Pregnant With Four Alphas' Babies: A Reverse Harem Romance Chapter 265: A Newfound Trust

*Ethan*

I wake up and sit up quickly, my instincts kicking in because I’m in an unfamiliar place. But it’s just the resort, Raven pack, and I’m in the room my cousin assigned me for my stay here. I should be out in the forest camp with my warriors, but Cameron insisted that he could handle things there while I spent more time with my family.

There’s a reason he’s my future Beta.

I lie back down, staring at the ceiling. That was the third night I’ve dreamed about Rylee. Every time, she’s here with me in bed. Her long, raven hair falls over my shoulders as I caress her hips, moving her gently up and down as we find our rhythm. Her eyes meet mine, she moans, and we both let loose at the same time, my vision filled with bright stars that match the silver flakes in her eyes.

Every night there’s a similar dream, just a different version of the same amazing connection. The first night, I think it is just my reaction to seeing a beautiful woman. But there’s more to the dream than just lust. The way she looks at me is so intense, it feels like our connection comes from deep within our souls.

I wonder if I’m her mate. It’s the only thing that makes sense. I guess I’ll find out in a few days with my birthday coming up. All of us are due to get our wolves, according to the tests they took long ago. I’m guessing that will change things for my sisters, Matthew, and me forever.

Cameron’s voice appears in my mind. ‘No movement last night. It’s been quiet. We have things packed for your trip back.’

‘Thanks,’ I say. ‘I hate leaving on the eve of battle.’

He chuckles in my head. It’s strange how he can do that.

‘What?’ I ask. ‘The rogues are out there, and they might attack any minute.’

‘It was a bit dramatic, that’s all,’ he says. ‘The eve of battle.’ He laughs again. ‘Don’t worry. Our warriors are the best. We’ll be fine.’

‘Well, I also hate that my best friend is missing my birthday party.’ I get up and start getting dressed.

‘Eh, you know I hate those big shindigs.’ He laughs again. ‘A few of us guys are going to take you out for drinks and a wolf run when all this is over.’

‘Sounds like a plan.’

We disconnect the mind-link, and I’ve just finished getting dressed when there’s a knock on my door. “Come in.” I smell her before I see her, the scent of my favorite chocolate mints wafting through the air. “Rylee.”

“Alpha Ethan,” she says.

“Just Ethan.” I won’t know for sure that she’s my mate for a few days, but I have a feeling I’m right. Calling me by my title hardly seems appropriate, if that’s the case.

“Ethan.”

The way my name rolls off her tongue gives me a pleasant sensation.

“I hear you’re going back to Dark Forest castle,” she says.

I nod. “Unfortunately, my birthday is happening, war or not, and my mother would kill me if I didn’t show up for it.”

She laughs. “I’m starting to want to meet the Luna Queen.”

“She will love you.” It’s hard to stop staring at her beautiful eyes.

“I wanted to talk to you before you left,” she says. “And I need to show you something.”

“All right.”

She gestures for me to follow, and she doesn’t even need to because of the way I’m drawn to her. We walk down several hallways until we come to what was once a wing full of smaller hotel rooms. I know that many of the pack members live here.

She looks up and down the hall one more time and unlocks the door. “It’s all right. Don’t be afraid.”

She’s not talking to me.

I step into the room and see two children, both so skinny that they’re drowning in the borrowed clothes they’re wearing. A woman, who looks ill, is sitting up in the bed, and it’s obvious that she’s been there for a while. She looks at me fearfully.

I put up my hands to show everyone I’m not here to harm them. “It’s okay.”

Rylee closes the door behind us and locks it.

“I take it this is the lady who needed the bark,” I say.

Rylee nods. “This is Amla, my best friend, and her children, Christopher and Maya.”

“Pleasure,” I say, nodding at all of them. I don’t want to go close and shake the woman’s hand. She still looks frightened.

“You’re big.” The little boy comes a little closer to look at me.

I chuckle and squat down to his level. “I’m sure you’ll be as big as me when you grow up.”

“Nah, you’re an Alpha,” he says. “I can see that.”

“I am, but I have a feeling you could be a great warrior someday,” I say.

“He already is.”

I turn and face Rylee, and she continues. “They’ve fought for their lives out there in the forest, controlled by a maniac who craves power. He doesn’t care what happens to the people who follow him. I had to bring Amla and the kids here because she was so sick.”

I turn to Amla. “You’re safe here. I’ll make sure you get everything you need, and no one will bother you.”

“Do you mean we can go outside and play?” Maya asks.

“Of course,” I say. “My cousin is the Alpha here. I have to leave for a while, but he’s a kind man, and I’ll let him know what’s going on here. You’ll have food, clothes, and whatever medicine your mom still needs.”

“Thank you,” Amla says with a weak smile.

“It’s no problem,” I say. I turn to the kids. “We’ll find a suite where you can all have your own beds.”

