Chapter 394

Nathan

Olivia’s scent was fading, and it was fading fast. I had to find her before it was too late.

The very first thing I did was shift into my wolf form and run back to town. The hospital was a good five or even ten minute run, even in my wolf form, but I pushed myself faster than ever. Before I knew it, the villa’s seafoam green cupolas came into view over the treetops. I shifted back into my human form and burst inside.

“Olivia?” I called out frantically.

I was met with the sound of confused voices, followed by footsteps. Clint and Layla stood in front of me a moment later, their eyes wide. But I didn’t have time to figure out what Layla was doing here, and I didn’t have time explain myself, either.

“Where is she?” I said. “I’ll explain later.”

“I—uh—she left to confront Edward,” Layla said. “That was a little over an hour ago.”

An hour; that could be a good thing or a bad thing. I swallowed and turned on my heel, heading back toward the door. “Call the police,” I called over my shoulder.

“Wait!” Clint called after me. I paused, glancing back at him, and his eyes were wild with fear. “Do you think she’s…”

“I’m trying to make sure she’s not,” I said, before flinging the door open and bursting back into the chilly evening air.

My head spun as I continued to follow her scent. Confused people were staring at me, murmuring about a coma, but I didn’t care to explain a single thing. I was too focused on following her scent so I could find her.

I didn’t even have the time to be furious about the fact that she just left on her own to confront Edward—or rather, as I had figured out, Jenifer. All I cared about was bringing her home to me.

Her scent led me through the bustling market street, my heart pounding with each step. It was fading quickly, like a trail growing colder by the minute. Panic clawed at my chest as I pushed through the Christmas shopping crowds, desperately trying to keep her scent within reach.

I could feel the stares of people as I raced past them, their voices blending into a cacophony of confusion and concern. But I couldn’t afford to stop. Olivia’s life was on the line.

“Hey, Nathan! Wait up!”

I recognized the voice. It was Levi. I quickly spun on my heel to face him, and saw him pushing his way through the crowd.

“What’s going on?” he asked once he reached me. “You were in a coma, and now you’re not, and I saw the police going to your house, and—”

“Levi, listen to me,” I said. “I don’t have time, understand? Edward was an imposter, and Olivia is in danger. But I need to find her, and something tells me that I’m the only one who can.”

Levi’s eyes widened, but he said nothing more about it. He simply nodded, his concerned gaze telling me all that I needed to know; that I needed to hurry.

I continued my sprint, leaving Levi behind. The scent was getting fainter, and I couldn’t afford to waste any more time talking to anyone.

But then, as I continued down the street, another voice caught my attention.

“Alpha Nathan! Alpha Nathan!”

I paused for a split second to see one of the Council building workers, Jake, jogging toward me with a frantic look in his eyes. The only reason why I gave him the time of day was because I figured that maybe, if Olivia had gone to the Council building, he might have seen her.

I skidded to a stop, frustration bubbling up inside of me. “Jake! Have you seen Olivia?”

Jake’s expression shifted from curiosity to one of concern. “Olivia? No, I haven’t seen her. Why, did something happen?”

I couldn’t spare a moment for explanations. “Keep an eye out for her.”

I darted away, leaving Jake looking bewildered. The scent was leading me further into the heart of the town, and I couldn’t shake the feeling that my time was running out.

As I turned a corner, I nearly collided with Mrs. Ramirez, the sweet old lady from the hair salon. She gasped in surprise, clutching her bag of groceries.

“Nathan, dear, is it really you? I heard you were—”

I cut her off, my voice urgent. “Mrs. Ramirez, I need to find Olivia. Have you seen her?”

Mrs. Ramirez’s eyes twinkled with sympathy. “No, dear, I haven’t—”

That was all the answer I needed. Without even waiting for her to finish, I bolted past her, leaving her calling after me with confusion.

The scent led me to a part of town that I rarely visited, but it filled me with hope. The scent was the strongest here, like a beacon leading me to an empty house.

But not just any old house; Alvin’s old house.

Confusion took over me. What was Olivia doing here, of all places? Alvin hadn’t been in this house for months, and he had been gone ever since the attack from the Redclaws. He hadn’t returned, had he?

I approached the house cautiously, my heart pounding. The front door was cracked open, swaying ever so slightly in the wind.

Carefully pushing the door open, I was met with the sight of nothing but a dusty old house. It was empty save for the scattered furniture that Alvin had left behind, but at the same time, Olivia’s scent was too strong for her to be anywhere else. I was sure of it.

Holding my breath, I carefully stepped inside so as not to make any noise, and used my wolf’s senses to enhance my sight and sound. And that was when I heard it: voices coming from the basement door, which was cracked open.

Taking care not to make a sound, I tiptoed over to the door and pushed it open a little bit further. The sight that met me when I peered down into the darkness, however, made my heart sink.

Olivia was there. Relief flooded over me, but only for a moment; because she was holding Alvin’s bloodied form, her face streaked with tears. Alvin looked pale, his breathing shallow. And then it happened: Alvin went limp.

Olivia stiffened, and then paused, and then a loud, keening wail escaped her lips as she pressed her forehead against his chest. My heart wrenched in that moment, and my chest tightened with the pain of not only seeing our childhood friend die, but also from hearing the distraught sound that came from Olivia’s lips.

And then I saw her, and my chest tightened even further—not with angst, but with fear and rage. It was Jenifer, emerging from the shadows behind Olivia, and there was a large rock raised above her head.

Time seemed to stop. I felt like a failure; if only I had shown up mere minutes earlier. I couldn’t close the distance in enough time, and all I could do was call out, hoping beyond hope that Olivia could get out of the way.

“Olivia, watch out!” I shouted as I began to bolt down the stairs, my heart determined to stop Jenifer.

The rock was about to come crashing down, and Olivia slowly lifted her head.