CURSED MOON: THE LUNA’S FATE

Two

Ethan appeared displeased with my response, and he signed softly, looking hurt by my statement.

“Please don't say that. You're my mate,” he insisted, his jaw tightening with emotion.

“What's your name?” He asked.

"Camille," I uttered before I could catch myself, and Ethan's eyebrows lifted in surprise at my response.

“Camille,” he repeated, the sound of my name rolling off his tongue making me gulp. It sounded surprisingly pleasing to hear it from him.

“My name is Ethan,” he stated. I had almost forgotten my state of undress until I noticed the way Ethan's eyes darkened as they scanned over me, causing me to tense up.

“Who did this to you?” he demanded, his expression turning furious as he focused on my injured shoulder.

“A rogue,” I murmured quietly, trying to infuse my voice with strength and confidence, but it came out weaker than I intended.

“Here are your clothes,” the nurse announced as she burst through the door, prompting Ethan to swiftly rise to his feet in front of me, his hands spread protectively over the cot.

They were so close to my thighs, just inches away. Ethan visibly relaxed, accepting the top from the nurse. I hurriedly pulled it over my head, grateful that it was oversized, covering my hands while allowing the nurse to examine my injured shoulder without needing me to move.

“Make sure she gets some pain-killing medication,” Ethan instructed the nurse, noting my discomfort as I struggled to pull on the top.

She nodded right away and began tending to my shoulder, while Ethan crouched down in front of me once more, his eyes fixed on my face.

“Don't pay attention to what she's doing. Just look at me,” He said to me as I took a deep breath. My shoulder throbbed uncomfortably from the nurse's ministrations, but it was easy to ignore as I focused on the Alpha in front of me. His jawline was strikingly defined, lightly dusted with stubble.

He appeared slightly older than me, maybe by three or four years, though it was difficult to gauge precisely. His shoulders were broad, and he possessed impressive muscularity, with intricate tattoos adorning his hands and arms.

“Why were you alone in the forest?” Ethan inquired, his hand hovering dangerously close to my leg. It seemed like he wanted to touch me, yet there was hesitation in his gesture.

“Um, that's where I live,” I replied.

“You don't have any family?” he asked. I shook my head, swallowing hard.

“What's your last name?” he inquired. I hesitated, realizing I didn't have one.

Ethan seemed like he wanted to ask more questions, but he stopped himself, noticing my solemn expression.

I was in serious trouble. Right now, Ethan saw me as an ordinary wolf, but I knew once he discovered I was gifted, he'd either hand me over or exile me. A gifted wolf in the pack would make them a major target, and he'd likely receive a substantial reward for turning me in.

“It's alright,” Ethan assured me, tilting his head and biting his lip, a puzzled expression crossing his face.

“Let's focus on getting you stitched up,” Ethan said gently. He was my mate, but that didn't alter the reality that I couldn't remain here. If I wanted to avoid capture, I needed to leave, though I knew he would never permit it.

Earning his trust as an ordinary wolf was my sole escape route. Afterward, I could make a swift getaway.

Ethan watched me closely throughout the stitching process, my body occasionally flinching from the sensation of my skin being pulled.

“Keep the area clean to prevent infection. Your immune system might not be strong,” the nurse advised as she concluded, discarding her rubber gloves into the trash can in the corner of the room. I eyed them longingly. I could use a pair.

I nodded once, grinding my teeth together in determination.

Ethan extended his hand to assist me off the bed, and I glanced at it briefly, torn between the desire to touch him badly and the fear of what might happen if my sleeve slipped down. Mates touching supposedly caused intense sparks, and the prospect felt overwhelming. I needed to keep a clear head.

Pushing myself up from the cot, I followed the nurse to the door, grateful that the oversized top I wore provided adequate coverage.

“Please charge the bill to my card,” Ethan instructed.

“I Will do that, Alpha,” the nurse replied with a smile, addressing us both as Ethan guided me out of the room.

Travis and Noah waited outside, both raising their eyebrows at me with questioning looks, which made me sigh in response.

“Travis, I heard you were going to cover Camille's medical expenses,” Ethan asked, his jaw clenched tightly.

Travis nodded in confirmation, prompting Ethan to hum thoughtfully. He gestured for me to follow him out of the hospital. Despite wanting to manipulate his emotions, hoping for pity or guilt to sway him into letting me go, I knew I was too exhausted and weak for it to work, having already tried it with Travis earlier.

A period of recuperation lay ahead. When I finally gathered enough strength, I resolved to make another attempt.

“I hope you will excuse my abruptness with Travis," Ethan said, briefly meeting my calm gaze.

“I didn't want another male paying for my mate." Ethan stated firmly, I shivered, my body enjoying the feeling of Ethan being so territorial. Why did I find it appealing? It was stupid.

I smiled up at him, though it felt forced. In order to earn his trust, I knew I had to play the role convincingly. He needed to believe that I was ready to fully accept him.

Then, perhaps, he would willingly leave me be, allowing me to get a chance to escape. But for now, I understood he wouldn't let me out of his sight, not even for a second, particularly since I was injured and vulnerable.

