Avenging The Triplet Alphas

Chapter 8

Arielle’s POV

I happened to find myself alone with Ethan as we took a stroll through the woods in silence, comfortable in each other’s presence but my mind was troubled.

“You’ve looked lost on many occasions, I can’t help but ask if something is troubling you?” Ethan asked as they settled down when they came upon a clearing.

“It’s been a difficult few weeks for me,” I replied, there wasn’t any need to bottle up my emotions. It was eating me up from the inside already.

“Is it this place?” Ethan asked once again, his voice soft as his eyes fixed on me. “Have you found it difficult to call here your home?”

My eyes widened in shock as I heard the sadness in his voice. “My goodness, I don’t mean it that way,” I replied quickly, eager to convince him it wasn’t his fault. “I love your pack and everyone here, you took me in when I would’ve died out there in the open. It has nothing to do with you.”

The relief in Ethan’s eyes was evident as he offered me a small smile. “So what is the problem? Is it something I can help out with?”

“I don’t know, I wouldn’t like to burden you with my worries.” I fidgeted, I had come to like him very much but my past experiences had taught me not to trust anyone.

“I won’t pretend to understand how difficult it is for you but you would’ve to talk to someone about it soon.” Ethan placed his hand above mine on my lap.

“I’ve tried as much as I can but I can’t seem to fully let go of the past,” I began after a few minutes of silence. “I’ve been plagued by the hurt and betrayal I received from my mates who I thought were in love with me after claiming me to be theirs for all of eternity and putting a baby inside of me.”

“Pain doesn’t just go away, Arielle. We’ve all lost something or someone before and it takes a long time to heal. It’s been years since I was where you are now and even till this present moment, I feel the pain too now and then.”

“What happened?” I asked softly.

Ethan rarely talked about himself, he had a wall of ice built to prevent people from interfering with his life. Luciana had told me that it was due to the hurt he had suffered in the past.

“I lost both parents to an internal feud that lasted for nearly a year.” Ethan smiled sadly at me. “They both died in my arms three months apart, I was only a teenager then and it took me a long time to be able to talk about it with anyone else other than Luciana.”

I was unsure about what to say next, I couldn’t imagine myself being in his shoes. “I’m sorry.”

Ethan shrugged. “The point is, don’t beat yourself up on it. When you’re ready to fully move on, you’ll realize it before anyone else.”

“Thank you, Ethan.” I smiled at him, grateful for having someone like him rooting for me.

With Ethan’s help and guidance, I slowly began to heal. I learned how to turn my pain into effort and I embarked on a personal journey of self-discovery in a bid to embrace my unique qualities and talents.

With Ethan acting as my tutor, I honed my hunting skills, and my agility and speed experienced a dramatic improvement, a testament to my determination to thrive in my new pack.

I was eager to become part of this new pack and I started by learning how to observe the dynamics and hierarch. Starting with Ethan, the strong and noble alpha, who commanded my attention. I admired his wisdom and poise, if I wanted to reach my goal, I had to recognize him as the key to gaining acceptance and in his pack.

With each passing day, I sought opportunities to interact with Ethan, to learn new things from him and I was grateful that he never turned me away.

I would join the pack on hunts, observing his leadership skills and learning from his guidance.

Gradually, our encounters grew more frequent and we would often make trips into the woods where I would muster the courage to initiate conversations, sharing the little experiences I had seen and listening intently to his stories.

***

Ethan’s POV

Ethan was wise and perceptive, he understood the urge behind Arielle's genuine desire to integrate into the pack. He saw the strength and determination within her, traits that mirrored his own when he was her age, she sought to break free from the pain and he was going to help her become strong and resilient.

Slowly, he let down his guard, allowing a friendship to blossom between them.

He would often take Arielle into the woods to explore the depths of the forest, exchanging tales of their pasts and aspirations for the future. There he would teach her how to navigate through the complexities of pack dynamics and the steps to take to create a bond built on trust and mutual respect.

He was pleased with himself as her loyalty and dedication shone through, reflecting through her works in the pack as she began to seamlessly partake in the necessary rituals and happenings.

Ethan could feel himself get attached to her, her unwavering spirit was contagious and it served as a source of inspiration to him as well as the young pups in the pack who took an immediate liking to her. Her stomach was beginning to protrude as her pregnancy became more pronounced. He was hoping she would stay here and give him the chance to act like a father to her pup.

***

It had taken me quite a while but within the pack, I discovered her true self, embracing her unique qualities and talents. And I strived hard to earn the respect of her fellow wolves and now, I stood shoulder-to-shoulder with them.

I became an invaluable member, cherished not only for my skills but for my compassionate heart and unwavering spirit. I was also doted on to a fault when they learnt I was with child, I was finally happy and loved by everyone around me.

The bonds I forged with my new packmates ran deep, and I often thought back to it as it served as a reminder of how strong I had been to overcome adversity and find my place here.

As seasons passed, I grew into a remarkable young wolf, my vibrant spirit inspiring others around her. Luciana had said my pup would bring forth a lot of joy and happiness into my life. She would often place her hand on my stomach and whisper sweet words to my child and I would feel a kick in my stomach.

“Your pup is a symbol of resilience and hope, a living proof that even in the face of banishment and loss, one can find solace, acceptance, and love.” Luciana would often say to me. She said it so frequently that I had memorized the words myself.

In my new home, surrounded by my new pack, I found a sense of belonging she never thought possible. I wasn’t being bullied here or laughed at, I wasn’t forced to maintain a standard befitting for a wolf chosen as the Van Tyson’s triplets mate. I was allowed to be myself and flourish.

With each howl that echoed through the valley during every hunt, I embraced the freedom of my spirit, knowing that my banishment had turned into a blessing and it had led me to a place where she could truly settle down and call home.

The past may have shaped me for life, but it was in this new home, among my new pack and dear friend Ethan, that I finally discovered the beauty of second chances and the transformative power of acceptance and friendship in a place you felt loved and cherished.

It was here that I would begin to sketch my plans. I was no longer scared little Arielle, I was a grown fearless wolf now and I would have my revenge on the Van Tyson’s and the Silver pack by any means necessary.