Avenging The Triplet Alphas
Chapter 32

Arielle's POV

I couldn't contain my excitement over how giddy I felt when I learned the news that Ethan was finally returning from his self-imposed hiatus.

My first thought was to flood him with questions as to why he left me here, alone and without any support aside from Luciana but I knew the joy of seeing him after quite a while would surely overshadow that idea.

I hurriedly made my way down the stairs, eager to see him before he made his way inside the mansion. Luciana had yelled for caution as soon as I heard him drive in through the gaze, I hurriedly kissed Ethan-Blake and Luciana on both cheeks and within the blink of an eye, I was standing out in front, waiting for Ethan to appear.

Throughout my time here, one thing I learned was how to study Ethan's emotions. He didn't leave much to the naked eye but I could tell when he had something bugging him.

As soon as he made his way out of the car, I could tell he was worried. His forehead was creased and his eyes seemed lost, it was like he had a lot of things on his mind. Was that why he came home so suddenly without having informed anyone?

Judging from the look of things, he didn't have his personal security detail with him like he usually did.

"Ethan, what's wrong?" I rushed over to him, eager to figure out what was going on.

"Can we talk somewhere else?" He replied, before tossing his keys to the valet standing next to him. "There are a lot of eyes out here and I'd love to have some privacy."

My sense of worry heightened immediately, I had never seen Ethan so guarded before. He was always so carefree amongst his pack members but it seemed something had changed drastically.

"Your office," I suggested. "I had it cleaned yesterday, we can talk there."

He nodded and began walking briskly towards the stairs. I decided to address a couple of the guards loitering around before joining him.

"The Alpha needs no disturbance right now. If anyone asks to see him, politely turn them down till I tell you otherwise. Are we good?"

"Yes, Miss." They nodded and followed after me as we trailed in Ethan's wake.

We made our way up the stairs and I entered the office, locking the door behind me while the guards positioned themselves on either side of the door.

Ethan was standing next to the large portrait hung above his chair just behind his mahogany table. It was his favorite painting, it was one of his parents standing next to each other.

My eyes found their way to the portrait, the artist captured the love radiating from the way they held each other so tenderly. Then there was young Ethan, staring at them with his huge eyes, a small smile on his face. It wasn't that difficult to figure out why this portrait had a lot of sentimental significance to him, it was the last photograph they took together as a family.

"My father was one of the wisest people I ever knew when he was alive," He began without turning to face me, his eyes fixed on the huge painting. "I can't remember much from my past anymore, you know, the details are becoming a little bit blurry. The only thing that has stuck is memories before the war."

"Ethan, what's going on?" I began, walking tentatively towards him. "You've been acting weird lately."

"Ethan, what's going on?" I began, walking tentatively towards him. "You've been acting weird lately."

"I've been thinking a lot ever since I left," He ignored my question. "What would my father do if he were in my position right now? I've been plagued by a thought that has worried me for a while now. I thought it was something big, something significant that I had to take time off and deal with but I encountered a much bigger problem."

"Ethan," I began again, feeling slightly hurt at being ignored. "You once promised not to shut me out and you're doing that right now."

The pain in my voice seemed to get through to him as he turned to face me. "Arielle,"

"Why'd you leave me here alone, Ethan?" I asked. "You've never done that before and I know you wouldn't do it if something didn't happen."

"I want to tell you why, I want to let you why I've been distant this past week but I can't right now."

Before I could open my mouth to argue, he hurriedly added.

"We've got more pressing issues to deal with, we can talk about that later."

"What could be more important than wanting to know why my fiancé left me alone for a whole week?" I sounded frustrated at this point.

Something was going on with him, I could tell. There was this pensive mood that had taken over him, he was anxious over something. Something of a great magnitude, I tried to come up with possible scenarios as to what could have him so rattled but I ended up with nothing.

"They're back, Arielle. Just like you said."

I stared at him, trying to process the words he just said. "What do you mean? Who's back?"

"The Van Tyson's. They're back, just like you said they would." Ethan said again.

I was at a loss for words. I felt my knees wobble as I tried to grab onto something before I crashed to the ground. I could feel the walls closing in around me. I felt the vicious pounding of my heart banging repeatedly against my ribcage.

I shut my eyes tightly. I could still hear myself yelling their names over the cacophony of hundreds of people with their faces staring and laughing hysterically as they pointed at me.

"Klaus wouldn't peddle me with fake news. They're coming and they're coming for you."

I remained silent for a while, trying to regain my composure before I could get any word out of my mouth.

"Did he tell you anything else? Something like a more detailed explanation on why they wanted to find me."

My fear had toned down a little; slipping away from me like a nightmare slips away from a haunted man, who wakes eyes-wide, gulping with goosebumps covering every inch of his cold skin, who takes deep breaths trying to recollect the terrors, making sure it was all a dream and slowly, he begins to forget it ever happened. Half of it is gone as soon as his wobbly feet hit the cold tiles in his bedroom, a quarter of it by the time he emerges from the shower; and all of it by the time his weary head hits his plush pillow. "You need to sit down for this," Ethan took one long look at me before gesturing towards one of the chairs in his office.

I nodded and slowly made my way toward one of the leather chairs facing the mahogany table next to where he stood.

"How did they find me, Ethan?" I spluttered and looked at him.

"You've been quite a sensation lately." He answered. "But according to Klaus, they employed the services of two of the best investigators around and they've been searching for you for quite a while now. I for one am certain that the Van Tyson's know everything about you and every detail was properly documented and reported."

"That was why you were reluctant in discussing it in front of the servants," I whispered and he nodded in agreement. "You feel there's a mole in your pack."

"Yes, but that is the least of my worries right now. My main priority is to protect you and Ethan-Blake from the Van Tyson's." He replied.

"My son?" I furrowed my eyebrows in confusion. "What does he have to do with this? It's me they want."

"Haven't you been listening to anything I said or you're refusing to believe why they're coming back for you?"

I shook my head, not wanting to bring myself to believe anything he was saying.

"A Van Tyson always comes back for one of its own. You said these words to me yourself."

They're coming for me and my son but I wasn't going to let them have their way, not in this life or the rest.

I took several deep breaths to calm myself down. Something wasn't adding up. Why were they back? I was suddenly eager to find out, the move reeked of desperation. While their words were true, they wouldn't go through all this trouble if they weren't going through a crisis and suddenly, I began to look for ways to finally carry out my mission.

"Ethan," I began, drawing his attention back to me. "I know you'll think I'm out of my mind but I want you to trust me and accept their invitation to meet me."

"What?" He frowned and stared at me as I had suddenly grown a second head.

"Before I left the pack after their banishment, I made a promise to have my revenge on all of them." I began, hoping he would see reasons with me this time. "I took an oath and fate has given me a window of opportunity to make it happen. They wouldn't be coming after me if there wasn't anything that required me to help sort out. Unlike the previous time, I will be revered this time and I'll have all the chips at my disposal."