Chapter 09
Ethan
My father woke me up early, saying that Demetrius wanted to move the wedding date closer to spring. I accepted his words, but inside I was destroyed.
I wish he had been scared of the vulture threat and somehow given me space. But that didn”t make him want to torture me anymore.
I barely knew him and didn”t even care.
— I don”t know what happened on your brief trip, but he called me saying he couldn”t wait seven months. Let”s hope the child is born sooner. — My father blurted out the words with unfounded excitement in his voice.
I fell silent and my throat closed, a lump had formed and despair was gnawing at my chest. How would I get rid of this damn thing?
— I believe he is a decent companion. — I smile awkwardly, I think we could talk about the pregnancy, he would understand.
— No, he wouldn”t understand my son, he”s an alpha and like everyone else, he expects his first heat to be his. — my father sighed. — I know I”m being unfair and immoral in preparing the wedding, but it”s necessary, either that, or you will be marked in the community and if the leadership thinks that you are not fit for our life, they will exile you and in doing so, your days will be numbered. in the hands of the Vulture.
— Who is a vulture? — I asked, playing dumb, obviously I knew him, but I didn”t know what his profession was.
— I don’t want to know… — my father pondered, sighing heavily.
— If you ever hear that name, run as fast as you can and don”t let him set his eyes on you. — Andrey commented — Vulture is cruel in every way, if there was kindness in that being, that kindness was destroyed ten years ago with the fire that killed his entire family.
This would be a good time to tell them that I had seen him and that I had spoken to him and worse, he had kissed me. But I didn”t take his words seriously. Vulture would be unable to harm me. I felt it just by looking at him.
I knew I could never be close to the Vulture, he was just someone who appeared in tense moments, I swear until the day before I imagined he was a vision, but he wasn”t. I had just had confirmation of its existence.
Aleph and Asaph had a talk with Demetrius, they explained that I was skittish and needed to be tamed. — I know, I feel bad for them too — Demetrius in turn said that he was waiting to see me at the moon party.
On the date in question the child would have already been born and that made me calmer, if I could use that word, since I arrived in this city, everything bad happened to me. Karise, Asaph and Andrey seem to be the only ones who can understand me.
But it was one morning that everything got even stranger. As usual, everyone left early for work, leaving me alone at home. I took the opportunity to sleep. It was already five months old, soon the child would come into the world and soon I would have just a second to look into his eyes.
As I slept hugged a thick woolen blanket, I heard a noise in the house. I woke up immediately, went out into the hallway and when I reached the bottom of the stairs, there he was, Javier.
I gasped when I saw him.
— Good morning Ethan. — he said calmly.
- Good morning…
— I didn”t come to disturb you, I just came to get some documents, I spoke to your father before and he didn”t mind. — he said convinced and for some reason I felt afraid of him.
Javier started to climb the stairs and my heart skipped a beat. My instincts asked me to run and I did, I ran and locked myself in the room.
That wasn”t enough, he unlocked the door and entered the room.
— What are you afraid of? — he asked, sitting in an armchair next to the bed.
— Javier, don’t scare me…
— I was your first alpha, if I want I can fuck you whenever I want, it”s the law, so I hope you know how to respect me.
I lowered my head, I was sitting on the bed, I pulled the cover and covered my body. Javier got up and stood in front of me.
— Ah, Ethan, you don”t know what I”m preparing you for, you can hate me all you want, but I”m going to save you, at the right time, no one knows the laws of this place better than that.
— I don”t want to be saved, I”d rather perish at the hands of Demetrius. — I believe I was whimpering the words.
Javier approached and grabbed me by the neck.
— I”m only going to say it once, you”re going to do what I want and when I want, I”m the first alpha that touched you, I have my rights and I don”t care about that idiot Demetrius. — the grip got tighter and I started crying. — I”m not going to do anything now, she”s expecting my child.
— Javier, I … — the words didn”t come out, it was as if verbalizing my suffering would destroy me. — I was in love with you.
— I”m still in love Ethan, you don”t understand that we need to act like this, you”ll be free soon and I wanted you to trust me.
— You hit me and now you almost suffocated me. — I accused — How am I going to trust you?
— Trusting.
Javier turned and left the room. I wish I had understood his words, or rather, I wish I hadn”t heard any of the words he said.
I allowed myself to be overcome by tears and stayed locked in my room until close to lunch time. Aleph appeared and asked me if I wanted to go down, but I asked him to bring lunch, I didn”t want to see anyone.
I was being treated with decency and love within that family, although the three alphas of the house were always giving me hints or cornering me, as if I was going to fuck them at any moment.
The twins were the worst, but if it had been for the rare moments when they were sensitive I swear I would have fallen prey to them.
Asaph was still easier to talk to.
— You spoke to Javier today, didn”t you? — Aleph asked as he placed the tray of food on my lap.
— I spoke and he was very direct.
— Look, we have a plan, but we can”t tell you, know that we will find a way, we are united and we have never had secrets from each other, so I ask you to trust, everything will be fine, for you and your little baby. — His hand touched my face and I subtly moved away. — The alphas in this house are in love with you.
It wasn”t true, the alphas of that house were possessive, yes, they wanted to possess me and be crowned as my owners. He might be new to this lupine life, but he understood their sexist and patriarchal way. I wasn”t seen as a man, an omega, I was more fragile than a girl and they saw themselves as having the right to put me on a tight leash.
During the pregnancy, I was locked in the house, without anyone being able to see me, but I wanted to go out into the street and scream that I was used by Reid”s stepson.
— Aleph, I don”t see it that way, I don”t want anyone to save me from anything, I prefer Demetrius to kill me at the first opportunity and for me to be a mere memory in everyone”s lives. — I looked at him tiredly. — Please leave me alone.
