Claire’s POV
If that driver earlier said Lake Terara was the best in the area, I’d totally back him up on that. Surrounded by lush forests and towering pines, the air crisp and cool, and easy access for just about anyone-this place was straight-up breathtaking. The water was so clear you could see right down to the lakebed. Absolutely unreal.
“Do you like it, my lady?” The driver who had brought me here asked.
“Of course. It’s beautiful,” I replied, and that was no lie.
“If you do, then the late Lady Rose would’ve been very pleased.”
“Who’s that?”
“The late mother of the Alpha,” he answered.
Ethan’s mother? Was that true, or were they just saying that to make me feel at home and not out of place?
“Tell me about her,” I asked, curiosity creeping in.
“She was a wise Luna. Most of the children and teens in this Pack grew up under her care. She was the epitome of beauty and motherhood-no child ever felt abandoned, even if their parents were too busy working. She made sure every kid had a place here to learn and grow.”
Lady Rose. That name… it rang a bell. But where had I heard it before? I tried to dig through my memories, but nothing surfaced. Just knowing her name wasn’t enough to bring anything back.
“My lady, there’s a cabin up ahead. You can rest there. We’ll be stationed around the area to ensure your safety,” he informed me.
I should’ve been surprised. But seeing Ethan’s Warriors positioned in nearly every corner of this place, it was clear-they weren’t just here to keep me safe. They were making damn sure I didn’t run off or get hurt by anyone.
And with Ethan knowing I was pregnant, it made sense why he’d beefed up security around me whenever I was alone.
Following their directions, I made my way toward a two-story wooden cabin near the lake’s edge. The first-floor balcony practically extended over the water-it was gorgeous.
Stepping inside, my eyes landed on a shelf displaying a few framed photos. One caught my attention: a man, a woman, and a young boy, around ten years old.
I picked it up for a closer look. Was this Ethan’s family? But why had I never seen this picture in that massive mansion?
Lifting the frame, I studied the woman’s face. Ethan’s mother was stunning. No wonder he turned out so ridiculously good-looking-he got it from both parents.
But there weren’t many photos here. Just a few portraits of the previous Alpha, Ethan’s father, and some old furniture, left behind in the eerie silence of this place.
Memories. That’s all this cabin had left. And maybe that’s why Ethan kept coming back. But now, seeing it all, should I admire it too?
“My lady.”
A voice startled me. I turned to see one of Ethan’s trusted Warriors-the ones always stationed near Danny. I didn’t know his name, but if he was around me this much, Ethan clearly trusted him.
“Sir Danny will be here soon. Do you need anything? Food? Drinks?”
Was that an order from Ethan? Did he think I was some kind of bottomless pit? Just because I was carrying his baby, did he assume I was constantly starving or that the mansion’s food didn’t cut it for me?
Honestly, kinda sweet, considering Ethan never struck me as the type who cared about kids.
“Bring me whatever he can get. I think I’ll be here for a while,” I said.
The Warrior nodded and left to pass the message along.
Wait-did that sound excessive? “Bring me whatever he can buy”? That sounded like I wanted to empty the whole damn store. Would Danny be using Ethan’s money for that? And if not…
Hold up, why do I even care? These guys make money like it grows on trees. Cash flows into their accounts non-stop, so why should I stress about it?
After glancing around some more, I found myself on the second-floor balcony. It belonged to a bedroom draped in soft white curtains, wrapping around a canopy bed. Elegant. Dreamlike.
Another small framed photo caught my eye-Ethan’s mother again, her long hair cascading over her shoulders, making her look even more radiant.
Was this their room? The main bedroom Ethan’s parents once shared?
From here, I had the perfect view of the lake, along with all the Warriors stationed across the area. The whole scene was… oddly mesmerizing.
I had no idea how long I stayed there, lost in thought. Eventually, I wandered back downstairs and curled up on the couch in the living room.
Then, Danny showed up-carrying two full plastic bags stuffed with food. Snacks, drinks, coffee, rice cups, pasta, pizza… the whole damn grocery store, apparently.
“Alpha Ethan ordered me to bring all this for you, my lady,” Danny said before I even had the chance to ask.
I let out a small smirk. “Don’t you think this is a bit much?”
“How do you mean?”
“You really think I can eat all this by myself?”
“Of course. It’s not as overwhelming as you think. You can eat some now, save the rest, and when you’re done, just ask me to bring more.”
“…And what if I don’t finish it?”
“Then we will finish the rest.” He said with his smile.
That sounds unethical. How can I let other people eat my leftovers, when I didn’t eat that much at all.
I ignored his words, because even though I was quite capable of doing it, there was no way I could do it.
Danny is Ethan’s confidant, while I am just an unrecognized Luna, our positions are clearly different, even though in reality I am the one who has an important role in this Pack.
“I’ll let you rest, call us if you need anything.” Danny said and left me alone.