His Fated Mate Came Back While He Was Still Pressing Me Beneath Him

Chapter 5 Like Family

Ethan's message was waiting for me by the time I looked at my phone.

Ethan: Come to the hotel entrance.

There was no baby, no gentle word to soften it, no trace of the man who had once known exactly how to pull me close with a single line.

Somewhere deep inside me, Lyric folded in on herself. I could feel her fear the way I felt my own.

Rain hammered the stone steps outside the hotel.

Ethan stood under the awning with his arms crossed, his amber eyes darkening to deep gold under the streetlight. His Alpha aura rolled off him and crushed toward me, lodging in my throat.

His mouth moved, and his jaw was tight with anger. He was furious. I knew exactly what he was demanding. "Why are you here?"

I heard every word.

But I could not let him know that.

So I stood there without speaking and let my face go still.

He forced one step closer and grabbed my wrist hard. His fingers tightened, and my joints gave a faint c***k. It hurt.

I jerked free and stumbled back. Then I raised my phone between us and held the screen where he could not miss it.

"I can't hear you."

His hand froze in midair.

For one brief second, something in his face gave way. Regret moved through his eyes so quickly that I might have missed it if I had not been staring straight at him. He let go, stepped back, and pulled out his phone.

I lowered my gaze to my own screen.

"I'm sorry. Just go back to the Pack House. I'll explain in a few days."

I lifted my head and nodded anyway. I pulled my lips into a hollow smile.

After that, I turned and walked straight into the rain.

Ethan stayed where he was and watched me go.

I refused to turn around, to beg for explanations, to break down and cry.

The rain swallowed my footsteps, and my hair clung cold and heavy to my back as I kept walking. My figure shrank into the distance until I faded completely into the downpour.

His wolf, Rick, slammed against his chest, claws scraping the inside of his ribs as he let out a low growl. "Go after her."

He took half a step forward.

"Ethan."

Scarlett's voice came from behind him. Her soft fingers hooked around his arm, and her copper-red curls brushed his shoulder as the warmth of her rose fragrance pressed close.

He stopped.

Scarlett tilted her head and looked at Aria's back in the rain. Then she turned and gave the Beta beside her a look. The message landed. By the time I reached the curb, one of Scarlett's people had caught up with me and stepped neatly into my path.

Scarlett herself followed a moment later, all satin, sweetness, and smiling concern. "Come celebrate with us. You looked after Ethan for me all these years. The least I can do is thank you properly."

I pointed to my ear and shook my head.

Scarlett tipped her head and mouthed an exaggerated sorry. Then she slipped her arm through mine with easy familiarity. Her nails bit through my sleeve and into my skin.

When we reached the private room at Howl Bar, warm light and the smell of alcohol hit me at once.

The long table was crowded with liquor and glasses, and Ethan's friends were scattered across the booths. The instant they saw me, several of them exchanged the same look. "Why is she here?"

A pale-blond Gamma came over with a glass in his hand. "And who's this?"

"She's like a little sister to Ethan and me," Scarlett said before anyone else could answer.

Laughter rose from every direction, knowing and suggestive. I sat down in the corner.

Scarlett, meanwhile, took control of the mood as easily as if she had been born for it. "Let's draw cards. Lowest card takes the punishment."

Someone brought over a deck and set it on the table. Everyone drew a card, and the lowest card got punished.

When the cards hit the table, Ethan had the lowest.

The Gamma grinned over the rim of his glass. "Come on, Alpha Ethan. Aria or Scarlett? Who do you actually love?"

Every eye in the room turned toward me at once.

My fingers curled against my knee.

Ethan looked at me for one second. Then he turned to Scarlett and slipped an arm around her shoulders.

"Aria is like family. Scarlett is the woman I love."

The room erupted. Werewolves whistled, shouted, and pounded their fists against the table hard enough to rattle the glasses. Scarlett leaned into his chest, clutching the front of his shirt as she whispered something to him. Ethan lowered his head and pressed his lips to her forehead.

"You're the only woman I've ever loved."

The cheering rattled the glasses on the table.

I lowered my head and wiped the corner of my eye before anyone could see.

It did not matter. I had two days left. In two days, I would leave Stormhaven and vanish from his life for good.

I picked up the glass in front of me and tipped it back in one swallow. The burn ripped down my throat, and I coughed before the tears spilled over.

Then they dealt another round. The deck was shuffled again, and everyone drew once more.

When the cards turned over, mine was the lowest.