— Javier”s orders, I can only leave after you eat everything and take your vitamins.
I ended up being completely silent while I ate. When I finished he left smiling.
I wanted to run to the bathroom and vomit everything I had eaten.
I waited for everyone to leave the house, I would have at least three hours free until they came to disturb me again.
The phone rang. I ignored it the first time, but as the person didn”t give up, I ended up going to the room and answering the call.
— Good afternoon, who would like it? — I asked when I answered.
— If you”re feeling well, meet me tonight in the clearing. — the voice on the other side whispered the words.
- Who is it?
— Vulture.
- I will go. — I said and heard the sound of his laughter, then he hung up.
My day took on color, as if no harm was about to happen to me, it was a perspective, seeing the glass half full. Although mine was well below the normal average.
When night fell and everyone went to bed, I slipped out and went to meet Abutre, my belly was huge and I could barely walk much.
The clearing was bathed in silver moonlight, the shadows of the trees dancing around like shy ghosts. The lamp I carried cast a warm, flickering glow, guiding my steps toward the heart of the forest. The air was thick with expectation, the scent of damp earth and wildflowers mixing with my own musky wolf scent.
Vulture, always punctual, was already there. Sitting on a fallen log, he looked like a figure out of a dream, the moonlight highlighting his strong features and the intense glow of his blue eyes, yes, his eyes were shining and I was even more amazed to see him.
— Ethan — his voice was a hoarse whisper, breaking the silence of the night.
“Vulture,” I replied, my heart racing as I approached.
He stood up, a soft smile curving his lips. In his hands, he held a small velvet box.
“I brought you something,” he said, extending the box towards me.
My fingers shook slightly as I opened the box. Inside rested a delicate gold chain, a diamond pendant twinkling like a miniature star. A sigh escaped my lips, the beauty of the present taking my breath away.
— Vulture... — my voice trailed off, emotion suffocating me.
— It”s for you, my wolf — he said, his eyes fixed on mine. — A symbol of our friendship, of our connection.
I lifted the chain, the moonlight reflecting off the diamond and casting a magical glow over my skin. Vulture approached, his fingers brushing my neck as he fastened the chain. A shiver ran through my body, a wave of heat washing over me.
“Thank you,” I whispered, my gaze meeting his.
Vulture smiled, his eyes shining with an intensity that made me catch my breath. He leaned in, his lips brushing mine in a soft, tender kiss. The world seemed to disappear around us, leaving only the warmth of his touch and the sweetness of his lips.
When we separated, the air between us seemed to crackle with electricity. Vulture caressed my face, his fingers tracing the curve of my jaw.
“You are precious to me, Ethan,” he whispered.
Happiness of the moment dissolved into worry. The shadow of Demetrius, the alpha who had claimed me as his omega, loomed over me.
— Vulture... Demetrius wants the wedding to take place on the Moon Festival — I revealed, apprehension coloring my voice. — Javier promised to find a way, but... I”m afraid of what they could both do.
Vulture frowned, his eyes narrowing. A tense silence fell between us, broken only by the distant call of an owl.
— Demetrius can”t force you to do anything, Ethan — his voice was firm, resolute. — You don”t belong to him.
—But he is powerful... — I murmured, doubt gnawing at me.
Vulture approached, his fingers intertwining with mine. A comforting warmth emanated from him, dispelling some of my anxiety.
— And you are stronger than you know, my wolf — he whispered, his eyes fixed on mine. — You have me.
A shiver ran down my spine, a wave of hope washing over me. Vulture stared at me with an intensity that made me hold my breath.
— What if... — he hesitated, his voice barely audible. —What if you got rid of Demetrius?
My heart skipped a beat, the suggestion taking me by surprise.
—Kill him? I whispered, horrified.
Vulture caressed my face, his fingers tracing the curve of my jaw.
“It doesn”t have to be you, Ethan,” he said, his voice smooth as silk. — I can take care of this.
His eyes shone with a cold determination, a silent promise. A mixture of fear and relief invaded me. The idea of ??getting rid of Demetrius was tempting, but the thought of Vulture taking risks for me terrified me.
— Vulture... — I started, but he interrupted me with a kiss.
His lips were soft and gentle, but his tongue explored my mouth with an urgency that left me breathless. When we separated, he was staring at me with an intensity that made me shudder.
“Trust me, Ethan,” he whispered, his voice husky with desire. - I will protect you.
I couldn”t say anything, until this time he took my lips in such a passionate way.
— Go home, rest, your belly is huge and your little girl will need you in a good mood when she comes. — he sealed our lips after speaking.
— You know that the child belongs to Javier, I will never have him with me.
- Trust me?
— I trust. — I confirmed and saw his smile widen.
— go home, tomorrow you will have some news, some good and some not so much, but regardless of what you hear tomorrow, be happy. It”s me in the shadow.
He walked away and left me alone, my heart calmed from one moment to the next, as if it hadn”t been completely out of control just seconds ago.
The way back home was made in silence, my steps light as those of a wolf in the forest. The darkness enveloped me like a protective cloak, hiding my presence. I avoided the lit windows, the creaking of the floorboards, any sound that might betray my return.
I entered my room, the sanctuary where my fears and hopes intertwined. The moonlight, which had once guided me to Abutre, now bathed my room in a silvery halo. I approached the window, the cold night air caressing my face.
The full moon hung in the sky like a beacon, its light reflecting off my teary eyes. The beauty of the night contrasted with the turmoil in my heart. The image of Vulture, with its promise of protection and its burning eyes, haunted me.
I raised my hand, touching the chain Vulture had given me. The diamond sparkled in the moonlight, a symbol of the promise he had made. A promise of love, of protection, of a future free from Demetrius” shadow.
But was I willing to pay the price? Was freedom worth the risk of losing myself?