Chapter 11
Ethan
Two months passed like a breath, a period of mourning and seclusion. The absence of Javier and my children was an open wound, a constant pain that was eating me up inside. The tears no longer flowed as often, but sadness still weighed heavy on my heart.
During this period of isolation, Andrey became my safe haven. He was always there, taking care of me with a devotion that went beyond professionalism. His gentle hands helped me get out of bed, his blue eyes gave me comfort and security.
We shared meals in silence, walked together in the gardens of the house, talked about trivialities and deep subjects. Little by little, the barrier that separated us began to dissipate, giving way to growing intimacy.
Andrey listened to me patiently, advised me wisely, made me laugh with his silly jokes. He helped me take care of the wounds from the cesarean section, encouraged me to eat and rest.
In his hands, I felt safe, protected. His hugs were a refuge, a place where I could cry without fear of being judged. His constant presence helped me bear the pain of loss, the hope of one day reuniting with my children.
Our moments together were precious, an oasis of peace in the midst of the storm that was raging in my life. Little by little, I began to realize that my feelings for Andrey went beyond gratitude and friendship.
Your touch gave me goosebumps, your smile made me blush, your words made me dream. I found myself thinking about him when I was alone, longing for his company, longing for his affection.
I knew he also felt something for me. His looks, his gestures, his words... everything revealed the love he held in his heart. But neither of us dared to take the first step, for fear of ruining the friendship we had built.
The afternoon sun filtered through the windows, warming the room and casting dancing shadows on the walls. Andrey was sitting next to me, leafing through an old book while I embroidered a small blanket for my children. The comfortable silence that surrounded us was interrupted only by the crackling of the fireplace and the soft sound of the needle piercing the fabric.
Suddenly, Andrey closed the book and turned to me, his blue eyes fixed on mine.
— Ethan — his voice was soft, hesitant — do you still think about Javier?
The question took me by surprise. I looked up from the embroidery, meeting his intense gaze. For a moment, memories of the past invaded me: the love I felt for Javier, the pain of betrayal, the loss of my children.
“No,” I replied, my voice firm and resolute. — I already forgot about it.
Andrey seemed surprised by my answer. He leaned forward, his fingers brushing mine.
- He is sure? he asked, his voice thick with concern. — I know it was difficult, but...
— I don”t love him anymore, Andrey — I interrupted, my eyes teary. — What I felt for him turned into anger and resentment.
Andrey nodded, understanding my words. He caressed my face, his fingers tracing the curve of my jaw.
“I”m glad to hear that,” he said, a soft smile curving his lips. — You deserve to be happy, Ethan.
“I know,” I whispered, my gaze meeting his. — But I”m not ready to open my heart again yet.
Andrey nodded, his eyes shining with understanding and affection.
“I understand,” he said, his voice soft as a balm. — I won”t pressure you, Ethan. I”ll be here when you”re ready.
Ready or not, two months had passed, heat would arrive and when it arrived, it would take me.
I sighed heavily and tried to keep my thoughts in order, but it wasn”t that easy, I still missed Vulture, I wasn”t sure what he was up to, I wanted to see my babies, I wanted... I wanted so many things at that time that I don”t even know why. where to start.
— You know Andrey, sometimes I think about how different everything would be if I weren”t an omega and if I hadn”t fallen into Javier”s hands when I was in heat.
— I know my brother loves you, but he needs to act according to the law. If only your father had allowed you to be together, you would have had your children by your side.
— My father didn”t allow it — I sighed, feeling the pain of loss invade me again. — When my transformation occurred, he ripped me out of my world and brought me into his, a world of rules and laws that I will never completely accept.
— I want to make you happy, Ethan — Andrey confessed, his blue eyes shining with sincerity.
— I wanted to be ready for this, Andrey — I replied, my heart sinking. — But my heart is still very hurt.
It was true, in part. The wound from the loss of my children was still open, but there was something more. The memory of the vulture, with its promise of revenge and its intense gaze, haunted me. The hope of meeting him again, of having a future with him, prevented me from moving forward.
Would that man never come back? Would I spend the rest of my days dreaming about him, about a love that might never come true? The injustice of the situation was eating me up inside, preventing me from giving myself completely to Andrey, even though I knew he deserved my love.
— Are you sure Javier let me embroider this blanket for the children? — I asked, observing my almost finished work. At each point, I deposited a little of my love and longing for my children.
— Yes — Andrey confirmed, a gentle smile lighting up his face. — He let you give the blanket to his puppies. And your father is seeing a loophole in the law so that you can visit them at least once a month. All is not lost, Ethan.
Your words brought me a ray of hope. The possibility of seeing my children, even for brief moments, warmed my heart. However, a new fear crept into me.
“The next heat is near,” I admitted, looking away. — And I”m scared.
The memory of my last heat, which resulted in pregnancy and the loss of my children, gave me chills. I didn”t want to go through that again, I didn”t want to be used as an object of reproduction.
Andrey approached, his fingers intertwining with mine. His blue eyes gave me security and comfort.
“We”ll figure it out, Ethan,” he promised, his voice firm and comforting. — You won”t have to go through any of this again. Trust in me.
The sound of the door opening woke me from my reverie. Karise, with her elegant bearing and welcoming smile, entered the room. His eyes scanned the room, landing on me and Andrey, who was still holding my hands. An approving smile formed on his lips.
— I see you two are getting along well — she commented, her voice soft and melodious.
I felt my cheeks heat up under his searching gaze. Andrey and I walked away, a little embarrassed.
— Mom, how was your day? asked Andrey, breaking the silence.
Karise sighed, dropping the document folder on the table.
“Tiring, as always,” she replied, massaging her temples. — But it”s worth it when I know I”m fighting for justice.
