Chapter 347

Nathan

The moment my eyes blinked open, I knew it was going to be one of those mornings—the type filled with meetings, paperwork, and pack responsibilities. The sunlight was already streaming through the bedroom window, painting a warm glow on the pale walls.

Olivia’s spot was empty beside me, indicating that she had already woken up—probably to take care of the twins. She was always so diligent, rarely waking me up to take over the responsibilities.

Sometimes I felt bad, but I think she just genuinely enjoyed waking up to see their smiling faces. I wouldn’t dare to take that away from her.

Picking up my phone from the bedside table, I sighed. As it turned out, my suspicions were correct; it was going to be one of those days. The import supplier was still complaining about the stipulations of the contracts, one of the businesses in town was begging for funding for a new storefront, and I had a long laundry list of other duties to attend to. It was going to be a long day.

I climbed out of bed and got dressed immediately, slipping into my usual work clothes: a neat button-down shirt, a blazer, and a tie. Once I looked presentable, I made my way toward the nursery, where I found Olivia as usual. After our brief conversation, I then made my way downstairs.

I was just about to head out when I found Edward sitting at the kitchen table, a somewhat forlorn look on his face.

“Morning,” I said as I walked past to pour myself a cup of coffee in my thermos. “You okay?”

He sighed. “I think I upset Olivia. I’m sorry.”

I frowned and met his gaze. “What happened?”

“I wanted to help with the twins earlier, and she came in while I was holding Aurora,” he said. “

She, uh, wasn’t too happy about it. I should have asked her first.”

My stomach churned a bit. This was exactly the kind of thing we didn’t need—extra tension in an already complicated living situation.

“Yeah,” I sighed, running my fingers through my hair. “You should’ve.”

He lowered his eyes, almost like a scolded pup. “I know, I messed up. I just wanted to help, to show my gratitude for letting me stay here.”

I sighed. The guy was trying, but he was missing the mark.

“Look, Edward, Olivia is a mom. Moms have these instincts to protect their kids, especially from someone they barely know. You may be my blood, but you’re a stranger to her and the twins.”

He looked forlorn, which made me regret my words a bit. “I get it, Nathan. I’m still the outsider here.”

“It’s not about that,” I said, choosing my words carefully. “It’s just about boundaries. Everyone has them, and Olivia’s got them in spades when it comes to our kids.”

Edward nodded, the corners of his mouth pulling downward. “I understand. It won’t happen again.”

I sighed again, this time out of relief. “Good, because I don’t want Olivia to feel uncomfortable in her own home. I’ll talk to her about it and try to smooth things over. Try not to worry too much, alright?”

“Alright. Tell her I’m sorry, will you?”

A momentary silence filled the room. Finally, an idea crossed my mind; a way to give Olivia the day to herself, a way to not just leave her here with Edward all day. “Listen, I have to head to the Council building for some pack business. Why don’t you come with me? It’ll give Olivia some time alone with the twins.”

Edward looked up, his eyes meeting mine. For a second, I saw a flicker of something—hope, maybe? “Sure,” he said, his voice a little stronger now. “I’d like that.”

As I walked out of the nursery and toward the front door, the weight of the morning’s revelations still hung in the air. Edward might be family, but the complexities of it all ran deep, and we were barely scratching the surface.

My mind raced through the potential conversations I would have with Olivia later. How could I make her understand Edward’s intentions without undermining her own feelings? It was a tightrope I would have to walk, and the Council meetings now seemed like the easier part of my day.

But as I stepped outside, locking the door behind me, I thought about Olivia and our kids, safe and secure in our home. I knew that as complicated as things were, family was still family. It would take time, it would take talking, but in the end, we would work it out.

Because that’s what families do, no matter how messy it gets.

“Ready?” Edward asked, snapping me out of my thoughts as he stepped up beside me.

I looked at him, then back at the house one last time. “Yeah,” I said, pulling the door shut behind us “Let’s go.”

…

I walked into my office, my sanctuary in the middle of the chaotic Council building. It was only noon, and I had already attended three separate meetings. Plopping down in my chair, I shuffled through stacks of paperwork and sighed. There were times when the weight of leadership felt like too much.

The door creaked open, and in walked Edward, taking a cursory glance around the room. He grinned, taking a seat opposite me. “I can’t believe it; my nephew is the Alpha. I like what you’ve done with the place.”

“I try,” I said, following his gaze around the room, at the mahogany bookshelves, the well-cared-for plants, the pack relics. I had done some work on the office since my dad went to prison. A lot of work, actually. I couldn’t bear the feeling of his energy still residing in this room. “I figured since I’ll be spending so much time here, I might as well make it my own.”

“So this is where all the magic happens,” Edward said, meeting my gaze again. “Policy changes, conflict resolutions, the works?”

“Something like that,” I sighed. “Magic is one word for it. I have a few others in mind that are less flattering.”

He laughed, loosening up a bit. “Well, you’re the Alpha. People look up to you. Must be nice, right?”

“It has its moments. People respecting you is a double-edged sword. They respect you, but they also expect a lot from you.”

He looked intrigued. “But you have power, influence. You could shape the future of the pack however you see fit.”

I leaned back, folding my arms across my chest. “It’s not as simple as that. Being Alpha isn’t just about wielding power; it’s about responsibility. Sometimes, it feels like you’re carrying the world on your shoulders, and everyone is watching, waiting for you to slip.”

Edward nodded slowly, his eyes staring deep into mine. “But isn’t that a price worth paying? I mean, you have a legacy. Your name will be remembered.”

“I never asked to be remembered. Sometimes I wonder if the legacy is for them or for me. It’s like I’m less of a person and more of a symbol.”

He shifted in his chair, his brow furrowed. “But symbols are important. They stand for something. You stand for something.”

“But what’s the cost?” I retorted. “Being Alpha doesn’t just mean I just get to call the shots however or whenever I see fit. It means that every decision I make affects everyone. A wrong move can jeopardize the entire pack.”

Edward seemed to ponder this for a moment. “That’s true, but it’s also a position of honor, a role many wish they had but will never get the chance to experience. Don’t you ever feel privileged to be where you are?”

“Privileged? Sure. But also trapped, in a weird way. Everyone looks at you like you have all the answers when you’re just as clueless and flawed as they are.”

“Still, you were chosen for a reason. You have qualities that make you fit to be Alpha. Qualities that others don’t possess.”

I paused, thinking for a moment, then spoke. “Chosen? More like born into it.”

Edward then leaned forward, locking eyes with me. “Do you even want to be Alpha?”