I Am His Wolfless Luna Chapter 135

Aria's POV

I collapsed onto my sofa after putting Lucas to bed, my fingers unconsciously touching my lips as I replayed every moment with Ethan from our convenience store run. The way his arm had felt around my waist when he pulled me from the skateboarder's path, the warmth of his breath when we stood so close, the electricity in his eyes when we'd almost kissed—it all sent flutters through my stomach that had nothing to do with the twins.

"Stop it," I whispered to myself, feeling my cheeks heat up. "You're acting like a teenager."

The next morning, I dropped Lucas at summer camp and drove to the hospital and then to the work, trying to focus on my responsibilities rather than wondering if I'd run into Ethan. Stepping into the training center, I took a deep breath and straightened my shoulders.

When I spotted David standing outside our shared office, I couldn't help but smile. As one of only two people who knew my secret, I was eager to share my latest news. Fresh from my appointment with the werewolf specialist, I'd learned the twins were developing normally, and the medication was finally working—I felt better than I had in months.

David was frowning at a stack of papers when I playfully poked his arm.

"Hey, got a minute to talk?" I asked, trying to keep the excitement from my voice.

He nodded, leading me into his sparse office. David's room was almost clinically devoid of personal touches, with bare walls and a desk that could belong to anyone.

I noticed a small succulent in a wolf-shaped pot on his desk. "Did Zoe put that there?" I asked, eyebrows raised.

David's ears turned pink as he cleared his throat. "She said I needed some color in here." His fingers brushed the pot's edge gently. "She called it Mr. Serious."

I couldn't suppress a laugh. "Mr. Serious? That's cute."

A smile tugged at his lips. "What did you want to talk about?"

I rummaged through my bag and pulled out the ultrasound photos. "I wanted to show you something."

David's eyes widened as he took the grainy black-and-white images. "Twins?" he whispered, glancing at me for confirmation.

I nodded, feeling my eyes grow damp. "Both healthy. Lucas is convinced they're girls, but the doctor says it's too early to tell." I wrapped my arms protectively around my still-small bump. "The anti-nausea medication is finally working. I actually kept breakfast down today."

David's expression grew serious as he carefully returned the ultrasound images. "You need to tell him soon, Aria. How much longer do you think you can hide this?"

I tucked the pictures into my bag with shaking fingers, unable to meet his concerned gaze. "What am I supposed to say? 'Surprise, Ethan, I'm carrying your twins while you're involved with Emma'? There's already enough gossip circulating about me without adding this to the mix."

"But—"

"We did have a moment the other night," I interrupted, fiddling nervously with my bag strap. "It felt like something shifted between us. But there's this wall I can't break through."

David planted both elbows on his desk, leaning forward intently. "Look, I respect your decision, but as his beta, I have obligations. If you don't tell him soon, I'll have no choice but to say something myself."

His unwavering stare made me shift uncomfortably in my seat. "I understand," I murmured.

"And for what it's worth," David added emphatically, "he and Emma aren't together. Never really were. That woman's been clinging to him like a toxic weed, but he's finally cut her off completely. He wants nothing more to do with her."

I traced invisible patterns on the arm of my chair, struggling with this new information. "It's good someone finally sees through her act, at least."

David studied me for a long moment before leaning back in his chair. "Can I ask you something personal?"

"You're already knee-deep in my business," I said with a weak smile. "Might as well wade all the way in."

"Who fathered Lucas?"

"I wish I knew," I whispered, my throat constricting.

A knock on the door cut through our conversation. David quickly handed back the ultrasound photos, which I stuffed into my bag just as he called, "Come in."

Ethan pushed the door open, his friendly smile faltering slightly when he saw me. "I've been looking for you," he said, his deep voice sending an involuntary shiver down my spine.

"For me?" I pointed to myself.

"Yes, your father is here to see you." His jaw tightened almost imperceptibly. "He went straight to my office."

Nobody moved. Both men watched me carefully, gauging my reaction. I felt the blood drain from my face as tension crept through my body.

"Do you want me to send him away?" Ethan asked quietly, his voice dropping to that low, intimate register that made my heart flutter.

I sighed, rising to my feet. "No, I'll go see what he wants."

"Would you like me to come with you?" Ethan asked hesitantly.

Our eyes met, and for a moment, I lost myself in those green depths. I nodded slightly, and Ethan's answering smile warmed something inside me that had been cold for too long.

We walked briskly back to his office, our arms occasionally brushing. Each accidental touch sent electricity crackling across my skin. My father stood in the center of the room. When Ethan cleared his throat, my father's expression immediately morphed into a polite smile as he extended his hand.

"Alpha Ethan, a pleasure to see you again," he said, his voice dripping with false warmth.

"Alpha Marcus." Ethan circled around to sit behind his desk.

"I apologize for interrupting your workday with such a trivial matter. We'll be out of your hair shortly." My father moved toward me, his arm lifting as if to embrace me. I didn't give him the chance, quickly moving to sit across from Ethan, gesturing to the chair beside me.

"Aria, I was hoping we could have a discussion."

"If it's about Bella or Emma, I'm not budging," I said quietly. I hated maintaining these boundaries, but they were necessary to protect Lucas.

My father sighed as if I'd just said the most unreasonable thing. "I don't expect an apology, but some understanding and compromise would go a long way. Bella never intended to harm Lucas. She's been punished for her mistake. Can't you just let the whole thing go?"

I despised the condescending tone he'd adopted—as if I were being irrational, hysterical, or overreacting to nearly losing my child. Before I could respond, Ethan snorted.

"Are you seriously trying to pressure her into accepting your half-assed apology?" he asked, his voice dangerously soft.