Avenging The Triplet Alphas
Chapter 18

Arielle's

POV

I felt my body tremble as Ethan spoke, the calmness and ferocity in his voice serenading me. My fears were beginning to dissipate into thin air as he wrapped his arm around my shoulder and pulled me close. They would come calling but knowing I had Ethan by my side gave me all the assurance I could ever need.

I smiled at the first memory I have of us together.

I was a week after I arrived, I had grown weary of being in bed all the time so I decided to take a stroll to clear my head. It was a bit confusing figuring out what stairs to take but I eventually made my way downstairs and went into the woods, seeking solace and the quiet it would bring.

As I made my way through the woods, taking in the beauty of nature and listening to the chirping of the singing birds, a powerful scent filled my nostrils as I approached a clearing. There was a man engrossed with the book in his hands that he didn't notice me invading his privacy. He was the same man that brought me here and I hadn't seen him since the first night I woke up screaming in my sleep.

I stood there, undecided about if should leave or approach him to offer my thanks for taking me in, not many packs would do that for me.

Are you going to keep standing there or will you come closer?

I gasped as I heard him speak, his eyes still fixed on the book in his hands.

You don't have anything to be afraid of.

His words had a calming effect on me and I summoned my courage and approached him where he sat, a shy smile on my face.

Luciana tells me you've fully recovered.

I have. I quickly replied. I wanted to thank you for bringing me into your pack and nursing me back to good health. I don't know how to repay your kindness.

You don't have to and I'm not going to hold you to that. We haven't been properly introduced yet. I watched on in silence as he held out his hands towards me. My name's Ethan, it's a pleasure to meet you.

I shook his hand. The pleasure is all mine, my name's Arielle.

Soon after that, we were both talking and making jokes like we had been friends for several years, the words flowing effortlessly as we both lost track of time.

That was the first time and soon after, it turned into a ritual. They would often spend their evenings walking in the woods, discussing random things. The more they spent time together, the more I realized that he was different from anyone else that I had ever seen before.

He could decipher my thoughts and feelings without me saying a word, he knew what to say to calm my fears and how to make me laugh. His understanding was genuine and he never seemed to lose his temper whenever I was being difficult. He often followed me to the hospital and listened attentively to whatever the doctor would say and he would make sure I followed every single detail.

The weeks turned into months and our bond began to deepen, despite our reluctance to acknowledge the feelings that were beginning to develop. They were both broken and restricted, filled with the apprehension that came with starting all over from scratch but they remained together.

Slowly, I began to see the vivid picture we were both painting, a future where neither of us was held back by a sense of uncertainty or fear, a future filled with love and contentment. A future where he would be devoted to me, promising to be my anchor and cherishing me unconditionally.

"Thank you," I whispered. "You took me in when you didn't have to and you've made me one of yours."

"That's all in the past now, we can only look forward to the future from now on and I want a future with you in it."

I tried to stop it but I ended up blushing as hard as I could.

I've always had a crush on him but it never went past that. I mean, who would want to be with a pregnant 18-year-old who was jilted at the altar?

I was still smarting from the pain of being rejected and I wasn't ready to jump into anything else but being so close to him as the months rolled by was becoming harder, I tried severally to let him go, to put an end to our daily rituals but I couldn't.

Hearing the words roll out of his mouth had sent me into overdrive. My warning bells went off and my wolf was beside herself with joy, my emotions were in a state of disarray.

I wanted nothing to do with him but I couldn't let him go.

"What happens after our first date?" I asked, wanting to relay my fears to him to gain some insight into what we were about to commit to.

"We take it slow," Ethan smiled at me. "I don't think either of us would want to take the bold step of being mated right now and I want to do it differently this time."

I let out a huge sigh of relief. "Thank you."

He merely shrugged. "I don't mind waiting for you, I'm not fully ready myself."

He was perfect. He knew the right words to say and how to make me feel safe in his presence and with his words of affirmation.

Whilst I wouldn't mind giving us a shot, I wasn't ready to do so now. All I could think of was my pup growing inside of me and how much I would love to be the best mother to my child. If the moon goddess destined me to meet another who would love me just the way I desired to be loved then Ethan would wait for me and in turn, I would do the same for him.

"Have you decided on a name yet?"

I looked up at him. "What?"

"A name for your child, have you decided what it would be?" Ethan said, gesturing to my stomach.

"I haven't but I've been thinking about it for a while now, Luciana has been helping out." I smiled at the blissful moment I shared with her a while ago. "We came up with a few names that made the final selection." "What are they?" He asked again.

"Do you promise not to freak out?" I asked this time, stifling my laughter.

"Why does it feel like you're up to something mischievous?" Ethan narrowed his eyes at me which only made me burst out in laughter.

"I'm not," I replied, trying to maintain my composure. "I pictured your reaction to the names and it made me laugh."

"You have my attention now." Ethan braced himself, his eyes were fixed on me.

"I'm holding out for a surprise so I decided not to check the child's gender. After spending hours debating with Luciana over what names would suit my child best, we decided on a couple of names." I began, rubbing my stomach.

"If it's a girl, she would be named after my mother, Lily. If it's a boy, Ethan-Blake, after you and my father."

I waited for him to say something but he stared at me in shock, his eyes wide.

"I can't accept that." He choked out after a few seconds of awkward silence.

"Luciana said you would refuse and I told her I wouldn't budge," I argued. "You saved my life and I wouldn't be here right now if it weren't for you. So suck it up, Ethan. My decision is final."

Ethan stared at me for a while and I was squirming under his intense gaze, he wanted to say something but he was holding himself back fueling my curiosity.

"What?" I whispered, my eyes unable to break away from his gaze.

"I think I'm falling in love with you, Arielle." Ethan began, "And I understand if="

"I'm falling in with you, Ethan," I replied, cutting him short. "We should've done this sooner, isn't it?"

Ethan laughed. "What if I had fumbled my words or shut you out completely?"

"I don't think that would've happened," I said.

"I guess you're right." He shrugged.

"We've both tried to leave before, more than a couple of times but we couldn't bring ourselves to," I added. "My best guess is that this was always meant to be."

"Do you believe in fate, Arielle?" Ethan was stroking my hands, inciting a feeling that had been dormant for a long time now.

"I believe we create our fate."

"I couldn't have said it any better."

"Mhm," I was getting lost in his touch.

"Can I kiss you, Arielle?"

A smile crept up my face, he was ever the gentleman.

"We should've done this sooner," I whispered before crashing my lips against his.