“Yay!” Christopher hollers, then he puts his hand over his mouth.

I chuckle. “No need to be quiet anymore,” I say. “Remember, you’re safe here.”

There’s a knock on the door, and I answer it. I’ve been mind-linking with a few relatives and telling them the whole story, at least, as much of it as I know so far.

“I hear we have some new pack members!” Aunt Kelly says with a smile. “Oh, my, what a handsome young man and beautiful young lady. I have something for you—”

She pulls out a teddy bear for Maya. She takes it cautiously, but it doesn’t take long for her to hold it close.

“And for you,” Aunt Kelly continues, giving Christopher a set of toy cars.

“Wow, thanks!” He runs over to the corner, sits, and starts playing with them right away.

Isabelle comes in next with the healer, who goes straight to Amla to examine her.

“We’ve got it from here,” Aunt Kelly says.

“Thanks,” I say, stepping out of the room to give them some privacy.

Rylee follows me out. “Is there somewhere we can talk?”

I nod. “Come with me.”

She follows me to what used to be a small meeting room in the main resort area. We both sit in comfortable chairs.

“That’s a wonderful thing you did,” she says. “I don’t know exactly why I know I can trust you, but I’m pretty sure about it.”

“Of course you can,” I say. “I’d never hurt women and children, and neither would my cousin or anyone associated with him. You should know that since your sister is his Beta.”

She takes a breath. “I wanted to think that, but I’ve spent too much time listening to the rogue council. They definitely have other ideas. For some reason, once you arrived, everything I was told about the royals just doesn’t seem to fit anymore.”

“I think I know what you’re talking about,” I say. “Things feel different to me, too.”

She moves a little closer, and I’m suddenly grateful for the wheels on these chairs. “Are we mates, Ethan?”

“I don’t know for sure, but I think so,” I say. “I don’t have my wolf. My siblings and I are getting them in a few days on our twenty-first birthday.”

“I got mine on my eighteenth birthday,” she says. “But you and your siblings are children of the full moon.”

“What’s that?”

“You’ve never heard of that?” she asks. “It’s when you don’t get your wolf until you’re twenty-one. It’s said that your wolves will be stronger than usual, more connected to the Moon Goddess. Was your birth on a full moon?”

I shrug. “I don’t know, maybe. My mother was a little too preoccupied at the time to check the moon phase.” I chuckle a little, and I’m surprised that Rylee joins me. She’s become a lot more relaxed in such a short time. I suppose she feels just as comfortable with me as I do with her.

“I guess having four babies at once is quite a feat,” she says. “So, you’re going home for your birthday party?”

“Yes,” I say. “Come with me.”

“I can’t believe I’m saying this, but okay,” she says. “I want to know what’s going on between us.”

“Me too.”

We both scoot in closer, and I can feel her warm breath against my cheek. Her scent is intoxicating, and I lean in to put my lips on hers.

But we don’t quite touch before she jumps up. “Um… I need to talk to you before you leave here. There are some things that Alpha Isaac has to know about.”

I take a few breaths, still recovering from the almost-kiss.

She looks at me sympathetically, realizing that I need an explanation. “If you’re my mate, our first kiss will be when we know that for sure,” she says. “It will be my first ever.”

I nod. She’s never even kissed anyone before. It’s hard to pull back and calm down again, but I understand. I want it to be special for her.

We both seemed to realize that we need to get out of the private room before a lot more happens, so we stand and leave, going to meet with Isaac.

When we sit down with him and her sister Katherine, Rylee explains everything. “Calvin is responsible for so much death and suffering. These people don’t want war. All they want to do is live peacefully. For most of them, it was a grandfather, or an uncle, or sometimes a grandmother who was initially kicked out of the pack. The generations have survived as rogues ever since because they have nowhere to call home through no fault of their own. They have been told stories about the royals, that they are nothing but selfish people who wish to harm them. It’s hard to overcome stories like those when it’s all you’ve ever heard.”

“Well, honestly, a lot of the stories were probably true when King Gene was in charge.” We all turn to see Aunt Kelly walking in. “He was an asshole, and that’s putting it lightly.” She looks at Rylee. “Amla and the kids are settled in a nice suite. They’ll all have their own rooms and plenty of clothes. They’re welcome to eat with us, play outside, and anything else the rest of our pack members do.”

“Goddess bless you,” Rylee says. She gives Isaac more information about Calvin, his location, and whatever plans she’s aware of, and he takes note of it all for handling the oncoming battles, should this Calvin decide to attack a bunch of highly trained warriors.

It sounds like he’s stupid enough to do just that.

After lunch, my aunt and cousins wish me a happy birthday and give me a few gifts before Rylee and I get into the car and head out with a small contingent of guards.

I look at the raven-haired beauty next to me and smile. This is going to be a more interesting birthday than I ever imagined.