Chapter 359

Nathan

My fork scraped the plate as I finished off the last bit of pancakes. Olivia was sitting across from me, flipping through a magazine and sipping her coffee.

We were in my study, a room doubled as a secret hideaway when we didn’t feel like eating in the dining room. I liked spending the mornings in here with her; the sunlight streaming through the curtains and bouncing off of the mahogany desk made her hair look even more golden and vibrant.

Just as I was about to ask Olivia if she wanted to go grocery shopping later, a knock on the door interrupted my thoughts. We both looked up to see Edward standing in the doorway.

“Morning,” he greeted, a friendly yet reserved smile on his face.

Olivia immediately stood up, pushing her chair back so abruptly it made a screeching sound. It was unlike her to be so on edge, and left me feeling puzzled. “Edward! Good morning. We have some pancakes in the kitchen. Let me get some for you.”

“Thank you, Olivia, but I can grab them myself,” Edward replied, holding his hand up to stop her. “Actually, I wanted to talk to you both about something.”

“What is it?” I asked.

He took his phone from his pocket and waved it slightly. “I know I was supposed to leave today, but there’s been a hiccup with my new house. The moving date’s been pushed to tomorrow.”

I glanced at Olivia, catching her eye for a brief moment. She nodded almost imperceptibly, but her expression seemed slightly off, like something wasn’t quite right. I couldn’t put my finger on it.

“That’s fine, Edward. One more day won’t make a difference,” I said, setting my napkin beside my empty plate. “Stay as long as you need to.”

“Thank you, Nathan. I appreciate the understanding,” Edward said. With a final nod, he turned and left the room, his footsteps echoing faintly as he made his way to the kitchen.

I looked back at Olivia, who had returned to her seat but was no longer flipping through her magazine. “Are you okay?” I asked. “You look a bit pale.”

“I’m fine,” she said, mustering a small smile. “Just one of those mornings, you know?”

“Yeah, I get it,” I said, although I wasn’t entirely convinced. There was something in her eyes, a flicker of something unresolved, that left me wondering… Was there something she wasn’t telling me?

…

It was 2:43 AM that night.

The time glared at me from the digital clock on my bedside table. Olivia was next to me, undisturbed in her sleep, quiet as a mouse. I knew I wouldn’t get back to sleep, not feeling like this. I hadn’t been sleeping well for a week now, and although I didn’t tell Olivia so she wouldn’t worry, it was only getting worse.

I got out of bed carefully, avoiding the creaky floorboard near the foot of the bed so as not to wake Olivia. The hallway was dim, only a sliver of moonlight illuminating the carpet.

The twins’ nursery was my next destination. I pushed open the door gently, afraid even the slightest sound would wake them. Both Elliot and Aurora were sleeping like, well, babies. I sighed, feeling a knot in my chest loosen a bit.

Next, I headed downstairs. The kitchen was enveloped in darkness, but as I reached for the light switch, I froze.

There was someone already there. A figure, sitting at the kitchen table, shrouded in darkness. My heart leapt into my throat.

I quickly flipped on the light and exhaled sharply when I saw Edward sitting there. “Jeez, Edward, you scared the life out of me. What are you doing sitting in the dark?” I asked, chuckling slightly.

Edward looked equally startled, squinting as his eyes adjusted to the sudden light. “Ah, Nathan, I didn’t expect anyone else to be up. I apologize for startling you.”

“What are you doing down here?” I asked, eyeing him skeptically.

Edward gestured vaguely around the kitchen. “I was just getting a cup of tea. Couldn’t sleep.”

I scanned the countertop, noticing the absence of any teacup or kettle. “Really? Because I don’t see any tea.”

Edward glanced at the empty counter, then back at me, his eyes widening slightly as if he’d just realized his oversight. “Ah, yes. I must’ve forgotten to turn the kettle on. Can you believe that? My brain must be going.”

I chuckled. “I get it.These days, I forget what I’m doing halfway through doing it.”

Edward gave me a half-smile. “The joys of aging, huh?”

“Hey, how about I make some tea?” I asked. “For both of us?”

Edward nodded. “Sure. That would be nice.”

A few minutes later, the kettle’s whistle jolted me out of my thoughts. I grabbed two mugs, filling them with hot water. The tea bags went in next.

“Green tea okay?” I asked, setting one of the mugs in front of Edward. “Don’t worry, it’s decaf.”

He nodded, his fingers gently circling the mug. “Perfect. Thank you, Nathan.”

I slid into the chair opposite him, looking up to see that he was already staring at me, almost as if he had been lost in thought. We sat there for a moment, each sipping our tea.

“So, what’s keeping you up? Can’t be just for the tea,” I said, breaking the silence.

Edward chuckled. “Oh, many things, Nathan. I’ve never been good at turning off my brain. But enough about me. How about you? Anything you want to talk about? Pack matters, perhaps?”

I took another sip of my tea, feeling its warmth spread inside of me. “To be honest, I’m still trying to get the hang of this whole Alpha thing. There’s so much to consider, and it can be overwhelming. You’ve been invaluable as an advisor, Edward. I don’t think I’d be managing half as well without you.”

He smiled, but something in his eyes flickered. “I’m happy to help. We’re all part of the same pack, aren’t we?”

We were quiet again, the silence not uncomfortable, but not entirely comfortable either. It felt like we were both tiptoeing around something, like there was something unknown lurking beneath the surface, although I couldn’t explain why. I decided to chalk it up to my sleep deprivation.

“You know, I haven’t been sleeping well,” I confessed. “My mind’s always racing, going over pack issues, territorial borders, potential conflicts. It’s like I can’t switch off.”

Edward’s eyes sharpened, becoming more focused, as if seizing upon an opportunity. “That’s a heavy load to carry. Have you thought about taking a break? Maybe what you need is a vacation.”

I snorted. “A vacation? I wish. But the pack can’t take a break. There’s always something that needs my attention.”

He set his mug down, aligning it perfectly with the table’s edge, his movements precise and calculated. “You know, Nathan, even Alphas need rest. Constant stress will take its toll, not just on you, but also on your ability to lead.”

I sighed, feeling the weight of the truth in his words. “I know you’re right, but a break isn’t something I can afford right now.”

Edward leaned back in his chair, regarding me with a look that was hard to decipher. He opened his mouth as if to speak, paused, and then seemed to make a decision.

“You know,” he finally said, his voice low, “I could take over for you. Just for a few days.”