The Alpha’s Nanny (Lori and Gabriel) novel Chapter 15

**The Ocean Remembers Everything**
**By Julia Allan**
**Chapter 15**

“Alpha.”

The man spoke the word with a slight bow, his posture respectful yet tense. Ben. Yes, that was his name—Ben Oslo.

“Have they arrived?”

Gabriel inquired, his voice steady, betraying none of the anticipation that bubbled beneath the surface. The man nodded, his expression serious.

“We’ve kept them in the backroom. There are about twelve of them.”

Gabriel’s brow furrowed slightly as he processed this information.

“And did you check their tattoos? Are they ours?”

Ben let out a weary sigh, the weight of the task evident in his demeanor, yet he nodded in affirmation.

“Yes, it is ours. I had one of the elders who specializes in tattoos verify it. He insists he remembers inking them nearly twenty years ago.”

Gabriel’s eyes widened, his mind racing. Twenty years. That meant they had likely been around during his father’s reign. The question of their loyalty lingered in the air, a cloud of uncertainty that he was determined to clear. He had a gut feeling they were defectors, but he needed proof.

Meanwhile, Lori felt a wave of embarrassment wash over her. It was entirely justified. When Mr. Gabriel had unexpectedly walked in on her while she was breastfeeding Emilia, she had wished for the ground to open up and swallow her whole.

To her surprise, he hadn’t uttered a single word; instead, he simply apologized and left the room, leaving her feeling exposed and flustered. She had tried to find him afterward to explain, but he had already departed for work, leaving her with a lingering sense of awkwardness.

She hoped, with a flicker of anxiety, that he didn’t think it was strange.

As the hours dragged on, Lori found her day moving at a sluggish pace. Grace was out sick with the flu, which meant she was alone at work. Mr. Gregory, the butler, was kind and courteous, and they had shared breakfast together. Lori had practically begged him to join her at the table, feeling the weight of solitude pressing down on her. He had graciously obliged, and as they ate, she learned more about him.

Mr. Gregory’s face lit up when he spoke of his son, Tobias, who was studying medicine. The pride in his voice was palpable, and Lori listened intently as he recounted stories from his own childhood, each tale woven with nostalgia and warmth.

After tending to Emilia—feeding, bathing, and changing her—Lori had strapped the baby snugly in the new wrap that Grace had taught her to use just the day before. With Emilia peacefully asleep, Lori made her way downstairs, hoping to find something to occupy her mind.

She flicked through the channels on the television, but nothing caught her interest. She had never been much of a TV person; growing up, Mrs. Wyatt had enforced a strict ban on it, claiming it was filled with propaganda that would turn their minds to mush.

Lori recalled the countless hours she and Timothy had spent staring longingly at the screen, imagining the worlds that lay beyond their reach. Mrs. Wyatt was the only one allowed to indulge in the flickering images, often retreating to the living room late at night to watch soap operas while the two of them would sneak glances, hearts racing with the thrill of rebellion.

The day Jared had caught them was etched in her memory; he had told on them, and they had gone to bed hungry for three nights, punishment for their transgressions.

The one escape she had found was in books. During her time in Lawton, Oklahoma, she had borrowed countless volumes from the local library, losing herself in stories that transported her far from her reality. It had been ages since she had indulged in that passion, but perhaps she could rekindle it someday.

At that moment, Sylvia strolled past her, dusting the furniture with a feather duster in one hand and her hip cocked. An idea sparked in Lori’s mind, and she decided to seize the moment.

“Sylvia, are there books here?”

She asked, her curiosity piqued. Sylvia turned to her, an eyebrow raised.

“Yes, there are books in the study. Why do you ask?”

Lori shrugged, feigning nonchalance.

“I’m just a bit bored. Can I see the study?”

Sylvia’s expression shifted, and she shook her head gently.

“I’m sorry, but it’s off-limits. However, if you speak to Mr. Gabriel, he might allow you access.”

Lori nodded, a hint of disappointment creeping in.

With a sigh, she rose from the couch, feeling Emilia nestled snugly in the wrap, already asleep. The walls of the mansion felt increasingly confining, and she longed for the fresh air outside. While she had taken walks around the house, it was becoming monotonous.

Determined to break the cycle, she wandered into the garden, taking her time to appreciate the vibrant colors and sweet scents of the flowers. Each bloom seemed to whisper secrets of the past, and she inhaled deeply, letting the fragrances fill her senses.

Eventually, her curiosity drew her to the pool area, where the beach house stood. Whenever she was in her room, she would gaze out the window, hoping to catch a glimpse of someone or something, but she had always found nothing.

She had convinced herself that the occupant had vacated the premises—until she spotted Jenny carrying out a tray of food just the other night.

Mr. Gabriel, however, seemed oblivious to the presence of anyone living there.

Standing at a respectful distance from the beach house, Lori felt a strange sense of connection. She was convinced that the person inside could see her, that they were aware of her quiet vigil.

And she was right. Just a couple of minutes into her watch, the lock clicked, and Elliot stepped outside, shirtless.

Lori’s gaze flickered away, her cheeks flushing. Elliot, however, held his ground, his intense stare mirroring that of Mr. Gabriel, but with a distinct edge—one that felt almost predatory.

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