Chapter 285

Olivia

The aftermath of the battle lingered heavily in the villa.

Scattered relics of our life lay in disarray, a stark contrast to the once orderly and warm environment.

A sense of vulnerability hung in the air, a feeling I had never associated with our home before. The walls that had once been a canvas of shared memories now bore the scars of a brutal invasion.

The sense of dread intensified as Nathan and I frantically tore through the villa.

Every room, every hidden corner, seemed emptier than the last. The delicate scent of baby powder mingled with the acrid stench of destruction, an agonizing juxtaposition. Crumpled blankets, tiny shoes, and the muted colors of baby toys lay strewn around, adding to the chaos of our shattered sanctuary.

“Nathan, what if…” My voice wavered, the weight of the reality of the situation beginning to bear down on me. “What if Ryan took them?”

Nathan shot me a look, both fierce and reassuring. “We’ll turn every stone until we find them, Liv. They’re here. They have to be. Clint wouldn’t have let anything happen to them.”

But as the minutes turned into what felt like an eternity, my hope began to wane. I could hear my own heartbeat pounding loudly in my ears, every tick a cruel reminder of the uncertainty of it all.

We had searched the bedrooms, the nursery, the kitchen—every conceivable place. But Aurora and Elliot were nowhere to be found.

Coming across their empty cribs was the breaking point.

My legs gave way beneath me, the weight of despair dragging me down. Tears welled in my eyes, each drop a manifestation of the searing pain in my heart.

“They’re gone,” I choked out, feeling a void in the pit of my stomach. “They’re really gone.”

Nathan was by my side in an instant, pulling me into his arms. His embrace, usually a comforting haven, was now charged with shared desperation.

“Listen to me,” he whispered, holding my face in his hands, forcing me to meet his gaze. His eyes, pools of intense emotion, held a fierce resolve. “If Ryan or any of his men laid a hand on our babies, I swear, Olivia, we will hunt him down, and he will pay for this. But first, we will find Aurora and Elliot. We have to believe they’re safe.”

I nodded, biting back the sob threatening to escape. The thought of our twins, so small and vulnerable, in the hands of Ryan was unbearable. The idea that they might be crying, looking for us, for their mother, tore at my very soul.

As if the universe had decided that we hadn’t been through enough, Angela’s frantic footsteps echoed through the corridors. She appeared, her attire stained and torn from the fighting. Levi wasn’t with her, and she looked as if she had just faced the worst horrors.

But what struck me most were her eyes, wide with shock, taking in the devastation around her.

Angela’s voice broke the silence.

“Clint!” she cried, her usually composed demeanor faltering as she rushed to his side. Every step she took towards him echoed my own dread. What if he was seriously injured? What if he couldn’t tell us where the twins were? Each thought was more agonizing than the last.

Nathan, my anchor amidst the storm, clasped my hand. His fingers, always so warm and comforting, were unusually cold.

“We need to find Aurora and Elliot,” his voice quivered, betraying his anxiety.

“I know,” I replied, my gaze darting around. Each empty crib, each overturned toy, only deepened my panic. “But where could they be? Clint wouldn’t... he wouldn’t let Ryan take them, would he?”

“If his state is anything to go off of, I don’t think he gave them the information they wanted,” Nathan speculated, though he sounded unsure.

Angela, her hands moving expertly over Clint;s unconscious form, looked up briefly. “We need to be optimistic. He must have taken them somewhere safe.”

It was then, amidst our frenzied exchange, that Clint stirred. His eyes, though glazed with pain, held a fierce determination.

“He… He didn’t get them,” he managed to croak, each word seeming to cause him great pain.

Angela hovered over him, trying to get him to lie still. “Clint, don’t strain yourself.”

But Clint brushed her off. “The archive,” he whispered, “I hid them there. In a cupboard. I knew Ryan wouldn’t know to look down there.”

Nathan’s eyes widened. “In the basement?

Clint nodded weakly. “Yes. I pushed a dresser and some boxes in front of the door. There’s no way they saw the door when they looked down there.”

I felt a wave of gratitude towards Clint. “Thank you,” my voice broke, the relief evident.

Nathan was already on the move. “Let’s go.”

The journey to the basement felt longer than I remembered. Each step echoed with my racing heartbeat. The walls of the villa, usually adorned with vibrant paintings and family portraits, now bore marks of the struggle. Scratches, scorch marks, and broken ornaments littered the path. My home had turned into a war zone, but all that mattered now was finding Aurora and Elliot.

As we descended the stairs, the familiar scent of old parchment filled the air. The archive was a sacred place, a treasure trove of our family's lineage and secrets. The air was cooler here, and the dim lighting added to the room's mysterious ambiance.

Nathan and I approached the dresser and the boxes, just as Clint had described. Pushing it aside, we found the wooden door to the archive untouched.

We slowly opened the door, and the sight inside took my breath away. The room was dark, but we could hear the sound of gentle cooing coming from a cupboard in the corner. Rushing over to it, we flung the cabinet door open, our souls leaping for joy as we saw the two little bundles hidden inside.

“They're safe,” Nathan whispered, tears glistening in his eyes. He carefully picked up Elliot, cradling him close.

I moved to Aurora, lifting her gently into my arms. Her little fingers curled around mine, and a sense of profound relief washed over me. “Oh, my sweet girl,” I murmured, pressing a soft kiss on her forehead.

The sound of footsteps drew our attention to the doorway. Clint, leaning heavily on Angela, looked in. His face was pale, but his eyes gleamed with triumph. “Told you they’d be safe,” he said, managing a weak smile.

“We owe you, Clint. More than we can ever repay,” Nathan said, gratitude evident in his tone.

Angela patted Clint’s arm gently, “He’ll be fine. Just needs some rest and healing. The wounds look worse than they are.”

Before we could respond, a rush of wind signaled another arrival. Freya, with her ethereal beauty, appeared, her green eyes filled with urgency. Her voice filled our minds, soft but also full of urgency.

“The town... it’s still under attack. Ryan’s pack hasn’t fully retreated, although many of them have been subdued. Word of your abilities have made them frightened, Olivia. But we need you there now to finish it.”

I looked down at Aurora, her peaceful face a stark contrast to the turmoil outside. Handing her to Nathan, I nodded at Freya. “Alright, but we need a plan.”

Freya looked grim. “We have little time. But with the Ancient Wolf’s power on our side once again, we can finally end all of this once and for all.”