Chapter 10
Ethan
The first rays of sunlight broke the darkness, announcing a new day. I woke up with a sharp stitch in my stomach, a spasm that made me groan and curl up in bed. Another contraction, stronger this time, brought a muffled scream out of me.
—Ethan? — the worried voice of Andrey, the family doctor, reached me from the other side of the door.
— Andrey... — I murmured, trying to control the pain. - Is happening.
The door opened and Andrey walked in, his blue eyes expressing a mixture of concern and professionalism. He approached the bed, his fingers touching my arm gently.
— Are the contractions strong? — he asked, his voice was calm and reassuring.
I nodded, the pain preventing me from speaking. Andrey helped me get up, guiding me to the bathroom. The hot water from the shower relaxed me a little, relieving the tension in my muscles. Andrey helped me wash my body, his movements careful and efficient. If I had any shame, it disappeared in that instant.
After the shower, Andrey wrapped me in a soft robe and took me to the room that had been prepared for the birth. The bed was covered in clean, soft sheets, and a fireplace crackled in the corner, warming the room. Remember that our city was in the mountains, meaning it was cold all year round.
Andrey helped me get into bed, adjusting the pillows to make me comfortable. He examined me, his fingers pressing my abdomen carefully, then he looked between my legs, I don”t know how embarrassing that was. As a man, I was sure that this baby would come out the same way it came in and I wasn”t very excited about the idea.
— You”re progressing well — he announced, a comforting smile appearing on his lips. — Soon you will be holding your puppy in your arms.
Andrey, with his infinite patience and gentle touch, was a balm to my pain. His blue eyes, usually so serene, now overflowed with concern and affection that went beyond professionalism. He offered me water, helped me change position, whispered words of comfort while massaging my back.
“Hang in there, Ethan,” his voice is a soft whisper in my ear. — You”re doing great.
But the truth was, I was exhausted. The contractions were relentless, each one eliciting a scream of pain from me. My body was shaking, sweat running down my forehead. I clung to the sheets, searching in vain for a position that would alleviate the suffering.
Andrey noticed my desperation. His eyes met mine, and in them I saw a compassion so deep it made me want to cry. He came closer, his fingers caressing my face tenderly.
— It hurts a lot, doesn”t it? he asked, his voice full of empathy.
I nodded, tears finally streaming down my face. Andrey pulled me into a hug, wrapping me in his strong, comforting arms. I felt his heart beating next to mine, his heat warming me.
“I”m here, Ethan,” he whispered, his voice a balm for my soul. - I will take care of you.
Your words gave me strength to continue. I clung to him, seeking comfort in his embrace. Andrey rocked me, stroking me and whispering words of encouragement.
The hours passed in a blur of pain and exhaustion. The contractions intensified, each one pushing me over the edge. But Andrey was always by my side, supporting me, guiding me, giving me strength.
The screams of pain that escaped my lips echoed throughout the house, waking Karise, Andrey”s mother and my stepmother. Her hurried steps approached the room, and soon her motherly figure appeared in the doorway.
—Ethan, my dear! — she exclaimed, her brown eyes expressing concern and compassion. — Andrey, what”s going on?
— The baby is coming, mom — Andrey replied, without looking away from me. — But it”s been difficult.
Karise approached the bed, her fingers stroking my sweaty hair. His touch was soft and comforting, like a balm for my soul.
“Hang in there, my son,” he said, his voice calm and encouraging. — You are strong, you can do it.
Your presence gave me a new lease of life. Karise was a strong, experienced woman, and her trust in me filled me with determination. She joined Andrey, helping me breathe, offering me water and words of comfort.
“Take a deep breath, Ethan,” Karise instructed, her voice firm and gentle. — Push hard, you”re almost there.
With the support of Andrey and Karise, I found strength, but not courage. My screams intensified, echoing off the walls of the room. I felt my body open up, the pain becoming almost unbearable. But I knew it wasn”t close to the end.
— That”s it, Ethan! —Andrei exclaimed.
A tense silence settled in the room. The baby”s expected cry didn”t come. Andrey, with a tense expression, carefully examined my belly.
— Ethan — his voice was deep, full of concern — the baby isn”t coming down.
A shiver of fear ran down my spine. Karise, next to me, squeezed my hand in solidarity.
— What does this mean, Andrey? I asked, my voice shaking.
“It means we”ll have to have an emergency cesarean section,” he replied, his blue eyes fixed on mine.
