Chapter 108

Ethan has been true to his word, patiently answering my numerous questions ever since we departed Summerville. “I don’t know what they expect... What if your pack members don’t think I’m worthy of you? What if they don’t like me?” I think about Kelly. “What if… you find another women attractive and more suitable—” 
Ethan laughs. 
Loudly. 
“Stop it!” I slap his shoulder. Despite Josh giving Ethan some spare clothes before we bolted from that dangerous building, he didn’t ride with us. I slap him again, which only makes him laugh harder. I narrow my eyes and scrunch my nose. “I’m freaking out, and you laugh at me. Seriously?” I mutter. If my arms weren’t hurting so much, I’d cross them in defiance. But instead, I turn my head toward the passenger window, refusing to meet his gaze.
But then Ethan grabs my hand in his much larger one and brings it to his lips before pressing a kiss to the back of it. I struggle but give up quickly because I know he is stronger than me. Not because his touch makes me melt. At least, that’s what I keep telling myself.
I still refuse to look forward or at him, though. “Little Dove,” he says after laughing a little more. “I’m sorry for laughing. But, baby, no other woman or she-wolf will catch my eye. That is not in our Werewolves’ biology. We are devoted to our fated mate and only our mate.” 
“What about Kelly?” I stubbornly ask, still looking at the passenger window while we wait for the Blackmoon gates to open.
“Now that I know you’re my fated mate? Another female wouldn’t even catch my eye.” He kisses my hand. “I’ve never felt anything for anyone before I saw you. And it wasn’t just because you are the most beautiful woman I’ve ever seen. It is because you are you. It is the way we are.”
I can’t answer him because I can’t believe what I see as soon as the massive gates open. I have no time to prepare for what happens next.
“What the...” Gaping in amazement, I stare at the crowd near the gates, parting just enough for Ethan to drive slowly.
“Does that answer your question?”
A chorus of happy voices and smiling faces greets us, making noise as they all talk at the same time. 
They are loud, if I hadn’t lived here for months, I would say they were arguing with each other.
I spot almost all my little kids from school. God, I miss being their teacher! I also spot their parents, Maggie, Penny, the Principal’s school, Theo, everyone! Even the guy from the bakery who never smile next to them. 
What on Earth... I’m a bit sad that Az, Vi, and Ethan’s parents aren’t nowhere to be seen, though. 
Ethan sighs. “For Goddess’ sake.” He opens his window. “I told you she was safe but she’s still really hurt,” he says to the crowd.
“Why… are they here?” I ask him.
“For you, Little Dove. Everyone was worried and praying to the Moon Goddess that you were alive.”
I’m overwhelmed. I can’t believe they’re so happy and relieved like that. I’ve figured that the friendships they’ve struck up have been like just a one-summer thing since I moved to Summerville, even though I came back. Or maybe that they’ve been annoyed by the fact that I moved to Summerville and didn’t answer any of their calls. 
“Mrs. Dove, are you okay?” I hear my student suddenly yell amidst the noise. “I promised the Goddess Selena that I would clean my room for a month if she protected you!”
“I guess that answers your question,” Ethan answers my earlier question about whether they’ll like me as the volume grows louder. “They don’t need to *start* liking you—they already do. Everyone is happy that you’re my fated mate, love.”
“I’m going to cook a special recipe that will make her heal from all those nasty injuries. Poor humans.” Penny says, shaking her head as she holds a student back from running to the car.
As I listen to them speaking at the same time, part of the pain for all of them lying to me that I’ve been holding close, faded away. 
“Of course, Mrs. Dove will visit me first,” Missy announces. “My room is not as messy as yours. And I’m not as noisy as the rest of you.” Turning to her dad, she loudly says, “Daddy, I want to show my wolf to Mrs. Dove! We don’t need to pretend we’re humans anymore!”
“Yeah!” A lot of adults agree with the kid. 
I’m simply amazed that everyone is even here.
“That’s a great suggestion,” Ethan says with a smirk, looking at me before shifting to the crowd. “Alicent needs rest and healing now. Thank you all for coming here, and as soon as I can, I’ll give you more information about your future Luna. Yes, I’ll let you know when she’s ready for visitors. No, she won’t leave our pack anymore.” Ethan starts answering then, some questions seem to be made by mindlink though. “Yes, yes, she’s a little frightened but happy that you all are here.” The corners of his lips curve into a smile so breathtaking that I nearly let out a sigh. Ethan goes on, “Now that she knows, you’re all free to shift whenever you want!”
Ethan turns to me and winks as I gape at him. Seconds later, everyone, I repeat, everyone transforms, turning into wolves of all sizes and colors. None of them are as big as Ethan, though. But I figure that that’s why he’s their Alpha.
