Chapter 357

Olivia

After dinner, Nathan and I were cleaning up in the kitchen while Edward retreated to his room. Elliot and Aurora were already fast asleep in their cribs, having gone down for the night like a light after their eventful day out.

Nathan put the last dish in the dishwasher, then came over and wrapped his arms around me from behind while I wiped down the counter. “See, I told you it would all work out,” he whispered, his breath brushing across my neck.

I looked up at him, smiling. “You really think this babysitting arrangement is a good idea?”

“Absolutely. Edward will be great with the kids. You won’t regret it,” he said, his eyes meeting mine. There was an earnestness in his gaze that was comforting.

“So, how’s it going with Edward as your advisor so far?” I asked, curious to know more about their working relationship. Maybe that would shed some light on Nathan’s current enthusiasm.

“It’s good, really good actually,” Nathan said with a wide grin, leaning back against the counter. “He brings a fresh perspective to the Council, and honestly, I’m excited about what we can accomplish together.”

I blinked, still processing his words. Nathan was usually so measured, so cautious. Excitement wasn’t an emotion he expressed readily, especially about work matters, so his newfound eagerness was rather unlike him. Could it be that Edward’s return had tapped into a sense of family and nostalgia that was fueling this unusual enthusiasm?

“You seem really animated about all of this,” I commented as we moved into the living room, settling onto the sofa. “I don’t think I’ve ever seen you this excited about Council business.”

Nathan chuckled. “Well, maybe I’ve been too serious lately. Edward’s approach is different, refreshing even. It feels like the start of something significant.”

“But you’ve always been a thinker, Nathan, not someone who jumps in head first.”

He shrugged. “Maybe it’s time for a change. Maybe it’s time to not just think, but also to do, you know? At least, that was what Edward said earlier.”

I raised an eyebrow. “Was it?”

Nathan nodded. “Yep. I was unsure about some land matters with the other Alphas and Edward suggested making some moves that I hadn’t been ready to make.”

I nodded, watching him as he spoke. His eyes had that spark again, the kind I hadn’t seen in a long time. I wanted to chalk it up to Edward’s influence, to family ties being rekindled, but I couldn’t shake the feeling that something was a little off.

Nathan was usually so...composed. His excitement was charming but also alien.. And “doing” rather than “thinking” when it came to pack matters? That wasn’t like Nathan at all.

“You seem lost in thought,” he said, bringing me back to reality.

I shrugged. “Just absorbing the changes, I guess. Everything’s been happening so fast—Edward moving in, then out, the twins, the new baby, and your new… energy at work.”

He smiled, pulling me close, his arm wrapping around me. “Change can be good, Liv. Just give it a chance. With Edward helping us and bringing new ideas to the Council, things can only get better.”

I leaned my head on his shoulder, letting his optimism wash over me. But somewhere in the back of my mind, I couldn’t help but ponder his unusual behavior and thought patterns. It wasn’t like him, and it raised questions I couldn’t quite form into coherent thoughts. Not now, at least.

“You okay?” Nathan asked, cocking his head to look at me.

For a moment, I almost considered telling him about my reservations. But when it came down to it, I couldn’t. Instead, I put on a smile, brushing a strand of hair out of his eyes.

“I’m great,” I murmured, planting a kiss on his cheek. “Really.”

…

The shrill cries of the twins jolted me out of sleep, blaring from the baby monitor on the bedside table. I rubbed my eyes, fumbling with the blankets.

Nathan stirred beside me, his eyes still heavy with sleep. “I can go check on them if you want.”

“No, it’s okay,” I mumbled, sliding my feet into my slippers. “Go back to sleep. I’ll handle it.”

Stifling a yawn, I padded down the hallway to the nursery. Elliot and Aurora were crying in their respective cribs, their faces red and contorted. I flipped the light switch and moved to Elliot first, lifting him up to check his diaper. Clean. I did the same for Aurora. Also clean.

“You two okay? Hungry?” I said, looking from one to the other as if expecting a coherent response.

They continued to cry, seemingly for no reason. Their cries had an edge, a distinct note that sounded more like fear than discomfort. Confused, I picked them up, one in each arm, and tried to soothe them, humming a lullaby. Slowly, their cries turned to whimpers, and then to the soft, hiccupy breaths of calmed babies.

I looked around the nursery. All of the toys were in their proper places. The window was securely locked. Everything seemed fine. But the twins seemed...scared. I shook my head, as if to shake off the unease creeping into my mind.

Just as I was about to leave the nursery, my ears caught a faint sound—movement—from Edward’s room next door.

Hesitant, I put the twins back in their cribs, making sure they were settled, and stepped closer to the adjoining wall. I put my ear against it and listened intently.

Whispering. But not just any whispering. It sounded like a woman’s voice, not Edward’s.

My heart began to race. Quietly, my footsteps barely making a sound, I tiptoed over to Edward’s door. Should I knock? Should I barge in? Instead, my eyes fell on the keyhole. Slowly, cautiously, I bent down to peer through it.

I squinted, trying to make out shapes in the dim room.

Then, I saw it—long strands of black hair draping over a pair of shoulders in the darkness, turned away from me. Edward was nowhere to be seen.

“What?” I thought, calling upon my wolf for guidance. “Who is that?”

My wolf stirred, then seemed to bristle. “I don’t know. I… I don’t recognize them…”

I frowned. Did Edward have a lady friend that he snuck in? He should have talked to Nathan and I if he was going to bring someone into our house at night, with two infants next door. But then, just as I was about to pull away, my amulet began to vibrate against my chest. A low hum, nearly indistinguishable but unquestionably there.

And then, as if sensing my presence, the head of black hair whipped around. Even in the dark, I felt a gaze lock onto me. My breath caught in my throat.

I jumped back just as the door swung open, and my amulet instantly fell still against my skin. It was Edward, looking half-asleep in his pajamas. There was no woman. Just a slightly disheveled bedroom. “Olivia? Is everything okay?”

I stammered, my heart still pounding in my chest. “I, uh, was just passing by. Thought I heard something. My mistake.”

Edward’s eyes, although clouded with sleep, studied me for a moment. Then he smiled warmly. “Well, if you’re sure. Goodnight, Olivia.”

“Goodnight,” I replied, my voice shaky.

As Edward closed the door, I was left feeling confused and terrified. I stood there, staring at the closed door, my thoughts a tangled mess. Had I seen something in my half-asleep state? A pile of clothes on a chair, maybe?

Shuddering, I slowly made my way back to the bedroom. As I crawled back into bed beside Nathan, I couldn’t shake the feeling that something was terribly amiss. But everything looked so normal, so serene. Nathan’s steady breathing beside me, the twins fast asleep in their cribs, Edward’s warm smile—nothing was out of the ordinary.

But still, I couldn’t help but wonder…

What were the twins so scared of?