Chapter 17
“That’s putting it mildly.” I scoffed, then chewed thoughtfully on a few fries. As my irritation softened into a kind of tired acceptance, I added, “Guilt, maybe. It has to be guilt that’s eating him up, and that’s why he spends my… my supposed ‘death day‘ like it’s some kind of personal tragedy.”
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There was a long silence as I finished off the fries and took a sip of water, grounding myself. My mind spun with memories, faces, half–forgotten conversations. The past clawed at me, reminding me of Ethan, of everything we’d once been.
“Some people just… can’t let go, no matter how much they want to,” I muttered, half to myself.
Henry leaned back, regarding me with an unreadable expression. “You think it’s just guilt?” he asked, almost as if testing me.
I looked away, my heart heavy. “It has to be,” I replied, though even I didn’t fully believe it. My fingers tightened around my glass. “Maybe that’s why he never recognized me, even when we were face–to–face.”
Henry watched me for a moment, then nodded, his gaze softening. “Sometimes people can be blinded by their own regrets.”
The thought hit me with the weight of a boulder. I dropped my gaze, realizing I didn’t even
know what I wanted anymore. Closure? Forgiveness? An apology from Ethan for pretending I didn’t exist, for trying to erase me with rumors of my death?
I shook my head, trying to clear my thoughts. “Forget it. There’s nothing between us. Whatever we had… it’s gone. He’s a jerk, and that’s why I didn’t want to admit I knew him. back at the hospital.”
The Betas around me exchanged wary glances as I stuffed the last bite of my burger into my mouth and muttered through clenched teeth, “Screw you, Ethan–you’re the one who’s dead.”
The pack stared at me, stunned by my outburst, but I barely cared. I slumped back into my
Chapter 17
chaff, tenting the weight of my frustration sink in, then took calm down. I didn’t owe Bhan any more of my energy
low breath, willing mydent
“This is bizarre,” I murmured, looking at Henry, “If I’m alive no, I am alive, then who’s he been honoring all these yea187”
Henry looked just as bewildered, admitting he didn’t know. Ethan had never spoken of me, not even to his closest friends. The shock Henry felt upon seeding me in Shadow Sand had
temmed from a single photograph Ethan kept tucked inside his police cap. He never spoke of the person in that photo, but it was clear to everyone she held an irreplaceable place in
his heart.
I scoffed, forcing a resolute smile, “Well, I’ll tell you this much,” I said, staring defiantly into the dark woods beyond. “Whatever Ethan thinks he’s mourning, it isn’t me
A tense silence settled over the table as I finished my drink, the weight of the unspoken past heavy in the night air,
Yet the curiosity of my wolf clawed at me, urging me to reach out to Ethan and give him the surprise of his life, I almost laughed at the thought.
‘No way‘
I stood, tossing my hair over my shoulder and flashed a smile that I hoped would hide inỹ – nerves. “Time for me to go. See you in New York sometime.”
Seven days later, New York.
The plane touched down smoothly, and the familiar allure of the city’s four seasons washed over me like an old friend. Even from inside the airport, I could feel the city’s energy pulsing. My coworkers and I shrugged off our jackets as we hurried towards the exit, dager to shed the final layer of airplane stiffness.
Outside, a sleek black Coaster Van awaited, its tinted windows glinting under the New York sun. It was the kind of vehicle meant to impress, which made me pause. My eyes flicked to Nick, our driver, a respected Beta from the Laken Pack, who held the door open with a smile
Chapter 17
I raised an eyebrow, glancing around at my coworkers. “What’s the occasion?”
Nick gave a sly smile, his eyes twinkling. “It’s good news!”
The words hung in the air, ambiguous yet tantalizing, and I glanced at Zoe, my closest coworker. The moment she heard “restaurant,” her eyes sparkled with excitement, and she practically bounced into the van.
But unease prickled at my skin. “Are we the only ones going?* 1 thought, searching for any sig of this being a regular outing. My senses were sharper than my coworkers‘, though, and every instinct told me there was something more to this evening.
“There’ll be some important guests too,” Zoe added, brushing off my concerns as she climbed eagerly into the
I followed, sliding into a seat near the window as we pulled away, watching the cityscape blend into more luxurious streets. And then, I noticed where we were headed-“Wood Tribe
Tower“. My stomach flipped.
The towering building loomed ahead, its glass exterior gleaming with an almost foreboding grandeur. Memories surged back, bringing me to that night in Shadow Sand, to the moment. I’d found Blaine soaked in his bathtub, seemingly unconscious.
My phone call with Bella replayed in my mind, her voice a mix of anger and disbelief: “You brat! What do you mean ‘suicide? The Gamma rushed in, saw a person soaking in the bathtub, without any movement. They dragged him out of the bathtub, buck naked, in front. of everyone! And he’s the Alpha of Nightwish Pack! What the hell were you thinking?!”
(3)
Jumbo Mate Alphia – Second Chance at Love