"I'll take you to my home," Ethan said, casting occasional glances down at me, as if considering offering to carry me. I sensed his hesitation, noting a slight hurt in his demeanor from my earlier refusal of his assistance.

"If that's alright with you?" I wasn't certain of any other place to stay, and I had a feeling that even if I protested, Ethan would insist on being nearby. Mates, especially Alphas, were naturally protective. It figured that I'd end up with one.

I nodded once, prompting Ethan to smile broadly. I noticed his perfectly straight, white teeth. It made me want to smile in return, his happiness almost infectious.

Almost.

We arrived at his house, and I was nearly awestruck. It wasn't grand or ostentatious, but it was strikingly beautiful. Painted in a soft beige hue, the front door gleamed with deep mahogany. Despite the cold weather, there were resilient red and yellow flowers scattered around.

“I decorated the house with my mate in mind. I wanted everything ready for when I found you,” Ethan explained. I furrowed my brow, biting down hard on my bottom lip to stifle any grimace.

What would happen when he discovered that the person he was destined to be with intended to leave him? He had invested so much money and effort into this home for nothing. Guilt washed all over me.

As we entered, Ethan's scent enveloped me like a wave, filling my senses. I greedily inhaled his scent, and Ethan seemed to notice, chuckling softly to himself. He had truly outdone himself. The place was stunning, decorated in a neutral theme with exquisite furniture. It far surpassed any cavern or shabby motel room I had ever slept in.

"Do you want a bath? That way you can keep your stitches dry," Ethan suggested, and I felt a rush of excitement at the idea of a warm bath. I had only ever bathed in cold, swampy ponds or cheap tubs with lukewarm water.

There was no way I was not going to take advantage of it while I was here.

“Yes, please,” I replied eagerly. Ethan's jaw tensed slightly as he motioned for me to go upstairs first. I tugged my sleeves down further, concealing almost my entire hand from his view as I ascended the stairs.

He followed closely behind me, his presence reassuring, as if he was ready to catch me if my legs gave out.

We had to pass through his bedroom to reach the bathroom, and I couldn't help but notice his large bed. Would I end up sleeping there with him? Would he hold me close until we both drifted off to sleep? Why was the idea so tempting?

Stop it. He will turn you in. You can't let yourself want him.

“There's a bubble bath in the cabinet and fresh towels on the rack,” Ethan informed me as he opened the bathroom door.

“I'll lay out some fresh clothes on my bed for you. They'll have to be my clothes since I don't have anything else, so I hope that's alright?” I nodded almost reflexively. Secretly, I found myself wanting to wear his clothes. The thought of wearing fabric that had touched his body felt oddly comforting.

“That is okay for me. Can I have a long-sleeved top and bottoms though, please? It's cold,” I requested, using the winter season as a perfect excuse. Combined with my slight underweight, my body struggled to regulate its own temperature.

It seemed Ethan wasn't suspicious of my request.

"That's no problem," he assured me, moving closer. We locked eyes, his brows furrowing, jaw twitching in thought.

"I just..." His hand twitched at his side, unsure how to continue.

"I'll be downstairs making some food for us," he said, then hurried away, clearly struggling. I could tell he wanted to reach out and touch me, and I wanted his hand in mine too. But the thought of him seeing my mark terrified me.

He would likely be disgusted to be paired with someone like me. I had heard numerous tales of wolves abandoning their gifted mates, and I was sure this situation wouldn't be any different. I didn't think I was worth the trouble—my own parents had proven that. As I ran the water, I undressed myself and poured what felt like gallons of lavender-scented bubble bath into the tub.

The fragrance was pleasant, though nowhere near as captivating as Ethan's scent. I found myself wishing his essence came bottled in a bubble bath; I imagined it would sell exceptionally well, with me as a loyal customer. The hot, steaming water felt amazing against my skin. Yet, relaxation proved difficult with inevitable thoughts racing through my mind.

This situation was temporary; I planned to return to life on the run in a week or even sooner if possible. Under these circumstances, my injuries would heal swiftly. Every moment spent with Ethan carried its risks. Not only was there the danger of him discovering my true nature, but also the risk of me becoming attached, despite knowing I couldn't stay. I had to keep reminding myself that this couldn't possibly work out.

I despised my gift. The ability to manipulate emotions made me acutely aware of my own feelings. Every emotion felt amplified, so I developed a habit of burying them deep within. I avoided dwelling on the negatives, aware that allowing despair to take hold would overwhelm me. Yet, occasionally, it crept up on me despite my efforts to keep it at bay.

I really hoped that my mate bond with Ethan wouldn't trigger any of that reaction.

I lost track of time in the bath, lost in my thoughts. Eventually, I climbed out, noticing my skin had wrinkled from the water. Wrapping myself in a fluffy towel, I let out a gasp as I slipped on the wet floor, falling hard.

I cursed in pain, gritting my teeth as I hissed. Ethan's heavy footsteps thundered up the stairs as he burst through the door. Alarm widened my eyes as I quickly snatched the nearby towel, using it to shield my marked hand from his view.