Chapter 21: Chapter 21

ETHAN

The moonlight filters through the heavy curtains of my office. The silence of the night is broken only by the soft scratching of my pen on paper as I sketch out our defense strategies.

I glance at the clock—it’s well past midnight, and I haven’t seen Scarlet for a couple of days. We keep missing one another with me working and researching and her work at the shelter.

Suddenly, the air grows cold, and a faint shimmer materializes before me. Cassia stands in the center of the room.

“Cassia,” I say, my voice a mix of surprise and urgency. “I know we don’t have much time. What updates do you have?”

Her eyes, filled with both determination and exhaustion, meet mine. “They’re planning another attack,” she says, her voice echoing softly. “But I couldn’t get the details. I don’t know when it’s going to happen.”

I curse under my breath, frustration bubbling up. “Damn it. We’re blind without that information.”

Cassia steps closer, her presence more solid now. “I’m sorry, Ethan. They’re getting more cautious now that Ray is dead. They’re having to adjust strategy again.”

I wish she knew more, but I have other things I need from her right now.

“You said you can see the future, right? Look at mine. I need to know how we win this.”

“I can’t. Not while I’m projecting, and it’s too unsafe to leave the coven right now. Plus it doesn’t always work that way. I’m sorry.”

I sigh but move onto the next request. “Have you ever heard of something called Hexwort? We found some in Ray’s place. Our healer thinks it’s what made a couple she-wolves sick. And they’re still not doing well. She tried to figure out what was going on but hasn’t had any luck with her sources.”

Cassia’s eyes widen. “Hexwort,” she repeats, almost to herself. “I knew of another coven member who was harvesting this herb, but when I questioned it, they just said Master needed it but didn’t tell her why. Now I see why.”

I lean forward, my hands gripping the edge of the desk. “Can you make them better?”

She hesitates, her ethereal form flickering slightly. “I will try, Ethan. But first, I need to find out what enchantment was used. It will be dangerous for me.” She hesitates. “If things go wrong, I’ll need your pack’s protection.”

My instincts scream to be cautious, but the desperation in her eyes and the stakes at hand force my hand. “If you help my pack, you have my protection,” I say firmly. “But if you betray us, there will be consequences.”

Cassia nods, understanding the gravity of my words. “I understand,” she says as she fades away.

I sit back, the tension in my muscles refusing to dissipate. The witches are planning another attack, and we still have two sick she-wolves. The pack is counting on me, and the responsibility feels like a heavy chain around my neck.

Exhaling deeply, I push away from the desk and leave my office, heading toward the penthouse. The hallways are dark and silent, the pack members either asleep or on patrol. The door to my room creaks slightly as I open it, and I slip inside, my eyes adjusting to the dim light.

Scarlet is already in bed, her hair spread out across the pillow. She stirs as I approach, her eyes fluttering open.

“Ethan?” she murmurs sleepily, sitting up slightly. “What’s wrong?”

I strip off my shirt and crawl into bed beside her, pulling her into my arms. The warmth of her body against mine is a soothing balm to my frayed nerves.

“Cassia was here,” I say quietly. “The witches are planning another attack, but she couldn’t get the details. She’s going to try and find a cure for the she-wolves.”

Scarlet’s eyes search mine, her hand coming up to rest against my cheek. “And you trust her?”

I let out a weary sigh, pressing my forehead against hers. “I don’t know. But we don’t have many options right now. She’s risking a lot to help us. If she can find out what enchantment was used, she might be able to find a cure.”

“I hope so.” Scarlet sits up and stretches, turning toward me. “You’ve been away too much, and I’ve missed you.”

“I’ve missed you, too.” I stroke her arm and feel tingles between us.

“I want to be more involved. A luna is supposed to be considered an alpha’s equal. And I feel like you’re protecting me from it. We are mates. I want to be by your side,” she states plainly.

Her words strike a chord within me, and I know she’s right. I’ve been keeping her out of the loop, thinking I was protecting her.

“You’re right,” I admit, my voice softening. “I’ve been trying to shield you from the worst of it. I don’t want anything to happen to you.”

“I’m stronger than you think I am. I grew up in the Scourge after all,” Scarlet responds.

I take a deep breath, feeling the weight of my responsibilities and the relief of sharing them with her. “From now on, you’ll be more involved.”

“Good,” she says, leaning in to kiss me softly.

The kiss deepens, and for a moment, the world outside ceases to exist. It’s just us, two souls intertwined, drawing strength and comfort from each other. When we finally pull apart, I rest my forehead against hers, our breaths mingling.

“That reminds me then, since you want to be involved, Silver Shadow Pack should be arriving on Thursday. We’ll be hosting a nice dinner for them at Della Luna,” I tell her.

Della Luna is one of the fanciest restaurants in the city. It’s an Italian restaurant that is on the first floor of Kane Enterprises.

“Is it okay with everything going on with Nicole?” Scarlet questions with apprehension in my tone.

“Yes. I can’t officially announce you as my mate and luna, but you should be there. You can start getting involved in the politics of everything.”

She smiles. “Deal. I’ll be there.”

“Oh, and Alpha Lucian will be holding a gala on Saturday to show off his art as well, so I’ll make sure Isa finds you a dress fitting for the event.”

Scarlet lies back down and cuddles into me. I wrap my arms around her waist and pull her closer. I lean my head down to kiss her.

She’s everything I want, sexy, fiery, compassionate. She will be an amazing luna, and I can’t wait to make her mine.

She sighs softly into the kiss, her body relaxing against mine. The warmth of her skin, the softness of her touch, is grounding. I deepen the kiss, savoring the way she responds, her fingers tangling in my hair.

Her body fits perfectly against mine, and I can feel my desire growing. I trail kisses along her jawline, down to her neck, where I linger, nipping and sucking gently. Her breath hitches, and I feel a surge of satisfaction at her reaction.

“Ethan,” she breathes, her voice a mix of longing and hesitation. I pause, pulling back just enough to look into her eyes. They are dark with desire, but there’s a vulnerability there that makes my heart ache.

“Scarlet,” I whisper, brushing a strand of hair away from her face. “I want you. But I don’t want to rush you. We can take this at your pace.”

She looks up at me, her expression softening with gratitude. “Thank you,” she murmurs, her fingers lightly caressing my cheek. “I want this too, but I still need time.”

I nod, understanding completely. “I’ll wait as long as you need,” I assure her, pressing a gentle kiss to her forehead.

I kiss her again, this time slower, more deliberate, savoring the moment. My hands continue to explore her body, but with a gentleness that respects her boundaries. I feel her relax even more, her trust in me palpable.

Scarlet’s fingers trace patterns on my back, sending tingles of pleasure through me. We lie there, tangled together, the world outside forgotten. The connection between us is electric, but also tender and comfortable.

“Good night, Scarlet,” I whisper, pressing a final kiss to her forehead. I smile, closing my eyes and letting sleep take me, knowing that whatever comes next, we’ll face it together.