Chapter 27: Chapter 27

SCARLET

I quickly reach out to grab Ethan’s hand, knowing that the mate bond would help to calm his anger. Unfortunately, he quickly snatches it away from me as he turns to me with a cold glare.

“What were you doing in his bedroom?” he hisses, clearly trying to rein in his emotions as he grits his teeth and clenches his jaw.

His voice is lowered, but I know that everyone can still hear him. You could hear a fucking pin drop with how quiet everyone is, all eyes frozen on us with panicked, wide-eyed expressions.

I clear my throat, trying to remain calm and reasonable. “Well… as you know he wanted me to pose for him—”

“IN HIS BEDROOM?”

I let out a sigh. “Yes, but nothing happened. You can talk to Levi and Tony. They were right outside the door the whole time.”

“That’s not the point! You were alone with him in his bedroom! YOU ARE MY MATE, SCARLET!” he booms angrily. Suddenly, his eyes seem to widen as though he just thought of something and in a harsh whisper he asks, “Did he touch you?”

I reach out for his hand again and this time he allows it. “Ethan. Nothing happened. He didn’t touch me in any inappropriate ways, and as soon as I went into heat, I got out of there. Levi and Tony came in immediately and kept everyone else away.”

He stares at me for a long moment. His lips are pressed into a grim line as he contemplates, trying to discern if I’m telling the truth.

“Fine. I believe you.” At those words, Nicole immediately lets out an aggravated huff and shoves away from the table, stomping away from us.

I don’t pay her any mind as I focus on Ethan. He remarks sternly, “But under no circumstances are you to ever be alone with him again. Am I understood?”

I nod considering I have no plans of being alone with Lucian ever again anyway. “And until I can mark you, I don’t want you leaving the penthouse without me.”

“What? Ethan—” I begin but he cuts me off as he holds up his hand to me.

“No, Scarlet. What if it would have happened while you were in the middle of a crowd? What if there would have been too many unmated wolves around for your guards to fight them off? I’m not willing to take that risk and you shouldn’t either.”

“But what about helping at the shelter?”

“Same rules apply.”

“Does that mean that you’ll be going with me then?”

His eyes widen as he looks at me. Clearly, he wasn’t expecting me to say that. “I don’t have time to be going to the Scourge, Scarlet,” he remarks as he sweeps my hair back and tucks it behind my ear.

“Ethan, I’m not giving that up. I’ll have my guards, and Jo will protect me too,” I insist.

“Joe? Who’s Joe? Is he mated?”

I smirk at him and his furrowed eyebrows. “Babe, Jo. J. O. She’s the woman that raised me. And I’m sure she’d like to meet you one of these days.”

His shoulders relax before his jaw tenses again, and he gives me a serious look. “And what about that guy friend of yours? Will?”

I shift uncomfortably in my seat as I drop my gaze, unable to look him in the eye as I consider his question. “As I said, I’ll have my guards… And Will… he’d never intentionally do anything to hurt me.”

“Maybe not intentionally, Scarlet, but if an unmated wolf catches your scent while you’re in heat all coherent thoughts go out the window. The only thing that will be on their mind is mounting you, and I’ll kill anyone who tries,” he growls out.

“Fine. How about we get a few of the omegas to help out for breakfast, and then you and I go there for dinners until I’ve been marked? That way you’re able to do what you need to do during the day, but I can still make sure that the packless are getting their leftovers and the help they need,” I bargain.

He lets out a sigh and drops his head, ruffling his hair before turning his gaze back to me. “Fine. If that’s what will make you happy and keep you safe, then that’s what we’ll do.”

I smile widely at him before wrapping a hand around his neck and pulling his lips to mine. I plant a kiss on him that he instantly deepens as his hands cup my face.

“Goddess, I love you, Scarlet,” he says breathily after our lips part.

My grin stretches further as my heart flutters in my chest. Suddenly, I realize that I feel the same way. I don’t know when it happened, maybe it happened gradually.

All I know is that I am happy with my mate. He may have his flaws, but who doesn’t? He makes me feel safe and warm, and my insides feel all fuzzy when he’s near me.

“I love you too,” I admit softly. His lips spread into a happy smile.