OliviaThe moment Elder Mingan turned her attention to me, it felt like the ground beneath my feet had vanished.I tried to rally myself, to muster the strength to respond to the mounting challenge, but my throat felt dry, and words eluded me. My secret—that my wolf was dormant, hidden deep within, inaccessible to even me—weighed heavily on my shoulders.“Well?” Elder Mingan asked, cocking her head to the side so that her gray hair fell onto her shoulder. “Prove your claims, Miss Olivia. Is Alpha Nathan being truthful about your matehood, or is this another ploy to get what you both want, just as it was when you lied to everyone the first time?”At Mingan’s words, a slight gasp rippled through the crowd.The first time.It was something that never left my mind, night and day. Most people were understanding of Nathan’s excuse when he gave his press conference, but not everyone. Some people still viewed us as liars, taking advantage of the sanctity of the mate bond to achieve our goals.
OliviaNathan and I walked the distance back to our home in silence. The events of the day seemed to weigh him down, his broad shoulders slightly hunched and his stride slightly slower than usual. I stole glances at him, noticing the furrow of his brows and the slight tension of his jaw.The door to our home clicked shut behind us, and the familiar scent of our safe haven enveloped me. Nathan exhaled audibly, like he had been holding his breath throughout our journey. He leaned against the door, looking more exhausted than I had ever seen him before.But there was a glint in his blue-green eyes—a sort of satisfaction, perhaps, that he had taken a stand against the absolute rule of the Elders, even if doing so was a gamble.…The muted light of dusk gently poured into the room, casting a serene glow that seemed to wrap around us like a comforting embrace. Elliot and Aurora, swaddled in soft blankets, lay nestled on the plush living room rug between Nathan and me.Aurora, with her dark
OliviaThe tension in the air had been palpable for far too long.Between the mysteries surrounding us, our concern for the twins, and the weight of the unknown, it felt as though a heavy cloud loomed over our heads. So, when Nathan suggested an unexpected trip to his family’s old cabin, I couldn’t resist the urge to escape, if only for a short while.“Remember how we used to poke the honeycombs?” Nathan asked as we turned onto a gravel path, the dense woods on either side feeling both inviting and intimidating.I smiled. “Of course. We used to get our fingers all sticky, and then lick the honey off. It was divine… and messy.”“Exactly,” he chuckled. “I think it’s about time we let Aurora and Elliot experience a little bit of our paradise.”“I’m surprised you kept the property, if I’m being honest,” I said, taking note of the way that the air seemed to drop in temperature as we made our way into the forest. “After everything, I mean.”Nathan was silent for a moment. “I know,” he final
OliviaThe soft lapping of the water, the wind rustling the leaves, the distant chirps of birds—this place was magic.Nathan had set up a cozy area near the edge of the little pond by the cabin with blankets and soft cushions. He gently dipped Aurora’s toes into the cool water, the baby’s giggles echoing with delight.Elliot, on the other hand, wrinkled his nose, clearly unimpressed with the sensation.“Aurora seems to like it,” I remarked, laughing as Nathan tried to appease Elliot by bouncing him gently in his arms.“Well, at least one of them does,” Nathan chuckled, wiping away a droplet that had managed to find its way onto Elliot’s cheek.As evening descended upon us, Nathan took out a vintage gramophone, placing it on a nearby table. Soon, soft melodies filled the air.The soft strains of the gramophone filled the evening air, its melodic tones intertwining with the gentle sounds of nature. Nathan reached out, his fingers brushing mine, sending a familiar tingle down my spine.“
OliviaThe landscape of my vision was surreal, like the heart of a dream. Everything was tinged in an ethereal glow, and the boundaries of reality seemed to blur. Standing before me was a majestic figure—my wolf.With piercing eyes and an aura of power, she exuded an air of both familiarity and mystery.“You must lift the spell, Olivia,” she rumbled, her voice echoing through the space. Her gaze held mine with an intensity that was almost palpable. “Only then will you realize your destiny.”The words resonated within me, filling me with both dread and hope. But they also brought forth a thousand questions. “But… how?” I pleaded. “How do I lift the spell?”But even as I asked, the vision began to disintegrate. The ground beneath me became insubstantial, and the colors started to fade, blending into a monochromatic haze.My wolf’s form wavered, like a mirage on a hot day.She took a step closer, her voice strained, fighting against the encroaching void. “To find your way, you must find
OliviaThe gentle roar of the waterfall faded as we began our walk back to the cabin. The sun sat low in the sky, casting a golden hue over everything and bathing the forest in warm, soft light. It seemed like the woods themselves were holding their breath, waiting for the magic hour to fully descend.Nathan reached out, lacing his fingers through mine.His grip was firm, yet gentle—a constant reminder of his steadfast presence. The path was uneven, a mosaic of roots, rocks, and moss, but with Nathan by my side, I felt grounded, even invincible.As we approached a steeper part of the trail, Nathan’s free hand automatically went to my waist, steadying me. A particularly tricky section had rocks acting like nature’s staircase. Nathan went first, turning around to guide me down.“Give me your other hand,” he said. I did, and with his hands securely holding mine, I felt the reassuring pull of his strength as I navigated the uneven terrain.Every step I took, Nathan’s eyes never left mine,
OliviaThe wind howled outside, its mournful voice echoing through the dense trees that surrounded the cabin.Inside, the room was bathed in a dim, golden light from a single bedside lamp. The warm duvet wrapped around me felt like a thin shield, one that seemed increasingly insufficient against the unseen terrors lurking in the darkness.Every creak of the floorboards, every rustle of the leaves, made my heart skip a beat. I found myself holding my breath, straining to decipher if the noises were just nature’s whims or something more sinister.Beside me, Nathan lay still, his eyes trained on the ceiling.Every so often, he would turn to me, his gaze searching mine, trying to decipher the tumult of emotions I felt. I could sense his own anxiety, tightly reined in but palpable.“Do you think someone’s out there?” I whispered, clutching the sheets closer.He paused, considering. “It’s probably just the wind and animals. This place has always been filled with sounds at night.”Yet, despi
OliviaThe morning air was crisp and carried a hint of pine as we drove away from our brief hideaway, the villa nestled in nature’s embrace. Heading back to the bustling heart of the pack’s territory felt both comforting and nerve-wracking, especially after the recent events that had shaken our lives.“I need a coffee,” I muttered, my eyes scanning the passing scenery. “Stopping at that little cafe in town sounds good right about now.”Nathan chuckled. “The one with the raspberry scones you love?”I nodded enthusiastically. “Exactly that one!”As we approached the town, the familiar landscape of brick and stone buildings came into view. We parked in front of the quaint little coffee shop named ‘Moonlit Brew’.Its facade, adorned with hanging plants and vintage signage, gave it an old-world charm.We entered, immediately enveloped by the warm, rich aroma of freshly ground coffee. It was cozy inside, with wood-paneled walls lined with black and white photographs of the town from a bygon
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.