Chapter 95
Ethan's POV
The morning sunlight streamed through the large windows of my office, casting warm golden light across the papers and plans spread out on the desk before me.
Olivia had left earlier to meet with Grace and Mia about the mentorship program, leaving me to focus on the logistical challenges of merging our Packs. Yet, despite the tasks at hand, my thoughts kept drifting; to Olivia, the twins, and to the future we were building.
My wolf stirred, a deep sense of protectiveness simmering beneath the surface. Every instinct I had told me to guard Olivia fiercely, especially now, with her carrying our pups.
The thought of her – of them – brought a wave of emotions that was still unfamiliar. Pride, joy, and a weighty determination to do right by my family.
I leaned back in my chair, my gaze shifting to the framed map of Storm Haven on the wall. Memories of my father’s leadership surfaced, unbidden.
Derek had been a strong Alpha, but his methods were cold, calculated, and often detached. He’d valued power over connection, and while he’d succeeded in many ways, he’d left behind fractured bonds and a legacy of distrust.
I wouldn’t repeat his mistakes.
The twins, our Pack – they deserved better. I would lead with strength, yes, but also with empathy, the kind of leadership Olivia had shown me was possible. I had to set a new standard that would resonate for generations.
It wasn’t just about power; it was about building something lasting, something our children could be proud of.
A sharp knock on the door snapped me out of my thoughts. “Come in,” I called, straightening in my seat.
Marlus stepped in, a grin already tugging at the corners of his mouth. “Deep in thought, are we dad?”
I snorted, gesturing for him to take a seat. “Just considering the future.”
“Ah, the future,” Marlus said, dropping into the chair opposite me. “Let me guess: Packs, alliances, Council politics…”
“And the twins,” I admitted, leaning forward. “There’s a lot to consider.”
Marlus grinned, leaning back in his chair. “You’re already a protective wolf, Ethan. I can’t imagine how unbearable you’ll be when those pups are born.”
I rolled my eyes, though a small smile crept onto my face. “I prefer to think of it as being prepared.”
“Prepared?” Marlus raised an eyebrow. “You’ve already doubled patrols around the Pack House and have Kerrick updating the security plan weekly. If that’s ‘prepared,’ I’d hate to see you when you’re paranoid.”
My wolf growled low in my chest, but there was no real heat behind it. “It’s not paranoia to ensure Olivia and the twins are safe.”
Marlus chuckled, shaking his head. “I get it. You’re excited, nervous, and more than a little overbearing. But that’s normal. You’ve got a lot on your plate, Ethan. Just don’t forget to breathe.”
I let out a slow exhale, releasing the breath I didn’t know I was holding. “I know,” I admitted. “But everything feels… bigger now. The stakes, the decisions. It’s not just about me or even Olivia. It’s about them.”
Marlus’s teasing expression softened. “You’ll figure it out. You always do. And for what it’s worth, you’ve got the loyalty of this Pack. and me.”
“Thanks, Marlus. That means more than you know.”
He stood, clapping a hand on my shoulder. “Just make sure you don’t smother Olivia in the process. She’s tougher than you give her credit for.”
I chuckled, the tension in my chest easing slightly. “Noted.”
As Marlus left, I turned back to the plans on my desk, but my thoughts lingered on his words. Smiling faintly, I let myself imagine the future, a better future.
Not just for the twins or Olivia, but for the entire Pack.
The sun was beginning to dip below the horizon, casting long shadows over the Pack House as I sat with Olivia in the cozy sitting room. The day had been full of discussions; plans for the merger, security protocols, the usual.
But now, with the weight of leadership pressing on both our shoulders, Olivia and I were taking a rare moment to talk about something else.
She leaned back against the arm of the couch, her eyes thoughtful as she gazed out the window. “What do you think about organizing a Pack celebration?” she asked, her voice soft but filled with a sense of purpose.
I turned toward her, raising an eyebrow. “A celebration?”
“Yeah,” she said, her lips curving into a small smile. “Something to bring everyone together. After all we’ve been through, it might be nice to mark this new beginning. Not just for the Packs, but for us, too.”
The idea settled into me, and I found myself nodding slowly. “You’re right. A celebration might be just what we need. To show the unity between Storm Haven and Thorne Ridge. Beyond all the politics, beyond the Council.”
She seemed pleased by my response, and I could see her shoulders lower slightly as she relaxed into the idea. It was rare that we got to focus on something outside the relentless demands of leadership, and I was beginning to realize how much we both needed it.
“I think it could be good for everyone,” she continued, her eyes glinting with excitement. “A chance for us to celebrate the fact that we’ve come through all this stronger. We could make it a way to welcome the new members of the Pack, bring people together.”
A laugh bubbled up from me, the tension in my chest easing. “You mean get everyone in one place, all the Alphas, all the warriors, and then just hope we they don’t all kill each other?”
She smirked, shaking her head. “Not quite like that. But if we don’t show them the strength of our union, then what’s the point of everything we’ve done?”
She was right. We’d spent so much time fighting, preparing, planning, that it was easy to forget what we were fighting for. Something like this, a celebration, could ground us, show the Packs what we were really building together.
I rubbed a hand over my face, thinking about the upcoming challenges. The babies, the Packs, the Council…it was a lot.
But in this moment, with Olivia sitting beside me, her thoughts already ahead of the game, I could see the benefit in what she was suggesting. “I like the idea. And we’ll make sure everyone gets a chance to let their guard down for a while.”
Olivia gave a small, satisfied nod. “Good. I think it’ll do us all good to take a breath.”
I leaned back into the couch, the idea of a celebration starting to feel like more than just a distraction; it could be the turning point, the start of something new for us all.
But then the conversation shifted again, and Olivia’s eyes lit up mischievously.
“Marlus,” she began, a playful note in her voice, “if we name one of the twins after him, would he be happy?”
I shot her a look, my lips twitching into a half-smile. “What, you mean we should name one ‘Marlus’?”
“Yes, of course,” Olivia grinned. “Then he can feel even more important. He’ll walk around like he owns the place.”
I laughed at the image of Marlus strutting around with his own namesake. “I think he’d love that. If we have a girl, let’s do it.”
Olivia chuckled, her eyes sparkling. “You’re probably right. He’d love it too much.”
My body relaxed as I felt the weight of the world ease, if only for a moment. “We’ll find a way to make space for both family and duty,” I promised, taking Olivia’s hand in mine. “Your parents did. And we’ll make sure that, when it’s all over, we don’t forget who we’re doing it for.”
Her gaze softened, and she squeezed my hand. “Together,” she repeated, her voice steady and full of conviction.
In that moment, with the promise of something better in the air, I knew that we were on the right path. And no matter what came next, we’d face it as a family.
