Chapter 369

Olivia

Waking up the next morning, I found myself nestled in Nathan’s arms, the soft morning light filtering through the curtains.

For a moment, I just lay there, savoring the warmth and security of his embrace. His strong arms were tightly wrapped around me as he breathed gently beside me, his tousled dirty blond hair almost a honey color in the golden glow of the morning sunlight.

But then, realization dawned on me as my eyes flickered over to the clock on the beside table—Nathan should have been at work already. My eyes widened as I gently shook his shoulder.

“Nathan, wake up,” I urged, my voice laced with concern. “You should be at work by now.”

He murmured something incoherent, his body sluggish and unresponsive. Panic fluttered in my chest as I tried again, shaking him more firmly this time. “Nathan, come on, wake up!”

His response was lethargic, a stark contrast to his usual morning alertness. He usually had no problem popping out of bed on a weekday morning, and his version of ‘sleeping in’ on the weekends was hardly any different.

“Nathan?” I said, sitting up fully now. “You’re late.”

Still no response. This was so unlike him, and I knew that if he didn’t show at the Council building and potentially missed some important meeting, it could be detrimental to his role as Alpha.

I hesitated for a moment, thinking, before rushing to the bathroom, where I filled a glass with water. Returning to his side, I was about to splash a little on his face when his eyes finally began to twitch.

“Nathan,” I said, noticing that he was finally beginning to stir. “Wake up.”

“Huh?” he groaned, his voice gravelly with sleep. “Liv?”

Finally, his eyes fluttered open, but they were clouded with fatigue. Dark circles covered the skin under his eyes, painting a picture of exhaustion I hadn’t seen in him before.

“Are you okay?” I asked, setting the glass of water down. “You don’t look so good.”

He rubbed his eyes, sitting up slowly. “I haven’t been sleeping well at all lately,” he admitted, his voice hoarse. “In fact, I feel pretty under the weather today. Feels like I got hit by a bus.”

This confession only deepened my concern. Nathan was always the picture of strength and health, rarely ever getting sick. “Maybe you should take the day off, then,” I suggested gently. “You need to rest.”

Nathan looked hesitant. “I don’t know, Liv. I’ve got my Alpha duties to attend to…”

I placed my hand on his, giving it a reassuring squeeze. “Nathan, you look like you just crawled out of hell. What good will you be able to do today if you’re so out of it you can barely keep your eyes open?”

After a moment of silence, he nodded slowly. “Okay, you’re right. I’ll call Edward. Tell him to fill in for me.”

At the mention of Edward’s name, a wave of unease washed over me. Given the events of the previous evening, the idea of Edward stepping in for Nathan didn’t sit well with me. But I kept my concerns to myself, not wanting to burden Nathan further.

Nathan reached for his phone on the nightstand and dialed Edward’s number. “Hey, Edward, it’s Nathan. I’m not feeling well. Can you handle things there today?”

There was a brief pause as he listened to Edward’s response. “Thanks, Edward. I appreciate it.”

He ended the call and turned to me, a look of gratitude in his eyes. “Thanks, Liv. I guess I really do need to rest.”

I nodded, my mind still racing with thoughts of Edward taking over Nathan’s duties, even if it was just for one day. “Just focus on feeling better,” I managed to say, somehow keeping my voice steady.

But as Nathan settled back into the bed, his body gradually relaxing, I couldn’t help but feel a strange sense of unease in the pit of my stomach.

“Nathan, are you sure you trust Edward of all people to fill in for you today?” I blurted out, unable to contain my thoughts any longer. “Why not Levi, or someone else?”

Nathan let out a long breath, his eyes still heavy with fatigue. “It’s just one day, Olivia. And he’ll do fine. He’s been a good advisor, and there are no meetings scheduled today.”

But I wasn't so easily convinced. “I’m not so sure, Nathan,” I said. “Don’t forget about yesterday. You know, with the therapy appointment?”

He ran a hand through his hair and sighed again. “Right. I forgot about that. But I’ll talk to him, just as I promised. Just… not today.”

Nathan’s words should have been soothing, but they were anything but. I still couldn’t let go of my concern. “I just… worry,” I said, sinking down onto the edge of the bed. “I’m sorry, Nathan. It’s hard for me to trust him.”

Nathan turned to face me, taking my hand in his. His touch was reassuring, grounding. “I trust your judgment, Olivia. But I will handle the situation with Edward. You don’t need to worry about it.”

I nodded slowly, comforted by his words, and yet a part of me remained alert, the unease about Edward lingering in the back of my mind.

Seeking to shift the conversation to a lighter topic, I perked up a bit. “You know, speaking of work… I was thinking of applying at the local bakery as a part-time baking assistant,” I ventured, watching his reaction closely.

To my surprise, Nathan’s eyes lit up with enthusiasm. “That sounds great for you, Liv,” he said, a gentle smile spreading across his face.

“Are you sure?” I asked, a little taken aback by his reaction. “I mean, I would have to get a babysitter for the twins a couple of days a week if I did it.”

Nathan’s smile broadened. “I think it could be really good for you. You have a dream of owning your own bakery someday, right? This could be a great step towards that.”

His encouragement warmed my heart. And to think that I had been so worried that he was going to reject my idea yesterday. I guess, after everything, I had almost forgotten what our relationship really was made of: trust and deep bonds.

“Yeah, that would be the goal,” I said, feeling a flicker of excitement at the idea. “It’s a small step toward it, but it’s exciting nonetheless. And I figured it’s about time I start supporting myself a little bit more, you know?”

Nathan squeezed my hand gently. “You know I don’t mind supporting the both of us. But if this is what you want, then by all means, go for it. Really, Liv—”

However, as he spoke, he broke into a coughing fit and his voice trailed off. I frowned, more so out of worry for him than annoyance.

“Sorry,” he finally managed, laying his head back onto the pillow. “God, I don’t know how I got so sick overnight.”

I shook my head and stood, planting a kiss on his forehead as I did. His skin was clammy. Howdidhe get so sick overnight?

“Don’t worry,” I said, giving his hand a squeeze. “I’ll get you some tea and soup.”

As I slipped out of the room, I took one last look at Nathan over my shoulder. There he was, laying in bed, looking so deflated compared to the man he was last night. Something about it was jarring, almost.

And as I looked at him, I couldn’t help but notice…

That the amulet around my neck was tingling ever so slightly.