Chapter 331

Olivia

I still couldn't believe it. Four positive pregnancy tests were lined up on the bathroom counter, contradicting everything I had said to Angela.

Nathan was staring at the tests, his eyes as wide as saucers. “Another baby?” he finally repeated, his voice a mixture of disbelief and something else I couldn’t quite place.

“I guess so,” I said, trying to keep my voice steady. My heart was pounding so loudly I could hear it echoing in my ears.

Nathan’s gaze moved from the pregnancy tests to me, his expression softening. “Wow. Just wow. Liv, this is—this is amazing.”

“Amazing?” I echoed, surprised at his enthusiasm.

He nodded vigorously, his hands reaching for my shoulders. “Yes, amazing! We’re going to have another baby, Liv. A baby that’s biologically both of us. Don’t you see how incredible that is?”

I smiled, touched by his excitement but also a little overwhelmed. “I do see it, Nathan. It’s just all so sudden. I mean, we’ve got the twins, you’re busy as the Alpha, and let’s forget the witch and the black vomit episode. This is a lot.”

Nathan’s face clouded at the mention of the witch. “Right. That’s a concern, especially after whatever that substance was you threw up. We need to make sure you’re okay.”

“Yeah,” I said, my fingers instinctively touching my flat belly. “For all we know, this could be related to her ‘gift.’ I need to see a doctor.”

Nathan’s eyes met mine, a shade more serious than before. “Agreed. We can’t take any risks, Liv. We’ll go to the hospital tomorrow. Run every test they’ve got. Make sure both you and the baby are healthy.”

I nodded. “Sounds like a plan.”

There was a brief pause, the room suddenly feeling heavier, as if we were both absorbing the weight of this new reality.

The idea of bringing another life into this complex world was daunting, but also strangely comforting. Our family was growing, and despite the trials and tribulations we'd faced, that was a beautiful thing.

Nathan broke the silence, his voice tinged with a hopeful note. “A baby, Liv. We’re going to have a baby.”

My heart swelled at his words, and I felt my worries lessen, if only a little. “We are. And it’s crazy and beautiful and terrifying all at once.”

Nathan chuckled. “That’s life with you in a nutshell.”

I playfully slapped his arm. “Oh, so now it’s my fault that life is a roller coaster?”

He grinned, pulling me close. “No. It’s our roller coaster. And I wouldn’t want to ride it with anyone else.”

I nestled into his embrace, feeling a sense of peace envelop me.

Tomorrow would bring what it would—a doctor’s visit, more tests, maybe even more questions than answers. But for this moment, in the small sanctuary of our bathroom with proof of a new life laid out on the counter, the world felt simpler.

Like it was just Nathan, me, and the promise of a new beginning.

“So, you’re really happy about this?” I asked, seeking reassurance in his eyes. “You’d want to keep it?”

His gaze met mine, steady and warm. “Over the moon, Liv. Of course I’d want to keep it. Do you?”

I thought for a moment, considering. It was a daunting idea, but I couldn’t deny the excitement burgeoning inside of me. “I think so,” I murmured, burying my head in his chest.

Nathan leaned down, his lips meeting mine in a sweet, lingering kiss, as if sealing our newfound pact. When he pulled away, he rested his forehead against mine, his eyes searching my face.

“We’re going to be okay, Liv. All of us. You, me, the twins, and this new little one. We’ll face whatever comes our way, just like we always do. Together.”

The sincerity in his voice moved me, filling my eyes with tears—happy tears this time. “I know, Nathan. And that’s the most comforting thing of all.”

…

I sat in the sterile doctor’s office, my fingers nervously picking at the paper sheet beneath me. Nathan was by my side, his hand holding mine in a comforting squeeze. We had run every test, answered every question, and now we were waiting for the doctor to reappear with the results.

The door creaked open, and the doctor walked in, a stack of papers in her hands. “Well, I’ve got some news,” she began, smiling warmly as she sat down.

“And?” Nathan and I both leaned forward, hanging on her every word.

“Everything looks perfectly normal. Blood tests, ultrasounds, all good. You and the baby appear to be in excellent health, Olivia.”

I exhaled, not even realizing I had been holding my breath. “Really? Are you sure?”

The doctor nodded. “I’m sure. I don’t see any reason for you to be concerned.”

“But what about the substance I threw up? The black goo?” I pressed. My wolf stirred inside of me, equally skeptical.

The doctor paused, shuffling the papers on her clipboard. “We ran tests on that as well, and while it’s certainly unusual, it doesn’t appear to be harmful. Honestly, we’re not entirely sure what could have caused it.”

My eyes met Nathan’s. His face mirrored my own confusion and cautious relief.

“Well… thank you, Doctor,” Nathan said, nodding at her. “We appreciate your thoroughness.”

The doctor stood, extending her hand to both of us. “It’s my job. Take care, and don’t hesitate to come back if you experience any other issues.”

Once we were back in the car, Nathan finally broke the silence. “So, what do you think?”

I sighed, resting my hand on my still-flat stomach. “I think I’m relieved but also perplexed. If everything is fine, what was that substance?”

Nathan started the car, his brows furrowing. “I don’t know, Liv. But it’s clear that we can’t let our guard down. Not with the witch still out there.”

“I agree,” I said. My wolf was restless, pacing back and forth inside of me. She couldn’t shake the feeling that the substance was a hex from the witch, even though she also couldn’t feel anything wrong.

“Your wolf’s uneasy,” Nathan observed, glancing at me as he maneuvered through the traffic.

“Yeah,” I admitted. “She thinks it might be a hex, but she also can’t feel anything wrong. It’s like whatever that was the other day was… a warning of some sort.”

Nathan nodded, his grip tightening on the steering wheel. “That’s what I was thinking, too.”

I looked at him, his profile outlined by the passing streetlights. “You know what this means, right? We have to stop her, Nathan. For the sake of our family, especially this new life, we have to put an end to this witch’s schemes.”

His eyes met mine, resolute and unwavering. “I know, Liv. And we will. We’ll do whatever it takes.”

We drove home in a weighted silence, each lost in our thoughts, wrestling with the uncertainties of everything. As we pulled into the driveway, Nathan turned off the car and looked at me.

“Don’t forget: we’re in this together, Olivia. I promise. I’m sorry that I ever—”

I felt my eyes fill with tears, overwhelmed. “You don’t have to say it,” I murmured, not wanting to think about the time we had spent apart, when Nathan was too mad at me to even share a bed. “Let’s just focus on the future, okay?”

He leaned over, kissing me softly. “Okay. I think that’s a good plan.”