NathanThe morning sun spilled through the gaps in the curtains as I uncapped the first can of yellow paint, the aroma of fresh possibility filling the room.Olivia had showed me the nursery last night, a room filled with hope but untouched by human hands. It was one of the sunniest rooms in the villa—it used to be her aunt’s study, but had been left empty since her aunt passed away—and deserved a bright, cheerful interior.I could see the anxiety in her eyes last night, the embarrassment, and the longing. But mostly, I saw the love she had for the child she was yet to meet. And I decided to surprise her with a freshly painted room when she awoke.That morning, I woke up extra early, just as the sun was rising, to get to work. With any luck, I would have the first coat of paint finished by the time she awoke. But I had more plans than just painting the walls yellow. I had a special surprise for Olivia, and I hoped that it would make her smile.As I dipped the brush into the soft yello
OliviaA soft breeze caressed my face as I stepped onto the porch, carrying a tray.The scent of the flowers blooming on the bushes on either side of the steps mingled with the sound of the birds chirping in the eaves above, creating a calming atmosphere. In the distance, the vibrant hues of the garden seemed to dance, mirroring the peace inside of my heart. Clint was whistling to himself as he paced back and forth amongst the hedges, clipping overgrown branches and pruning the hydrangea bushes.I found Nathan sitting on the swinging bench, his eyes closed, a peaceful expression on his face—a far cry from the delirious and wild look in his eyes from the paint fumes earlier. He looked so content, so at home, and my heart swelled with gratitude for having him back in my life.“Hey there,” I called out softly, not wanting to startle him, carrying a tray with a sandwich and a cup of steaming tea. “I brought you something to eat.”His eyes fluttered open, and a warm smile spread across his
OliviaThe rhythmic tapping of a hammer against wood filled the nursery as I folded tiny clothes, neatly placing them into the dresser.Nathan was hard at work putting together the rocking chair, his focus and determination creating a sense of warmth and security that seemed to permeate the room. The sounds of our busy morning, coupled with the distant chirping of birds, created a homey ambiance that I couldn’t help but soak in.It was the day after Nathan’s giddy painting spree. We had just finished dinner, and had gotten straight to work on setting up the nursery. As time went on, I realized that Nathan was right; if it was twins, it could cause a lot of issues.By not finding out about the specifics of the pregnancy, we could be putting together a lot of last-minute furniture, making a lot of last-minute purchases, and adding a lot of unnecessary stress during a time when we already had enough stress.Maybe I was being avoidant about the looming delivery date, and that was why I wa
OliviaThe chimes of the grocery store’s entrance jingled as I walked through the automatic doors, my shopping list crinkled in my grip. It was a pleasant, sunny afternoon, and my spirits were lifted with the brightness outside.Perusing through the aisles, mentally ticking off items from my list, I caught sight of a familiar face in the produce section. Carol, from my yoga class, waved enthusiastically, her curly auburn hair bobbing as she approached.“Olivia!” She greeted, grinning widely. “How have you been? And how's everything going with your husband?”Confused, I blinked back at her. “My what?”She laughed, a little too loudly, drawing some attention from other shoppers. “Oh, come on! Nathan, of course! Aren't you two married and living together now?”My cheeks flushed, the warmth of embarrassment spreading across my face. “No, Carol, we’re not married. We’re just...friends. But yes, he's living with me right now to help me with the pregnancy.”“Oh, my mistake! You two just look
OliviaThe sun was setting, casting a golden hue over my garden. The light shimmered off the dewdrops on the grass, making it look like a field of glistening diamonds.We had moved the party outside, with a makeshift dance floor where Angela was showing off her latest salsa moves, and a corner where the little ones were chasing each other with their tiny, squealing laughter filling the air.The aroma of the barbecued food filled the evening, and soft music played in the background. I watched as Clint tried to outdo Levi in a ridiculous dance-off, and for a moment, it felt perfect.Sinking down onto the swing that sat overlooking the backyard, I found myself watching Nathan from afar. His laughter was infectious as he grilled, bantering with Levi and Angela. The lightness in his demeanor made my heart flutter; to see him so happy and carefree after those months of strife made me feel at ease.I was so engrossed in my thoughts that I didn’t even notice Clint taking a seat beside me unti
OliviaMy baby shower, the wonderful display of friendship, love, and family was shattered by the fight. Now, all that was left in its wake was the sound of Ryan’s car receding down the street. That was when the murmurs began.I could hear Janet, one of our neighbors, whispering to another mother.“This isn’t right,” she hissed, clutching her child’s hand tightly, drawing him away. “It’s not safe here. And the nerve of her, entertaining two men!”The comments were insinuations, cloaked in feigned concern. I could feel the weight of their stares, like stones being cast at me. I wanted to scream, to explain that this wasn’t at all what it looked like. That Ryan had disappeared on me, never once showing concern for our unborn child.And now, he just showed up out of nowhere, expecting… what, exactly?A surge of anger welled up inside of me as I watched the other guests filter out and heard their murmurs of disapproval, but I forced it down. I wouldn’t give them the satisfaction of seeing
