Aria’s POV
Light filtered through my eyelids, a gentle insistence pulling me from the depths of unconsciousness. The sterile scent of hospital antiseptic hit me first, followed by the rhythmic beeping of monitors sounds that had likely been my constant companion for days.
My body felt impossibly heavy, as though gravity had doubled its pull overnight. Even the simple act of opening my eyes required monumental effort. When I finally managed it, the fluorescent ceiling lights sent sharp pains lancing through my skull.
“Aria?”
Ethan’s voice–soft, hesitant, almost reverent–came from somewhere to my right. I turned my head slowly, wincing at the stiffness în my neck. He stood by the window, silhouetted against the late afternoon light. For a moment, I simply drank in the sight of him, seeing him through new eyes now that I knew the truth.
“You’re awake,” he whispered, rushing to my bedside. His fingers hovered inches from my face, as if afraid I might shatter at his touch. The hesitation broke something inside me. This man–my mate–had been carrying such unnecessary guilt.
“Water,” I managed, my voice a raspy imitation of itself.
He reached for a plastic cup on the bedside table, carefully bringing the straw to my lips. The cool liquid soothed my parched throat, and I took several grateful sips before pulling away.
“Lucas?” I asked immediately, maternal instinct overriding everything else.
A soft smile warmed Ethan’s features. “He’s fine. He’s with my mother right now. They hit it off immediately. His thumb traced gentle circles on the back of my hand, a simple touch that sent electricity through my weakened body. “He’s been amazing, Aria. So brave and strong through all of this.”
“How long?” I croaked, trying to assess the damage.
“Eight days,” Ethan replied, his voice cracking slightly. The dark circles beneath his eyes told their own story of sleepless nights and constant vigil. “The doctors weren’t sure you’d make it. You crashed twice.”
Light days. A heaviness settled in my chest that had nothing to do with my physical condition. The realization hit me like a physical blow–more than a week of my life simply gone, vanished into that strange liminal space with the Moon Goddess while the real world continued turning without me.
“The twins?” I whispered, my hand instinctively moving to my abdomen. My fingers trembled against the thin hospital gown, terrified of what answer might come.
Ethan’s expression lightened, the tension around his eyes softening as he glanced down at my protective gesture. “They’re fighters, just like their mother. His voice held a note of awe that made my heart flutter. “The doctors can’t see them on ultrasounds for some reason, but their heartbeats are strong.”
Cassandra had protected them, just as she promised. My brave, loyal wolf had saved my babies when I couldn’t. “Your mother kaus? I asked, catching his earlier comment, my eyes snapping open again as the implications sank in.
than a meth quirked into a half smile, a dimple appearing in bis left cheek. Apparently, my godmother Vicky mentioned it to
The name jolted through me like an electric current. My fingers clutched at the thin blanket covering my legs as the
stallized with perfect clanly the older woman at the convenience store who had approached Lucas and me. ‘She’s your
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Ethan nodded, confusion crossing his features at my reaction. His brow furrowed, and he leaned forward slightly, searching my face. “You know her? The question held a note of surprise that matched my own inner turmoil.
“We met once, briefly.” My mind raced, connecting dots I hadn’t even realized were related. My pulse quickened as so many puzzle pieces suddenly clicked into place. She must have recognized him immediately as Ethan’s son.
I shifted, trying to sit up, needing to feel less vulnerable for this conversation, but sharp pain shot through my abdomen like red- hot needles, making me gasp. My face contorted as I bit my lower lip to keep from crying out.
Ethan’s hands were instantly there, one supporting my back while the other gently gripped my shoulder. His touch was careful yet sure, radiating a warmth that seemed to ease the pain slightly. He adjusted the pillows with practiced efficiency until I was semi- reclined, his eyes never leaving my face as he assessed my comfort level.
“Easy,” he murmured, the concern in his voice nearly undoing me. The gentleness from such a powerful man made my heart ache with a sweet pain. “The wolfsbane did a number on your system.” His fingers lingered on my shoulder, as if he couldn’t quite bring himself to break the contact.
