Chapter 421 You Win

Chapter 421 You Win
Hope Elara's POV

The house felt strangely quiet.

Ansley was already sitting in the living room when I came downstairs to make breakfast.

She jumped to her feet the moment she saw me.

I had completely startled her.

"Hey."

I walked over and hugged her.

She tensed immediately.

After a second, she slowly relaxed and lightly patted my back.

She always smelled so nice.

"You okay?" I asked.

She took my hand tightly.

"Are you okay?"

"Nathan never should've left you alone."

I gave her hand a gentle squeeze.

"I'm okay."

"And... thank you."

"What you did to my car saved us."

"I'll have it repaired right away," she said with a nod.

"I'm making breakfast."

"Come join me."

"Have you eaten?"

"Want some coffee?"

"Okay," she answered quietly.

"How are you?"

"And the baby?"

Ever since we first met...

She had always acted nervous around me.

Maybe it was because she had tried to kill me back then.

Oddly enough...

I found it kind of cute.

I started the large coffee maker.

I wasn't sure who else was awake.

"I'm actually feeling much better today," I admitted.

"I was a complete mess last night."

"I couldn't calm down."

"But the baby is fine."

"She's strong."

"I really need to stop stressing her out."

Ansley frowned.

"I told Nathan it wasn't a good idea to leave you alone at the pack."

"He didn't listen."

"He said you could handle it."

I smiled.

"I could."

"I still can."

"I just never expected something like that to happen in public."

"I was only picking the kids up from school."

For the first time, I noticed her eyes.

They were a little lighter than Valduz's.

Green...

With flashes of red.

She laced her fingers together so tightly that her knuckles turned white.

I gently placed my hand over hers.

She jumped.

Then quickly looked at me, as if she'd been caught doing something wrong.

"Sorry," she muttered.

"It's okay."

"The kids are safe."

I smiled, hoping to reassure her.

Sometimes...

Being around Ansley reminded me so much of Valduz.

"It never should've happened, Hope Elara."

She let out a heavy sigh and pulled her hand away.

"It would've happened even if Valduz had stayed."

"I know why you're here."

She nodded.

"Good."

"Valduz called me."

"I wanted to do this from the beginning."

"But he asked me to let you handle things your way."

"We can't take that risk anymore, Hope Elara."

"Packs aren't like rogues."

"Change always brings resistance."

"I understand."

I smiled at her.

"I know you lead a huge pack."

"My dad talks about you like you're his tiny Alpha goddess."

"And I know him."

"He's hard on you."

"I would've asked for your help."

"But..."

I laughed softly.

"We didn't exactly get off to the best start."

She looked away.

For a moment, I couldn't tell if she was annoyed with me...

Or with herself.

Before either of us could say another word...

Valduz walked in with the girls.

"Morning, Mommy," Zenep said as she wrapped her arms around my leg.

"Good morning, Hope Elara," Melody said with a big yawn as she hugged my other leg.

"We get cereal?" Zenep asked hopefully.

"You don't want breakfast?" I asked.

They both shook their heads.

"Cereal, please," Melody said with a grin.

"Okay."

"Go to the dining room."

"I'll be there in a minute."

I pointed toward the double doors.

Zenep held one open for Melody.

"Zoey's in the shower," Valduz said.

"There was a little incident between him and Zenep."

He glanced at his sister.

Then at me.

"Good morning, Ansley."

"What?" she growled as she stood to leave.

"Hey."

"Don't do that."

"We need to talk," I reminded them.

Her eyes snapped toward him.

"You told her?" she growled.

"What are you talking about?"

He looked genuinely confused.

"She's talking about the pack."

I frowned.

"What are you talking about?"

"What's going on?"

"Nothing," Ansley said as she slowly sat back down.

"Is everything okay?" I asked.

"I'm fine," Valduz replied.

He took my hand.

"You finally slept through the night."

"How are you feeling?"

"Better."

"I think just being here helps."

"Good."

He kissed my cheek.

"The coffee's ready."

"Go sit."

I reached for a few bowls.

"Did they fight again?"

"They've been talking through their mind link," Valduz said.

"I know."

"They've been doing it for a while."

"They can reach me too."

"Zoey too?"

"Yeah."

"We've all been practicing turning it on and off."

I looked at him curiously.

"So..."

"What happened?"

"He was panicking last night," Valduz said.

"And she made him fall asleep."

I blinked.

"What?"

"She can do that?"

A small laugh escaped me.

"Is that bad?"

"Can he do it too?"

Valduz smiled.

"It means she's dominant over him."

"Nathan used to think it was hilarious doing that to me when we were kids."

"It means she's mentally stronger than he is."

"And no."

"He can't do it back."

"I always forget you two are twins."

I smiled as I poured milk into the cereal bowls.

"I'll be right back."

I carried breakfast to the girls.

As I walked back toward the kitchen, a thought refused to leave my mind.

Valduz had told me more than once that the twins might someday share a mate.

Violetta and Vince might share one too.

Ansley's reactions around us...

They were always different.

Always awkward.

If there was something I should know...

They would've told me.

Right?

Midnight would've said something.

Wouldn't she?

When I walked back into the kitchen, Valduz was pouring coffee into three mugs.

With him standing there, Ansley wouldn't even look at me.

The question stayed on the tip of my tongue.

But I swallowed it.

For now.

"I know neither of you is going to like this," I said.

"But I want to be involved."

"I want to know exactly what you're planning."

"Up close."

"And personally."

Ansley sighed first.

Valduz didn't seem surprised.

He handed one mug to her.

One to me.

Then grabbed his own before sitting beside her.

"Angel..."

His voice was calm.

"You're not going to like what's about to happen."

He glanced at Ansley.

"We don't agree on much."

"But this..."

"We're doing together."

"The Valduz way," Ansley finished.

I nodded slowly.

"I know."

"I've been against violence from the beginning."

"I believed that if we kept taking the high road..."

"They would come willingly."

"For a while..."

"I really thought it was working."

"I wanted it to."

"I know you did," Valduz said as he rubbed my back.

I lowered my eyes.

"The kids were in the car."

"There were other children there."

"Parents."

"Teachers."

"They all could've been hurt."

"I can't pretend that didn't happen."

"I don't want to call you every time things fall apart."

"I want to help."

I took a slow breath.

"I know I didn't want this in the beginning."

"I even told you I didn't care."

"But now..."

"I've been learning."

"I've been living here."

"And somehow..."

"It feels like I'm finally where I'm supposed to be."

I looked at them.

"I know that probably sounds strange."

"It doesn't," Ansley said with a nod.

"It makes perfect sense."

She looked at Valduz.

"After this..."

"She'll need proper training."

"We'll bring in tutors from England."

Valduz nodded.

"If you choose this..."

"You'll have to officially join the pack."

"As their Alpha."

"You'll have to bear the rune."

He rubbed the back of his neck.

"We can let you finish the study portion while you're pregnant."

"The rest can wait."

Ansley smirked.

"I was kind of hoping she'd hate all of this."

She looked at me.

Then at Valduz.

"You win this round, Nate."