The Shadows of Nadia
1297 Words
The drive to the coast was a study in uncomfortable silence. Ethan hadn't slept at the Pack House in two days, consumed by his new "Modernization Project"—a massive logistical overhaul that kept him locked in an office in the human city nearby. Love had intended to drive herself, but the Elders had been firm: a Luna-to-be does not travel the open roads alone while a bounty might still linger in the shadows.
"The Alpha was very specific about your security, Love," the driver muttered, his eyes fixed on the road ahead.
It was Mark, the same Beta who had once stood by the stable fence and laughed as he threw a jagged rock at her temple. Today, he wore a crisp suit and a professional scowl, but the scent of his old arrogance still lingered beneath his skin.
Love stared out the passenger window at the blurring trees. "The Alpha is busy, Mark. I’m surprised he could spare his favorite bully for a simple errand."
Mark’s knuckles whitened on the steering wheel. "I’m an Enforcer now. And I remember my orders. Ethan said if a single hair on your head is out of place, he’ll have mine." He glanced at her, a flicker of something like wary respect—or perhaps just pure fear—crossing his face. "Besides, we all saw what you did at the mountain. I’m not as stupid as I was four months ago."
"Good," Love replied, her voice cold. "Stupidity is a dangerous trait to carry around a Moon Descendant."
She leaned her head against the glass, her hand resting protectively over her stomach. The twins were restless today. She felt a dull, dragging fatigue that made her skin look almost translucent. The wolf-twin was demanding her strength, making her muscles ache, while the witch-twin was creating a strange, static hum in her mind that made it hard to focus.
I'm thinning out, she thought, catching her reflection. They are eating me from the inside.
When the SUV finally pulled up to the foggy seaside town, the scent of salt and roasted coffee hit her like a physical relief. She directed Mark to park a block away from The Sanctuary, wanting to walk the final few steps as herself, not as a political asset.
The bell above the café door let out its cheerful, familiar chime.
Inside, the atmosphere was a world away from the suffocating halls of Grayville. It was warm, lit by soft amber lamps, and buzzing with the low, peaceful murmur of human conversation.
Lulu was behind the counter, her vibrant red hair pulled back in a messy bun. She was laughing at something Alex had said, her face glowing with a vitality that Love hadn't seen in years. Alex stood beside her, his hand resting naturally on the small of her back as he reached for a bag of coffee beans.
Love stood in the doorway for a moment, just breathing it in. This was the life she had once dreamed of—simple, quiet, and safe.
Lulu looked up, her blue eyes widening behind her glasses. "Kelly? I mean—Love!"
She didn't wait for a greeting. Lulu scrambled around the counter, nearly tripping over a chair in her haste. She collided with Love in a fierce, breathless hug. "You’re here! We didn't think you'd make it out before the wedding!"
"I needed to see you," Love whispered, burying her face in Lulu's shoulder. She could smell lavender and cinnamon—not the lemon wax and wolfsbane of the Pack House.
Alex stepped forward, a warm, knowing smile on his face. "Welcome back to the real world, Love. You look like you need a triple-shot latte and a place to hide for an hour."
"I need both," Love admitted, pulling back to look at Lulu.
Lulu’s smile was radiant, but then it shifted into something deeper, something more secret. She took Love’s hand and placed it firmly against her own stomach. "I have a wedding gift for you, Love. Though it’s more for me and Alex."
Love’s breath hitched. She felt it—a tiny, flickering pulse of life beneath the fabric of Lulu's apron. "Lulu... are you?"
"Four months," Lulu whispered, her eyes shining with tears. "Alex is terrified, but he’s already started building a crib in the back room. I’m finally going to be a mother, Love. A real mother. No uniforms, no dungeons."
Love felt a wave of joy so sharp it was painful, followed immediately by a crushing, hollow guilt. Lulu was pregnant with a human life, a beautiful continuation of her happiness. Love was pregnant with an extinction event.
"I'm so happy for you," Love said, her voice trembling as she forced a smile. "You’re going to be the best mother Grayville never had."
"And you?" Lulu asked, her gaze searching Love’s pale face. "How are you feeling? You look... tired, Love. More than just wedding-prep tired."
Love opened her mouth to speak, to share the burden, but the door opened again.
Ethan walked in, looking sharp and exhausted in a charcoal-colored suit. He didn't look like he had been awake for forty-eight hours; he looked like a king arriving to inspect his territory. But it was the woman behind him that made the air in the café grow cold.
She was stunning. Her hair was a sleek, dark mahogany, her eyes a sharp, intelligent hazel. She wore a tailored suit that cost more than the café’s entire inventory.
"Ethan," Love said, standing straighter.
"Sorry we're late," Ethan said, walking over and pressing a brief, distracted kiss to Love’s forehead. He didn't notice her hand on her stomach. "The integration project ran long."
He gestured to the woman beside him. "Love, this is Nadia. She’s the lead architect from the venture firm I told you about. She’s been instrumental in setting up the new digital security perimeters for Grayville."
Nadia stepped forward, her smile perfect and professionally warm. She extended a hand, her skin looking flawless. "It’s an honor to finally meet the woman Ethan can't stop talking about. He told me the future of Grayville was in good hands, but he didn't mention how beautiful those hands were."
Love took her hand. It was steady, human, and entirely devoid of any magical signature. Yet, as their skin touched, Love felt a sudden, violent kick from the twins in her womb—a jolt of pure, instinctual warning.
"Nadia," Love said, her voice steady despite the static humming in her ears. "Ethan mentioned you were helping with the business side of the pack."
"Just helping to bring a bit of the modern world to the High Peaks," Nadia said smoothly. She turned to Lulu, her gaze falling briefly on Lulu’s stomach. "And you must be the friend. Congratulations on the little one. It’s a wonderful thing, bringing a new life into such a stable environment."
Lulu beamed, but Love felt the hair on her arms stand up. Nadia hadn't been told Lulu was pregnant.
Ethan clapped Alex on the shoulder, oblivious to the tension. "Let's eat. I’m starving, and tomorrow is a long day."
As they sat at the corner table, Love watched Nadia. The woman was charming, answering Alex’s questions about the human tech industry with ease, laughing at Ethan’s stories. She was the perfect partner. But every time Nadia looked at Love, the twins recoiled.
Something is wrong, Love thought, her fingers tracing the edge of her coffee mug. She’s too perfect. And the silence in her head is too quiet.
- Writer