A whirlwind of emotions invaded me: fear, apprehension, hope. Andrey reassured me, explaining the procedure and assuring me that everything would be fine. Karise hugged me. They gave me a cloth to bite on and I had already seen this in movies, if it could get worse, this was the ideal time.
Andrey had to make a cut in my belly and as no one could know that I was pregnant, I wasn”t taken to the hospital, I don”t know what was hurting more, the cut or the contractions. But I bit that cloth so hard that I believe I broke a tooth.
Then, a high-pitched cry filled the room after my desperate scream. A strong, healthy cry, followed by another, weaker and more melodious cry. My eyes widened, my heart raced.
- Are two! — Andrey exclaimed, his voice vibrating with joy. - A boy and a girl!
Andrey and Karise placed my two little miracles in my arms. A boy, with dark hair like mine and Javier”s blue eyes, and a girl, with golden hair like Karise”s and light blue eyes, almost bright gray. My fingers traced their tiny faces, marveling at the perfection of every detail. I kissed their soft foreheads, feeling a wave of unconditional love wash over me.
- They are beautiful. — I whispered helplessly.
— They are two betas, which means that if they train properly they will become Alphas at some point in their lives and they smell like chocolate and honey. — Karise said smiling.
Suddenly, the bedroom door burst open with a bang. Javier, my ex-partner and the children”s father, burst into the room, his eyes burning with fury.
- What”s going on here? he growled, his voice echoing through the room.
Before we could respond, he advanced toward me, his eyes fixed on the babies in my arms.
— By Alpha law, these children are mine! — he declared, violently snatching the babies from my arms.
A scream of protest escaped my lips, but I was held back by Andrey and Karise. Javier, with the babies in his arms, backed toward the door.
- You can not do that! — I screamed, desperate. - They are my children!
Javier gave me a look of contempt.
“You”re nothing more than a breeding omega,” he spat. — Your sole purpose is to produce heirs for the alpha who takes you during heat.
— Javier… just today, let me stay with them for a while. - begged.
— It”s the law, Ethan, I was aware of that.
And with that, he left the room, taking my children with him. I was paralyzed, the pain of loss suffocating me. Karise hugged me, her tears mixing with mine. Andrey clenched his fists, his eyes burning with anger.
— I see this happening right in the hospital, unfortunately single omegas don”t have the right to anything. — He looked at me. — Javier is doing this for your own good.
— I don”t see that as good...
— One day you will understand that the best thing for the omega is to leave the offspring with the alpha.
That day became an open wound in my heart, a scar that would never completely close. The pain of loss was unbearable, an emptiness that consumed me from the inside. I swore to myself that I would never forgive Javier for taking my children away from me, for taking away the happiness I barely had time to savor.
Yet, in the midst of the pain and anger, the words of my father, Reid, echoed in my mind. He had warned me about the dangers of being an omega in a world dominated by alphas. He had told me that male pregnancy was a burden, a risk I shouldn”t take.
Andrey, with his usual gentleness, took care of me after the cesarean section. His nimble, careful fingers cleaned the wound, applied ointment, and covered it with a soft bandage. As he worked, his blue eyes gave me a serenity that I so needed.
“It”s going to be okay, Ethan,” he assured, his voice soft as a balm. — That scar will disappear soon, as if it never existed.
His words were more than medical comfort. They were a vote of confidence in a future where the pain and scars of the past would be healed. I was silently grateful for having Andrey by my side, but unfortunately my world was all gray.
As he finished the bandage, his fingers brushed my skin, sending a shiver through my body. His eyes met mine, and for an instant, the world seemed to disappear.
“I”ll help you get through this, Ethan,” he promised, his voice firm and resolute. — Let”s come up with a plan.
— I always hear you talking about a plan — I sneered, bitterness tingeing my voice. After all, everyone seemed to have a plan for me: Vulture, with his promise of revenge, Javier, with his veiled threats, Andrey and Asaph, with their promises of protection. But none of them seemed to understand the depth of my pain, the open wound that bled in my heart.
— Ethan — Andrey knelt beside me, his blue eyes searching mine — this plan will be different. It”s not just about revenge or protection, it”s about justice. Of bringing your children back to you where they belong.
His words touched me, but distrust still gnawed at my soul.
— How can I trust you? — I questioned, my voice hoarse with emotion. — You all have your own interests, your own secrets.
Andrey held my hands, his touch conveying a sincerity that disarmed me.
