Chapter 70

Ethan’s Pov

“I don’t believe you.” The words fell from my lips before I could check myself. They sounded mean, harsh. Ava’s eyes widened and she took a step back. The way her smile disappeared broke my heart in two and I knew right then that I said the wrong thing.

“Okay,” She lowered her gaze to the floor and shook her head. “Don’t believe me, but I have been nothing but honest with you, Ethan.”

I reached out for her but she was already heading for the stairs.

“I just wish you’d do the same thing for me.”

“Why don’t you want to be with me, then?” I asked, though it sounded more like pleading. “What is holding you back?”

“I’m just confused, Ethan,” She told me, “So many things have happened, and I was ready to apologize but after the way you just treated me after I sat here waiting for you, I don’t think I am sorry anymore.”

With that, she retreated up the stairs and slammed the door to her bedroom shut behind her. A guilty feeling rose up in my stomach as I was left in the foyer by myself.

I felt bad. I hated feeling bad, but this possessive part of me was linked to my wolf in some way and I couldn’t control it. Not with feelings as fresh as the ones I was harboring for Ava. I loved her, I thought.

It’s hard differentiating yourself between wolf and man, but I knew I loved her in some way. Maybe it was because we were mates. Would that honestly be so bad?

Mates should be sufficient reason to stay married, to stay together.

I sat in the kitchen, nursing a cup of coffee I made myself when Olivia and Mars came into the room. They were both giggling messes, talking about snacks and a movie that they were going to watch. Their laughs faded as they saw me sitting at the counter.

I knew I must’ve looked pitiful.

“Ethan?” Olivia asked. Mars held back a groan, obviously he didn’t want to deal with my relationship drama after finally getting Olivia to himself.

Sorry I’ll be out of your way,” I moved to stand up, but Olivia held out a hand.

“It’s alright, are you okay?”

I looked into my mug and sighed, “I don’t know what to do about Ava.”

“You could start by not fighting with her all the time,” Mars suggested with an impish smirk. Olivia reached back and slapped his chest with the back of her hand, tutting at him lightly.

“I’m just jealous of you both I think,” I admitted. “You picked up right where you left off and got back together. You don’t fight, you’re happy.”

Mars was beaming at my words, obviously proud of the fact that I was jealous of him for once in our lives. I tried not to let his boastful grin get on my nerves.

“We fight,” Olivia corrected me, “We fight all the time, just in private. And we usually don’t announce divorces in front of our friends without discussing it with our wives first.”

Olivia’s pointed look is enough to make me feel like a little boy being scolded by his mother.

“Yea,” I nervously laughed, “That might have been too much too soon.”

Olivia shook her head and came to sit on a bar stool next to me at the kitchen counter.

“What is worrying you?” She asked, “You’ve been on edge for a while and you’re taking some of that frustration out on Ava.”

I thought about it for a moment, “I worry that she’s got feelings for another man, or that her feelings aren’t real for me. Maybe she’s just thankful for me taking care of her and it’s easier to just go along with what I want.”

Olivia’s eyes met Mars’, the two of them shared a look. I wanted to make things right with Ava, I wanted the same bond that they had.

“Would you love Ava if you weren’t mates?” Mars spoke up, Olivia watched me intently.

I thought about it. I really thought about it. Part of me wanted to say that it doesn’t matter because that would mean that she had a mate and I had one; love would be out of the equation.

I didn’t say that, though. The words were in the back of my mouth, ready to be uttered, but I couldn’t bring myself to admit them.

I love Ava now. Maybe I’m comfortable admitting it because I found out we are mates, but I thought I felt it before I knew too. I knew I had feelings for her. I knew I was attracted to her. I knew I wanted to take care of her.

Isn’t that what love is?

I thought back to the very first moment I saw Ava. She came into the house with her sister, Dora. Her eyes were wide, she was scrawny and obviously overworked, but I still thought she was beautiful. Moments where I thought she was the most beautiful soul in the world started flowing through my mind: The time I helped her into her wedding dress, our first appearance as a couple, buying her my mother’s necklace, and seeing her laying below me her pupils wide with lust and cheeks flushed.

I couldn’t imagine ever seeing someone else in the way I saw her.

I looked up at Mars, “Yes. I would love her either way. Mates or not.”

Olivia clamped a hand on my shoulder and shook me vigorously. The mug in my hand dribbled coffee everywhere as she shrieked excitedly.

“Tell her that!” She squealed, “That’s all she wants is a little romance!”

Romance. She wanted to be wooed, not just cared for. Not just spoiled, but wooed. I could do that. I just didn’t know how.

“What should I do?” I looked between them, they were standing on either side of me.

“You could buy her something,” Olivia suggested.

I shook my head at that, though. She needs romance not spoils. At least, no spoils right now. I still planned on spoiling her as much as possible once we had this all settled.

“Make her a romantic candle lit dinner?” Mars shrugged, but I scrunched my nose up at that suggestion too.

“Tried that, burned it all.”

Mars let out a booming laugh at that and I fought the urge to kick him out of the house all together.

“Why don’t you throw a ball in her honor?” Olivia’s eyes were wide, happy with her own suggestion.

I thought about it, genuinely considering a ball in her honor. Something told me she wouldn’t be comfortable with all the attention set on her, though.

“What if I make it up to her and throw a charity ball for the children’s home she volunteers at?” I suggested. Mars and Olivia nodded their heads, thinking about the logistics of it all.

I thought it would be perfect, and it would show her that I listen to her and want to support her passions.

It may also help her forgive me for questioning her relationship with Baron. Even though I still didn’t like him or want him at the party at all. I’d allow him to be there for her since I knew they were friends.

Olivia and Mars were back to getting ready for their movie since they already helped me figure out my next attempt at wooing Ava, when the doorbell rang.

It was getting dark outside, and as far as I knew no one was expecting any visitors.

I walked over to the door as one of the maids was opening it to speak with whoever was on the other side.

I got a glimpse as I got closer.

Standing on my porch was Andrew. He looked tired, angry. Sarah was standing beside him.

“You!” He cried out as he saw me approach.