Chapter 259

Nathan

The forest, usually a place of serenity for me, was unusually heavy with the weight of unspoken suspicions that evening. The shadows seemed darker, each rustle a whisper of secrets and deceit. Olivia’s revelation had shaken me deeply, and I had struggled to maintain my composure.

“Let's just go home,” I told her, my voice firmer than I felt. “We’ll discuss everything there. If there is a spy lurking around… We should be careful.”

Olivia nodded, her eyes distant and worried. “All right, Nathan. Lead the way.”

We trudged back to the villa, the moonlight guiding our path. It was a long and silent walk, the both of us lost in our thoughts. The chilling possibility that we might have a traitor amidst us was daunting. Betrayals were, unfortunately, not a foreign concept to our pack, but they always cut deep.

The soft glow of the house lights greeted us as Olivia and I trudged towards our home, the weight of our evening’s discovery still heavy on our minds. The scent of burning wood and faint notes of lavender wafted towards us, hinting that Clint had stoked the fireplace in our absence.

As we reached the entrance, the low, rumbling snores emanating from the guest bedroom caught our attention.

Curiosity piqued, we peeked inside. There, sprawled across the bed with an open book on his chest, was Clint. The sight was oddly heartwarming, a symbol of domestic normality amidst the storm of uncertainties surrounding us.

I chuckled softly, whispering to Olivia, “Guess we owe Clint big time. He’s been on babysitting duty way too much lately.”

Olivia smiled, her tired eyes softening as she gazed at Clint. “I’ll cook him his favorite meal tomorrow. We should let him have a break from all the babysitting. At least for a long while.”

Her voice was filled with gratitude and a hint of melancholy. Our lives had been a whirlwind lately, and the simple moments of peace and family had become fleeting.

“Hopefully,” she continued, her gaze meeting mine, “all this nonsense will end soon, and we can just focus on being a family again.”

I nodded, sharing her sentiment. Wrapping an arm around her waist, I gently guided her towards our bedroom. “We’ll get through this, Liv. Together.”

As we stepped into our room, the soft yellow glow from the nightstand lamp painted a serene picture. The slightly ruffled sheets beckoned us, promising comfort and warmth. My fingers brushed against Olivia’s hand, and she intertwined them with mine.

Before we could settle down, I pulled her close, the intensity of our day’s events culminating in a deep, lingering kiss. She responded eagerly, her fingers threading through my hair.

Pulling back slightly, a mischievous glint shone in my eyes. Drawing the sheets over our heads, I began planting soft kisses along her neck, eliciting soft giggles from her.

“You know,” I whispered huskily in her ear, “when I’m done with you tonight, you won’t be able to walk.”

She gave me a playful push, her eyes wide in mock horror. “Oh, is that so?”

Grinning, I continued, “That way, you can’t wander off and get us into more trouble. Got it?”

She rolled her eyes, a smile playing on her lips. “Promise?”

“Promise,” I confirmed, sealing the vow with another kiss.

…

The next morning, I found myself in the Council building for our weekly meeting.

The hall was an architectural marvel, with walls adorned by intricate murals depicting our pack’s history and achievements. Heavy wooden pillars held the high ceilings, each painstakingly carved with stories of our ancestors.

It was in this room that vital decisions were made, disputes settled, and the future of our pack decided.

The Council of Elders were already seated, with Mingan at the forefront. Her silver hair, contrasting with her dark skin, framed a face etched with wisdom and age. To her left sat Corbin, and on her right was Amara. Further down the table were Lysander and Freya.

Freya’s green eyes met mine as I took my seat at the head of the table. Whether Mingan and the other Elders liked it or not, I was still their Alpha. And I planned to keep it that way.

Taking a deep breath, I began. “Elders, I come to you with a matter of great concern. Yesterday, while on a walk, I overheard some of Ryan’s supporters in our vicinity.”

Amara’s eyebrows shot up in surprise. “Ryan’s men, here?”

Nodding, I continued, “They were talking about a signal, something I believe may be of importance.”

Corbin scoffed. “Nathan, are you sure you heard properly? Surely with all of the lies Olivia is feeding you—”

I gritted my teeth, forcing patience. “I’m sure I heard perfectly well, Elder Corbin,” I interrupted, shooting him a stern glare. “And I also heard them speaking about private matters. Matters of… our battle plans.”

“And so what are you implying?” Amara asked, throwing a strand of hair over her shoulder.

I sighed, licking my lips. I knew that I couldn’t tell them everything about the Ancient Wolf; not yet. Not until I was certain that they wouldn’t exploit Olivia’s newfound power for their own gain.

“I’m implying,” I said, addressing the entire table, “that there might be a spy in our midst. Someone who is feeding information to the Redclaws.”

There was a collective gasp in the hall. Mingan leaned forward, her intense gaze fixed on mine. “On what grounds do you base this suspicion, Nathan?”

“Someone has been feeding Ryan information about our movements and plans. It’s the only explanation.”

Lysander harrumphed. “Don’t be hasty with such accusations, boy. And if anyone here is suspect, it would be Olivia.”

I felt a jolt of anger at that. “It is Alpha Nathan, not ‘boy,’” I corrected him. “And Olivia has proven her loyalty countless times!”

Amara smirked. “Has she, now? The way I see it, she’s a magnet for trouble, using her father’s legacy to seek power.”

Corbin nodded in agreement. “She’s always been a wildcard. I wouldn’t put it past her to have returned to this pack solely to feed information to our enemies from the inside.”

My voice, calm and controlled, cut through the rising tension. “Remember, Elders, it was Olivia who unveiled Colin’s treachery and saved our pack. You should have more faith in her.”

The room fell silent. A stand-off of wills and beliefs. I could sense the skepticism in the air. All except for Freya, who, I noticed, was watching me with an inscrutable expression.

And then, in a voice only I could hear, Freya spoke to me. “Nathan, I believe you. And I will assist you in unearthing this traitor.”

The sense of relief was overwhelming. I had an ally, someone who knew the difference between logic and bias. With Freya on my side, we had a chance to unveil the true face of the enemy.

The meeting adjourned soon after, with a general consensus to increase patrols and be on guard. But I knew that it was not enough. We needed to act swiftly and discreetly. With Freya’s help, I hoped to protect our pack and rid it of the cancerous betrayal that threatened to tear us apart.

And for all I knew, that betrayal may have been stemming straight from one of the Elders.