I closed my eyes briefly, gathering courage for what needed to be said. My heart hammered against my ribs, and I could feel a cold sweat breaking out along my hairline. When I opened my eyes again, I found Ethan studying me with such intensity it nearly took my breath away. His green–gold eyes were fixed on me as if I might disappear if he looked away.
“We need to talk,” I said quietly, my fingers tightening around his. I could feel the slight tremor in his hand, belying the calm facade he was trying to maintain. About six years ago.”
His entire body tensed, shoulders squaring as if bracing for a physical blow. The muscle in his jaw jumped, and the color drained from his face so rapidly I worried he might faint. His free hand clenched into a fist at his side, knuckles whitening with the strain. “Aria, you just woke up. This can wait until-”
“No,” I interrupted firmly, giving his hand a squeeze that conveyed more determination than my weakened body could otherwise show. “It can’t wait. We’ve lost too much time already.” I took a deep breath that sent pain rippling through my chest, but I pushed through it. “I need you to tell me what you remember about that night with Emma.”
Pain flashed across his face. His jaw clenched so tightly I could see the muscle ticking in his cheek, a steady pulse of tension that matched the monitor tracking my heartbeat.
“Please don’t ask me to talk about that.” His voice was barely above a whisper, rough with emotion. The plea in his tone made my chest constrict painfully.
“I need to hear it from you,” I insisted, forcing strength into my voice despite my physical weakness. I gripped his hand tighter, anchoring him to me, refusing to let him retreat. “All of it.” My eyes remained fixed on his face.
He pulled his hand from mine with a jerky movement, as if the contact burned him. Rising to his feet in one fluid motion, he began to pace the small room like a caged animal. His fingers raked through his disheveled hair, tugging at the roots as if the physical discomfort might distract from the emotional pain.
“Why?” he asked, voice raw, stopping abruptly to face me. His eyes were haunted, filled with a torment so deep it made me ache to erase it. “Why would you want me to relive the worst night of my life right now?” His hands opened and closed at his sides, a nervous gesture I’d never seen from him before.
“Because it matters,” I whispered, each word weighted with significance. My
behind my request. “More than you know.”
pod never left his, willing him to see the importance
Ethan stopped abruptly, his back to me, shoulders hunched in defeat When he finally spoke, his voice was hollow. “I was drunk. There had been a rogue wolf incursion that night, and after we handled it, I drank too much whiskey. Way too much.” He pressed his forehead against the cool glass of the window, eyes closed. “I don’t remember much. Flashes, fragments. Some scent. The taste of alcohol. Waking up the next morning, alone with the guilt.”
My heart ached for him. “And what did Emma tell you happened?”
“That I forced myself on her.” The words seemed physically painful for him to speak. “She said I was aggressive, that I wouldn’t listen when she said no.” A shudder ran through his powerful frame. I didn’t remember, but the evidence was there–the necklace I left that night. Emma held it.”
He turned to face me, eyes swimming with unshed tears. “Yes, I raped her. I’m a monster, Aria. The kind of man I’ve spent my life ensuring gets punished. His voice broke on the last word, and he slid down the wall until he was sitting on the floor, head in his hands. “Now you know why I didn’t want to tell you. How could I admit that to the woman I’ve fallen in love with?”
Tears streamed down my cheeks as I absorbed his pain, the unnecessary burden he’d carried for years. I held out my hand to him. “Come here, I said softly.
He hesitated before rising to his feet and approaching the bed with the reluctance of a man walking to his execution. When he
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finally took my hand, I pulled him close enough that I could reach up and stroke his hair, the gesture both comforting and intimate.
“Six years ago, I began, my voice steady despite my tears, “Bella and Emma orchestrated a plan to poison me and trick me into a compromising situation with a stranger.”
Ethan’s head jerked up, shock evident in his widened eyes. “And then”
“They slipped wolfsbane into my water bottle, I explained, my fingers still weaving through his hair. “Then Emma texted me, claiming she’d been kidnapped and needed my help. She gave me an address–a resort outside the city. Room 302.”
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