Chapter 283

Olivia

The tension in the air was palpable as Nathan and I stood, facing each other in the silver moonlight, the echoes of our recent confrontation still ringing in our ears. All around us, small flames were beginning to engulf the forest—a consequence of Alvin’s sudden proclivity for fire magic.

“Why did you stop me?” Nathan growled, his eyes blazing with a mixture of anger and frustration. “He deserves to pay for everything he’s done. I was so close to taking him down!”

I took a deep breath, feeling the weight of the decision I had just made. My heart was pounding, and I felt my wolf stirring restlessly within me. But looking into Nathan’s fierce eyes, I knew I couldn’t back down.

“Nathan,” I began, my voice firm but gentle, “you and I both know it’s not in your heart to kill Alvin. He was our childhood friend. Our bond runs deeper than the recent rifts.”

“That doesn’t change the fact that he’s a traitor now, and likely has been for a long time,” Nathan snapped.

“He wasn't himself,” I whispered, finding strength from somewhere deep within. “I sensed it, Nathan. Ryan’s influence had seeped deep into Alvin’s mind. It was as if… as if he was being controlled.”

Nathan’s face contorted in disbelief. “So what? You want me to just… forgive him? You want me to feel sorry for him? Is that it?”

I shook my head, my hair flowing around my face. “No. But understanding someone’s actions doesn’t mean condoning them. He needs to face the consequences, but not through death by our hands.”

Nathan’s gaze was intense, a storm of emotions swirling within. “You know, if I hadn’t just discovered that you’re my fated mate, I’m not sure whether I would even want to talk to you right now.”

His words stung. My heart clenched, and for a moment, it felt like the world had crumbled around me.

But before despair could drown me, he continued, “But more than anything, Olivia, I’m relieved you’re okay. I can see you’ve got the third artifact.” His voice cracked as he spoke, revealing a vulnerability I hadn’t seen in him before.

I nodded, my fingers instinctively wrapping around the cool diamond I had tucked in my pocket. Its cold touch was a stark reminder of the deal I had made to obtain it.

Aurora.

The thought of handing over my daughter to the witch in exchange for completing the ritual gnawed at me, leaving a sour taste in my mouth.

The internal turmoil must have shown on my face because Nathan frowned, concern evident in his eyes. “Olivia? Is there something else?”

For a moment, the temptation to pour out my heart was overwhelming. But something held me back, a nagging fear that telling him now, with tensions already high, might not be the best decision.

“No,” I whispered, lowering my gaze. “Let’s just get back to town. We need to check on the twins.”

Nathan didn’t look entirely convinced, but he didn’t push further. We were at least on the same page about one thing: that our children were the most important matter right now. In one swift movement, he stepped closer, his warm hands cupping my face, forcing me to look up into his eyes.

“I just need you to know,” he murmured, his voice laced with an intensity that took my breath away, “that above all else, I’m just grateful you’re here, safe and sound, with me.”

The raw sincerity in his words warmed my heart. My earlier reservations melted away as I leaned into him, letting his strength envelop me. He wrapped his arms around me, pulling me into a tight, momentary embrace.

My wolf purred in contentment, feeling the comfort and security that Nathan’s presence provided. Despite the turmoil of the night, this felt like home. Nathan was my fated mate after all, just as I had thought. I just wished that we could have had this moment under much different circumstances.

“Now let’s hurry!” Nathan said, looking up at the fiery trees above us. “We have to get back to town!”

I nodded. Glancing up, I could just make out the distant green cupolas of the villa at the edge of town.

It looked untouched by the fires that raged in the center of town, but that didn’t mean that my babies and Clint were safe. I had trust in Clint that he would have acted quickly to protect himself and the twins, but there was no way of knowing for certain. We had to act quickly.

The inferno raged around us, casting an eerie orange glow on everything. Levi and Angela scrambled to their feet, and we all sprinted towards where we had parked Nathan’s car.

But my heart sank as we reached it. The front hood was wide open, gas lines visibly cut and the dark liquid pooling ominously beneath.

“That bastard sabotaged it!” Levi growled, his gruff voice holding an edge of fury.

“We’ll need to go on foot!” Angela’s voice was thick with worry, her thoughts probably mirroring mine—the town, our people, and the twins and Clint. “We don’t have time to try to fix it!”

As the weight of the situation pressed down on us, a thought flashed through my mind. “We can all shift now,” I said, remembering the power I had just discovered within me. I was no longer stuck in my human form, forced to be stunted by the spell that my father had put on me. I was faster, stronger. “It’ll be faster,” I said.

Levi and Angela looked at me, realization dawning on their faces. Nathan simply nodded. Taking some space from each other to shift, I felt the now familiar sensation of my bones shifting and fur sprouting. My senses sharpened, and in an instant, the world looked different through the eyes of a wolf.

Together, we sped through the woods, the fire a mere blur as our paws pounded the ground. The scent of smoke grew stronger as the town’s silhouette appeared.

When the trees began to thin, Levi and Angela veered off towards the blazing structures, no doubt trying to help however they could.

Nathan and I instinctively moved towards the villa, still standing proudly at the edge of all this chaos.

But our path wasn’t easy. Dark shapes—Ryan’s men—seemed to be everywhere, clashing with our townsfolk. Trying to stay discreet, we ducked into alleys and back paths. But they soon spotted us.

Before we knew it, we were cornered.

I saw Nathan lunge at one of them, but more kept coming. Panic surged through me as I realized we were outnumbered. But then, I remembered the power of my voice. The strength I had found earlier.

Without thinking, I shifted back, my human form standing tall amidst the chaos.

“Stand down!” I commanded, the authority in my voice echoing around us.

Time seemed to slow. Ryan’s men hesitated, looking at each other in confusion. The commanding power of my voice had a profound effect.

Weapons fell from hands, people shifted back into their human forms, and what was once aggression turned into retreat.

Beside me, Nathan shifted back, his expression a mix of relief and pride. “That was incredible,” he whispered, clearly impressed.

I nodded, taking in a deep breath, the reality of the situation pressing in.

“We still have more to do,” I replied, steeling myself for the battles that lay ahead.

Together, we moved forward, ready to protect our home.