Ethan sat down like he owned the place.
Just casually settled into the chair, legs spread, hands clasped together between them, staring at nothing in particular. Like this was totally normal. Like it wasn’t insane that he had been outside my damn window before knocking on the door at an ungodly hour.
I just stood there, arms crossed, watching him.
He didn’t fidget. Didn’t try to explain himself. Just sat there, staring around, like my glare wasn’t boring at hole right through his head.
The silence continued to stretch between us until he finally broke it. “You told me to come in.”
His voice was so damn calm–like he was just pointing out an obvious fact.
I let out a sharp breath. “That’s because I was just being… I trailed off, trying to find the right word, but nothing fit. What the hell had I been thinking?
No clue.
So instead, I just groaned, rubbing a hand down my face.
Ethan didn’t move at first. Then, in one smooth motion, he stood up. “If you didn’t mean it,” he said, shrugging slightly, “I’ll just stay outside.”
Then he turned toward the door.
I blinked.
Was he serious?
Oh. Right.
Of course he was.
Ethan was batshit insane.
Before I even realized what I was doing, my hand shot out, grabbing his wrist.
“Wait.”
The moment my fingers touched his skin, it was like an electric current zapped up my arm. I let go immediately, my heart lurching fn my chest as I took a step back.
“You’re heading back to your place, right?” I asked quickly, trying to ignore the way my skin still tingled where
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I had touched him,
Silence.
I frowned.
“Ethan.”
Still no answCT.
I narrowed my eyes, realization dawning on me. “Damn it, you were really planning to just stand outside like some kind of freak, weren’t you?“
He didn’t deny it.
Of course he didn’t.
I shook my head, exhaling sharply. “How long have you been doing this?”
He tilted his head slightly, as if debating whether he should answer. Then-
“Since you left the house.”
My stomach dropped.
Wait.
это
“Wait–was that why you looked so fucking exhausted at school?”
His eyes flickered slightly.
“That was not the only reason.”
My stomach dropped.
Oh, for fuck’s sake.
“Jesus, Ethan, are you crazy?!” I yelled, throwing my hands up.
Instead of answering, he smirked. And then, without missing a beat, he muttered, “Я лумал, ты уже знала
I frowned. “What?”
His smirk widened just a little, but he didn’t repeat himself.
This dude is going to drive me insane.
“Why?“I asked, my voice was quieter this time, because seriously–why the hell was he doing this?
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Is it also because of the mate thingy.
His smirk faded. His jaw clenched slightly. “To protect you.”
Oh.
Another perfect reason.
Fuck that!
“Oh my god.” I groaned and shoved him back down onto the chair. “You don’t have to be such a weirdo.”
He snorted, then muttered something softly under his breath that I almost didn’t catch. “You didn’t have to leave.”
A cold weight settled in my stomach.
I stiffened. “Excuse me?”
Ethan’s gaze lifted to meet mine.
“You didn’t have to leave.” His voice was quieter now. “You could’ve stayed.”
I laughed. A dry, humorless laugh.
“Who in their normal senses would stay in that fucking house after seeing their supposed stepbrother turn
into a fucking monster?!”
Ethan didn’t even blink. “I needed you to stay.”
Something in my heard snapped.
*Are
you fucking kidding me?! Why can’t you just give me ONE MOMENT of peace?! I’ve tried to make amends with you, tried to be fucking understanding even with all the insane bullshit going on, but NO! You just can’t seem to let me GO! Are you so consumed by your own twisted obsession that you’d rather SEE ME SUFFOCATE than let me breathe a little bit of fresh air?! Why are you so fucking FIXATED on me?!”
“Because you’re my mate.”
I stared at him dumbfounded. “That’s it? That’s all you have to say?!”
Ethan groaned, rubbing a hand through his hair. Then, exasperated, he muttered, “A sертовски ненавижу
английский.”
I scowled.
“Stop that.”
“Stop what?”
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Speaking whatever the hell that is.”
“Russian?”
“Yeah, well, I don’t understand it, and it’s pissing me off!”
Ethan let out a frustrated breath, running both hands through his hair, more aggressively this time, fingers digging into his scalp. He looked like he wanted to tear something apart–preferably himself.
I sighed, rolling my shoulders, exhaustion creeping into my bones. Enough of this.
“I’m going to bed.” My voice came out flat, firm. “You can sleep on the couch.”
I turned to leave, but before I could take a single step, his hand wrapped around my wrist.
Warm. Firm.
1 froze.
Before I could even react, before I could even process the movement, Ethan pulled me back and then
suddenly, his lips were on mine.
My mind blipped out.
For a second, I couldn’t think.
Everything narrowed down to the sensation–the heat, the pressure, the way his fingers tightened around my wrist like he was afraid I would disappear.
And then, just as quickly as it happened, I jerked back, so fast I nearly tripped. “Ethan?!”
His chest rose and fell, his gaze locked onto nine. Dark. Intense. Burning.
I swallowed. My pulse pounded against my ribs, my breath caught in my throat.
“Please let me.” His voice was low, rough, almost pleading. “I’m not very good with words, Camila.”
I shook my head, stepping back, trying to put space between us, but he didn’t let go of my wrist. “That’s not- Ethan, that’s not how this works!”
“Then how does it work?” He took a step closer, his body heat wrapping around me like a second skin. “Because I don’t fucking know anymore, Camila. I don’t know what to do with this- he gestured between us, frustration bleeding into his voice. “With you.”
