Chapter 207
Aria’s Pr
POV
Six months later
“Little buddy! I’m heading to camp now. Coming with me?” Ethan’s voice carried through our apartment from the living room, that deep timbre that still sent pleasant shivers down my spine even after all these months together.
“Coming, Dad!” Lucas’s eager reply rang out, his little–boy excitement making me smile even through my drowsy haze. It still warmed my heart every time he called Ethan “Dad” so naturally now, as if they’d never been separated
“Shhh!” Ethan’s voice dropped dramatically, that stage whisper parents use when they’re trying to be quiet but still need to be heard. “Your mom’s still sleeping. We don’t want to wake the mama bear and her cubs,”
I buried my face deeper into my pillow to muille my laughter, completely awake despite their adorable attempt at consideration. Ethan’s side of the bed was still faintly warm where he’d been curled protectively around me all night, his arm draped over my growing belly. His pillow smelled of that woodsy cologne I’d come to associate with safety and home–pine with hints of sandalwood that clung to everything he touched. I’d caught myself more than once burying my face in his shirts when he was away, though I’d never admit it to his already inflated ego.
Rolling onto my back, I stretched lazily under our plush comforter, feeling the familiar flutter and push as the twins responded to my movement. A little foot -or maybe an elbow–pressed firmly against my ribs, making me wince and smile simultaneously. At eight months along, these girls were running out of space in their shared tccommodations, a fact they protested with increasingly vigorous gymnastics routines. Sometimes at night, Ithan would place his large palm against my stretched skin and whisper to them, his eyes widening with wonder when they’d kick back in response, like they already recognized their father’s voice.
The past six months had settled into a comfortable routine of doctor’s appointments and gradual nesting. The medical staff had grown accustomed to the peculiarity of my pregnancy–ultrasounds that showed nothing but static while heartbeat monitors picked up two distinct, strong rhythms.
I can feel Cassandra’s presence most strongly during these check–ups, a warm, protective sensation radiating from deep within. She was keeping her promise, shielding our daughters.
Emma had vanished without a trace, the search hitting dead ends at every turn. Ethan had put David on the case immediately, but even with an entire team of trackers, they’d found nothing beyond her trashed apartment. The place was a disaster zone when they arrived–furniture knocked over, splashes of blood on the expensive hardwood, and the smell of a strange wolf hanging in the air. Someone had taken her–maybe an ex–boyfriend or an ally from another pack. Honestly? Good riddance. I tried to feel some curiosity about her Este, but all I felt was relief. The farther she stayed from my family, the happier I’d be.
The first thing Ethan did after the search stalled was sell that entire apartment building. “I can’t even drive past it without feeling sick, he’d told me, tight with lingering anger. “Knowing she lived there, plotted against you there–it makes my skin crawl.”
his jaw
Instead, he’d found us a new place–cozy but spacious enough for our growing family. I fell in love with it immediately. The nursery, though… that was something else entirely. Ethan had gone completely wild with baby shopping, filling the room until you could barely walk through it. Two of absolutely everything crowded the space: matching white cribs with delicate pink bedding, a pair of wooden rocking chairs, changing tables loaded with supplies, and a mountain of stuffed animals that threatened to avalanche every time I opened the close,
“What?” he’d asked when I’d raised my eyebrows at the third delivery of baby clothes. They need options.”
