The Alpha's Four Hidden Heirs (Natalie and Samuel) novel Chapter 98

**The City That Drowned in the Sound of Its Own Heartbeat**
**by Erynd Cal DusK**
**Chapter 98**

**NATALIE.**

Last night was a whirlwind of energy and excitement, and I couldn’t quite put my finger on what fueled it. Was it the sugar rush from the cupcakes, or was it simply the thrill of our impending move? The boys were practically bouncing off the walls, and I couldn’t help but chuckle when I caught Clayton cracking a rare smile. He was usually so serious, but last night, he was a bundle of joy. It took a firm threat to finally coax them into bed, but at least we had our bags packed and were ready for the journey ahead.

You might think that after all the running around and packing, exhaustion would sweep over me, dragging me into a deep sleep. But that was far from the case. As soon as I closed my eyes, Samuel invaded my thoughts, his presence haunting my dreams like a ghost. After tossing and turning for what felt like hours, I finally surrendered to my restlessness and climbed out of bed. The clock read four in the morning, a time when the world outside was still cloaked in darkness.

I shuffled to the bathroom, taking a long, hot shower that washed away the remnants of sleep. I scrubbed my hair, letting the warm water cascade over me, and once I was done, I slipped into my coziest clothes. The comforting fabric wrapped around me like a warm hug, and I made my way to the kitchen to brew a cup of coffee. It was a small comfort, and I turned on one of those reality shows featuring housewives, hoping to distract myself from the chaos swirling in my mind.

At some point, I must have dozed off on the couch because the next thing I knew, the sharp sound of knocking jolted me awake. Blinking against the bright light streaming through the window, I realized the sun had risen, casting a warm glow across the room.

With bleary eyes, I stumbled to the door, still half-asleep, and when I opened it, I was met with a sight I had least expected. There he stood—Samuel. My heart dropped, and before I could think, I slammed the door shut, the sound echoing in the quiet morning.

What was he doing here? I had barely managed to get any sleep, all because of him, and now he was at my doorstep, as if he had the right to be there.

“Natalie, are you going to open the door?” His voice was calm, almost teasing, but I could hear an undercurrent of impatience.

“I’m still contemplating it. What on earth are you doing here?” I shot back, my irritation evident.

“Natalie, I can’t have a conversation with you through a closed door. Would you please let me in?” His tone was firm, yet there was a hint of something softer beneath it.

Taking a deep breath, I reluctantly opened the door, plastering on a smile that felt more like a mask than a genuine greeting. “Good morning, Alpha Bowers.”

“Good morning, Ms. Edmund. May I come in?” he asked, his voice smooth and inviting.

“Sure,” I replied, stepping aside and opening the door wider. Thank goodness I had put on a face mask after my shower; otherwise, I would have had a lot of explaining to do. He was perceptive, and I had a nagging feeling he knew something was off, but I couldn’t quite decipher what it was.

“So, what brings you here this early?” I inquired, trying to keep my tone light despite the tension crackling in the air.

“I thought I’d bring over some breakfast,” he said, and that’s when I noticed the brown paper bag he was holding, the corner crinkling slightly as he shifted it in his grip.

“Oh, you didn’t have to do that, but thank you,” I replied, taking the bag from him and placing it on the kitchen counter, curiosity piqued.

“Where are your boys?” he asked, glancing around as if trying to catch a glimpse of them.

“They’re still asleep; they went to bed a bit late last night,” I informed him, and he nodded, his gaze sweeping over the living room.

Even my own wolf wasn’t on my side today. I made my way to the kitchen, curiosity leading me to explore what Samuel had brought. Inside the bag, I found two cups of hot cocoa and a cup of tea for myself. The shocking part was that he had gotten my exact order. How did he know?

I racked my brain, trying to recall if there had ever been a moment when I had made tea in front of him, and only one instance came to mind—the day I had breakfast with him and his kids. So, he remembered that?

That was actually quite sweet. I opened the cup and took a sip, savoring the taste; it was precisely how I liked it. Alongside the drinks, he had included croissants and bagels.

Well, that certainly made my morning easier. I wouldn’t have to scramble to make breakfast after all.

About ten minutes later, the boys finally stirred awake, and I instructed them to wash up. However, chaos ensued when I told Clayton he could only carry his tablet. The way he reacted, you’d think I had taken away his lifeline to the world.

“Clayton, I can’t keep going in circles with you. You can’t take your entire video game setup. Just the tablet, and that’s final,” I asserted, standing my ground while he glared at me defiantly.

“Fine,” he huffed, storming off in a huff.

Oh my God, how on earth would I handle them when they hit puberty or finally shifted?

“Alright, you two, do your last-minute checks. We leave in ten minutes!” I called out, trying to keep my voice steady amidst the brewing storm of emotions.