Ezra's Pov

My life had always struck me as ordinary. Nothing new or anything special ever really happened. Unequivocally, I’d resigned to just existing. It was easy being a bystander, for the most part, marking time with seasonal changes. With summer came fall, winter to spring, and I’d noticed how fast or how slow life moved on. Like the tides coming in on a calm ocean, it wasn’t uncommon for me to sit back and do nothing. To exist only for someone else. If anything, to just be a passenger along for the ride as my human lived his life.

There wasn’t really any time that I felt I could have something of my own. It was always the Nate-show around here, and I just did my best to support him and, well, keep him out of the trouble he always found himself in. Nate couldn’t help it, though. As a dominant Alpha, he had a natural ability to be charming and funny. Everything he did, he did with ease, and it was hard to compare myself with him. I, on the other hand, was quieter and found it troubling to voice my opinions or concerns. I was envious. Everyone wanted to be his friend. Sometimes it felt as though no one would even notice if I was even gone. Just a fragment in the periphery of this world.

It wasn’t hard to believe. My own human had said it outright. Of course, Nate didn’t actually mean it. He was just passionate about everything—something I wish I could be more of sometimes.

But as life was, things couldn’t always stay the same. I found out the hard way when Remy, the new kid in town, caught the eye of Nate. I thought little of it, just a fleeting crush for my human until Remy told him off for the first time.

“Back off you creep! Did your mom drop you on your head or something?! Cuz you’re definitely got some screws loose.”

I thought I’d never stop laughing. My human, for once in his life, had met his match. As I watched Remy, I realized he wasn’t any ordinary human. He was special; he held my attention after that passing moment. Whether it was Nate’s emotions mixing with mine, I found myself constantly thinking about him….

What would it be like to hold his hand? Be by his side? What would it be like to take some of his time?

On the cusp of such a revelation, Remy had struck a chord in my dull life, like a melody stuck on repeat. It was the first time I ever wanted something for myself. Of course, I was beside myself. Such feelings were completely obtuse to me. However, one thing I knew for sure was that I couldn’t sit back and wait for my chance at love to slip by…

I wanted him, and no one was gonna stop me.

It was embarrassing to even admit this, but I joined forces with my human. Even Remy couldn’t resist Nate for long. It was a challenge. Nate always wanted to take things down unsavory routes, but we stayed the course. It didn’t matter if Theo wanted him too. I wasn’t going to sit back this time and let life pass me by. I wanted to live my life with no regrets.

With the stakes high, the moon goddess intervened. The three of us, all connected to one another. A powerful thing I could never have prepared for, but who could be ever ready for love like this?

River was just a bonus to all of this. The wolf was different, an untamable spirit. The once calm ocean of my life had become an overwhelming tide of emotions. Everything from that point on wouldn’t be easy, and winning him over would be the most difficult undertaking I’d faced thus far. Even now, I never knew where I truly stood with him, left stranded on shifting sands. Our mate bond was the only tangible thing that could show our love meant something. With all of our feelings for each other, it was difficult to always know where River or Barron actually was at times. Trapped in our minds, never really saying what we all felt. No matter the course, I did my best to believe that the moon goddess had a plan for us. Faith—it was a simple medicine for poor souls like myself.

“If you’re done, you can pull out,” said an annoyed River, interrupting my thoughts. Out of the labyrinth of my mind, I was brought back to reality, looking over the aftermath of our messy rendezvous. The three of us were laying down on the tiny queen mattress. Barron was fast asleep, completely passed out with River between us.

A soft sigh left my lips, pulling River closer into a tight embrace. Nothing felt better than melting into his warm touches. My dick was still buried deep inside, our bodies connected, and I didn’t want to part from him just yet.

“But I look so good inside you,” I teased as I pressed myself closer. The wolf let out a cute moan, which made it even harder to let him go.

“Ezra, don’t be an ass.” His voice broke as he struggled to leave my grasp.

“But I can't help it if my Luna is this beautiful.” The Omega turned his face, unwilling to let me see the blush painting his cheeks apple-red.

“Whatever,” he scoffed, but he didn’t fight me anymore. We stayed laying there, the moonlight seeping through the blinds and marking the shadows with long, elegant stripes. The space was just barely visible in the dim light. A silence came over us—it was the quiet between us ‌I feared the most. Stuck in that head of his. It pained me to know there were things River didn’t feel comfortable sharing. Like today. If I’d known about his uncle, I would have personally ended the man myself.

If only he would let me in…I would erase that uneasiness from his life.

Falling onto each other to fill the empty spaces, it was just easier for him to be a closed book. Even after all that we’ve been through, the wolf was still hesitant to show his true self to me or anyone else. I didn’t expect it to hurt as much as it did, knowing that he still didn’t trust me completely–but who could blame him? Life taught him to fear the hand reaching out to him. It was better for him to hide in the shadows instead.

It would make sense to leave the matter alone, but I had already made my decision. Stubborn and firm in my position, I figured it was time I learned what was going on with him. I was tired of not knowing—tired of him struggling on his own. Hiding behind a dark cloud, it always felt like I was searching for his true feelings. But he meant everything to me. He was the reason after all, why I believed in love in the first place.

Holding him close, I pressed my lips to his neck, brushing them against his mate's mark.

“River, are you okay?” I asked.

He shrugged in my arms. His eyes remained closed, hoping I would fall for his act of faking sleep.

“River, I know today was a lot for you, but I’m always here if you want to talk.” I paused. “I love you,” I confessed. The words were spoken with all my heart.

I could tell I had gotten through to him, the wolf turning his neck to face me. Opening his eyes, I became lost in those vibrant fields of lavender, those soft petals, everything holding me in place. I could see my reflection in those very eyes—and the longing that was hidden behind it.