OliviaThe beach stretched ahead, an unending carpet of pale sands kissing the obsidian water under the canopy of twilight.The sea sang its nightly lullaby, and the receding sun cast long, wavering shadows across the sand. Nathan’s silhouette was just one of them, a dark outline against the shimmering expanse of the horizon.As I drew closer, my heart raced in a symphony of uncertainty and hope. He looked handsome as he stood as still as a statue, looking out over the waters. I joined him, quietly stopping at his side.The blanket, tucked securely under my arm, suddenly felt heavy.“Hey,” I whispered now that I had finally reached him. The word hung in the air for a moment before dissipating into the gentle hum of the waves.He looked up, a silent acknowledgment of my presence. “Olivia,” he said after a moment, “what are you doing out here? You should be resting.”Frowning, I extended the blanket to him. “You should wrap this around yourself,” I murmured in response. “It’s getting co
OliviaThe coastline greeted me with a peaceful aura the next morning. As the soft light of dawn painted the sky in hues of pink and orange, I was momentarily distracted by the smell of bacon wafting through the open window of my bedroom.It was unusual for me to wake up to the aroma of a cooked meal. Not only that, but the sound of someone knocking and calling my name.“Olivia? You awake?”It was Nathan.I sat up, adjusting my hair, which had gone wild during sleep.“Um, yeah,” I said, my voice gravelly from sleep. “Come in.”And there he was. Nathan, standing by the doorway with a tray filled with delectable breakfast goodies: pancakes stacked high with a dollop of butter on top, crispy bacon, freshly squeezed orange juice, and a small vase with a single wildflower.“For you,” he began sheepishly, avoiding my gaze.“I didn’t expect this,” I admitted, eyes wide.“I thought I’d make it up to you after last night.” He placed the tray on the bedside table. “Sorry, Olivia.”We adjusted o
OliviaI gripped the edges of the podium, my knuckles whitening from the strain as I stared out over the sea of faces. All eyes were trained squarely on me, awaiting my words. But I was frozen.A tremor of nausea wormed its way up my throat as I stared out at them. What was I thinking—how could I have ever agreed to this? Speaking to crowds had never been my forte; that was Nathan’s arena, not mine. I was just the woman behind the scenes, the young mom who had never gone to college, the one who had been handed her job by her husband…Suddenly, a flicker of motion off to the side caught my eye—Nathan, standing just at the edge of the stage with his arms folded across his chest. Even from this distance, I could feel the weight of his steady gaze, that piercing Alpha stare that always seemed to see straight into the depths of my soul.He must have sensed my faltering because, slowly, deliberately, he offered me the faintest of smiles and a single, reassuring nod.And just like that, the
Olivia I looped my arm through Nathan’s as we stepped down from the podium, the applause from the crowd and the flashing of cameras having finally subsided after what felt like an eternity. “It’s over,” Nathan beamed, giving my arm a squeeze. “That wasn’t so bad.” I couldn’t help but grin back at him. “No, it wasn’t. You were great up there.” And he really had been great; the press conference had been an overwhelming success—any lingering doubts or trepidation we had harbored before had been utterly blown away by the sheer force of the crowd’s enthusiastic response. For so long, it had felt like we were fighting this battle alone, like the victims who had suffered under Dan’s horrific operation were little more than nameless, faceless casualties. But today, we had finally given them a voice. Their stories had reached the masses, had resonated and struck a chord with everyone who watched. Nathan had handled all of the questions that were thrown his way with poise and ease
OliviaI rapped my knuckles lightly on the door to Nathan’s office. A moment later, his voice called out, “Come in.”Stepping into the room, I placed my hands on my hips upon seeing the scene in front of me: Nathan was standing in front of the mirror, his shirt still untucked and his tie loosened. His desk was a mess of papers and folders, and it was clear that he had been checking over his notes last-minute before the press conference.
OliviaI wiped a bead of sweat from my brow, slowly turning to survey the progress that had been made in the park. The banners we had hung were a bold purple color, signifying our support of the women who had been affected by the trafficking ring.I couldn’t help but smile a bit as I looked at our progress. With the press conference today, followed by a festival to help raise funds for the shelter we were building, the park was bustling with activity as our pack members worked hard
NathanI leaned back in my chair with a weary sigh, pinching the bridge of my nose in a futile attempt to stave off the encroaching headache. Spread out on my desk was an array of file folders, legal pads scrawled with notes, and printed transcripts—a minefield of information that would need to be carefully navigated on the day of the upcoming press conference.It had been two weeks since Dan and Montgomery’s bodies were found in the confinement pit, and it had been a dizzyin
OliviaMy hands shook uncontrollably as I stepped up to the edge of the pit, clutching the metal grating until my knuckles turned white. A thick, cloying stench wafted up from the darkness below—the unmistakable reek of death and decay.Despite the waves of nausea already roiling in my gut, I leaned forward for a closer look.
OliviaThe air coming through the open windows smelled like the fresh sea breeze as we made our way from room to room, touring every nook and cranny of the newly completed cottage. It was perfect—cozy and quaint, while still boasting all the modern amenities one could want. But more than that, it was a sanctuary, a haven.A fresh start.
OliviaThe sound of power tools outside streamed in through the window while I folded the laundry, a distant backdrop to my swirling thoughts. I had grown used to the sound, and actually kind of enjoyed it. It was a reminder that life went on, that our family was growing.It had been a couple of weeks since I had made the decision to take a temporary leave from work in order to really focus on my family—on rebuilding that long-severed bond with my mother—and I was glad I did.
NathanI couldn’t stop the rage from simmering just beneath the surface as I made my way through the darkened forest toward the confinement pit. No one knew I was here—I was coming under the cover of night, my hair and face concealed by a hood.But I had to come. I couldn’t stop thinking about Dan and Montgomery, and I needed to see them.