7:34 pm DDDD
Chapter 7
Ethan stood there in expensive vacation clothes, his hair tousled from the ocean breeze.
Then I watched his expression change. The initial shock on his face melted away, replaced by that particular blend of irritation and condescension he always wore when he thought I was being “difficult.”
His jaw tightened. His eyes narrowed slightly.
“Emma, what the hell are you doing here?” His voice carried that familiar edge of accusation.
“This is seriously getting out of hand,” Before I could respond, he continued, shaking his head in exasperation. “I know you’re upset about Scarlett, but following me to the Maldives? This is her graduation trip, for crying out loud.”
“You think I followed you?” I asked quietly, my voice eerily calm.
But Ethan wasn’t listening to my tone. I watched a slow smile spread across his face. His eyes actually lit up with what looked like satisfaction.
‘You are really unreasonable,” Ethan said, shaking his head with amusement. His voice dripped with absolute confidence.
‘You released false news that you were mated to the Alpha King, and then followed me here?” He chuckled, the sound grating against my nerves.
‘So you made a scene and spread those ridiculous rumors about mating with the Alpha King ust to get my attention?”
He reached out to touch my face. I instinctively stepped back, putting distance between us.
His hand fell to his side, but his smug expression didn’t change.
laughed. The sound bubbled up from somewhere deep inside me, sharp and bitter.
‘Are you crazy, Ethan?” I asked, still laughing at the sheer ridiculousness of it all. “I came here to ind my mate, and it has nothing to do with you.”
Ethan’s laugh was condescending, the kind of sound you make when a child insists they can fly.
You still want to lie to me?” he said, moving closer again. “Come on, little wolf. We both know
you could never leave me.”
The jealousy thing is actually kind of cute,” he continued.
I know seeing me with Scarlett hurts, but you have to understand–she needed me. She’s been hrough so much with her studies and graduation. The pressure, the exams, the social dynamics at the academy. But that’s all temporary.”
Look, I know I’ve been distracted lately, and I’m sorry about that,” he said.
But once we get back from this trip, I’ll give you the most incredible mating ceremony you’ve ever imagined,” he promised, his eyes bright with what he seemed to think was romantic enthusiasm.
‘We’ll invite the entire pack, maybe even neighboring territories. The decorations will be beyond anything anyone has ever seen.”
He stepped closer again, and I could smell Scarlett’s jasmine perfume clinging to his skin.
Chapter 6
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7:34 pm DDDD.
“You’ll wear the most beautiful dress, and I’ll make sure every she–wolf there knows you’re mine You’ll be the most beautiful Luna anyone has ever seen.”
I stared at him in complete disbelief. After everything–after 105 betrayals, after abandoning me while I miscarried our child, after choosing Scarlett over me again and again–he thought he could just promise me a party and I would come running back.
I opened my mouth to respond to his delusional assumptions, to tell him exactly what I thought of his empty promises.
But before I could speak, a familiar voice cut through the air from behind him.
“Brother! Oh my god, did you prepare all of this for me?!”
Scarlett’s voice was breathless with excitement and wonder.
I watched as Scarlett emerged into the lobby, her eyes wide as she took in the moonlight roses the healing crystals, the carefully coordinated color scheme.
For a moment, her face was radiant with genuine joy and surprise. She spun around slowly taking in every detail of the elaborate decorations.
“This is absolutely incredible,” she breathed, her hands pressed to her chest. “I can’t believe you did all this for my graduation.”
Until her gaze landed on me standing there with Ethan.
The joy drained from her face instantly.
“Well, well,” Scarlett moved to Ethan’s side and sliding her arm possessively around his waist “Sister–in–law, what a… surprise. I should have known you’d find a way to insert yourself into my graduation trip.”
7:34 pm DDDD
(Emma’s POV)
