My fingers tighten around the phone 57

Aria’s POV
I took a deep breath, assured that Lucas was safe. My racing heart gradually settled into a steady rhythm. Yet Ethan’s
hands remained firmly clasped around my shoulders, leaving the lingering warmth of his palms on my skin. I wriggled,
yearning to step out of his embrace.
“I’m alright,” I whispered.
But his arms tightened even more, as if afraid I might slip away. His breath warm against my ear.
“You’re too shaken up to drive,” he said, his voice brooking no argument. Before I could utter a single word, he scooped
me up into his arms and carried me to his car. The proximity of his body sent a rush of warmth pulsing through me, and I
could only pretend it was nothing but the aftermath of my frazzled emotions.
The leather seats of his car still held traces of his alpha scent – pine needles and mountain air mixed with something
dangerously male. I gripped my phone tightly, the plastic case creaking under the pressure as I dialed my father’s
number.
“Lucas is safe,” I said as soon as Marcus answered. “He’s at Mountain View Boutique.” Through the connection, I could
hear Bella’s theatrical gasp, the sound making my stomach turn. Her voice dripped with fake concern as she exclaimed
how wonderful it was that Lucas had been found.
“Thank the Moon Goddess,” Marcus breathed. “I’ll come right away—”
“No need,” I cut him off, perhaps more sharply than intended. “I’m already on my way to get him.” I ended the call before
he could argue, not trusting myself to hear any more of Bella’s performance.
Ethan’s hands tightened on the steering wheel as we wove through evening traffic. His alpha energy filled the car with
protective intensity, responding to my distress even though I hadn’t said a word. The streetlights cast alternating patterns
of light and shadow across his face, highlighting the tension in his jaw.
Ethan spoke softly, “You should rest now. Lucas will be alright.”
Feeling utterly weary, I leaned back against the headrest, letting the tension in my shoulders slowly dissipate. Yet, a
persistent unease gnawed at me, refusing to let me find comfort. “Something feels off,” I confessed, my voice barely
above a whisper. “Lucas wouldn’t just get lost on his own. He’s not that disobedient.”
The boutique’s warm lights spilled onto the sidewalk as we pulled up outside. Through the window, I could see Lucas
sitting at a small table, contentedly sipping what looked like hot chocolate while chatting with a kind-faced saleswoman.
The sight of him – safe, unharmed, acting like this was just another adventure – made my knees weak with relief.
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The bell above the door chimed as we entered. Lucas’s head snapped up, his forest-green eyes lighting up. “Mom!” He
launched himself from the chair, nearly knocking over his hot chocolate in his haste to reach me.
I dropped to my knees, gathering him into my arms. His small body felt so solid, so real against mine. The familiar scent
of his shampoo mixed with chocolate brought fresh tears to my eyes. “Baby, are you okay? Are you hurt anywhere?”
“I’m fine, Mom,” he mumbled into my shoulder. “The nice ladies gave me hot chocolate and let me read their magazines.”
“Such a well-mannered young man,” the saleswoman smiled warmly. Her eyes drifted from Lucas to Ethan, who stood
protectively behind us. “I can see where he gets those beautiful green eyes from. You three must be very happy as a
family. You must be so proud – he handled the situation remarkably well for his age.”
My body tensed at her assumption, but Ethan’s hand settled on my shoulder before I could correct her. The weight of it
felt oddly right, even as my mind screamed at the dangerous territory we were entering.
“Lucas,” I pulled back slightly, brushing his dark hair from his forehead. “Can you tell me exactly what happened with
Aunt Bella?”
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His bottom lip trembled slightly. “We were looking at the wolf artifacts in the window, and then she said we should get
ice cream. But when we got to the busy intersection…” He swallowed hard. “She just… let go of my hand and walked
away. I called for her, but she didn’t look back.”
The temperature in the boutique seemed to drop several degrees. Ethan’s alpha energy crackled with barely contained
rage, making the saleswoman take an instinctive step back. I forced myself to breathe slowly, to keep my voice steady for
Lucas’s sake, even as fury burned in my chest.
“You did exactly the right thing coming here,” I told him, removing my silver pendant – one of the few pieces of jewelry I
still owned from my days as Silver Moon’s heir. “And these kind ladies deserve a special thank you for taking such good
care of you.”
The saleswoman tried to refuse the gift, but I insisted. As I pressed the necklace into her hands, she smiled knowingly at
Ethan. “You have a beautiful family,” she said softly.
The words hung in the air like smoke, making my chest tight with emotions I couldn’t – wouldn’t – name. Ethan’s hand
was still on my shoulder, his thumb tracing small circles against my collarbone in a gesture that felt both possessive and
comforting.
After a night of frantic running, the sheer joy of finding Lucas again filled my heart, mingling with deep gratitude toward
the store staff who had helped Lucas. Yet, beneath that happiness, a whirlwind of complex emotions about Ethan stirred
within me. My mind felt tangled and disoriented, but amidst the chaos, one thought remained clear:
I needed to see my dear sister Bella.