Chapter 97
Ethan's POV
I stood at the edge of the newly built meeting hall. Inside, the chatter of Stone Haven and Thorne Ridge Pack members blended into a hum of anticipation.
The final steps of the merger were unfolding, and for the first time, everything felt... right.
I glanced across the room where Ethan stood, speaking to Mia and Marlus. Even from this distance, his presence was magnetic, radiating confidence and stability.
My wolf stirred at the sight of him, pride and contentment swelling in our bond.
"Ready, Luna?" Grace’s voice came from behind me, her tone laced with a mix of excitement and teasing.
I turned to find her and Amelia standing side by side, their expressions reflecting the friendship that had grown between them. It had taken time, but seeing their synergy reinforced the rightness of we’d built together.
"As ready as I’ll ever be," I replied, smoothing my hands over the soft fabric of my dress.
Grace smirked. "You’ve got this. Besides, it's not every day we unveil the name of a new Pack."
I smiled back, her confidence infectious. “Let’s not keep them waiting.”
With a nod, we entered the hall. The room quieted as Ethan joined me at the front, our hands brushing briefly before he turned to address the gathered wolves.
"Tonight, we celebrate not just the joining of two Packs but the start of something new," Ethan began, his voice strong and steady. "Together, we’ve faced challenges that tested us, and together, we’ve overcome them. This isn’t just a merger, it’s a foundation for a stronger future."
He stepped aside, gesturing for me to speak.
I took a deep breath, letting my empathy guide me as I addressed our people. "Unity doesn’t mean losing what makes us unique. It means bringing our perspectives together to protect what we love and to grow into something even greater. That’s what Thorne Haven stands for: a home where we all belong."
A ripple of murmurs spread through the crowd, followed by a surge of applause. The name resonated, and I felt the emotional wave of approval wash over me.
Ethan squeezed my hand as the applause died down. "Well done," he murmured, his pride unmistakable in our bond.
But before I could respond, Mia stepped forward with a mischievous glint in her eye. "And one more thing. Luna Olivia and I have another announcement."
The room stilled, all eyes turning to me. My pulse quickened as I realized what Ethan was about to do.
"Ethan..." I began, but he grinned unabashedly.
"We’re pregnant!" He roared with deeper pride.
Gasps and cheers erupted simultaneously, and my cheeks burned as Ethan’s gaze locked onto mine, the sheer joy radiating from him making my knees weak.
For a moment, it was just us, the world fading as Ethan pulled me into his arms, his grip firm yet careful, as if he were holding our entire future in his hands.
"Twins," he repeated, his voice a mixture of awe and delight every time he said it.
The Pack's cheers grew louder, their excitement palpable. It was as if this pregnancy represented the merger we had just announced. It was about the future we were building, one that included every wolf in this room.
As the celebration continued, Ethan and I stood together, our bond unshakable, our love reflected in the faces of those who believed in us.
Thorne Haven wasn’t just a name, it was a promise of what was to come.
Derek stood just inside the Pack house entrance, his sharp gaze sweeping over the room before settling on Olivia and me. It wasn’t often my father came unannounced, and rarer still that he came without an air of command.
This time, though, there was something different in his stance, like the weight of the past was finally catching up to him.
“Derek,” I said, keeping my tone neutral. “This is a surprise.”
Olivia placed a hand lightly on my arm, grounding me with her touch. She offered Derek a small, polite smile. “Can we get you something?”
He shook his head, stepping forward. “No, thank you. I won’t stay long.” His voice was confident as ever, but lacking the usual edge.
We led him to the sitting area, the warmth of the fire casting shadows across his face. He sat stiffly, hands clasped in front of him, and for a moment, I could see the man who had once seemed invincible to me as a pup.
“I’ve been reflecting,” Derek began, his voice low. “On a lot of things. Leadership. Fatherhood.” He glanced at me, his gaze unusually direct. “Mistakes.”
I raised an eyebrow, not expecting him to admit fault so openly. “Mistakes?”
Derek exhaled sharply, a wry smile tugging his lips, before responding.
“I wasn’t blind to the resentment you carried for me, Ethan. I thought pushing you harder, setting higher expectations, would prepare you for the weight of leadership. But I see now that I pushed too hard, too fast. I forgot that being Alpha wasn’t the only role I had to play.”
Olivia shifted beside me, her empathy stirring. “It’s not easy to balance,” she said softly, her words gentle but firm. “But recognizing that is a positive step forward.”
Derek nodded, his expression briefly softening as he looked at her. “You’re the reason he’s found that balance,” he said, addressing her directly. “You’re what keeps him grounded, Olivia. What his family couldn’t be for him.”
His words caught me off guard, a lump forming in my throat. Derek’s openness was a rare thing, and to hear it directed at Olivia – a recognition of her importance in my life – hit harder than I expected.
“I’ll admit,” he continued, leaning back slightly, “I had my doubts about you two. About whether this was just for political gain. But watching you together… I see it’s not. You’re a stabilizing force, Olivia. For him and for the Packs.”
Olivia glanced at me, her cheeks faintly pink, and I could feel the warmth of her appreciation through our bond.
Derek shifted in his seat, his tone growing lighter. “Parenthood, though—that’s a whole different battlefield. Leading a Pack and raising a family requires different skills, and trust me, you’ll need both.”
“Any advice, then?” I asked, my voice laced with skepticism but also curiosity.
He smirked. “Listen more, push less. And never forget that your pups will see you as a father first and an Alpha second, even if the rest of the world doesn’t.”
The room fell silent for a moment, his words settling over us. Then, Derek surprised me again by leaning forward, his sharp gaze softening slightly. “Have you thought about names for the twins?”
Olivia blinked, clearly startled by the question. “Not yet. It feels… early.”
Derek nodded thoughtfully. “Well, for what it’s worth, your mother and I always liked the name Callan for a boy. Strong, but not overbearing. And for a girl... Lyra. It has a certain grace to it.”
The mention of my mother caught me off guard. Derek rarely spoke of her, and when he did, it was usually brief and detached. Hearing him reference her now, in such a personal way, tugged at my heart.
“Callan and Lyra,” Olivia repeated softly, testing the names on her tongue. She smiled, glancing at me. “They’re beautiful.”
Derek stood, brushing off his pants as if shaking off the vulnerability he’d shown. “Just a thought,” he said, his tone brisk again. “I’ll leave you to it.”
As he made his way to the door, I stood to follow, needing to say something. “Derek,” I called, my voice firm.
He paused, turning back with a raised eyebrow.
“Thank you, father.” I said simply, the words harder to say than I expected.
He nodded once, a flicker of something unspoken passing between us.
Then he was gone, leaving Olivia and me standing in the room, the names Callan and Lyra echoing in my mind.
