Chapter 247

Olivia

The fire’s intensity was beginning to wane, but the damages it had left behind were staggering. Nathan was at the center of it all, commanding, directing, and making crucial decisions as people scrambled to save what was left.

His voice, deep and resonant, was a beacon amidst the chaos.

“Olivia,” he said gently, watching warily as the Elders stalked off into the night, satisfied with the scolding they had given me. He touched my arm. “Go on home. You must be exhausted.”

I stopped in my tracks, my heart skipping a beat. I understood his concern, but the weight of duty felt just as heavy on my shoulders. “You must be exhausted as well,” I said. “Come home with me. The EMTs are here.”

He sighed, his gaze heavy with a mixture of concern and responsibility. “You know I can’t. There are still injured, and the rest of the fire needs to be managed. As the Alpha, it’s my duty. Even if the Elders don’t seem to see me as an Alpha.”

I took a deep breath, willing the tears of pain and exhaustion away. “Then I’ll stay too. I can help.”

His brows furrowed with concern. ‘Olivia, you’re injured.”

I glanced down at the bruises and cuts that marred my skin from the car crash. But what were physical wounds compared to the burden of responsibility?

“Nathan, if I’m to be not just your Luna but also the Ancient Wolf, then isn’t it my duty too? To stay and help?”

A hint of a smile tugged at the corner of his lips, and he approached, placing a gentle hand on my shoulder.

“What’s that smile about?” I inquired, trying to lighten the mood.

“Nothing,” he chuckled softly, “I just... I like thinking of you as my Luna. And, well, the thought of your wolf emerging, of us finally becoming mates… It’s a comforting one.”

I raised an eyebrow, a teasing smile on my lips. “Do you still think we might be fated mates?”

He looked deep into my eyes, his own filled with warmth. “I don’t know. But it doesn’t matter. Whether it’s fate or not, I’ll make sure you’re mine. I’ll make you my mate as soon as I can.”

…

The air was thick with acrid smoke, the aftertaste of the devastating fire. The town square, which had once been the heart of the community, filled with the laughter of children and the voices of merchants, was now a makeshift medical camp. Burns, lacerations, and the trauma from the fire turned the place into a grim triage.

I wove my way through the injured, the soot-covered faces turned towards me as I passed. I could feel their gaze, a mixture of desperation for medical attention and suspicion, especially when they recognized who I was.

Each step felt heavier than the last, and each whisper sent shards of ice into my heart.

“Olivia!” Nathan’s voice pierced the ambient noise. He was tending to an elderly man with a nasty gash on his leg. “Get me the antiseptic and some gauze, quickly!”

Following his instructions, I reached into our shared medical kit, retrieving what he needed. As I handed them over, our fingers brushed briefly, sending a wave of comfort amidst the chaos.

Angela, the head EMT, moved toward us, her usually neat uniform smudged and grimy. She wore a look of sheer exhaustion. “Nathan, I need you over by the fountain. A woman just collapsed from smoke inhalation.”

He nodded, glancing at me with those concerned eyes. “Olivia, stay here. Help with the bandaging.”

But even as I nodded in agreement, a voice from the surrounding crowd disrupted our exchange.

“Why is she here? After what she did? The witch!”

The murmurs grew louder, a chorus of disdain and fear. My hands, which were steady just moments ago, began to tremble. I tried to concentrate on the wounded in front of me, but the surrounding noise made it almost impossible.

Angela, with a firm stance and an even firmer voice, tried to regain order.

“Enough of this! We need help, and she’s helping. This is neither the time nor the place for accusations.”

“Angela,” I whispered, gratitude evident in my voice, “thank you. But you don’t need to stand up for me like that.”

She offered a quick, comforting smile before her professional demeanor returned. “Just focus on the task at hand. We’ve got this.”

But as the minutes ticked by, it became increasingly clear that the situation was deteriorating. The crowds, their pain and fear escalating, seemed to be turning their anger towards a common enemy: me.

The breaking point came when a young mother, cradling her injured child, refused my assistance. Her eyes, clouded with tears and mistrust, bore into mine.

“Stay away from my child, witch!”

Tears formed, stinging my eyes. I took a deep breath, trying to steady myself. Angela, noticing my distress, approached. “Olivia, maybe it’s best if you head home.”

“But the injured—”

“There are too many emotions flying high right now,” she said softly. “Go, before things get out of hand. You’ve been a huge help already, and you need to rest.”

I glanced at Nathan, seeking guidance. But he was deeply engrossed, tending to the injured with a fervor and dedication that blocked out everything else. With a heavy heart, I turned away, my footsteps echoing the weight of the decision as I made my way back home.

The house felt cold, devoid of warmth as I entered. Clint, ever the dedicated guardian, had finally succumbed to sleep on the couch. I tiptoed past him, taking care not to wake him.

The dimly lit nursery beckoned, and I found solace in holding Elliot and Aurora, their gentle breathing serving as a balm to my frayed nerves.

Hours seemed to meld into one another, until finally, the door creaked open, revealing a tired, soot-covered Nathan.

“Olivia,” he began, approaching the rocking chair where I sat with Elliot and Aurora.

“The whole town, Nathan. They blame me for all of this.” My voice was a whisper, filled with pain.

He sighed deeply, running a hand through his ash-specked hair. “Don’t pay them any mind, Liv. Once all of this is over, they’ll have completely forgotten about their apprehensions. They’re just scared and tired.

I frowned, thinking back on the support we had received when Nathan held his sunrise rally. Now, I supposed that things had changed once they realized that actual war was at stake.

Nathan let out a soft breath, sitting beside me. “We need to focus on the bigger task at hand right now: getting those artifacts. Once you become the Ancient Wolf, Ryan won’t stand a chance.”

My eyes felt heavy from a full day without sleep. I shook my head, recalling the harsh words and distrustful glances. “Even if I could... Nathan, how can I help those who hate me?”

He reached out, taking my hand. “We have to try. We need to find the artifacts. They’re the key.”

The weight of his revelation, combined with the town's distrust, felt suffocating. And yet, amidst the despair, Nathan's unwavering belief in me shone through, offering a glimmer of hope.

But doubt gnawed at the edges of my mind. The tales, the legends, the town’s animosity – it all felt overwhelming.

With a breaking voice, filled with vulnerability, I confessed, “I can never be the Ancient Wolf, because everyone hates me.”