My fingers tighten around the phone 131

Ethan’s POV
I stormed out of Emma’s bedroom, vigorously wiping my mouth with the back of my hand. The taste of her lip gloss
clung to me like a toxic residue, making my stomach turn. All I wanted was to rinse my mouth, scrub my face, and
somehow cleanse my mind of the last twenty minutes.
The main room was nearly empty now. David stood by the door, shepherding the last few stragglers out with thinly veiled
contempt. His normally friendly face was set in hard lines, jaw clenched as he nodded curtly at departing guests. Our eyes met briefly across the room, and he gave me a questioning look, silently asking if I was okay.
Near the wedge-shaped bar, Leo was surveying the aftermath—dozens of empty bottles, discarded glasses, and the
unmistakable paraphernalia of a party gone wild. His attention shifted to Bella, who was leaning against the counter with
practiced nonchalance, her predatory gaze fixed on him.
“Seriously, Bella?” Leo gestured at the chaos around them, disgust evident in his voice.
She shrugged one shoulder, the movement deliberately sensual. “Just a little pick-me-up party. Poor Emma has been
absolutely heartbroken lately. I thought she could use some… entertainment.” Her eyes traveled down Leo’s body without
subtlety. “Speaking of entertainment, how about dinner sometime?”
I watched Leo’s face transform into that practiced playboy smile—charming on the surface but cold as ice underneath.
Even from where I stood, I could feel the anger radiating from him in waves.
“Bella,” he said, his tone deliberately light.
“Hmm?” She purred, edging closer, biting her lower lip in what she clearly thought was an irresistible gesture.
Leo’s smile hardened. “I wouldn’t touch you if you were the last woman on earth. Wouldn’t date you if my life depended
on it. Would actively try to be in a different state if possible.” His eyes flashed dangerously. “You’re the worst kind of
person, and what you did to Aria was unforgivable.”
“No, Leo, I—” Bella pouted, trying to salvage the situation.
“If you overdosed on all this crap right now,” he swept his arm over the bar where pills, powders, and bottles were
scattered haphazardly, “I wouldn’t lift a finger to help you.”
I bristled at the sight of the illicit substances. My patience was hanging by the thinnest thread, and Bella was doing her
best to snap it completely.
“Done so soon?” she turned to me with a smirk that made my blood boil. “I thought you’d be longer.”
I fixed her with a glare that made lesser wolves cower. “I did not sleep with Emma. We’ve never had that kind of
relationship.”
“But she said…” Bella’s eyes widened slightly as she met my gaze. I held it, unflinching, until she finally looked away,
swallowing hard. “I… misunderstood. Sorry, Alpha.”
“You did. Everyone seems to have misunderstood.” I let out a humorless laugh, then turned back to Leo. “Don’t worry
about cleaning this place up. It’s not mine anymore.”
“You sure about that?” Leo studied me with an odd expression, almost challenging me to do… something. I couldn’t
decipher what he wanted, and frankly, I didn’t care. All I could think about was Aria. I was sick of these games, these
misunderstandings. Leo had said Aria rejected his kiss—which meant there was still hope she might want to be with me.
The image of them kissing still burned, but I couldn’t control their actions any more than I could control a hurricane.
What I could control was how I lived from this point forward. I couldn’t change my past behavior, as deeply ashamed as I
was, and I would regret that night until my dying day. But I could change who I was going to be. I would never repeat
that night’s mistakes.
Planning your weekend reading? Ensure you’re on 𝗻𝚘𝑣𝘦𝕃5s.com for uninterrupted enjoyment. The next chapter is just a
click away, exclusively available on our site. Happy reading!
“Yes, I’m sure,” I said firmly. “I want nothing more to do with this place.”
I headed toward the front entrance, bracing myself for a challenge far more daunting than cutting ties with Emma. My
godmother was waiting in the foyer, and as I approached her, I felt like a child about to be scolded. She had that effect on
me, no matter how old I got.
“Ethan.” She looked up at me, somehow managing to peer down her nose despite being at least a foot shorter.
“I’m sorry I didn’t tell you about Emma and this house,” I began, wanting to explain everything.
She held up a hand, stopping me mid-sentence. “I don’t care about that. Is that woman your girlfriend?”
“No, absolutely not,” I said firmly, meeting her gaze directly. “Emma is… complicated. A consequence of my past actions
that I’ve been paying for.” I exhaled slowly, trying to find the right words. “I’ve been too lenient, trying to soothe my own
guilt. That ends today.”
My godmother’s eyes softened slightly, though her posture remained rigid. She reached up to tuck a stray silver-streaked
hair behind her ear, reminding me of the loving woman who’d bandaged my scraped knees as a child.
“The past has sharp teeth, doesn’t it?” she murmured, a hint of warmth breaking through her stern facade. She tapped
one manicured finger against her chin thoughtfully. “Your mother called me in a state. Something about Aria? The one
from the Silver Moon pack?” Her eyes twinkled knowingly.
Planning your weekend reading? Ensure you’re on 𝗻𝚘𝑣𝘦𝕃5s.com for uninterrupted enjoyment. The next chapter is just a
click away, exclusively available on our site. Happy reading!
My jaw dropped. “How did you—”
“I know many things, little wolf,” she interrupted, her voice simultaneously gentle and authoritative. “Now, before we
discuss your romantic disasters further, I need something from you.” She rifled through her purse, pulling out a small
plastic bag.
I frowned in confusion. “What do you need my—JESUS!”
Without warning, her fingers shot out, gripping a chunk of my hair and yanking it clean from my scalp. The sharp sting
made my eyes water as she calmly deposited the hair into her bag.
“For goodness’ sake,” I hissed, rubbing my head. “A little warning next time?”
“Don’t be dramatic.” Her lips twitched with the ghost of a smile. “Now listen carefully, because I won’t repeat myself: Fix
things with Aria. Your pride isn’t worth your happiness.” She patted my cheek with surprising tenderness. “You’ve always
been too stubborn for your own good.”
Before I could ask how she knew so much about Aria or why she needed my hair, she turned with remarkable grace and
walked away, her mission clearly accomplished.
“Orders from the general?” David appeared at my side, squeezing my shoulder sympathetically.
I glanced between him and Leo, who wore a knowing grin that made me want to punch him.
“Time to face the music,” I said simply, ”I really need to do what my godmother told me to.“