~ Helena ~
Ethan suddenly showed up without knocking on the door. Fortunately, I had already worn my dress.
“We talked about your former mate,” I deliberately said. “Ernie eve said when she was an eight-year-old, your former mate asked her to work hard as a maid helper.”
Ethan blinked his eyes. “Didn’t you like it, Ernie?”
“U-uh, what do you mean, Alpha?” Ernie grasped both hands together.
“She told me that you liked it. So, that’s why I let you do it. If I knew that you disliked it, I wouldn’t let you help her.”
Ernie immediately knelt. “I’m so sorry, Alpha. I know it’s such a great honor to be Luna’s maid. Though at that time, I was just a maid’s helper. Yet, I disliked our former Luna.” She immediately closed her mouth with her hand again. “Uh, stupid mouth!”
“What did she do to you?”
“Alpha, please, it’s been a long time ago.”
“It will help me if I know, Ernie. So, please tell me.”
“Promise me that you won’t be angry with me.”
“Why should I be angry with you? I won’t be angry as long as you tell the truth.”
“Well, because she was your mate after all.” Then Ernie glanced at me. “Former mate.” She corrected her word and then smiled from ear to ear. “I love our Luna now. She is sweet, kind, and warm.”
Ethan grinned. “Yes, I think the same.” Then he asked again, “I’m waiting, Ernie.”
Ernie grimaced, realizing that her strategy to change the conversation didn’t work. “Uh, well, maybe it was a biased opinion. I was a little girl at that time. So, I thought she was mean.”
“What did she ask you?”
“She asked me to clean her shoes, bring her clothes after my sister ironed them, but then ….”
“Please continue,” Ethan said. His voice’s tone was encouraging.
“Uh, since some of her dresses were long dresses, I couldn’t keep them as neat as when my sister finished ironing them. It happened a few times. So, your mate would punish my sister and me simultaneously.” Ernie’s voice was lower now.
“Why didn’t she ask your sister to bring her dresses instead?”
Ernie shook her head. “I had no idea until now, Alpha. But at that time, I felt like she was satisfied to beat us.”
“She did what?”
“She would ask others to whip my sister back five times. Then she asked to beat my hand too with bamboo. So, I was glad when I heard she passed away.” But then Ernie gulped. “I-I will check for the meals now, Alpha, Luna.” Then she left the bedroom.
Ethan wiped his face with his hand. “I swear I didn’t know Lynnette was so cruel. If I knew, I wouldn’t make her my mate.”
“Lynnette? Is it her name?”
“Yes, Lynnette Jacobson. I hadn’t found my mate yet at that time. Then I saw her. She was an attractive woman, and at eighteen, we can say that she was the most sought-after woman everywhere by any man.”
“Why?”
“Because she was so sexy.” Ethan shrugged. “I was only twenty at that time. The moment I saw her, I thought I wanted her badly. She seduced me with her appearance and gestures. So, well, the more other men wanted her, the more I wanted her too. Though—” He coughed “—well, I ignored it though my conscience warned me. I guess I reaped what I sowed.”
I was jealous of how Ethan praised Lynnette. Yet, I was sad that he regretted his decision now. So, I approached Ethan and hugged his waist. “No, you were just a young man. So, she attracted you, and you wanted her. I think it makes sense. Though I feel jealous that I’m not as attractive as her.”
“What are you talking about? You are so beautiful, Helena.” Ethan kissed my forehead. “With you, I’m sure you’re my mate, the destined one. With Lynnette, I knew she wasn’t the destined one, but I forced the destiny. If I were more patient, I wouldn’t choose Lynnette. Then she didn’t need to die.”
I tiptoed and kissed Ethan’s chin. “It’s not your fault.”
“It’s my fault. I was arrogant at that time. Being the youngest Alpha at twenty was a great achievement. But then, I did many things that made me reap what I sowed. So, when I found Lynnette’s death the next morning, I was shocked. It changed everything.”
I stroked Ethan’s waist and leaned my head on his chest while listening. I tried to ease his pain by rubbing his stomach.
Ethan shook his head, but then he kissed my forehead. “It is weird, but for ten years, I have never met a woman who could attract me so strongly until I met you. Maybe, finally, the Highest One pitied me and ended my misery.” He kissed my nose tip. “It will be over when I have finished my business in Crescent Island.”
“I see. Does it still need a long time?”
“I don’t know. I hope not. But I honestly don’t know.”
“I hope I can help you.”
“As long as you can wait and understand, it helps a lot.” Ethan took a deep breath and then let out a long sigh. “It’s better for you not to know about it.”
“I trust you.”
“Thank you, my mate, my darling.” Ethan then kissed my lips.
But then the door was knocked, and then Ernie came inside. “Oops!”
Ethan grinned. “It may feel like a ritual now that you will barge in when we have been kissed or even more.”
“Ethan!” I pinched Ethan’s stomach.
He laughed out loud. “Well, get used to yourself, Ernie.”
“Yes, Alpha. I am.” She grinned. “I only want to tell you and Luna that the breakfast is ready. Beta Red is waiting in the dining room too.”
Ethan’s laugh died immediately. “Sure, we’ll be right there. Please tell Red to wait.”
“Yes, Alpha.”
Then he stared at me. “So, I want to ask you one more time. Is Red who told you about Lynnette?”
I held Ethan’s hand and stared at him. “What will you do to him? Don’t punish him for telling me the truth.”
“No, but it’s more about the truth. It’s about trust and respect.” Ethan shook his head. “He ruined it the moment he revealed it to you.”