Chapter 296

“Oh, really?” I asked, my mouth spitting fire at Nathan. “But you’re ready to invite your ex back to town?”

There were several long moments of silence that hung heavily between us. The air was so thick and palpable you could cut it with a knife, and for a moment, I half expected Nathan to turn on his heel and storm off.

“Olivia…” he began, his voice low. I could tell he was trying to keep the edge out of it.

I tilted my chin up, tossing a lock of blonde hair over my shoulder in defiance. “Go on. Tell me it isn’t true. Enlighten me.”

His jaw was set, a sign that he was trying to keep his emotions in check. “You act like I invited Layla back to the pack just for the heck of it,” he said quietly. “And it’s not true. You should know my intentions.”

I raised an eyebrow, silently urging him to continue.

“Look, she’s helping with the rebuilding of the library,” he explained with a soft sigh. “Her pack has copies of some invaluable documents they’re willing to donate. And I need her expertise. Don’t you remember how she helped us figure out the mystery of your aunt?”

Of course I remembered. Layla’s help had been invaluable.

But right now, under the current circumstances—a rift growing between me and Nathan, rumors about a potential rift between Layla and her own partner, and even more suspicious rumors about a baby whose lineage was questionable—something just didn’t sit right with me. I didn’t like the implications.

I let out a slow breath, trying to digest the information. “And tell me… Is she coming alone or with her fiancé?”

Nathan shrugged, looking mildly irritated by my question. “I don’t know, Olivia,” he said, splaying his hands out at his sides. “Does it matter?”

“Yes.” I pursed my lips and folded my arms across my chest. “It does matter.”

He sighed and passed a hand over his face. He looked weary, like he had barely slept. Neither had I, but it didn’t change the fact that I was hurt by his actions.

“Alright,” he murmured. “If it bothers you so much, I’ll tell you this: I also invited a building master from another pack, and a commerce master from yet another. It’s not as if I invited Layla on a whim. I invited several experts so we could get some help rebuilding and fortifying our town.”

I felt a surge of irritation. “But it’s not about the number of people you invited, Nathan. It’s about transparency. And you could have talked to me first. You and Layla were set to be married, and I don’t know about you, but I’ve heard the rumors about her and her fiance.”

His gaze turned steely. “I don’t care about rumors. You should know that. And I’m sorry for not bringing it up with you earlier, but I’m being transparent now, aren’t I? Don’t you feel better at all?”

I sighed, frustrated. “No. Not really. But what would make me feel better is if you came home to me and the twins. We miss you.”

His expression softened, but only slightly. “I’ll… I’ll do what I can to help with the babies, Olivia. But I still need space.”

“Space?” My voice trembled with a mix of hurt and anger. “It’s been a week, Nathan. Isn’t that enough space away from your family?”

His nostrils flared, a surefire sign he was trying to control his temper. “You seem to forget that you essentially ‘sold’ our infant daughter to a witch.”

“It wasn’t like that!” I shot back, my voice rising despite my efforts to keep it down. “You know the circumstances. You know why I did what I did.”

Just then, a passerby glanced our way, and I felt the color rise to my cheeks. We were in the park, in broad daylight, and arguing was the last thing I wanted to do.

Nathan looked exasperated, running a hand through his hair. “We’ll talk later.”

I bit back a bitter response. “I won’t hold my breath,” I muttered, turning on my heel and storming away.

…

The sun hung high in the clear blue sky, casting an ambient warmth over the town. Birds chirped cheerfully, providing a harmonious backdrop to my stroll through the park.

I pushed the stroller carrying Aurora and Elliot, enjoying the gentle rustle of leaves beneath the wheels. Each giggle from the twins felt like a beautiful song, erasing the weariness of the past weeks.

“Olivia?”

I turned at the sound of the voice, and there she stood.

Layla, with her long blonde hair cascading in loose waves down her back. She looked a little tired, perhaps from the stress of recent events, but her bright eyes sparkled with an internal light.

She was also pushing a stroller, a tiny little face peeking out, eyes wide and curious.

“Layla.” The name escaped my lips with a mix of surprise and apprehension. “I heard you were back in town.”

She smiled, albeit a bit weakly. “I am. Just for a little while. You know, to help with the library and…” She glanced down at her own baby, her voice trailing off.

We stood there for a few moments, the weight of unspoken words and unsaid feelings creating an invisible barrier between us. I noticed her baby’s eyes—deep and piercingly blue-green. They reminded me of...

“Your twins are adorable,” Layla remarked, breaking the silence. “Aurora and Elliot, right?”

I nodded, grateful for the distraction. “Yes. They’re a handful, but I wouldn’t have it any other way.”

She chuckled. “I can imagine. Being a mother is… challenging, but also the most rewarding thing in the world.”

I glanced at her baby once more, my mind whirring with thoughts. Those eyes. That beautiful shade of bluish green, like the ocean right before a storm. They were so familiar, so much like…

Nathan’s.

“So,” I said, managing a stiff smile. “How is everything? How’s your husband-to-be? Making a good father?”

Layla looked taken aback for a moment before recovering with a smile. “He does his best. I’m glad to have him around.”

There was a hint of something in her gaze—a flicker of sadness, maybe, or regret. The suspicion niggled at the back of my mind.

Was she telling the truth? I quickly brushed the thought aside. It was none of my business. Every person had their own battles.

I was about to suggest we move on, perhaps to a nearby bench, when a familiar voice rang out.

“Layla! Olivia!”

I stiffened. Nathan walked briskly toward us, his usual Alpha aura replaced with a warmth I had not seen in a while. He paused briefly beside me, giving me a sideways glance that sent a shiver down my spine.

“Layla,” Nathan greeted, his tone amicable. “Your son looks well.”

“Thank you, Nathan,” she responded, a hint of softness in her voice. “He’s growing so fast.”

Nathan leaned over and cooed at her baby, his fingers gently stroking the little one's cheek.

I watched the interaction with a strange mixture of emotions—jealousy, uncertainty, and a touch of sadness. Nathan then turned to Aurora and Elliot, showering them with the same affectionate gestures.

But after the sideways glance he’d given me earlier, and especially after everything going on between us, I couldn’t help but be apprehensive.

Did he notice the resemblance in Layla’s baby’s eyes? Was there something that he wasn’t telling me?