Chapter 361

Nathan

The tea in our cups had barely cooled when Edward’s question cut through the comfortable silence. His curiosity took me by surprise. Me? Taking a break as Alpha? I wouldn’t dream of it, especially not now, when my pack needed me.

“Edward, I can’t just let anyone take over as Alpha, even for just a few days,” I said, the firmness in my voice leaving no room for misinterpretation. “And besides, Olivia and I managed to squeeze in a small weekend vacation not long ago. I’m fine. I just need to get some better sleep, and then I’ll feel better. That’s all.”

Edward’s eyes held mine, and he nodded slowly, almost thoughtfully, as if he was fully digesting his words—or maybe trying to come up with a viable response.

“Of course, Nathan. Your dedication is what makes you a fine Alpha,” he said, but there was a subtle shift in his tone that suggested there was more he wanted to say.

I looked at Edward for a few moments longer before I spoke again. “You really think you’d be able to fill in as Alpha?” I found myself asking, although I wasn’t entirely sure why.

He shrugged. “For a few days, perhaps.” He chuckled and sipped his tea. “And with plenty of instructions from you. I could hold down the fort if you needed to clear your head.”

My trepidation was almost instantly replaced with relief. He wasn’t implying anything sinister; just an uncle who was trying to help. “Well, thanks for the offer,” I said, sipping my own tea and feeling the warm liquid rush down my throat. “It means a lot.”

“It’s nothing. Really. You’re my nephew; I’m here for you, always.”

We finished our tea in companionable silence, and I felt at ease. I was about to stand and clear away our cups when Edward leaned back in his chair, his gaze meeting mine.

“Nathan, can I ask you something personal?”

I nodded. “Sure. Ask away.”

He paused for a moment, then licked his lips and spoke.

“Are you happy… with Olivia?”

The question caught me off guard, and I found myself momentarily speechless. Why would he ask such a thing? We had been through rough patches like any couple, but I had never doubted our happiness. I loved her.

“Of course I’m happy with Olivia. What makes you ask?”

Edward hesitated, his gaze probing. “I’ve observed... well, it seems there’s a fair amount of tension between you two. And if you’ve just been on a vacation, the timing of these... disagreements seems odd.”

I considered his words for a moment. Olivia and I had our struggles, true, but it was nothing we couldn’t handle.

“Olivia and I are going through some things, but we’re handling it together,” I said, my voice steady despite the concern brewing inside of me. “In fact, we’ve started attending couples therapy to work on our communication.”

Edward’s response was a raised eyebrow. “Couples therapy?” he echoed, his surprise evident. “So soon?”

I furrowed my brow, confused. “What do you mean?” I asked. “It’s bound to be helpful.”

But Edward didn’t seem convinced, and shook his head. “Well, helpful, sure. But so soon in a relationship… How long have you been together?”

“We’ve known each other since we were—”

“No,” he interrupted. “I mean,reallytogether. Officially.”

I paused. “A little under a year.”

Edward leaned forward, resting his elbows on the table, and for a moment, there was a flicker of something in his expression—was it concern or something more calculating?

“Nathan, you know I support you, and if this is what you feel is best for your relationship, then I commend you. It’s just not a choice many would make so early on, that’s all.”

His words hung in the air, and I struggled to find an appropriate response. The implication that seeking help was a sign of weakness didn’t sit well with me. I met his gaze squarely, my voice filled with a certainty that I felt down to my bones.

“Edward, Olivia and I are doing just fine. We’re very happy together. She’s my fated mate, and I love her.”

His eyes held mine for a moment longer, as if searching for the truth behind my words. Something about it unsettled me in a strange way. But then, that look behind his eyes faded just as quickly as it had come, and I was wondering if it was just a trick of my exhausted mind.

“I’m glad to hear that, Nathan,” he finally said, his tone lightening as a smile spread across his face. “And remember, I’m here if you need to talk.”

I gave him a nod and stood, carrying our cups over to the sink. “I will. Thanks, uncle.”

“Goodnight, Nathan,” he replied as I left the kitchen and made my way upstairs.

The upstairs hallway was dimly lit by the soft glow of nightlights, casting long shadows on the hardwood.

I paused at the twins’ nursery one last time, peeking inside to see them still sleeping soundly, chests rising and falling in a steady rhythm. Assured they were at peace, I moved quietly towards the bedroom I shared with Olivia.

The room was cast in the gentle light of dawn, and there she was, lying in bed, her chestnut hair fanned out across the pillow, her breathing slow and even. I slipped into bed beside her, trying not to disturb her slumber, and lay on my back, staring up at the ceiling.

But as I lay there, Edward’s words began to echo in my mind, haunting me.

What if we still harbored lingering resentment towards each other? Our recent arguments had been resolved, or so I thought, but Edward’s probing questions had planted seeds of doubt. Was everything really as resolved as I believed?

I turned my head to look at Olivia.

In sleep, her face was relaxed, free from the tension and worries that the day brought. She was beautiful, strong, and had stood by me through everything. But Edward’s observation about the tension between us couldn’t be totally unfounded, could it?

It wasn’t the arguments that bothered me—it was the way they ended. Sometimes with a solution, yes, but other times with a sigh, a retreat, or a distraction. Were we really addressing the roots of our issues, or were we just trying to keep the peace?

Couples therapy had seemed like the right step, but I often wondered if it really did hold the solution to our problems. If talking to a third party really was what would bring us closer, or if our answer lay elsewhere.

Plus, there was the witch.Thatwas an issue that we couldn’t resolve in couples therapy. Hell, we couldn’t even talk about it openly without couching it in vague terminology and blatant lies. I guess all along, I thought that we would come to a resolution once the witch was taken care of, but…

Would we? Really?

I reached out and gently brushed a strand of hair from Olivia’s face. She stirred but didn’t wake. My heart ached with love for her, but I couldn’t deny the festering wound that was left in the wake of what happened with the witch. No amount of couples therapy or a surprise pregnancy could make that go away.

And maybe, just maybe, uncle Edward would know what to say.