Chapter 263

Olivia

Soft, muted light streamed through the sheer curtains, casting elongated patterns across the floor of the cozy living space.

The room’s warm, neutral colors, reminiscent of the beach that lay not far from our villa, usually soothed my restless soul. But today was different. Today, each step I took resonated with guilt, fear, and an encroaching sense of helplessness.

I paced back and forth, wrestling with the tumultuous emotions coursing through me.

Elliot, my heart, the center of my universe, had been the target of Ryan’s demands. How could I ever hand over my son? Yet, the destruction outside, the chaos that was beginning to unfurl – could I truly say it wasn’t my fault? Was this only the start of Ryan’s reign of terror?

With every footstep, I felt the echoes of doubt reverberating through my soul.

Ryan was merely testing the waters, gauging my reactions. I knew him well enough to recognize the predatory glint in his eyes.

He was playing with us, and the terrifying realization was that this was just the prologue to the nightmare.

Suddenly, the air was pierced with the unmistakable cry of Aurora, quickly followed by the deeper, more urgent wail of Elliot. I halted, my heartstrings tugged by the raw need in their voices.

“I’m coming, my loves,” I whispered, rushing into the nursery.

The room was a gentle blend of creams and soft blues, like a calm day at the shore. The little animals that Nathan had so painstakingly painted on the walls still made me smile every time I entered the room. Now that Elliot and Aurora were beyond the newborn phase and could see a little further, I often caught them eyeing the colorful shapes curiously, their tiny lips turning up into smiles.

The twin’s cribs, adorned with delicate linens in pink, blue, and white, stood side by side. The tiny figures of Aurora and Elliot squirmed restlessly, their faces scrunched in distress.

I lifted Aurora first, cradling her petite form against my chest, her tiny fingers instinctively clutching at my shirt. Picking up Elliot with my free arm, I settled into the plush rocking chair that Nathan had practically bled out from putting together.

Their cries subsided as I began to feed them, their eyes locking onto mine with unwavering trust.

Lost in the rhythmic motions and soft coos of contentment, my thoughts drifted back to the artifacts. The missing pieces of this jigsaw that was so important to complete for the sake of not only my family, but my pack. I felt as though I was in a race against not only the clock, but also Ryan.

I still didn’t understand fully why he wanted the artifacts, or how he even knew of their existence and my bloodline; but whatever his reasons were, they were sinister. And if the legends about the Ancient Wolf’s power were true, then I needed to fulfill my destiny to stop Ryan before an all-out war began.

The peridot, a stone from the sea, was one such piece. That was assuming that this peridot was even the second artifact that I needed and that I wasn’t sending myself on a wild goose chase; but I couldn’t know until I tried.

Clint’s casual mention of it had lodged itself in my brain, refusing to be forgotten. He had said that my aunt adored it, and that it had to be around here somewhere.

But where could it be? I had never seen it before, nor had I heard mention of it, which meant that she must have really loved it and kept it hidden in a secret place.

Either way, I had to find it. If it was the second artifact, that already gave me an edge over Ryan, who was supposedly trying to find them before I could for reasons unbeknownst to me. And then, if it was the second artifact, that only left the final one. The diamond. And that was the most treacherous one to find.

Just then, Elliot and Aurora’s soft coos drew my attention back to the present.

“I promise you both,” I murmured, brushing a soft kiss on each of the twin’s foreheads, “I’ll keep you safe. No matter what Ryan throws our way.”

From the corner of the nursery, the soft chime of the mobile played a familiar lullaby. It was a tune my mother used to hum to me, one that I now shared with my children. It was a song of hope, of promises, and of protection.

Feeling a sudden need to share my thoughts, I dialed Angela, my closest confidante, and waited for her to pick up.

“Hey, it’s me,” I began, my voice trembling slightly. “I'm feeling so overwhelmed, Angela. I never imagined that our family would become the epicenter of such a storm.”

“Oh, Liv…” Angela’s voice was a balm, laced with warmth and understanding. “This isn’t your fault. Ryan’s twisted games were never within your control.”

“But I can’t help but feel responsible. If I’d just been more cautious, more observant...”

“You can’t think that way. He came out of nowhere with these demands. And besides, what’s done is done. Right now, you need to focus on protecting your family and uncovering the truth about these artifacts.”

I sighed deeply, “There’s one that keeps coming back to me. There was a peridot that Clint mentioned. The ‘special stone from the sea.’ But I don’t know where it could be, or if it’s even the second artifact at all.”

There was a pause. “Peridot? Like the green gem?”

“Yes,” I replied, gently bouncing the twins in my arms. “He said he found one a long time ago and gave it to my aunt. If it’s even the second artifact, I wouldn’t even know where to find it. She might be buried with it for all I know.”

“Hmm,” Angela pondered. “You need to find it, Liv. Any idea where it might be?”

“No,” I admitted, frustration evident in my voice. “It’s like looking for a needle in a haystack. My aunt kept everything. The basement is full of junk that she never threw away.”

As I spoke, an idea popped into my mind. The basement… Surely it was down there somewhere. It had to be.

Angela’s voice softened. “Start with what you know, with what’s close to you. Maybe try the basement first, like you said. You might be surprised where clues can pop up.”

As the conversation dwindled, I felt a seed of determination plant itself within me. I looked around the nursery, taking in the familiar surroundings. My gaze settled on Aurora and Elliot, now deep in slumber, their chests rising and falling rhythmically.

And then, my eyes drifted to the slightly ajar door leading out of the nursery.

Beyond it, I caught a glimpse of the door that led to the basement.

A space filled with memories, trinkets, and heirlooms from generations past. A space that, time and time again, had proven to be full of surprises. If the peridot was anywhere, then it was bound to be down there, right? And if Nathan was going to leave me at home while he tended to issues involving the Council, then it was my duty at the very least to focus on finding that second artifact.

I gently placed the twins back into their cribs and rose from the chair, my steps now filled with purpose. As I approached the door, a rush of possibilities flooded my mind.

Maybe, just maybe, the second artifact really did lay behind that door. And maybe, just maybe, this would all be over with soon.