Chapter 13
Ethan’s grip tightened around my father’s wrist, his knuckles white with the force of his hold.
“Let go of me!” my father snarled, trying to wrench his arm free.
But Ethan’s Alpha strength was far superior. With a swift motion, he shook off my father’s arm so forcefully that the older man stumbled backward.
My father hit the ground hard, the full weight of Ethan’s Alpha pressure crashing down on him like a physical force.
Ethan stepped protectively in front of me, his body forming a barrier between my parents and myself.
“What exactly were you planning to do to my Luna?” Ethan’s voice was deadly quiet, but the menace in it made my mother shrink back in fear.
My father struggled to his feet, his face flushed with embarrassment and fury. “Alpha, you misunderstood. I was just teaching my disobedient daughter a lesson.”
Ethan’s laugh was cold and sharp as a blade. “Disobedient daughter? What exactly constitutes obedience in your mind? Does she have to give every drop of blood to her brother to satisfy you?”
The venom in his tone made my parents flinch.
“I promoted you to Beta of this pack,” Ethan continued, his voice growing more dangerous with each word. “I gave your son access to advanced training resources that most wolves can only dream of. All of that was for Emma’s sake.”
His eyes flashed with Alpha authority as he stared down my cowering father.
“And this is how you repay her sacrifices?”
My father’s face went pale as he realized the implications of Ethan’s words.
“Apologize to her,” Ethan commanded, his voice brooking no argument. “Right now.”
“Alpha, surely-” my father began.
“Apologize,” Ethan repeated, his voice dropping to a growl. “Or I withdraw every privilege I’ve granted your family. No more Beta position. No more training resources for your son. Nothing.”
The threat hung in the air like a sword over my father’s head.
I stared at Ethan in complete shock. All this time, he had known exactly how my parents treated me?
He had seen their greed, their willingness to sacrifice my happiness for their family’s advancement. Yet he had never spoken up for me before.
My father looked between Ethan and me, his pride warring with his desperation to maintain his position in the pack.
Finally, desperation won.
“Emma,” he said through gritted teeth, “I… I apologize for my behavior.”
The words came out strained and reluctant, but they were there.
My mother grabbed my father’s arm, pulling him toward the street. “Come on, Richard. We should go.”
Chapter 13
7:38 pm
They hurried away without another word, my mother casting worried glances over her shoulder.
After my parents disappeared around the corner, Ethan’s attention shifted to the shopping bag was still clutching.
His expression grew curious, then pleased as he noticed the expensive logo.
“What’s in there?” he asked, reaching for the bag before I could stop him.
“Ethan, wait-” I protested, but he had already opened it.
His face lit up with genuine surprise and delight as he pulled out the platinum pocket watch.
“Emma,” he said, his voice soft with what sounded like overwhelming relief. “I knew you couldn‘
bear to leave me.”
He turned the watch over in his hands, examining the intricate engravings with obvious appreciation.
“This is beautiful,” he murmured. “You always had such perfect taste.”
He looked at me with eyes full of hope and satisfaction. “You lied to me when you acted with the Alpha King before, didn’t you? All of that was just to make me jealous, to show me what I was losing.”
His smile grew wider, more confident. “I forgive you, little wolf. I understand why you felt you hac
to do it.”
Before I could stop him, he even took a photo and posted it on Facebook, saying: I know my Luna will always love me.
I stared at him in disbelief. Even now, even after everything, he was rewriting reality to fit his
narrative.
“This isn’t for you,” I said firmly, reaching for the watch.
But Ethan pulled it back, holding it against his chest possessively.
“I know you’re still angry with me,” he said with that familiar patronizing smile. “But I’ve already started making things right.”
His expression grew earnest, as if he were offering me the greatest gift in the world.
“I asked the Omega servants to prepare your favorite venison tonight. And I bought you that blue silk dress you’ve been wanting–the one from the boutique downtown.”
Looking at Ethan standing there, so confident in his ability to win me back with gifts and grand gestures, I felt a sharp pang of heartache.
There had been a time when those gestures would have meant everything to me.
I remembered our early days together, when Ethan’s attention felt like sunlight after endless winter. He would bring me wildflowers he picked during his morning runs, their petals still damp
with dew.
He would take me to the highest hill in our territory just to watch the sunset, his arm around my shoulders as we shared dreams about our future together.
When I had nightmares about the rogue attack that nearly killed me, Ethan would hold me until I fell back asleep, whispering stories about the adventures we would have as mates.
He remembered every little thing I mentioned–my favorite foods, the books I wanted to read, the
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places I dreamed of visiting.
Back then, I felt like the most important person in his world.
But everything changed when Scarlett returned to the pack three years ago. Slowly but surely, had been pushed to the margins of his life.
The flowers stopped coming. The sunset dates became rare, then nonexistent. The gentle attention I had cherished was redirected to his “sister.”
Ethan noticed my silence and interpreted it as forgiveness, just like he always did.
“See?” he said softly, stepping closer. “We can get past this. We always do.”
He opened his arms, moving to embrace me with the confidence of a man who had never truly
been refused.
But before he could reach me, a loud commotion erupted from the direction of our house.
Through the trees, I could see figures moving back and forth, carrying boxes and furniture.
Then I heard a familiar laugh ring out above the chaos–Scarlett’s voice, bright and commanding
as she directed the workers.
“Be careful with that! This is one of my brother’s favorite pajamas to see me in, put it in the
master bedroom!” she called out.
