Chapter 290

The full moon shone brilliantly, its light spilling through the window and painting the twins’ nursery in ethereal shades. All around the room, the little animals that Nathan had so carefully painted seemed to be watching me, mocking me for what I had done and for what I was hiding.

Meanwhile, the twins slept peacefully, their gentle breaths rhythmic and soothing. And yet, despite the tranquility, a storm of emotions raged within me. Nathan’s unwavering gaze, those piercing blue-green eyes, the color of the ocean right before a summer storm, filled with a combination of concern and suspicion, bore into me.

It was becoming impossible to hold onto my secret. But if I could just hold on for a little longer, if I could just handle this on my own, maybe it would be better than admitting to Nathan what I had agreed upon with the witch.

“Nothing happened in the mines,” I said, my voice shaking despite my attempt to keep it steady. “I just found the diamond and got out. It was frightening, and I saw things. But that was it.”

“Olivia.” Nathan’s voice, although soft, held a hint of desperation in it. “We’re fated mates. There’s a bond between the two of us that goes beyond words. You can’t hide anything from me, you know that, right?”

His words struck a chord deep within me. My heart raced, guilt and fear coursing through my veins. I looked away, trying to avoid his probing gaze, and looked down instead at Aurora. She was sleeping so peacefully, her tiny nose scrunched up in a dream. So oblivious to our torment.

“He’ll have to find out eventually,” Jade, my wolf said, her voice low and soft. “Maybe it’s better now than later.”

“But I could fix this before he finds out,” I replied. “He would never even have to know.”

Jade almost scoffed. “And how do you plan to fix it on your own? You’ll need allies against the witch. It’s not easy to kill a witch, especially not one of her caliber.”

Suddenly, Nathan’s voice broke through my reverie. “Why do you keep looking at Aurora that way?” he asked softly, his voice betraying a hint of anguish. “Like you think she’ll disappear if you look away.”

I shook my head, swallowing. “No reason in particular. Just scared after what happened with Ryan.”

Nathan was silent for a moment. When I glanced up at him, I could see disbelief written plainly across his face. “Olivia,” he said softly, taking a step forward, “tell me. Were you really alone in the mines?”

My throat tightened, and I struggled to find words. The weight of my secret threatened to pull me under. The truth was becoming harder to contain, each moment stretching painfully long. Taking a deep breath, I finally broke.

“I... I wasn’t alone,” I admitted, tears welling in my eyes. “So much happened. I… I can’t even begin to explain.”

“Tell me,” Nathan said softly. He closed the distance between us and pulled me close, enveloping me in a hug.

Slowly, I recounted my story to him. Several minutes later, as we spoke, we found ourselves seated on the couch in the living room, allowing the twins to sleep in peace.

“...And then there was my father,” I finished, my voice barely above a whisper as sobs threatened to break through the quiet atmosphere of the room. “But it wasn’t really my father. It was the witch, and she got to the last artifact before me. But she made me a proposal.”

Nathan’s face paled, his eyes widening in realization. “What did you do, Olivia?”

“I… I made the deal,” I whispered, tears rolling down my cheeks. “I agreed to hand Aurora over when she turns three... in exchange for the diamond.”

Aghast, Nathan leapt up from the couch and took a step back. “You’re joking,” he murmured.

I shook my head, my vision clouded so heavily with tears that Nathan looked like a shapeless blob in front of me. “I’m not,” I choked out through my sobs. “I… I had no choice.”

“Olivia… How could you?” His voice was filled with raw emotion and pain, searing through my heart like a hot iron. I had never heard him this disappointed in me before, this… angry. “How could you make a deal involving our daughter?”

“I had no other choice,” I cried, feeling the weight of my actions crushing me. “The rocks were crumbling, trapping me with no way out. I had to find the last artifact. For the pack, for our family.”

Nathan’s eyes flashed with anger. “You think I wouldn’t have come for you? You believe I’d just let you die in there?”

“We couldn’t risk losing the Ancient Wolf’s power, Nathan!” I pleaded. “Ryan and the Elders were too strong.”

“You’re so naive,” Nathan spat, his tone icy. “And selfish. You should have trusted in us, in our bond, in our family.”

His words hit me like a ton of bricks. Was I wrong? Did I act impulsively? The weight of doubt and regret consumed me.

“I did it for us,” I whispered. “For our pack, for our children.”

Nathan’s expression was a mix of anger and heartbreak. “You went behind my back, kept it from me for days now. I practically had to beg you to tell me. How can I trust you now? How can we move forward knowing our daughter’s fate is hanging by a thread because of your decision?”

The intensity of his words, the raw emotion behind them, made my heart clench. I reached out, trying to bridge the gap between us, but he recoiled.

“I’m sorry,” I sobbed, feeling my legs weaken beneath me. “But I can fix it. My wolf… She said that we can kill the witch.”

“This isn’t just about the deal or how you can fix it,” Nathan hissed. “It’s about you not trusting me, not telling me. That’s what hurts the most.”

“I’m so sorry,” I choked out, desperate to find a way to fix the rift growing between us. “Please, you have to understand that it was my only option.”

Nathan took a deep breath, his shoulders tensing. “I can’t be here right now.” He turned away, pausing momentarily at the base of the stairs. “I’m going to stay at the cabin tonight.”

Nathan’s declaration sent a fresh pang of pain through my chest. Panic welled up, gripping my heart as he began ascending the stairs. The thought of being apart, even for a night, was unbearable.

I quickly followed him, my voice lowered to a desperate whisper. “Nathan, why? Why are you doing this?”

He didn't reply, focusing intently on packing his belongings into a bag. The familiar surroundings of our shared bedroom, a place that held so many memories, now felt cold and detached. The scent of his cologne, mingled with the faint smell of pine from the open window, filled the air.

“Please, talk to me,” I urged, each word dripping with emotion. The rhythmic zipping and unzipping of compartments felt deafening in the tense silence. The last thing we needed was to wake the twins and amplify this nightmare.

As he continued packing, I grabbed his arm, my fingers pressing into his skin. “Nathan, stop! We can figure this out. Together.”

He whipped around, his eyes ablaze. “Figure this out? Olivia, you made a deal to hand our daughter over to a witch! How can I forgive that? It doesn’t matter if it’s tomorrow or three years away. I can’t believe you’d even consider it.”

The anguish in his voice was palpable. My knees felt weak, but I pushed through the pain, my desperation to bridge the widening gap between us growing. “Nathan, I did it to save us. Please understand.”

He snorted, his eyes darkening. “It’s just another mess to clean up now, another threat looming over our family.”

I felt a lump forming in my throat. “Do you... do you still love me?”

For a moment, he stopped, bag in one hand, the other resting on the doorknob. Our eyes locked, and I could see the storm of emotions raging within him. Finally, he spoke, his voice laced with pain. “Of course I still love you. But right now, Liv, I’m so angry, so disappointed in you that I can’t even bear to be in the same room.”

I was on the brink of tears, struggling to keep my emotions in check. “Nathan, please. Don’t leave like this. You can stay in the guest room tonight, but please don’t leave.”

He glanced at me one last time, his eyes a deep ocean of sorrow and frustration. “Goodbye, Olivia.” And with that, he walked out, leaving me shattered in our room.

As his footsteps faded, I collapsed to the ground, the weight of my choices and the consequences they brought pressing down on me. My heart shattered, tears flowing freely as the room was bathed in the cold, silvery light of the moon.