Ethan’s face showed clear hesitation as he processed Scarlett’s suggestion. His brow furrower
with concern.
“That’s too dangerous,” he said finally, shaking his head. “Emma can’t just walk into their hand
like that.”
Scarlett immediately seized the opportunity to push her agenda further.
“But think about it logically,” she said with false reasonableness. “The rogue wolves just want t capture the Queen to threaten the Alpha King for some territory rights. They wouldn’t really attack Emma.”
Her voice grew more confident as she warmed to her theme.
“Even though Emma isn’t the real Queen, after she exchanges her parents back, you can ask the Alpha King to send troops to rescue your Luna.”
She paused dramatically, letting her words sink in before delivering the final blow.
“But if we do nothing now, the rogue wolves may really take out their anger on Emma’s parent: when they realize they failed to capture the Queen.”
Scarlett turned to me directly, her eyes glittering with malicious satisfaction.
“All of this was caused by you, Emma,” she said with fake sympathy. “If you hadn’t spread fals news and pretended that you and the Alpha King were going to mate just to threaten my brother your parents would never have been captured.”
Her voice grew more accusatory with each word.
“You brought this danger to your own family with your lies and manipulation. Can you really have the heart to watch your parents be killed because of your selfish deception?”
I ignored her completely, turning instead to face Ethan directly.
“Can you send some warriors to rescue my parents with me?” I asked him, keeping my voice steady despite the desperation I felt inside.
“You need to remember that my father is the Beta of this pack,” I continued, meeting his eyes. “The pack has an obligation to save him. If you abandon your Beta when he’s in danger, it will chill the loyalty of all your warriors.”
Ethan’s eyes immediately began dodging mine. He looked anywhere but directly at my face.
“I don’t know when the rogue wolves might come back to attack again,” he said with obvious reluctance. “The pack warriors need to stay here to protect our territory and pack members.”
His voice grew more defensive as he continued making excuses.
“I can’t risk sending soldiers away from the pack when we might face another attack at any moment. It would be irresponsible leadership.”
I laughed bitterly at his pathetic justifications. The sound was harsh and empty in the night air. Of course. I should have known I could never count on Ethan, especially not at a time like this.
When push came to shove, he would always find a reason to avoid helping me. There was always something or someone more important than my needs.
Chapter 20.
7:42 pm DDDD
I turned around, preparing to walk away from both of them.
“Fine,” I said coldly. “I’ll go to the rogue wolves‘ lair by myself.”
Scarlett was right about one thing–Alpha King Grayson would come to rescue me. He had already proven that I mattered to him more than anything else.
Grayson was already on his way back from the border. If I could get to the rogue wolves‘ lair and delay them somehow, I might be able to buy enough time for him to arrive and rescue both my parents and me.
It was dangerous, but it was the only option I had left.
As I took my first steps away from them, Ethan suddenly called out behind me.
“Emma, wait!”
I turned back to see him hurrying toward me, his expression filled with genuine concern for the first time all evening.
“It’s too dangerous for you to go alone,” he said urgently. “You’re just a Beta wolf. You won’t stan a chance against a pack of rogues by yourself.”
His hands reached toward me as if he wanted to physically stop me from leaving.
“If you accepted my mark right now, you could gain some of my Alpha wolf abilities,” he said, his voice growing more desperate. “It would give you the strength and power you need to survive until help arrives.”
The offer hung in the air between us. Ethan was actually proposing to mark me, something he had avoided doing for eight years.
But the timing felt wrong. Desperate. Like he was only offering now because he was afraid of losing me permanently.
“You could access my Alpha strength, my heightened senses, even some of my healing abilities, he continued, stepping closer. “It would be like having backup even when you’re alone.”
His eyes searched my face, looking for any sign that I might accept his proposal.
“I know things have been complicated between us, but this isn’t about our relationship,” he said with growing urgency. “This is about keeping you alive. About giving you the best chance of saving your parents and coming back safely.”
Scarlett watched our exchange with obvious displeasure, her jaw clenched tight with jealousy. “Emma, please,” Ethan continued. “Let me give you this protection. It’s the least I can do.”