The wolves let out howls as they dart around the car, their movements fluid and wild. Some vanish into the woods nearby, while others fall into step alongside the car as it starts moving, keeping pace as we head toward the mansion.
Although some howl and others growl, none of them are as scary as the wolf I saw in that filthy captivity.
I think to myself… so that’s why those kids at school have been growling since day one. They are literally part wolf! I’ve always found it cute, though maybe a bit on the rude side. Although I’m just shocked at their colorful wolves, I open a smile as I watch they howl with joy.

🐺 🐺 🐺

“I never thought you’d lie to me like that, Azrael,” I say, my voice firm but heavy with disappointment. “I didn’t raise you to be dishonest.”  
I sink onto the sofa in our room, burying my face in my hands. “I never imagined my little boy was a liar.” Even though he’s sitting right across from me on the coffee table, I’ve never felt more distant from my little son than now.
“Don’t be mad at me, Mommy.” 
Crap. 
Az knows I can’t stay mad when he uses that tone on me. 
“I’m so sorry... I wanted to tell you, I swear! Lying to you all this time has been hard, but I swear, Mom, I didn’t want to have to lie. I thought I was looking out for you.”
I look at his guilty eyes. “I’m not mad... I’m upset that you didn’t tell me everything. I know you’re just looking out for me. You’re a good kid, Az, but it’s not your job to protect me. It’s the other way around.” 
He looks down at his feet, hands fudging in his lap.
“I can’t fathom what you’ve been through,” I say, my hands gripping my knees tightly. “All these days, you’ve needed my help, and I didn’t even know anything. I didn’t even know you needed me... It’s just terrifying, son.”
I can’t thank Ethan enough for stepping in and helping him through this entire process, something I couldn’t do myself. The moment we left Summerville, Ethan filled me in on everything Logan had confessed. His sins, his crimes, all of it. It was Ethan’s way of pulling me out of the suffocating anxiety I’d been drowning in. That’s when I found out it was that evil man’s fault that my son had to endure the agony of being turned into a werewolf. 
Ethan explained how excruciating the transformation is, especially for a child. He told me how my son had met his wolf, and—I don’t want to sound like some overbearing mother—but I wasn’t the least bit surprised when Ethan said my son was an Alpha. Just look at this boy in front of me! Even as a younger kid, Az carried himself like he was decades older, always watching out for everyone around him. My mini Alpha. He never left my side when I needed him all these months, and he nearly killed his own father for me. I had no idea. No damn idea he could’ve shifted that day and ended Logan’s life. Part of me thinks it would have spared me so much pain, but the major other part? I’d go through that hell all again if it meant keeping my son from having his father’s blood on his hands. I’d never want that weighing on his conscience. Never.
I also asked Ethan to keep it a secret. I don’t want Az to know that his own father was the one to blame for him being turned into a werewolf in such a cruel way. I’ll wait until he’s older, and then I’ll tell him. He doesn’t need to know about this right now. What he does need is a happy and joyful childhood like the one I had.
Another thing that wasn’t so surprising at all was finding out that Lily was his fated mate. In fact, I was upset with myself because, Good Lord, the signs were all there, and I couldn’t believe I hadn’t noticed them. I just thought she was his sweetheart.
“I’m sorry, please forgive me, Mommy,” Az says, pulling me out of my thoughts. 
I take a deep breath before saying, “Okay, buddy—” he opens a beam smile. “BUT don’t keep things from me again. Got it?”
He nods, stepping in my direction to hug me. “I won’t.” 
“From now on, I’ll help you with everything you need, buddy. You’re not alone.” I hug him tightly.
I pray to God that he takes his time growing up—I’m not ready to let go of my little boy just yet. He’s growing up super fast, he’ll be a teenager too soon.
“Okay, I promise,” Az says. “But don’t worry, Mom, everyone here helps me a lot. Especially, Pops.”
“*Pops*?” I draw back, looking at him.
“Uh.” His face turns completely red. “I mean, Ethan, uh, he has been helping me a lot.” Az clears his throat as he sits back on the coffee table, looking at my shoulders instead of my eyes. “Not only has he been training me since I first got here, but he also helped me the day I was turned into a Werewolf.”
I don’t even know what to think first. I swallow the lump in my throat. 
Ever since we moved here, Az and Ethan haven’t gotten along very well. Az was deeply attached to his dad and desperately wanted Logan and me to stay together, especially with his dad constantly whispering it in his ear. So, hearing Az actually acknowledge everything Ethan has done for him now? It’s just surreal. Even more so, hearing him calling Ethan ‘Pops’!
