Chapter 528

Olivia

Taking one last furtive glance over my shoulder to make sure we weren’t being watched by any prying eyes, I slipped into Nathan’s dimly lit office. Only once the door was clicked shut behind me did I finally let out the breath I had been holding.

Today, we weren’t meeting in secret to feel one another’s bodies—no matter how much we were both craving it. No, today, we were meeting to discuss our next plans in the plot to take down Dan and the rest of the sex trafficking ring.

Nathan looked up from behind his desk as I entered and shot me a handsome smile, but I could see the nerves prickling behind that look. We were both anxious—anxious for what was to come next.

It had been several days since Mira had stolen away on the boat to the southern territories, and with each day that passed, we were growing more and more anxious.

And with only two weeks left before Nathan and Dan’s visit to the southern territories, tensions were even higher.

“Hey,” Nathan said, slowly rising from his desk. “How have you been? I was worried—”

Before Nathan could finish, I was already rushing across the office to meet him. I knew what he was going to say: that he was worried because of the press, which was still practically banging down the villa door. But I didn’t care about that right now.

Without a word, I captured his lips in a searing, passionate kiss. He responded in kind, his hands wandering my waist. Our bodies melted together, and I felt him lean back against his desk, pulling me even closer.

For a moment, just a moment, I wondered if we could make love here. We both sorely needed it. But, with the rest of the Council building bustling with activity just outside the door, it felt a little too risky.

When our lips finally pulled apart with a wet smack, he blinked at me in surprise.

“What was that for?” he asked, shooting me an amused look.

“I hate this,” I said softly, taking a step back and wiping my mouth with the back of my hand. “I wish you were home.”

Nathan sighed and gave me an apologetic look. “So do I. But it’ll be over soon.”

“You keep saying that,” I said, “but it’s a little bit difficult to believe when this ring just seems to get bigger and bigger by the day.”

There was a long silence; I knew that Nathan realized I was right. With each passing day, the intelligence that Nathan gathered on the sex trafficking ring seemed to complicate things even further.

And yet, with each passing day, he seemed more and more sure that it would all be over soon, packaged up with a neat little bow on top.

“Look,” he said softly, reaching out to touch my hand. “I’ve already been in communication with the leaders of the southern packs. I’ve done my research, vetted them, done all the background checks I can. And now…”

I sighed. “I know. Now, you just need to meet in person.”

Nathan nodded. We both knew the plan already, after countless secret meetings, phone calls, and letters: he was to have a rendezvous with the southern pack leaders, rally them, arrest Dan, and then go after the others who were involved in the ring.

But I wasn’t so sure. And I hated the fact that I was supposed to stay here and just… wait for him to be done. Like a teary-eyed housewife watching her husband march off to war.

“My offer still stands, you know,” I said, placing my hands on my hips. “All we need is a piece of fur, and then we can finish the ritual.”

“And what then?” Nathan asked with a slight scoff. “You plan on developing your Ancient Wolf powers in the span of two weeks?”

I shrugged. “It would be a start. And we wouldn’t be leaping into the fire without protection.”

Nathan blinked at me, clearly perturbed. We had had this same discussion, too, over the past weeks; I had hoped to have begun working on my powers by now so I could offer some sort of help. And time and time again, Nathan had refused.

“You should be here,” he said. “With the twins.”

I frowned deeply. “I’m more than a mother, you know. I’m the Ancient Wolf. And you’re playing with fire.”

There was another long silence. Nathan stared at me incredulously for a long time, hardcore conviction and realization clearly warring behind his blue-green eyes.

Finally, he sighed and let his shoulders sag, as though the air was leaving his body. “I just worry about you,” he murmured.

“And I worry about you, Nathan.” I took a slow step forward, reaching up to cup his cheek in my hands. “But you know we’re stronger together. You’ve always known that.”

“Yeah. I know.” He sighed again and ran a hand through his hair, tousling it slightly. “Look, I can’t guarantee that I’ll let you come. But if this Ancient Wolf business means that much to you…”

“It does,” I interrupted, my voice firm. “Even if I do stay behind, I want to be able to have the power to keep our pack safe. As its Luna.”

At the mention of my ceremonial name, Nathan’s eyes widened slightly. He lifted his gaze to meet mine, and I saw a flicker of something I couldn’t quite read; pride, maybe?

“You’re right,” he said. “With me being gone, you’d be the next in charge.”

“And you remember how my powers were instrumental in staving off the Redclaw attack,” I said, pulling my shoulders back a bit. “But, Nathan, if I can’t control them, then… I could be a sitting duck.”

Nathan swallowed hard, causing his Adam’s apple to bob in his throat. Despite the turmoil on his face, he nodded. “Alright. We’ll do it.”

My eyes widened. “Just like that?” I asked with a slight chuckle. “Since when do you give in that easily?”

He laughed, a warm sound that I had been sorely missing over the recent months. These moments of levity, no matter how small, were like a balm after everything we had been through. I really did cherish them, despite everything.

“I learned a long time ago that you’re usually right,” he said, reaching out to tuck a stray strand of hair behind my ear, causing me to blush like a lovesick schoolgirl. “You’ve protected our pack and our family on multiple occasions, all thanks to your intuition.”

I couldn’t help but smile. “My mother’s intuition,” I corrected him.

Nathan raised an eyebrow. “Ah, but I thought you weren’t just a mother?” he asked, his voice holding that familiar teasing lilt that I always loved so much.

“I’m not. But I can’t deny that—”

Before I could finish, there was a sudden knock on the door. Nathan and I both turned, and before we could begin to register that our speaking in private might raise red flags for… certain people, Nathan called out: “Come in.”

A moment later, the door opened. I felt my heart sink upon seeing who was now standing in the doorway.

“Ah, Nathan, Olivia. I was actually hoping to speak with both of you.”