His eyes turned to the blanket I was embroidering.
— What beautiful work, Ethan — she praised, her fingers tracing the delicate designs. — Your kids will love it.
I felt my heart warm at his words. Karise”s approval meant a lot to me. She was a strong and independent woman, a reference for me in many ways.
— Thank you, Karise — I murmured, a shy smile appearing on my lips. — I hope they like it.
Karise walked over, her arms wrapping around me in a tight hug.
“I”m sure they will, my dear,” she whispered in my ear. — You are a wonderful father.
As Karise wrapped me in her warm embrace, a fleeting thought crossed my mind: could they, Andrey and Karise, be my family? Could Andrey, with his unconditional love and devotion, be the ideal companion I so desired?
He was a respected, intelligent, kind and caring doctor. He treated me with respect and made me feel loved and wanted. The idea of ??building a future with you, of raising my children together, filled me with hope.
However, the shadow of the past still hung over me. The memories of Javier, the loss of my children, Vulture”s promise of revenge... all of this stopped me from moving forward.
I knew that Andrey deserved complete love, a heart free of ghosts. But I wasn”t ready for that yet. My feelings for Vulture, however impossible they seemed, still tied me to the past.
I sighed, pushing away the conflicting thoughts. I thanked Karise for the hug and turned to the blanket, resuming my embroidery. I needed time to heal my wounds, to understand my feelings and decide what to do with them. Sticking it up your ass would be great. My whole life was already in shit.
The day dissolved into a blur of vibrant colors: Nena, a hurricane of energy in the kitchen; Asaph and Aleph, bees buzzing around me, their fiery advances held back only by Andrey”s stern gaze; Karise, crystal clear laughter echoing through the house; my father, a silent observer, a soft smile playing on his lips. A perfect family, a portrait worthy of a margarine commercial, a fragile illusion about to be shattered.
The door creaked open, a portal to the past, to a forbidden love, to the pain of separation. Javier entered, carrying in his arms the fragments of my heart, the two beings that linked me to him in an indelible way. My children, my little miracles, back in my arms, their eyes shining like stars on a dark night, their melodious laughter filling the emptiness of my soul.
—Javier? — The words escaped my lips in a whisper, the cup of hot chocolate shaking in my hands. The heat from the drink was no match for the cold that invaded me when I saw those dark eyes, so familiar and at the same time so distant.
— By law... — His voice was a thin thread, filled with an emotion that he tried to disguise. — ...your father managed to get a small break, but it”s only for one night. I signed the papers and came as quickly as I could.
My legs wobbled, the hot chocolate almost shattering on the floor. I ran, tripping over my own feet, towards the two small beings he was carrying. My children. My babies. So small, so fragile, so... perfect.
- Thanks. — The word came out like a sob, the tears I fought so hard to contain finally overflowing.
— Don”t thank me. — His eyes stared at me, an abyss of pain and regret. — Anyone who disobeys the laws has a meeting with the Vulture...
The Vulture”s name hung in the air like a silent threat. A reminder of the danger Javier was in, of the secret I kept under lock and key. But none of that mattered now. Only my children mattered.
— No matter the reason... — My voice was a hoarse whisper. — Thanks for letting me see them.
I sat on the sofa, cuddling my babies in my lap, wrapping them in the blanket that I had embroidered myself, each stitch was a tear that I intended for my babies.
— Did you name them? — I asked, raising my eyes to look at Javier.
— No. — A sad smile curved his lips, the same smile that once enchanted me. — The deadline for naming names is next week... and I wanted to do that with you.
He sat next to me and touched the soft fabric I had embroidered.
— I thought of Orion, his eyes shine like stars. — He pointed to the boy.
— I wanted to name her Clara, in honor of my aunt. — I murmured, fearful of Javier”s refusal.
— I think it”s a very beautiful name, I”m going to register them tomorrow and your father allowed us to give the children the family surname. — Javier touched my hand under the blanket that covered the babies — don”t hate me Ethan, I did everything I could for your good.
— I don”t want to argue with you, not today.
— Once a week you can stay with them for one night, then a week every month and the time increases, I tried to make you spend more time with them, but I take care of the laws, I don”t mold them to my will.
— I understand… — I looked at him and he seemed to be the Javier I had known, but I remembered how he had hit me. — Javier, will I still have to get married?
— Yes, the suitor has already appeared, but he”s an old-fashioned man, he wants to wait for you to go through the moon party, so he asks you the next morning.
— The party is in a week…
- Don”t worry.
How could he tell me not to worry? I was happy with the children, I was over the moon, being as honest as possible, these two little ones were the only thing I could have of value in life, nothing else mattered to me.
Javier, with a look full of conflicting emotions, explained that he didn”t need to be around during the visit. The law was clear, cruel, and he didn”t want to risk more trouble. He promised to return at the end of the next day, delaying his return to give me more time with my puppies. His words, though kind, felt like a premature goodbye, a bitter reminder of the reality that separated us.
When he left, an emptiness settled in the room, a heavy silence that contrasted with the joy my children brought. But Andrey, my safe haven, perhaps, soon filled the space with his warm and comforting presence. His eyes shone with tenderness as he admired his nephews, his large hands moved with surprising delicacy as he helped take care of the little ones.
Karise, with her welcoming smile and tight hugs, also joined us, filling the room with her contagious energy. Her eyes filled with tears revealed the excitement of having her grandchildren home, even if for a brief period.
At that moment, surrounded by the love and affection of my family, I felt complete, loved, protected. The walls of the room seemed to expand, transforming into a welcoming cocoon, a safe haven where I could forget the pains of the past and surrender to the joy of the present. For the first time, I truly felt part of a family, a feeling that warmed my soul.