Chapter 362

Olivia

The house felt different without Edward’s presence; there was a stillness, a reclaimed sense of privacy that I was sorely missing. It was quiet—too quiet—and the absence of the subtle unease that had followed Edward like a shadow was both a relief and a cause for contemplation.

I stood in the nursery, rocking back and forth, soothing Elliot who was being particularly fussy. Aurora, on the other hand, was staring at the mobile above her crib, her little hands reaching out towards the dancing figures.

The amulet around my neck was still now, its previous vibrations a distant but nagging concern at the back of my mind.

Just as I was considering whether to call Layla about the amulet’s strange behavior again, the twins’ whimpers escalated into full-blown cries.

“Okay, okay,” I murmured, trying to divide my attention equally as I picked up Aurora, balancing Elliot on my hip. “Mommy’s here.”

The twins’ cries were demanding, bouncing off the walls of the nursery and filling the space.

I checked their diapers, offered toys, sang lullabies, but nothing seemed to work. They were just cranky, their little faces scrunched up in discomfort, perhaps realizing that something was off now that the temporary new member of our family was gone.

Then, amidst the chaos, the doorbell rang.

I hesitated, torn between the needs of my children and the unexpected visitor. “Just a second,” I called out, not sure if the person at the door could hear me over the twins’ cries.

I managed to calm the twins enough to put them in their playpen, giving them a few toys to distract them before heading to the door. I swung it open to find Clint standing there, his hands in his pockets and a casual smile on his face.

“Clint? What are you doing here?” I asked, slightly bewildered by his unexpected visit, but not entirely opposed to it.

He cocked his head. “I’m here to babysit. Remember?”

“Babysit?” I echoed, the confusion clear in my voice. My gaze involuntarily flicked to the fridge where our family calendar hung.

Clint nodded, stepping inside. “Yeah, you and Nathan have your couples therapy session today, don’t you? I had it on my calendar, unless I got the days mixed up. This damn old brain…”

The reminder hit me like a ton of bricks. Couples therapy—of course. I rushed over to the calendar, scanning the boxes filled with our scrawled handwriting. There it was, in Nathan’s neat script:Couples Therapy, 2 PM.

“How could I forget?” I muttered, more to myself than to Clint. My eyes darted to the clock on the wall. It was almost time for our appointment, and here I was, with two crying infants and no sign of Nathan.

“Is Nathan not here?” Clint asked, peeking over my shoulder at the twins who had resumed their fussing.

“No, he’s at work,” I said, pulling out my phone from my pocket. “He probably forgot, too. I have to call him.”

Clint gave me an understanding nod and walked over to the twins, who were now reaching out for him, their mood shifting as they saw the man who they would only ever know as their grandfather headed their way.

I stepped back into the hallway, dialing Nathan’s number. It rang, and rang, and rang—no answer.

My heart sank a little with each tone. This wasn’t like Nathan; he was normally meticulous when it came to scheduling. He never missed anything.

I tried calling him again, the sound of the twins’ laughter with Clint filtering through the house. Still no answer.

Clint looked up from where he sat on the floor, already surrounded by a sea of toys and two giggling infants. “No luck?”

I shook my head, locking my phone and slipping it back into my pocket. “No, he’s not picking up. And he never misses appointments…”

Clint stood up, brushing off his jeans. “Maybe you should go and get him at the Council building,” he said. “Maybe he had a meeting run long or his phone died.”

I hesitated. The twins were occupied, but I hated to walk in on Nathan’s meetings. I always felt so bad for bothering him at work. But then again, this appointment had been made weeks ago…

“Go,” Clint said as though sensing my trepidation. “I’ve got things handled here.”

I nodded, grateful for Clint’s reassuring presence. “Thank you,” I said, already headed toward the door. “Call me if you need anything.

…

The cool breeze nipped at my skin as I approached the Council building, a sense of urgency fuelling my steps.

Nathan was never one to miss appointments. But then again, maybe he did just forget; this was only our second biweekly session, after all. I couldn’t blame him, what with everything going on. And it’s not like he was all that keen on going.

I pushed open the heavy door, stepping into the Council building where pack members scurried around, looking official. The secretary wasn’t at her desk, but I knew Nathan would be in his office, likely buried in paperwork, the weight of his role as Alpha pressing down on him. I quickened my pace as his office door came into view.

As I neared his office, I straightened my spine, cleared my throat, and knocked on the door. After a moment of silence, it creaked open, and Edward’s face appeared, his eyes narrowing just a fraction when he saw me.

“Olivia,” he greeted with a smile that didn’t quite reach his eyes. “What brings you here?”

“Hi, Edward. I need to speak with Nathan. It’s important,” I said, trying to peer past him into the office.

But Edward followed my movements, blocking my view. “I’m sorry, but he’s terribly busy. Do you have a message for him, or…?”

I nodded. “We have an appointment.”

Edward's expression didn't change, but I sensed a tension in his jaw. “Well, he’s in the middle of something quite pressing. Can’t you reschedule?”

I frowned, frustration bubbling up inside of me. “This is something we’ve both committed to. It’s important for us.”

Edward looked at me for a moment as though he didn’t believe me. “What is it, exactly?” he asked.

I felt my throat tighten a bit. It wasn’t something that I really wanted to discuss, but… oh, to hell with it. I was running out of time. “It’s couples therapy.”

He stared at me, unblinking. “Olivia, he’s very busy. Too busy for…”

“There is no such thing as too busy when it comes to our relationship,” I insisted. “And it’s only an hour. Surely he could spare—”

Edward’s gaze flicked coolly over me, and he cut in before I could finish. “I’ll see if he could possibly step away for a moment. But no promises.”

I watched him close the door with a soft click, leaving me in the quiet hallway. The muffled sounds of conversation and the occasional ring of a phone filled the space, creating a strange sense of liminality in the dimly lit corridor.

Minutes ticked by, each one stretching longer than the last.

I shifted my weight from one foot to the other, my mind racing with possibilities. Was Nathan debating with Edward? Was there a pack issue that couldn’t wait? Or was he simply too wrapped up in his duties to step away?

Then, the door finally swung open, and Edward stepped out. His face was inscrutable.

“Nathan is tied up with an issue that needs his immediate attention. He’s asked if you could reschedule the therapy appointment.”