Chapter 1028
[ 1,473 words ]
“There is nothing wrong with you, Vi,” Talia responded.
Violet pouted. “I am ugly. I can’t wait to be more than a skinny girl.” She threw a shy glance at Ethan, relieved to see that his back was facing her. But it was a muscular back. Weren’t they the same age? Why was Ethan looking like a man, and she was still a child?
Ethan and Violet grew up together, and everything was competition. Growing up included.
Talia smiled helplessly at her daughter and helped Violet put on an oversized t-shirt that looked like a baggy minidress on her.
Talia pulled a t-shirt over her head and saw that Damon’s hostility toward Ethan didn’t subside.
‘He is just a child, Damon,’ Talia reminded him through their mind link.
‘A child!?’ Damon was outraged. ‘He is a teenager! This is when they start to develop thoughts and… erections!’
Talia hid her laughter behind a cough. Damon was serious, but it was funny.
‘Let’s focus on what’s important. Violet is in distress,’ Talia said, and Damon nodded in approval, but he was still glaring at Ethan.
Talia looked at Violet, who was still sticking to her and obviously hiding from Ethan.
Violet confided in Talia about her insecurities. Violet saw more mature girls coming onto Ethan, and Violet was dejected because she couldn’t compare to them. Violet disliked older girls who tried to seduce Ethan, and she especially hated the twelve-thirteen years old girls who had breasts and butts that bounced!
They were at the age where it was normal for Alphas to start dating, and even though Ethan didn’t date anyone officially (yet), it was only a matter of time.
Why would Ethan suppress his licentious nature and refuse a free meal when so many girls were throwing themselves at him?
Violet was confident that if Ethan finds himself a girlfriend, she will be left behind, utterly defeated, in every way possible. She felt like crying. What was the point of powers and background if she lacked in every other aspect?
“Mommy!” Gabriel exclaimed. “Vi is doing it again!”
They all looked toward the teen girl to see that she was completely enshrouded in white light.
“Breathe, Vi. Focus on something positive. Think happy thoughts,” Talia said.
“Aunt Talia. Can I?” Ethan asked while walking toward Violet, and Talia waved at him to go ahead.
In two long steps, Ethan was in front of Violet, and he wrapped his arms around her.
Talia quickly blocked Damon because his eyes turned pitch black, and his killing intent was tangible.
‘Let him try to soothe her anxiety,’ Talia said to Damon through their mind link.
‘He can do that without touching her!’
‘They are best friends, Damon. Vi needs to rely on her peers. She is growing up, and we won’t be there to support her all the time. Ethan is a good boy.’
Damon knew Talia had a point, but that was his precious daughter, and that lecherous boy was hugging her!
“Keep your hands on her back and above her waist!” Damon growled at Ethan.
“Calm down, Vi…” Ethan spoke into her white hair.
“Ethan, don’t… I can hurt you.”
“I won’t let go even if you do,” he responded stubbornly.
“Why are you doing this?”
“I came for lunch, and after that, we will go swimming in the lake. Didn’t you promise to teach me how to jump down the waterfall?”
Violet looked up at him, and her eyes were flickering back to their usual blues.
“That’s it, Vi,” Ethan grinned, proud to see that she was calming down. “You know that whenever I come here, it’s so that we can spend time together. I don’t care about others. That’s why you better think about all the promises you made. If you break them, I will be upset.”
“And I promise to break your legs if you don’t let go of my daughter this instant!” Damon shouted irritably.
Ethan felt Damon’s aura prickling his back like thousand needles, and he knew Damon was serious.
“Are you alright now?” Ethan asked Violet.
Violet was moved. She knew what her father was doing. “How can you think about me at this moment?”
His smile was crooked due to the pain he endured. “How can I not think about you? Aren’t we best friends?”
Violet’s face stiffened. “Right. Friends.” She pushed him away. “Well, thank you, friend. It’s good to know I have a friend like you. Aren’t I the lucky one?” Her chin quivered, and she looked like she was on the verge of crying.
Violet turned on her heel, and the baggy t-shirt exploded as a golden wolf emerged and dashed into the foliage.
Ethan was glad that the pain due to Damon’s aura subsided, but he was confused about this development. He rubbed the back of his head. “Did I do something to upset her?”
He was about to go after her, but Damon’s hand landed on his shoulder, and he squeezed with more force than necessary. “You did plenty. Next time, less touching.”
“Yes, Uncle Damon,” Ethan said obediently. He had a feeling that if he didn’t submit, he could say goodbye to his shoulder. Sure, he will heal, but it will take days, and it hurts like hell.
Jacob stood in front of Ethan and crossed his arms over his chest. “You should stay away from my sister. Don’t you see you made her upset?”
“Right!” Logan and Zeke shouted in unison and stood by Jacob in similar positions.
“Aw!” Ethan exclaimed when Gabriel kicked him in the shin.
“This is for making my big sis cry,” Gabriel’s threat sounded adorable because of his childish voice.
Damon smirked proudly at his sons. They understood that Ethan was a no-good guy.
Ethan could see that everyone was angry, so he turned to Talia, silently asking for help.
Talia shook her head, indicating that he was on her own. “I will go after Vi. Let’s meet at the packhouse.”
“Aunt Talia!” Ethan cried. “Can I go with you?”
“Why would you go with women when you can enjoy the company of men?” Damon asked while pushing Ethan to move. “Didn’t you hear what my mate said? We will meet at the packhouse.”
Gabriel quickly climbed into Damon’s arms with an agility of a monkey.
With that, six males started walking toward the packhouse.
Correction: five males walked, and the sixth one was carried.
…
Talia found Violet sitting on a rock next to the river with her face hidden in her knees.
“I don’t want to talk about it,” Violet said without raising her head.
“That’s fine,” Talia said. “You don’t need to talk.”
“Will you talk?”
“If you want me to stay quiet, I will,” Talia said and sat on the rock next to Violet.
“Are all boys so dense?” Violet asked.
“Yes.”
Violet turned to look at Talia. “What about dad?”
“Your father is an amazing Alpha and father. But when it came to romancing… his track record is not the best.”
“But he adores you.”
“He does,” Talia confirmed with a smile. “All males are dense until they recognize their mates. And even then, it takes them time to accept and adjust.”
“Why?”
“A strong werewolf is a hunter. He needs to conquer and dominate. Finding out that his future is tied to only one female he will obey is unsettling, no matter how right it feels. Some males embrace the bond, and some try to fight it.”
“Which one was dad?”
Talia thought many times about how she would explain her early days with Damon. She didn’t want to make him a bad guy, but she didn’t want to paint a flowery picture either. “When we met, my wolf was weak, and I couldn’t feel the bond. Your father had many enemies, and he wanted to protect me. Since I didn’t know we were mates, I didn’t understand what he was trying to do, and it caused misunderstandings.”
“He could have told you that you are mates.”
“He could, but he chose not to.”
“Do you resent him for it?”
“How could I resent him? He is my other half. Resenting him would be resenting myself. The Moon Goddess gives us trials that will make us stronger and prepare us for what’s coming. If my relationship with Damon had been smooth from the beginning, I am confident we would fail later. Every hardship we endured was confirmation that we belong together.” Talia pushed a lock of raven-black hair behind Violet’s ear. “I know it sounds unrealistic, but once you find your mate, you will confirm it for yourself. In less than five years, you will be able to sense him.”
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