Chapter 65

Olivia

The following days melted together into a haze of ceaseless activity and unwavering concern.

I observed Nathan tirelessly dedicating himself to his duties with the Alpha Council, his sleep-deprived eyes betraying the weight he carried upon his shoulders.

Yet, even amidst his responsibilities, he remained an unwavering presence in my life, showering me with unwarranted attention and care. Though I appreciated his devotion, I couldn't help but feel suffocated at times.

It felt as though every morning I would wake up to the sound of him knocking on my door, and on more than one occasion he barged right in with a tray of food and steaming hot tea.

“Here you go,” he said one morning, a little over a week after my hospital visit. He walked into my room with a tray of breakfast food, without even knocking, and set it down on my bedside table.

I quickly pulled my sheets up to cover myself as I sat up, nervously running a hand through my messy hair.

“T-Thanks,” I muttered, peering over at the plate of golden toast, greasy sausage links, and a bowl of fruit. There was a cup of herbal tea alongside it, which I could smell wafting through the air. “It looks delicious.”

“Eat up,” Nathan said with a warm smile that made me temporarily forget my mild annoyance. “I hope you like it.”

He stood there for a moment with an expectant look on his face. Realizing that he was waiting for me to test the food, I awkwardly took a bite of the toast and smiled with my cheeks full.

“Delicious,” I muttered around the mouthful of buttery toast.

“Good.” Nathan looked relieved, and ran a hand through his hair. “I have to run errands for the Council today. Trying to get back on their good side, you know. But I’ll be back later, alright? Stay in bed and get some rest, and I’ll pick us up some dinner on my way home.”

Before I could protest and remind Nathan that it had been over a week since I went to the hospital and that I felt entirely better now, he scurried out of the room and disappeared.

I sat in bed for a while, enjoying the admittedly delicious breakfast that Nathan prepared for me. Once I finally heard the sound of the front door clicking shut, I jumped out of bed and ran over to the window.

I pulled the curtains aside just enough to see out, and let out a sigh of relief when I saw him pulling out of the driveway.

As much as I appreciated Nathan’s caring nature, I needed some independence. Now that I was alone, I could finally go about my day and get some things done before he came home, just as I had been doing for the past week.

For the rest of the morning, I took care of my chores and even did a little yoga on the back patio. Once I was finished, I made myself some lunch and read a book while I ate.

That afternoon, I decided to venture out for a walk, seeking solace in the embrace of nature. It was beautiful and sunny out, the perfect early spring day.

The buds on the trees and the bushes were beginning to pop open to reveal the pink blossoms inside, and the cool breeze brushed against my skin, offering respite from the confining walls of our home.

As I returned, my steps light with the newfound energy of the outdoors, Nathan awaited me on the porch. I felt my stomach drop; he had come home much earlier than I anticipated.

As I approached, I could see the expression on his face. Concern was etched into his features, his eyes filled with worry.

“You’re home early—”

“You're back,” he exclaimed, his voice tinged with relief as he bounded down off of the porch steps and walked up to me. “I was starting to worry. Are you okay?”

“Yes,” I replied. “I just went for a walk. It’s a nice day out.”

Nathan, unsurprisingly, narrowed his eyes a bit. “You should be resting.”

I stopped in my tracks and shrugged. “I’ve been resting for over a week now, and I feel much better,” I tried to explain. “In fact, being cooped up in bed all day just makes me feel worse.”

Nathan said nothing for a moment, and so I took my opportunity to walk past him and head for the door. However, he jogged after me.

“Olivia, I’m just worried about you,” he said, his voice laced with a combination of concern and annoyance.

I was getting tired of his concern, causing a hint of annoyance to seep into my voice as I turned around to face him. “Nathan, I'm fine. You're worrying too much. I really do appreciate your help, but I don't need constant surveillance.”

The hurt that flickered across Nathan's face was a blow I hadn't anticipated.

He lowered his gaze, his voice laced with a tinge of sadness. “I'm allowed to worry about you, Olivia. We're in this together, and I care about both you and our baby.”

His choice of words echoed in the silence, reverberating through my mind. What I said next slipped out of my mouth before I could stop it.

“Our baby?” I repeated, my eyes widening with surprise. “Nathan, it's not our baby. It's my baby, and I think I can tell when I’m healthy or not.”

Nathan’s mouth fell open in shock. His shoulders slumped, and his expression transformed into one of deep sorrow.

I felt my own body cringe at the nasty words that just slipped out of my mouth, and I decided immediately that I needed to reconcile it.

“I-I didn’t mean it like that,” I stammered. “I’m sorry. I think the pregnancy hormones are making me a bit volatile.”

I reached for Nathan’s arm to comfort him, but he pulled away before I could touch him.

“Nathan, really, I’m sorry,” I murmured, but it was too late.

Without a word, he turned and made his way towards the house, his figure retreating into the shadows.

I stood frozen, my heart pounding in my chest, the weight of my words settling upon me. I wanted to smack myself upside the head for not controlling my words.

However, that feeling of regret was quickly replaced by something else.

As I watched him disappear, a strange sensation enveloped me, sending shivers down my spine.

It was as if a dormant part of me had awakened, a whisper of my wolf stirring within. Confusion became mingled with curiosity as I struggled to comprehend the inexplicable connection. I reached out in my mind for my wolf, yearning for its presence, but it was still too far away.

But there was something else there, too — a scent.

It was powerful, alluring, and undeniably familiar. It swirled around me, teasing my senses with its tantalizing presence. I inhaled deeply, trying to discern its origin, but the scent remained elusive, leaving only a lingering trace of its essence.

If my wolf had been stronger, then maybe I could pick up the source of the scent; but for now, it just felt like a mysterious mist surrounding me, flooding my senses for several eternal moments before it suddenly sprang out of existence as though it had never been there at all.

Questions swirled in my mind, creating a tempest of uncertainty. Why did my wolf only seem to come out of its dormancy when Nathan was close to me? Was there a deeper connection between us that I had yet to uncover?

And that scent...