20. Desires

Mia Miller

My hands were trembling as I observed the creature in front of me. A large gray wolf, its eyes staring at me as if it were about to devour me at any moment, and I breathed slowly, afraid that even the smallest movement would end my life. I saw it... I knew that it was Ethan, but at the same time, it seemed like it wasn’t, and everything was confusing.

My breathing was heavy, every breath I took felt like a monumental effort. I didn’t know whether I should run, scream, or just curl up on the ground and wait for it to end. I didn’t know if Ethan had control over this form, or if at any moment he could attack me without thinking twice. But one thing was certain: I was caught in a much bigger problem than I could have ever imagined.

“What are you… Ethan?” My voice came out as a whisper, barely audible, as I tried to understand what was happening. How had I ended up involved in something so surreal? How was any of this real?

The wolf took a step forward, and my heart stopped for a moment. I didn’t know if I was about to die or if he was trying to get closer to show me that it was still him. What if he lost control? What if I became the next victim of something I didn’t even understand?

But, to my surprise, he sat down, his eyes still fixed on me, but now calmer, almost as if he were waiting for me to process what I was seeing. It was as if he were trying to reassure me, but all I felt was a deep, paralyzing fear.

“Ethan…” My voice faltered again, and I took a step back. “What do I do with this? How can I understand what’s happening? You’re a wolf… a… a monster…”

The wolf lowered his head for a moment, and then, before my eyes, he started to change again. Bones cracked, muscles contracted, and in a matter of seconds, he was back to his human form. Ethan, now kneeling in front of me, was breathing heavily, sweat covering his skin.

What worried me most was knowing that Lorenzo carried in his blood the lineage of werewolves.

Anyone in my place would be completely skeptical and terrified.

“I’m not a monster, Mia,” he said, his voice rough and tired. “I’m an Alpha. And Lorenzo is my son… Our son. I need to protect him, but for that, you needed to understand what you’re involved in.”

I couldn’t respond. My thoughts were in turmoil, and all I could think was that nothing, absolutely nothing, would ever be normal again.

"I… I need time to process all of this," I said, running towards the house.

How was it possible that my son, our son, was tied to this unknown and terrifying world?

When I reached my room, I closed the door behind me and leaned against it, trying to catch my breath. But the air felt heavy, dense with the questions swirling in my mind. My thoughts were in turmoil, but at the same time, I felt numb. There were no tears, no screams. Just a confusing emptiness that dominated everything.

Why did my fate cross with Ethan’s? I was human, right? How was it possible that I had gotten pregnant by a wolf? These questions spun around in my mind, unanswered.

The only thing that gave me any relief was the fact that Lorenzo was back, safe. At least that. But how could I deal with all of this? How could I be the mother of a child who was half wolf, half human? What kind of life could I give him? How could I protect him from a world I didn’t even understand?

I tried to push those thoughts away as I headed to the bathroom. Lorenzo was still asleep, but he needed a bath. I asked the maid for clean towels, and as usual, she responded with few words. She didn’t seem surprised by what was happening, and that only increased my sense of displacement.

I began preparing the bath for Lorenzo, trying to focus on something simple, something I could control. When I finished, I took him out of bed and led him to the bathroom. He was confused, still half asleep, but his presence brought me some comfort, an anchor in the midst of the emotional storm.

As I bathed him, I heard footsteps behind me. I looked up and saw Ethan standing at the door, his eyes watching me with an intensity that froze me for a moment.

“I know you’re confused,” he said, his voice low and grave. “But be aware of our agreements.”

I didn’t know how to respond. He was the cause of my confusion, but at the same time, the only person who could give me the answers I desperately needed.

Ethan approached slowly, and for some reason, I didn’t feel afraid of him.

“Let me bathe him,” he said.

“You don’t need to…” I murmured.

“He’s my son, human!” he growled. “Don’t steal from me anymore. It’s bad enough that you’ve been hiding that I have a son.”

I just shut up and consented. Ethan was right. I didn’t have that right.

I stopped in front of the door, watching him bathe Lorenzo. He seemed awkward, but at the same time, he showed care.

After the bath, I wrapped that fragile being in the towel and placed him back in bed. He was exhausted.

Ethan watched my every move, his piercing eyes not missing a thing. I left the room and gently closed the door, trying not to wake Lorenzo. I knew I wouldn’t be able to sleep anytime soon with those images haunting my mind.

“Thank you,” I whispered, not daring to look at him directly. “For bringing my son back safely.”

“I did no more than my duty as an Alpha,” he replied, his tone distant, without looking away.

Shaking, I took a step toward him. Despite the fear, there was something about Ethan that still seemed human to me.

“You… you don’t feel love for anyone? You’re not capable of feeling anything?” I asked, my voice laden with uncertainty and anguish.

Ethan finally looked at me, his intense eyes fixed on mine.

“I don’t know if I’m capable of feeling love, Mia,” he said, stepping closer until my body was pressed against the wall. “But what I know… is that since the day I saw you again, the desire I feel for you is uncontrollable. All I can think about is reliving that night, tearing every piece of your clothing off.”

His voice was deep, resonating like a rough whisper, filled with almost palpable tension. I could feel the heat of his body close to mine, and my heart began to race faster. The intensity of his words, the proximity of his body, it all left me breathless.

There was something primitive about Ethan, something I couldn’t resist, even though my body was tense with fear and confusion. And the worst of it was that I also wanted him, even knowing it was completely wrong.

I also wanted to be his.