My fingers tighten around the phone 80

Ethan’s POV
I nearly hurled my phone against the wall as it rang yet again. Since dropping Emma off at her apartment, she’d been
bombarding me with messages—trivial, meaningless texts that seemed designed solely to demand my attention. I’d been
deliberately avoiding her. If Emma truly believed she would become my Luna, it would explain her consistent cruelty
toward Aria.
Felix, my wolf, paced restlessly beneath my skin as I stared at Emma’s name flashing on my screen. My office felt
increasingly claustrophobic despite its spacious dimensions—floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking the pack territory, a massive oak desk that had belonged to generations of Shadow Fang alphas, and walls lined with books that contained
centuries of our history. None of it brought me comfort today.
She’d gotten word about my family’s charity opera gala—a lavish annual affair where all the high-class people reigned
supreme. I’d mentioned it once in passing, and Emma had latched onto the idea like a wolf with fresh prey.
“It would be perfect for us to make our first official appearance,” she’d texted earlier. “Everyone who matters will be
there!”
I had zero interest in attending. These events were always the same—obscenely expensive food served on silver platters, wealthy pack members parading in designer clothes.
Aria and I desperately needed to clear the air, but she’d been actively avoiding me. I’d called, texted, even tried to corner
her between training sessions. Nothing worked. Her responses ranged from complete silence to terse one-word answers. Whenever I managed to find her alone, either Emma would magically appear nearby.
Felix, my wolf, prowled restlessly beneath my skin, equally frustrated by our inability to reach her. The connection
between us and Aria was undeniable, yet here we were, powerless to bridge the gap she’d created.
My phone lit up again, Emma’s name flashing on the screen. With a heavy sigh, I reached for it. Maybe answering would
at least stop the constant calling.
“Hello?” My voice came out harsher than intended, the single word carrying the weight of my irritation.
“Oh! Ethan!” Emma’s voice was light and slightly breathless, as if she’d been running. “I didn’t think you’d actually
answer.”
The shyness and sweetness in her voice stirred that knot of guilt in the pit of my stomach—a sensation that accompanied
every conversation with Emma. Bitterness coated the guilt, and I had to clear my throat before I could speak.
“Sorry, I’ve been busy lately.” I forced myself to sound civil while drumming my fingers against the polished surface of my
desk. “What do you need?”
“How was your day?” Emma stammered. This was her tell—I recognized she was stalling, planning to flatter me before making her request. Usually it was for new shoes, bags, event tickets, or invitations, but this time it concerned the charity
opera.
“Fine. What do you need, Emma?” I mumbled, already regretting answering the phone. My free hand curled into a fist,
then relaxed, a physical manifestation of my effort to maintain control.
“You’re so cold to me,” she complained, her voice taking on that wounded quality that once would have triggered my
protective instincts but now only amplified my annoyance. I pinched the bridge of my nose, eyes squeezed shut. The
accumulation of frustrations was reaching its peak, and if Emma didn’t get to the point soon, I was going to explode.
“Emma!” I roared, surprising even myself with the volume. Felix snarled in response, my wolf’s agitation merging with my
own.
“I just wanted to know if you’ll take me to the charity event?” Fear saturated Emma’s voice, and I leaned back in my office
chair, letting my head rest against the soft leather. I closed my eyes, trying to calm myself.
When I trusted my voice to remain steady—aiming for a tone that was almost bored—I answered, “No. I’m not planning
to attend. It’s my grandmother’s event, but my presence isn’t required. Even if I did go, you wouldn’t be my companion.
I’ve made my position clear.”
Silence stretched across the connection for what felt like an eternity. I pulled the phone away to check if she’d hung up,
but the call was still connected. Emma began speaking again, and I quickly returned the phone to my ear.
“—would be fun, and it’s a worthy event to make an appearance at. I want to go with you so I won’t embarrass myself
since I’ve never been to one before,” she was saying, her voice taking on that pleading quality I’d come to recognize all
too well.
I exhaled slowly, watching the sunlight create patterns on my office wall as it filtered through the branches outside. “I
have too many pack and training camp matters to deal with right now. The wild wolf attacks are becoming more
frequent, requiring my full attention.”
“Please, Ethan?” Emma begged, the desperation in her voice making me wince. “I’m not asking for much, but this means
the world to me.”
“I’ll think about it,” I said, solely to end the conversation. My patience had reached its limit, and I needed this call to be
over.
“Thank you, Ethan! This will be an amazing date!” A burst of giggles followed, then the call disconnected. I tossed my
phone onto the desk with enough force to send several papers fluttering to the floor.
“This is NOT a date!” Although she’d already hung up and it was too late, I needed to hear myself say it aloud, as if
verbally rejecting the notion might somehow reach her through the ether. Felix growled in agreement, our mutual
distaste for the situation creating a rare moment of perfect harmony between man and wolf.
I turned back to my computer screen, attempting to refocus on work, but within minutes, my thoughts drifted back to the
raven-haired warrior who dominated my mind. I wasn’t sure how to initiate a conversation with Aria, but every cell in my
body yearned to be near her.
I picked up my phone, pulling up Aria’s contact information