“I don’t want to talk about it.” He brushed me off. River, quick in his retreat, hid behind those tall walls of his insecurities. But that wasn’t going to work with me—I had a ladder. The Omega wasn’t going to get away from me that easily.

“It’s a chore for you to be open.” I softly placed a kiss on his cheek. “But I don’t want you to feel alone anymore. You're my only compass. I might get lost without you. I’m lucky you’ve been keeping me around.”

Fighting his emotions, the wolf only sighed.

“I’m just not in a good place, okay,” he finally admitted. “I didn’t expect to see anything of those people today. Honestly hoped I'd never see him again.”

“I know.” Gingerly, my hands caressed all down his body. Touching softly, I stroked his belly. I wanted him to feel safe to speak his true thoughts.

“My uncle wasn’t exactly a nice Alpha if you could tell,” he began. “He always treated me like shit. There were times I thought I wouldn't last to see another day. It was hell. I really believed he was the one who killed my mo…” he couldn’t finish his words but he didn’t need to. I knew what he meant.

“I understand, but you’re here now with us.” I nuzzled my face into his cute curls. The scent of peaches filled my nose, anything to distract myself from the swelling anger growing inside me. Irritation began to fester. I held back the growl that was trapped deep inside my chest. I was becoming more like Barron. Holding my cool was no longer an effortless task for me. It was upsetting to know how my mate had lived his life before we met. That bloody bastard was lucky he even got to walk out of our meeting alive today with his legs still attached, knowing how close we all were to our breaking point.

“River, listen, I know I can’t change the past but I’m not going to let you get hurt.” The future was for us to take, and I’d see ‌that no one ever laid a hand on him again.

The little Omega snuggled closer, taking my hand in his as he coaxed me to continue to rub his belly.

“Thanks,” he whispered. “I know you’ll take care of me but…” he hesitated for a moment. “I’m just scared. I’ve never wanted anything so badly in my life…mates, a family—and I’m afraid I might lose everything.” A silent tear melded from his beautiful eyes as he stared down at his belly.

“My mom’s alive, and I just can’t believe I left her.” His tears multiplied, staining his smooth brown skin as he continued to sob.

“I left her there—with him,” he mourned.

All I could do was hug him closer. Instinctively licking his face clean of his salty tears.

“Don’t sell yourself short, love. You didn’t know any better. No more crying.” I kissed him, holding him close until his sobs faded away. “And I’ll do everything in my power to make sure you get to see your mom again.” As much as I wanted to make his uncle suffer, there were more important things to get straightened out.

“Really…? You’d help me with that?” River was cautiously optimistic. His eyes reflected the hurt buried deep inside.

“But of course, my love. What’s important to you is important to me. And I think it’s important for our pups to know their grandmother.”

My hands remained on his belly, happy to see how well he had been carrying our pups. The timing today had definitely been off, but I was truly pleased to know we had two little ones on the way. It didn't matter whose they were, I was just honored I was going to be a father soon. My whole life was here—with River, the pups, and Barron right by my side.

Peace and quiet was what they all deserved, and I’d plan to get that for them, no matter what.

A loud snore interrupted our tender moment. It was Barron tossing in his sleep. A frown always remained on his stone face, the Alpha never fully able to get any rest. Even in his dreams, he was probably fighting someone or something.

River gently coaxed the Alpha to come closer. The wolf rolled over, wrapping his arms around us. Barron subconsciously craved the warmth too. I was reminded at that moment of my love for him as well.

If River was the mountain I had to climb, Barron was the volcano. The Alpha was as fickle as they come. Everything he did made me lose my bloody mind‌. The odds were always stacked against me whenever I tried to reach him. Like a hit and run, his temporary touch was always out of reach.

He made me want to be ruined by love. It was hard to ignore him clawing at the corner of my heart, and as much as he played the bad guy, he finally showed me he cared. He did it in a way no one would expect—alone and out of sight of our humans. He always had to be different, but I loved him for that. A simple fool who could never handle his emotions the right way, but who was really perfect in this world?

“What a big baby.” River finally smiled, his hands softly brushing through Barron’s hair.

“That he is,” we shared a small chuckle, knowing his true colors.

The frown on the big oaf’s face subsided a bit, but I knew it wouldn’t be long before it returned. Barron was also going through a hard time with Tyrus here. Things were bound to get ugly, eventually. The Beta would need to answer for his atrocious crimes and it was long overdue for Barron to get his revenge. Sighing heavily, I truly thought our summer would be a time to relax and enjoy ourselves before the little ones arrived.

Guess I spoke too soon.

River surprised me with a sweet kiss, breaking my troubled thoughts.

“Now, you stop worrying about things and get some rest,” he said before he turned over. My fingers traced the lingering warmth that was once on my lips.

“Of course, my love, anything you say,” I whispered. Perceptive, as usual, the little Omega reminded me ‌I didn’t have to carry all our burdens by myself. My eyes stared down at the small body snuggled up next to me and then at the bulky figure beside it.

Life was a set of choices, lead or be led astray. Being here with these two, I couldn’t help but choose to be led astray, on the road less taken.

Barron was my moon, River the sun. Feeling close to the stars, I ‌lay comfortably in the silence. I had a place here with them, and I’d finally found my purpose in life— to be loved by these two. That was a good enough reason for me to stay, and choose to live instead of merely existing.

Edited by: Patroklos & ArcisOne

A/N My heart cannot take it... 😣OMG Ezra is the sweetest ever. I seriously cry when I read this. Honestly, this is my favorite chapter from the book so far. 😭💖I really struggled if I wanted to give each of the wolves their own perspectives so soon but I really love how it turned out so far. Hope you guys enjoyed this chapter just as much as I did! 💕💕💕

-Otaku_rose🥀