The Triplet Alphas' Secret Mate

Chapter 108: Find Myself

Scarlett’s POV

​Ethan’s words were everything I had ever wanted to hear from someone: to be chosen, to be loved, and to be seen. Ethan was handsome, wealthy, and powerful; he was the kind of man any woman would give anything to be with. But my heart twisted painfully in my chest.

​I looked at him, my vision blurring as the cold water mixed with fresh tears.

​"Ethan," I whispered, my voice trembling. "You are... you’re every woman’s dream. Elara is a fool for how she treats you. Truly."

​A small, hopeful spark lit up his tired eyes, but it died just as quickly when he saw the look on my face. "There’s a ’but’ coming, isn’t there?" he asked, his voice thick with dread.

​"Yes," I said, leaning my head back against the cold tile. "I’m scared, Ethan. The mate bond... it’s sacred. I don’t know if I can just walk away from it without it breaking me. And besides that... I’m twenty years old, and I have nothing. I have no degree, no career, no life of my own. I’ve spent the last two years of my life as the traitor’s daughter...I need to find myself."

​I reached out and turned off the shower. The sudden silence was jarring. I grabbed a towel, wrapping it around myself with shaking hands, feeling his eyes on me the whole time. This was the one thing I had always respected about Ethan—his maturity. In this moment, he had completely pushed his own desires aside. He wasn’t demanding; he was just listening.

​"Tell me what you want, Scarlett," he said quietly. "Just say it."

​"I want to paint again," I said, the words feeling heavy and real as I finally spoke them out loud. "I want to get a degree in fine arts. I want to stand on my own two feet. And... I want to travel. I want to see the world outside these pack borders."

​Ethan nodded slowly, taking in every word. "Is that all?"

​"For now," I replied.

I can wait,"

him, shocked by the sincerity in his face. "Wait? Ethan,

to be ’together’ right now. You go, you study, you travel. You find the woman

my eyes again, but this time they weren’t from pain. No one had ever offered me

triplets and come home with me? I can start preparing your

of it—Paris, the museums, the art school—felt like a dream. But then I thought of the triplets. I thought of the way Liam looked at me, the way Leon fought for me, and the

out of here?" I asked, my voice filled with dread.

Ethan said, his jaw tightening with a new kind of determination. "Just tell

sign of hesitation, but all I saw was a man who was confident in what he wanted. The thought of the triplets made my heart ache with a heavy, confusing pull, but the thought of France—of a life

"I want to go

that Alpha weight. He leaned down, and for a second, I thought he was going for my lips, but he stopped. He pressed

happy, Scarlett," he promised against my skin. "I’ll make sure you never have to look

He pulled away, checking my expression, his own expression turning serious again. "I have to see Elara. There are things that need

of me? Please... don’t do that. I

short, dry scoff and shook his head, looking at me with a soft, knowing gaze. "Scarlett, look at me. I’m not breaking my bond with Elara because of you. I’m doing it for myself. I’ve realized she isn’t the woman I want by my

again, his touch lingering as if he were