“Mom, if you want... I won’t call Ethan like that. You don’t need to be upset.” 
“What? No, buddy, it’s not that! I’m just a little emotional,” I assure him. He gives me a small smile of relief that melts my heart. “I like it.”
I don’t know how, but I find myself admiring Ethan even more.
Wait. “Oh my goodness! So all those training sessions were about werewolf stuff?”
“Werewolf stuff?” he frowns before laughing. “Yes, Mom. It’s about werewolf stuff. Pops helps me control my anger, protect myself, and other things, especially since he says I’m an Alpha, so everything is more intense for me.”
A proud smile takes over my lips.
“Do you want to see my wolf?” Az asks me with a huge smile. “Everyone says he’s pretty big for my age!”
I freeze my smile. 
Do I *want* to see my own son turn into a wolf out of nowhere? 
Yes, sure... why not? 
Fear immediately floods my body.
“Mom, there’s nothing to fear,” Az reassures me, his voice brimming with joy. “I’ll still be me, you know.”
My heartbeat kicks up in my chest, fluttering like a bird attempting to flee its cage. “Okay, then, buddy.” I nod. “Go on.” 
I’m not scared. I’m not scared. I’m not scared—
“Why are you taking your clothes off?” I ask, confused, as he pulls off his shorts.
“I don’t have that many to spare like everyone here, Mom,” Az tells me with a smile as he pulls his shirt off his head. “If I don’t take it off, it’ll get ripped apart.”
“Hmm, *Oh*. I see.”
Now I get why Ethan was naked that day after shifting into his human form.
Turning his pale little ass towards me, now completely naked, my son begins what they call shifting.
In the next moment, Az’s body morphs, giving way to pure white fur. He is the most beautiful, most precious, most adorable, most regal wolf I have ever seen. Why was I so scared?
Curling his bushy tail around his legs, he sits, peering at me with his green eyes. 
Wait a minute... I frown before I open my eyes wide. It was this wolf!
Ethan didn’t tell me it was Az I met in Summerville months ago! 
I’ve already seen his wolf before!
“Azrael!” I scold. “It was you! You’re the one who stubbornly got into my car that day!” I stand up. “I thought those mischievous little eyes looked just like yours! Well, I wasn’t wrong, was I? That white wolf was literally you!”
Az’s wolf tilts his furry white head, looking adorable and guilty.
It takes all my strength to refrain from collapsing to my knees and hug him. 
“You left this place without my permission, Azrael! You’re grounded!” 
He whines. 
Oh Good Lord! I have a son, and he turns into a wolf! 
How am I supposed to deal with this? 
Well, as I recall his mischief, the fear fades fast, and my mom mode kicks in.
“I don’t want to hear it. You’re still grounded, young man—no excuses. You put yourself in danger! Don’t you ever do it again!” His wolf’s head quickly nods. And I try not to freak out that I’m talking to a wolf. And he is understanding me! 
The wolf’s ears almost droop heavily, as though weighed down by the sheer sadness of being grounded, as his whining finally comes to a stop.
This precious baby angel is my son, I say to myself. It’s hard to get it into my head that he can turn into a wolf now. But good Lord, what an adorable wolf!
“You are so cute.” I lift my hand and pet his soft, soft head. My toes curl in my shoes. “You look like a prince, son.” His sweet little wolf eyes roll. “I mean it.” I pet his fluffy ears and boop his long snout. “Precious.”
Then Az’s wolf leans in, licking my face. “Aw, my precious puppy!” I start stroking his head, which helps to calm me just slightly. 
I can’t hold back the tears that well up in my eyes.
Az whines again. “Don’t worry, buddy, I’m fine.” I hug him and say against his soft white fur, “These are tears of happiness.”
I hear someone knocking on the door, and I head to open it, with Az’s wolf following my steps. After opening the door, I find the person I least wanted to see right now.
“Please, Allie...” her voice trembles, her eyes pleading, “Can we talk?” 
Ever since Ethan and I arrived at the mansion, she’s been trying to get my attention, but I’ve been dodging her. The moment we stepped inside, Ethan swept me up in his arms and carried me straight to my room. Everyone else seemed to understand, giving me the space I needed to talk to my son.
When I don’t answer her, Az’s wolf nudges his head against my hand, and I absentmindedly go back to petting him. Then, as if picking up on the tension hanging thick in the air, Az’s wolf weaves through the door, slips past her body, and darts down the hallway.
That traitorous puppy!
When he’s out of sight, she turns to me. “Allie—”
“No.” I cut her off. “How could you, Violet?”