“I love you, Ethan,” he confessed, his eyes shining with an intensity that made me catch my breath. — And I will do everything in my power to make you happy.
His words hit me like lightning, awakening feelings I tried to suppress. Andrey”s love for me was evident, but I couldn”t allow myself to respond to him now. Not while my children were far from me, not while my heart was so broken.
— I need some time, Andrey — I whispered, looking away. — I need to think, heal.
He nodded, understanding my pain. He hugged me, his strong body enveloping me in comforting warmth.
“I”ll be here when you”re ready,” he promised.
He walked away, while I was feeling a lump in my throat. I looked down at the chain Vulture had given me. The diamond sparkled in the daylight, a reminder of the promise he had made. A promise of revenge, of justice, of a future where I could have my children back.
I hid the chain under my shirt, the cool metal against my skin giving me a feeling of comfort. I needed time to think, to decide which path to take.
…hours later…
Sitting on the edge of the bed, the bowl of steaming soup in my hands, I tried in vain to ignore the bland taste and mushy texture. My body, still sore from the cesarean section, yearned for rest, but my mind was buzzing with recent memories. The loss of my children... everything was mixed together in a whirlwind of contradictory emotions.
The bedroom door opened, revealing the imposing figure of my father, Reid. His eyes, normally so vibrant, were filled with a deep sadness.
— Ethan, my son — his voice was deep, full of regret — I have news.
My heart raced, a bad feeling washing over me. I dropped the spoon, the soup forgotten in the bowl.
— Demetrius... — Reid hesitated, as if the words were difficult to come out. — He died during the night.
A shock ran through my body, followed by a wave of relief that embarrassed me. Demetrius, the alpha who had claimed me as his omega, the man who had stolen my happiness, was dead. And although I knew I shouldn”t feel joy over someone”s death, I couldn”t help the feeling of freedom that came over me.
“I”m sorry, Dad,” I murmured, trying to hide the hint of satisfaction in my voice.
Reid nodded, his eyes fixed on me.
— I know you didn”t love him, Ethan — he pondered, his voice was soft and understanding. — But the death of an alpha is always a loss for the pack.
I nodded, it could be a huge loss, yes, but the guy tried to rape me, dying in my sleep was a balm compared to what I would do to him if I were strong enough.
Demetrius, despite his cruelty, was a respected leader and a skilled warrior. His death would leave a void in the Gray Clan.
“Don”t worry, Dad,” I murmured, trying to sound reassuring. — We will get through this.
Reid smiled, a sad, tired smile.
— I know we will, my son — he replied, stroking my hair. — You are strong, Ethan. Stronger than you imagine.
After the news devastating, my father left me in the inhospitable silence of my room, the same refuge where I spent the last few months hiding, protecting the secret of my pregnancy from curious and judgmental eyes, especially from Demetrius. After all, he could never imagine that I had given myself to another alpha.
Lost in thought, a subtle noise at the window woke me up. It was a bird, a majestic vulture, perched on the railing. Its piercing black eyes watched me intently, while its claws held a small, rolled-up piece of paper.
Curious, I approached the window and carefully opened the paper. The words written there caused me a mixture of relief and apprehension:
”Rest, Ethan, and don”t be afraid of the new deal your father is going to make. This deal is good for you and the next man he introduces you to won”t try to do you harm.”
A sigh escaped my lips. The vulture”s cryptic message left me with more questions than answers. What deal would that be? Who would this new man be? And why would Vulture send me this message?
Despite the uncertainty, I felt a thread of hope light up in my heart. The promise of a future free from threats and a man who wouldn”t hurt me was tempting. Maybe, in the midst of so much pain and suffering, there was a chance for happiness.
I looked at the vulture, which was still watching me from the window. His eyes seemed to convey a silent message, an encouragement to trust the words written on the paper. With a nod, I thanked the winged messenger and watched him fly away, disappearing into the vastness of the sky.
I went back to bed, the paper still in my hands. Abutre”s words echoed in my mind, giving me strength. Maybe, after all, there was a light at the end of the tunnel.
And certainly in the future, I would take better care of myself, so as not to suffer as I had suffered.
To be very honest, those were the worst days of my life, when I went to Dominik — I”m already going back to the previous narrative. — I got there all broken and if there”s anything I”d like to change, it was at this point, I could have avoided having my heart broken into a thousand pieces.
Now returning to the narrative of my miserable miseries…