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Feeling lightheaded, I concentrate on breathing. In and out. Stay calm.
“There you are,” she purrs, sidling up to him as he steps down into the yard and moves to her side.
She’s touching his arm, and my eyes zero in on the spot. It’s all I can concentrate on. Ethan was dating Lucia Anderson? Still is. Could this get any worse?
When her gaze turns to me, even though she hides it well, at this moment, I can tell she dislikes me just as much as I do her. “Belle, isn’t it? We met briefly at Liv’s mating ceremony. Good to have you back with us.”
She slips her arm through the crook of Ethan’s elbow, resting her head on his shoulder, she flashes a saccharine smile for me. Lucia is no fool. She can feel the tension in the air - I just pray she can’t smell it.
“Thank you for letting me visit. It’s been too long since me and Liv saw each other.” I nod toward the packhouse and paved driveways. “You’ve done a lot of work around here. It looks great.”
Lucia practically preens, smiling up at Ethan as though he had something to do with it. “That’s kind of you to say. We’re happy with how it turned out.” She’s saying we just to rub my face in it, implying she and Ethan are a serious pair. She couldn’t be less subtle as she stakes her claim.
My wolf is eerily quiet. I’d expect her to be growling and snarling, but instead she’s watching, observing, waiting to see what the fuck is going on. Ethan isn’t the only one who needs to stay in Lucia’s good graces for the time being.
“So, you two know each other?” Finally. She couldn’t resist asking. My eyes meet Ethan’s and, despite his outwardly relaxed appearance, they flash bright blue. He’s worried I’m going to tell her about us, that my wolf won’t be able to resist. I know he’s right, though, something fishy is going on. Blake wouldn’t have sent me otherwise. Every instinct in me tells me there’s something worth investigating here.
Even though I know I need to keep my mouth shut, I can’t help being petty. “You could say that,” Ethan’s jaw clenches as the words roll off my tongue; “We had a fling, but it’s over.”
The intensity of his stare threatens to consume me. Every cell in my body is on fire, like he’s scorching me from the inside out as I insult our bond. He’s forgetting that he is the one who slunk off to be with this woman, without telling me why. I know I’m keeping my own secrets, but this is another level.
Ethan says nothing. He can’t. If he opens his mouth, he’ll give himself away. Lucia stares, expecting me to say more, before twisting to see Ethan’s reaction. The bond between us, tenuous that it is, practically vibrates with his rage, but his expression looks like we’re making small talk about the weather.
“Well, we’re all adults here. This doesn’t have to be awkward. Why don’t you, Liv, and Will join us for dinner?”
There’s no way Lucia genuinely wants us all to be friends. She must be vying for more information about my connection to Ethan. Given that my already grumbling stomach is threatening to empty itself on the sidewalk if I stand here any longer, watching her touch my man, I don’t think it’s a good idea.
“Thank you so much for the offer, but I’m pretty beat after the drive. I don’t think I’d make great company tonight. Maybe another night?” I tip my head respectfully, hoping she won’t take offence at turning down her invite; refusing the alpha’s daughter is frowned upon when visiting another territory.
Her smile is so sweet it’s painful. Instead of being annoyed, she looks thrilled. Like I’m giving up without a fight.
“Of course! That sounds fun.” With a slight tug on Ethan’s arm, she gets him moving away from Liv’s house and back toward the packhouse. I watch them walk away, Lucia chatting about the plans for the next full moon, and I feel like the ground beneath my feet is shaking. Reaching out to steady myself against the wall, I squeeze my eyes shut against the pain.
None of this is real.
Ethan’s words play over in my head. He’s working an angle here, but can it really justify hurting someone like this? Watching his confident stride and his easy smile, I’m stunned by how easily he can lie. Which makes me wonder, am I being a bit naive for trusting him so easily.
15
ETHAN
This can’t be happening. Belle is here, and she just saw me on the arm of another woman. If the tables were turned, I wouldn’t have been able to show such restraint. Lucia’s not so subtle sniff as we turned to leave tells me that she sensed she had interrupted more than just a friendly hello.
“I didn’t realise you knew Belle. And so well.” Lucia’s smile is tight as she leads us inside the pack house. “Did you know she was here?”
“I most definitely did not,” I sigh with a wry shake of my head. “That was an unwelcome surprise.”
It’s the truth and Lucia can tell. Appeased for the moment, she drops the subject as we reach the top table. While she and Joseph run through the next week’s schedule, I can’t focus. My head is pounding like a migraine, and I feel my heart racing.
I need to speak to Belle again; I have to make sure she understands. But if I get up to leave now, Lucia will be suspicious.
Belle’s friend stands and shoots me a filthy look when she spies me sitting beside Lucia. Glancing around to see no sign of Belle, she slips outside, and I fidget in my chair. That’s deserved. It doesn’t bode well for me that Belle’s friends already hate me.
“Ethan? What do you think?” Lucia’s hand brushes mine and I jump, jerking upright in my seat.
Blinking hard, I try to remember what they were just saying but I wasn’t listening. My brain is stalling as the enormity of the situation finally dawns on me. My mate has seen me with another woman, a woman who believes herself to be in a relationship with me, and technically we are. Maybe all of that would be okay if I had explained the truth of the situation - but I didn’t. I may as well have spat in Belle’s face.
“Sorry, can you say that again?”
