The Three Alphas

Chapter 35 - The Climb

Breakfast passed quickly and I soon found myself waiting for Oliver to finish packing his bag as I change into my hiking gear; a pair of running shorts, a sports bra, a loose tank top and a pair of walking shoes.

I wait for Oliver in the hallway and after a couple of minutes, I see him coming out of the kitchen.

"Ready to go, Love?" He asks with a grin and I respond with a nod.

"Alright, let's head off."

We make our way outside, and Oliver opens the car door for me to get in. It's a pretty basic gesture, but my heart flutters. It's gestures like that, that make me weak at the knees. 

"Thank you." I say with a soft smile as I get into the car. He shuts the door, quickly jogging to the other side. He puts his rucksack in the back before climbing into the driver's seat... and we were off. 

The gentle hum of the engine filled the car as Oliver drives down the winding roads leading us further into the wilder part of the pack land. Tall trees flanked both sides of the narrow road, their branches forming a natural canopy that blocked out the morning sun, casting everything in a serene, greenish glow. The windows are rolled down just enough to let in the cool breeze, bringing with it the earthy scent of pine and damp soil. Oliver's hand rested on the gearshift, his fingers drumming lightly to the beat of the song playing on the radio. I can't help but notice him sneaking glances at me, and every time our eyes met, he'd offer a soft smile, one that still made my heart skip a beat despite everything that's happened.

I'm finding it harder and harder not to just forgive him outright for what he'd done. He needs to work for it; show me that he really really wants Odette and I. But it's hard. Really hard. I just want things to go well between us, although I'm still slowly battling the part of me that wants to run for the hills. I haven't wanted a mate ever since my mother died. It's been years, and it's hard to just pull myself out of those thoughts. 

With the triplets being part of the Royal pack, they can't die. It's a huge relief, and comfort. I don't want to end up like my father; it was one of the reasons I didn't want a mate in the first place. I pull myself out of my thoughts, and decide to spark some conversation between us.

"So..." I say, breaking the comfortable silence, "how'd you find this trail? We've been driving for ages." I give him a teasing look, trying to lighten the air between us.

Oliver chuckles, glancing at me briefly before turning his attention back to the road. "Well, I've lived here all my life and I like to escape from time to time. Plus, as Alpha, it's kind of my job to know" he says with a small smirk. "I wanted this to be special. Somewhere secluded. I figured it'd be better to get away from everything and just... you know, focus on us for a bit."

His honesty caught me off guard, and I feel a familiar warmth stir in my chest. There was something vulnerable in the way he said it—an unspoken acknowledgment of the distance between us. I nodded, swallowing the sudden lump in my throat, and let my gaze drift back out the window. The tension that had lingered between us for so long was still there, but it felt different now—less like an invisible wall and more like a bridge we were cautiously trying to cross.

The road opens up into a small clearing and Oliver pulled over, parking the car. We both get out, and I stretched my legs, grateful for finally getting the chance to move. I inhale deeply, letting the fresh air fill my lungs and clear my head. Oliver grabs his rucksack from the car, and we begin heading to the trailhead that was just a few feet away, marked by a wooden sign. Beyond it, the path led into the dense forest, winding between a healthy mixture of tall pines and aged oak trees. The sound of birds chirping echo around us, mingling with the distant rustling of leaves.