Chapter 18: Chapter 18

SCARLET

After Ethan went to the dungeons, I took a hot shower and got dressed to head to the shelter in time to help out for dinner. I’m happy Ethan was okay with me coming back.

I would have come back either way, but this makes it easier. I already feel lighter after our run and talk.

The car rumbles softly beneath me as we drive through the ruined streets of the Scourge. Two guards, named Levi and Tony, sit on either side of me, their presence a mix of annoyance and strange comfort. It’s different…but nice to have someone so concerned for me.

Of course, my friends from home cared for me, but they also know what it’s like to survive on the streets. So, they assumed I was always okay.

The buildings blur past, some crumbling, others standing defiantly against the decay. Memories flood back: hiding in those shadows, scraping for survival, and finding a family among the packless. Now, driving through it all, I feel a bit like an outsider in my own world.

The car halts at the entrance of the shelter, a familiar sight that warms my heart. As I step out, Will rushes over, his face lighting up when he sees me.

“Scarlet! You’re back!” he exclaims, wrapping me in a tight hug. The guards shift awkwardly, clearly out of place in this world of ours.

“I am.” I smile, holding onto him for a moment longer. “It’s good to see you, Will.”

He pulls back, eyeing the guards with a mix of curiosity and suspicion. “What’s with the entourage? You know, people are already asking questions about where you keep going and why you’ve been away.”

I sigh, glancing at the guards. “We’ll talk after dinner, I promise.”

We make our way inside, the familiar scent of the shelter wrapping around me like a comforting blanket. It’s dinner time, and the dining hall buzzes with the chatter of packless werewolves. I spot Jo near the kitchen.

“Scarlet! Just in time to help,” she calls out, waving me over.

I roll up my sleeves and join her, falling into the familiar rhythm of preparing and serving dinner. It’s good to be back, to feel useful and grounded. We work side by side, our movements synchronized from years of practice.

“Missed you around here,” Jo says quietly, handing me a ladle.

“Missed you too,” I reply, glancing around the room. It’s nice to get the familiar smiles and hellos from the packless.

Annie tugs at my sleeve. “Scarlet, you’re always away now. Are you going to be gone forever?”

I kneel down to her level, brushing a stray hair from her face. “No, Annie. I’ll always be here for the packless, for you.”

Her face brightens, and she hugs me tightly before running off to join her friends. I stand up, a lump in my throat. I think about what my future will look like if Ethan marks me.

Being a luna…it feels natural to me. But maybe that’s just the mate bond talking.

My inner wolf chimes in, “~It’s not just the bond. You can feel it. You were always meant to be a luna. The Moon Goddess picked it!~”

All I know is no matter where I go, this place will always hold a piece of my heart.

As dinner winds down, I find Will waiting for me by the entrance. We slip outside, the evening air cool and refreshing. The guards hover nearby, but I wave them off to give us some privacy.

“What’s going on, Scar?” Will asks, his brow furrowed. “Why the guards?”

“Ethan is worried about the Scourge not being safe. I tried to tell him I’ve lived here my whole life, but he insisted I take protection. Oh!” I grab the necklace out from under my shirt. It glimmers in the fading light, a reminder of our bond. “Look what I found.”

Will’s eyes widen. “You found it!”

“Yep, I’m so glad I did. It means a lot to me. And so do you. It’s nice to have a piece of you with me when I’m in the city.”

He nods, his expression softening. “Speaking of which…what’s going on with Ethan?”

I hesitate, still trying to process everything myself. “So, it turns out he was planning to marry some other girl for an alliance between his pack and the Silver Shadow Pack.”

“What! Scar…oh no, I’m sorry.”

“No, it’s okay. He didn’t love her, or even really seem to like her. It was going to be for political reasons. But now that he found me, he’s going to renegotiate with the pack.”

“So, I take it you’re…accepting him?”

“I still have time to think about it. He hasn’t marked me yet. But it feels like we’re beginning to understand each other a bit more. He even apologized. Like actually apologized.”

Will’s eyes widen in shock. “Wow. That is shocking for an alpha to straight up apologize. He must be serious about repairing the relationship.”

“It seems like it. But we’ll see.”

Will studies me for a moment before breaking into a smile. “If you’re happy, then I’m happy for you. You deserve it.”

***

The moonlight filters through the large windows of the penthouse, casting a silvery glow over the room. The night is still and silent, the kind of quiet that usually lulls me into a deep sleep. But tonight, my mind is restless, swirling with memories of the Scourge and thoughts of the future.

I turn over in bed, staring at the ceiling. The luxury of this place still feels foreign. No creaking floors, no drafty walls, just an expanse of comfort and security. It’s both overwhelming and soothing.

I hear the door creak open. My body tenses for a moment before the familiar scent of vanilla and citrus fills the air. Ethan. I watch as he quietly makes his way to the bed, his movements careful and considerate.

“Scarlet, are you awake?” he whispers, his voice soft in the darkness.

“Yeah,” I reply, my voice barely more than a breath. “What’s up?”

He hesitates, standing by the bed, his silhouette outlined by the moonlight. “Can I…can I come in?”

A smile tugs at my lips. “Yes.”

He slips under the covers, his warmth surrounding me. The bed dips as he settles in, his presence both comforting and grounding. For a moment, neither of us speaks.

“I just got done working. I heard you went to the shelter tonight. I was worried about you.”

I turn to face him, our noses almost touching. “No need to worry, I took the guards like you asked.”

He shifts closer, his arm wrapping around me. “I just want to make sure you’re safe.”

The vulnerability in his voice tugs at my heart. I nestle against him, my head resting on his chest. His heartbeat is a steady rhythm under my ear, a comforting lullaby.

He tightens his hold on me, his breath warm against my hair. “I know we have a lot to figure out still, but this is nice.”

My wolf purrs. Ethan’s fingers trace soothing patterns on my back, lulling me further into drowsiness. “Sleep now, Scarlet. I’ve got you.”

And with those words, I let myself drift off, wrapped in the warmth and safety of Ethan’s embrace.