Chapter 243 What About Personal Things?

Chapter 243 What About Personal Things?
Rachel's POV

When Emma's steady voice cut through the fog of my fear, it felt like a lifeline.

"Mateo just ate something that upset his stomach," she said, her hands calm and precise as she checked his pulse. "It's not serious, just a tummy bug. Rest and meds will do the trick."

Relief flooded me, warm and overwhelming, loosening the vice around my heart. Mateo's small, flushed face, now relaxed in sleep.

Nathan's arm steadied me as we left the exam room, Mateo nestled against his chest, his tiny breaths a quiet reassurance.

"It's okay," Nathan murmured, his voice low and comforting against my ear. "One step at a time."

I looked up at Nathan and nodded, drawing strength from his steady presence.

Passing a side room, a sharp prickle of unease skittered down my spine, like a whisper of something wrong, but my mind was too frayed to chase it.

I brushed it off, blaming the raw edges of my nerves.

Victoria's bright voice broke through, pulling me back.

"Lounge is this way!" she called, her wave eager and warm.

We followed her into the small, cozy lounge, the soft hum of the compound filtering through the walls. Victoria turned to me, her eyes wide with worry. "Is Mateo okay? What happened?"

I tucked a loose strand of hair behind my ear, my fingers still trembling. "He's okay, just a stomach thing. First-time parents, you know? We panicked, didn't know what to do."

Nathan's low chuckle softened the air as he eased Mateo onto a cot in the corner, his large hands tender as he tucked a blanket around our son. "Yeah, first time being a dad, and one little barf makes me feel less like an alpha and more like a scared kid."

The Nathan I'd once feared—hard-edged, unyielding, an alpha who'd spill blood without a second thought—was nowhere in this man, whose eyes softened with every glance at Mateo.

Since we'd found our way back to each other, he'd been my rock, always checking if I was tired, taking Mateo's weight when I needed a moment.

I wasn't exhausted, not really, but watching Nathan hold our son, his face glowing with a love, mended something broken in me.

My own childhood, fractured and fatherless, had left scars, but Nathan's devotion to Mateo filled those empty spaces with warmth. Tears slipped down my cheeks, hot and unbidden, betraying the ache in my chest.

Nathan's face fell, and he stepped closer, his voice low and urgent. "Hey, love, don't cry. Mateo's fine. I've got him, I swear."

I tried to speak, but the door opened, and Apollo strode in with Emma's assistant. His voice was smooth. "Sorry, was just getting a check-up."

I wiped my tears, mustering a smile. "It's all good."

Victoria's face lit up, and she waved him over. "Baby, come sit with me!"

Apollo moved to her side without a beat, his arm sliding around her shoulders.

"That's Thalia," he said, nodding at the assistant. "She's interning here."

Nathan and I nodded, and I glanced at Thalia, her presence quiet but sharp. "We're okay now," I said. "You can go."

Thalia hesitated, her eyes flicking to Victoria. "Sure you don't want a physical? Pre-wedding check?"

Victoria's grin was bright. "Maybe tomorrow. Is Apollo healthy?"

Thalia said, ''The medical examination results won't be ready until tomorrow.''

Victoria nodded and said, "Then Apollo, come with me tomorrow. I don't want to have my examination today. By the way, we can check your test results too."

Apollo gently patted Victoria's head and said, "Sure thing, baby."

Victoria turned to Thalia and said, "We're all set here. You can go ahead with your other work."

Thalia nodded and slipped out, but I caught Apollo's gaze lingering on her, a fraction too long, his eyes tracking her until the door closed.

A cold unease coiled in my gut, but I pushed it down, telling myself I was imagining things.

Nathan's voice pulled me back, soft and steady. "Let's take Mateo home."

I paused, my eyes drifting to Apollo, who seemed off, his fingers drumming lightly on Victoria's shoulder, his focus elsewhere.

"Actually," I said, forcing my voice to stay even, "you wait here 'til Mateo wakes. Emma mentioned his next dose. You've got him, right, Nathan?"

He nodded, his gaze warm and reassuring. "Yeah. Where you headed, love?"

I flashed a playful smile, hiding the tension knotting my stomach. "Girls' day with Victoria."

Nathan laughed, shaking his head. "Alright, I'll try not to be too clingy. Just don't stay gone too long—I'll miss you."

"I'll miss you too," I said, meaning every word. I turned to Victoria. "Market? Shopping?"

Her eyes sparkled with excitement. "Yes!" She glanced at Apollo. "You in?"

He waved her off, his smile easy but thin, not quite touching his eyes. "Nah, girls' day isn't my scene. Just come back soon, babe. I'll be waiting."

Victoria's cheeks flushed, her giggle light and carefree. "Okay."

I bent over Mateo's cot, pressing a gentle kiss to his warm forehead. His soft, rhythmic breathing steadied my racing heart, grounding me in the moment.

Nathan caught my hand as I straightened up, his bottom lip jutting out in an exaggerated pout. "What about me?" he whined playfully, eyes twinkling with mischief. "The kid gets all the love these days?"

"They're literally right there watching us, you complete dork," I whispered, feeling a blush creep up my neck.

"Fine, you don't love me anymore," he teased, clutching his chest with dramatic flair, his mock hurt pulling an undignified snort from me. "I see how it is."

"Oh my god, you're impossible," I murmured, but I gave in anyway, brushing a quick kiss across his stubbled cheek.

The familiar scent of his body made my heart flutter traitorously. I quickly grabbed Victoria's hand, and tugged her toward the door.

"Bye!" Victoria called, waving at Nathan and Apollo.

"Bye," they said, Nathan's voice warm, Apollo's edged with something I couldn't place.

Outside, the compound buzzed with life, but a heavy unease settled over me, like a shadow I couldn't shake.

Maybe it was that woman's intuition, murmuring that something was wrong. Victoria's hand was warm in mine, her chatter bright and oblivious, but my mind kept circling back to Apollo's wandering eyes.

We headed toward the market, and I spotted Gina and Tyler in a dim alley, their voices low, heads close.

Victoria nudged me, whispering, "Tyler said he had 'work.' Looks like 'work' is Gina. Total romantic."

I smiled, catching Tyler's soft, earnest look. "He's a softie at heart, isn't he?"

Victoria giggled. "Oh, yeah. He's been into Gina forever. Found one of her hair clips at home once—he kept it for, like, five years. Total sap."

I laughed, but it faded as we moved on, leaving them to their moment. "And you and Apollo?" I asked, keeping my voice light. "How's that going?"

Her face glowed, pure joy. "He's perfect. So gentle, never gets mad."

I pressed, careful. "What's he done for you? Special stuff, you know?"

She thought for a moment. "He made breakfast today. It was so sweet—I felt like the luckiest girl ever."

My brow furrowed. "Just breakfast? Nothing else?"

She scratched her head, sheepish. "Well, the war kept him busy. He's always protecting the pack."

"That's his duty, Victoria," I said, sharper than intended. "What about personal things?"

She shrugged, unbothered. "He's a bit of a straight shooter, not big on gifts, but he's so good to me."

I sighed, doubting myself. Was I reading too much into Apollo's glance at Thalia?

My thoughts churned, but as we turned a corner toward the market, a figure slipped across a side street, swift and shadowy.

My breath caught, heart racing. That silhouette—familiar, but elusive.

Who was it? The warning in my gut sharpened, impossible to ignore.