re not.”

My feet stumbled and I went down on my knees next to her, my fingers trembling as they traced the source of the blood staining her jeans. It was her leg. My mind raced with thoughts of one of Ryan’s men harming her, a vengeance that I swore to myself would be swift and final.

“Who did this to you?” I hissed, swiveling my head around in search of the attacker. “I’ll kill them.”

But Levi, sensing my rising panic, interjected. “Nathan, it’s not from the fight. The wound from the car crash reopened when she tried to run.”

I exhaled a breath I hadn’t realized I was holding, relief washing over me. Still, seeing her in pain was nearly unbearable. Gently cradling her head, I whispered, “I’m so sorry, Olivia. I should never have let you out of my sight.”

Tears welled up in her eyes, spilling over as she reached up, her fists connecting with my chest in quick succession.

“You idiot,” she sobbed, her voice breaking. “You think you can just push me away, leave me behind while you fight your battles? I wanted to be there, with you. I could have helped.”

Her anger was palpable, but I knew deep down it stemmed more from fear and worry than true resentment. Olivia, with her fiery spirit, had always been one to charge headfirst into situations. But the physical limitations of her recent injuries made that impossible, and I knew it tore her apart.

“You’re strong, Olivia. Stronger than many I know. But this wasn’t your fight,” I murmured, trying to find words that would ease her pain.

She sniffled, her gaze never leaving mine. “Promise me,” she whispered, her voice raw, “promise me that you'll never push me away like that again.”

Cupping her face, I leaned in, pressing a gentle kiss on her forehead.

“I promise,” I murmured against her skin. Then, capturing her lips with mine, I poured every ounce of my love and regret into a tender kiss.