Chapter 366

Olivia

After feeding Elliot and Aurora their dinner, I found myself moving through the familiar routine of getting my twins ready for bed.

Their soft coos and gurgles filled the nursery as I changed them into their pajamas, and once they were both tucked in, I watched from the doorway for a moment as the sound of the lullabies playing over the speaker soothed them to sleep.

I made my way to the bedroom, my mind still replaying the conversation with Angela. The idea of applying for the bakery job lingered in the back of my mind, an exciting possibility that both scared and intrigued me. Could I really handle a part-time job on top of everything, or was it just another recipe for disaster?

But for now, I had something else to focus on.

I retrieved the bag from our shopping spree and pulled out the lingerie I had bought. Holding it up against my body in the mirror, I couldn’t help but smile. It was beautiful, delicate and soft against my skin. I had chosen it not just for Nathan but for myself, a reminder that I was more than just a mom.

As I slipped into it, I felt a shift in the air. The soft lace hugged my curves, and I looked at myself in the mirror. I didn’t just see a tired mother; I saw a woman who deserved to feel beautiful and desired.

“He’s going to love it,”my wolf said, her voice breaking through my reverie.“And I think both of you need this, especially after Edward was here for an entire week.”

Edward. Just the mention of his name gave me a strange feeling. Without meaning to, I found myself reaching up to grasp the amulet around my neck, reminded of how it had vibrated when Edward left.

“I didn’t feel it when I saw him earlier,”I thought to my wolf.“Maybe it was just a false alarm the first time.”

“Maybe. But keep vigilant. Something about him…”

Suddenly, I heard my phone buzz with a text. I pulled it out and opened it to see that it was from Nathan:“Hey, I’m heading home soon. Late day. Twins okay?”

“They’re good,”I replied, typing quickly.“Sleeping already. And I have a surprise for you.”

As I sent the text, I felt a surge of excitement flutter in my belly. I then grabbed my robe off of the hook to cover my lingerie before heading downstairs to get started on dinner.

I quickly got to work chopping vegetables and boiling the pasta, and as I did, I couldn’t help but think back on the day. Angela’s words stuck in my mind, not just about the bakery job, but about everything. I thought back on what my therapist had said, too; that maybe it was just a one-time thing.

After all, Nathan was busy lately as Alpha. Maybe he didn’t mean to make it seem so abrupt when he asked to reschedule—hell, maybe I was taking it too hard as well.

But then, something else floated into my mind—or rather, someone.

Edward.

I could still see his face in my mind as he stood in the doorway to Nathan’s office. His gaze was colder than before, his eyes lacking their usual warmth. It was as if something… shifted when he became Nathan’s advisor.

Or maybe something shifted when I picked up that box.

…

Nine o’clock.

I had been waiting for Nathan for almost an hour since he last texted me. I was pacing back and forth in the living room, my arms folded across my chest and my brow furrowed.

The dinner I had prepared earlier still sat untouched on the table, its warmth long since faded. Anxiety churned in my stomach with each passing minute. Nathan had texted that he was on his way home, but the clock continued to tick away, and he still had yet to arrive.

Where was he?

I slipped out my phone for what felt like the millionth time to see if I had missed a text. Maybe he had said that he needed to go back to the Council building for something, or maybe he ran into someone on the way home.

But, just like all of the other times I had checked, there was nothing. No texts, no missed calls. Just my last message:“I have a surprise for you.”He hadn’t even responded to that.

Just as I was about to call him again, I suddenly heard the front door open. My heart leapt, and I rushed towards the sound, only to halt abruptly at the sight of Edward accompanying Nathan. Nathan stopped in the doorway, with Edward lingering on the porch, his hands in his jacket pockets.

“Is everything okay? You’re so late,” I blurted out, my relief at seeing him safe quickly turning into frustration. “You texted almost an hour ago. I was getting worried.”

Nathan’s expression was unreadable, but there was something strange going on with his eyes. It was as if his gaze was darker, his eyes narrowed. He never looked at me like that. Never.

“Nathan?” I hummed, staring unblinkingly at him.

“I need to speak with you,” he said, his voice low and even.

Edward, who had been quietly observing the exchange, gave me a small nod. “Hello, Olivia. I was just walking Nathan home,” he said.

I swallowed, unsure of this whole situation. “Oh, okay. Well… Thanks, Edward.”

“My pleasure. Have a good night, both of you.” With that, Edward turned on his heel and walked away, his tall silhouette fading into the darkness of the night.

Once we were alone, I turned toward Nathan, my mind racing with possibilities. Had something important come up at work? Was he okay?

“Are you alright? Are you hungry?” I asked, moving closer to him. His very frame seemed to emanate a sense of exhaustion mixed with frustration, and I instantly began to wonder if something had happened between the time he texted me and now.

But, figuring that maybe it was more exhaustion than anything, I jabbed my thumb over my shoulder toward the dining room table and managed to keep my voice steady. “I’ll heat up your dinner if you want. You look exhausted, Nathan.”

He didn’t respond to my questions. Instead, he held up his phone, displaying a picture that took my breath away.

It was an image of me in the lingerie store, trying on one of the many ridiculous costumes Angela and I had messed around with earlier.

My eyes widened in shock. “Where... Who sent you this?” I stammered, my heart pounding in my chest.

“A pack member saw you doing this and sent it to me,” Nathan said, his voice cold and detached. “They wanted to know why the Luna was out acting like a tramp while her kids were home with a babysitter.”

His words sliced through me like a knife. I felt my blood run cold, a mixture of shock and hurt welling up inside me. The playful day with Angela, which had felt so liberating and fun, now seemed like a twisted joke.

“Tramp?” I stuttered. “Nathan, I was just out with—”

“Just tell me, Liv,” he said, slipping his phone back into his pocket. “I deserve to know the truth, don’t I?”

“Nathan, I…” I started to say, but my voice trailed off as I struggled to find the right words.

Before I could gather my thoughts, Nathan cut in, his eyes searching mine for something I couldn’t quite decipher.

“Olivia, are you cheating on me?”