Chapter 27
Why was he asking this now?
I blinked, trying to force my thoughts back into focus. “Can’t this wait until tomorrow?” I grumbled, my head too foggy to feel my usual irritation.
But Ethan didn’t relent. He leaned closer, his voice urgent as he pressed me for details. “Just… tell me what you remember, Claire. Please.”
I could hardly make out his words. My mind felt like it was swimming underwater. Still, my voice floated out, almost automatically. “They… they had us take a specific flight, and we
wore… veils…”
Ethan’s face grew dark. “Now someone’s parading a girl dressed exactly like you, pretending to be your corpse. And you don’t find that serious?” His voice was laced with a mixture of
frustration and fear.
Serious… yeah… A chill trickled down my spine, but I was so sleepy. I barely processed his words before I slumped against him, unable to keep myself upright any longer. Darkness swept over me, taking me down with it.
*Damn. He must’ve drugged the cake,* I thought in my last conscious moment.
When I finally stirred, the first thing I noticed was the warmth of Ethan’s body against mine. I was nestled against his bare chest, a faint scent of cedarwood surrounding me, a scent so familiar it almost tugged at memories I’d buried. For a dazed moment, I couldn’t
tell if I was dreaming or awake.
But then, I realized that my head was resting on something solid. And the steady rise and- fall beneath me told me that I was pressed against Ethan’s body, skin to skin. I bolted upright, a startled yelp escaping my lips.
His blue eyes pierced into mine with an intensity that made my pulse jump. His gaze held that Alpha energy, powerful and commanding, the kind that made lesser wolves cower. But it had the opposite effect on me; I’d spent years fighting to be his equal. My knees went weak, my breath hitching, but I steeled myself. I wouldn’t let him have that power over me.
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Chapter 27
Slowly, he leaned closer, his eyes searching mine as though seeking permission. My breath hitched as I felt the magnetic pull between us, a bond that had always been more than physical. He was so close, his lips hovering just above mine, his voice low and magnetic.
“Let’s start over.”
A shiver ran through me, and against my better judgment, my body moved with his touch, as if we were magnetically connected. He kissed me, softly at first, then deeper, and for a brief, reckless moment, I kissed him back. His sincerity was almost too much, filling me Awith a warmth that made everything else fade away.
But as he pulled me closer, a sharp clarity jolted me awake. I remembered this feeling, this exact feeling. He had once looked at me like this when he’d first confessed–right before he’d betrayed me without a second thought. I felt a surge of anger, a bitter reminder of everything he’d done to me, to us.
I pushed him away, my gaze sharp and unwavering. “Don’t get it twisted. We’re just work
partners now.” My voice was cold, leaving no room for argument, a challenge to whatever
fantasy he thought he could revive.
He flinched, caught off guard, his jaw clenching as if he was seeing me, truly seeing me, for
the first time.
I stood up, intending to leave, but he caught my arm, desperation flashing in his eyes.
“Claire, please. Just give me another chance. I’ll do whatever you want.”
I paused at the door, his arms slipping around me from behind. I felt his breath against my
neck, his fingers grazing my skin, and the mate–bond’s pull surged stronger than ever. His
lips brushed my neck, igniting a warmth that made me want to sink back into his embrace. But I bit my lip hard, reminding myself why I could never let this happen. With a cold finality, I pushed him away. “Open the door,” I demanded.
His shoulders slumped, and though he looked torn, he finally obeyed, pulling the door open.
Outside, I took a deep breath, the night air biting my skin as I walked briskly down the path.
Memories flooded me, of the day I first joined the Nightwish Pack, a lost Omega taken in by
the old Alpha out of pity. He’d let me train alongside Ethan, back when we were little more than strangers, with me supervising him at the Alpha’s request. Ethan had already driven off every other Beta trainer by that point.
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At the time, he’d been the arrogant, reckless Alpha–in–training, and I, an Omega, had‘ outranked him in nearly every way. I was proud, cold, and uncompromising, annoyed by his childish games. “Clear today’s obstacle course, and I’ll pretend I didn’t catch you slacking,” I’d said one day, exasperated by his antics.
But Ethan was an enigma. He’d grown up with everyone catering to him, and my indifference seemed to fascinate him. He never missed a chance to push my buttons, taunting me with absurd tasks. “The bathroom needs cleaning,” he’d smirk, or, “Run ten kilometers, and I’ll not only walk back with you, but I’ll pay you a hundred bucks.”
That was the Ethan I remembered–lazy, playful, and completely exasperating. But if he was willing to pay, I wasn’t about to turn down easy money.
The day he dared me to run those ten kilometers, a storm had broken out, fierce and unrelenting. Thunder roared as I tore through the rain in my wolf form, undeterred by lightning or wind. I broke the pack’s speed record that day. From that moment on, they knew my name: Claire Green.
I remembered confronting him afterward, marching straight to him and demanding an explanation. The whole pack had stared, and still, his friends had covered for him. It took a few slaps and harsh words before they finally told me where he was hiding.
From then on, I became infamous in the pack, known as the Omega who’d challenged the future Alpha and never backed down.
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