Page 64 of The Forbidden Alpha

A pained breath escaped his lips, relief warring with the lingering torment in his gaze. He leaned down, burying his face into the crook of my neck, inhaling right over the wounds, desperate to ensure I was his now, desperate to erase Shane’s lingering scent.

I swallowed hard, my fingers tangling in his dark hair as my eyes stung. “Are we going to talk about what you turned into last night?”

Ethan froze, his entire body going rigid against mine. The hum of the bond grew loud, and a darkness spread through my chest. “That was Erebus,” he murmured, his breath hot against my damaged skin. “I’m of Lycan descent. I didn’t think I could take that form, but with the way his presence had been clawing at the forefront of my mind lately, growing heavier with every boundary breach… it makes sense now. I’d been suppressing that side of my form to stay civilized, not knowing how deep the corruption went. But when I smelled another man on you…”

Before I could press further, he continued. “Sabine has been dealt with. Enforcers removed her. She has been placed far away from our home in the lower city limits. They are guarding her while I figure out how she’s connected to Shane’s ability to enter the penthouse. For now, she’s out of your sight.”

I nodded slowly, swallowing the bitter taste of shame that rose in my throat. It wasn’t simple jealousy—it was the sickening realization of how deep the betrayal ran in our own home. I was hollowed out by what Shane had done, but knowing her shadow was finally gone from the Citadel was a small light in the dark.

“How did I not know, Ethan?” my voice broke, the shame finally leaking out, dripping from my tongue like acid. “He was in our home. In our bed. Why did my soul not recognize that it wasn’t you?”

Ethan’s green eyes flashed to gold for a second, his jaw clenching so hard a warning vibration rattled through the bond. “Foul play. We found the remains of your tea. It was laced with nightshade—something meant to cloud your senses, dull your instincts, and drug you. You didn’t fail us. You were poisoned.”

His eyes bled to white as his jaw twitched. “It’s the last thing I want to do, but I need to leave you briefly,” Ethan whispered, his lips brushing my jawline. “Odis and Olivia are waiting downstairs with the Enforcers. There’s an emergency at the perimeter gates. Stray rogues are testing the boundaries after last night’s breach, and I need to ensure our security lines are holding. I want you to stay here and rest.”

He wanted to keep me safe. After what happened, I could understand his primal instincts to protect me. A part of me wondered if they’d caught Shane, and if he was going to execute him. Would he lie to me?

His thighs finally released me.

“Ethan,” I croaked as he began to sit up. “I need to see Gabe.”

He froze, his shoulders tensing. He didn’t want me near Gabe—not because of jealousy, but because Gabe was a walking scar. “He’s awake,” Ethan said carefully. “But he’s weak. I know you might not believe me after what’s happened, but this is the safest place for you. I don’t want you leaving the Citadel.”

“I’ll only go down to his room,” I insisted, reaching for his arm and giving it a firm squeeze. “Please.”

He kept his eyes closed, his jaw working, feeling the unyielding line of my thoughts through our connection. I hadn’t bitten him, and without a wolf, I wasn’t sure I ever would. Finally, he let out a harsh breath, giving in. “Fine. But under no circumstances are you to leave his residential floor. Do you understand?”

“Yes.”

He kissed my forehead before pulling himself away to dress.

Only when he was gone did I get up to dress. My shoulders, collarbone, and neck were covered with unhealed bites and bruises. Lower down, my hips were already turning a deep black and blue, blood caked where the sharp curve of his claws had anchored Erebus to my flesh. The inside of my thighs ached, purple bruising littering both sides.

I grabbed a turtleneck from the clothes I’d been gifted. I wanted soft material for my pants; I knew I should shower, but if I did, the weight of the water would trap me here. I’d take one when I got back. Once I slipped into the soft layers, I forced my body down the hallway toward the elevator. When the doors pinged and I walked out onto Olivia’s floor, I flinched with each step, my pelvis aching under the strain.

I made my way into her quarters, and the sight of him sitting at the table made my chest tighten. He was shirtless, his back wrapped in heavy gauze, but the linen couldn’t hide the metallic scent of blood. Olivia’s coffee scent still lingered in the air.

His head snapped to me, his arrogant smile faltered instantly. His gaze swept over my posture, the subtle wince in my stride, and the way I kept my arms guarded against my ribs. My best friend’s eyes darkened.

“Adea,” he breathed, his voice rough, threatening.

I didn’t get into the bed with him like I used to. The dirty feeling wouldn’t leave me, paired with everything that had happened since we came to Desert Moon. Instead, I sat in one of the sleek chairs and took his hand. The tears leaked out before I could stop them, hot and silent.

“Hey,” Gabe murmured, his grip tightening on mine despite his weakness. “What’s wrong? Talk to me, Ady.”

I shook my head, the tears finally spilling freely down my cheeks. “I’m just glad you’re awake. Gabe… the courtyard. I’m so sorry. I stood there and I didn’t say anything. I let Ethan build those scars on your back and I—”

“Don’t you dare,” Gabe interrupted, his voice rough, cutting off my words before they could spiral. He let out a harsh, self-deprecating laugh that turned into a grimace as his bandaged back tensed against the chair. “Don’t you dare apologize to me for that, Adea. I earned every single stripe of those lashings.”

I blinked through the blur of my vision, watching his knuckles turn white where he held my hand.

“I never should have left your side when we got to this territory,” Gabe rasped, his gaze dropping to the floor, dark with an agonizing level of self-directed fury. “My dick has only ever gotten me into trouble. I let my own vices get in the way of being a good friend, and I let it completely fuck things up with my mate. I’m the one responsible for my actions, Ady. I isolated myself, I left you alone at the Mating Festival, and I’m going to spend the rest of my life trying to make up for it.”

My vision blurred at his truth. It hurt, but this was why I loved him. He was always honest with me. I’d always feel guilty for what had happened, but my heart hurt a little less. He leaned forward, his nostrils flaring as he caught the overwhelming, territorial scent of Ethan’s beast clinging to my skin. His eyes widened with shock as his gaze locked onto the high collar of my turtleneck.

“Ady…” he whispered, his voice trembling with a terrifying new panic. “Please tell me it was consensual.”

My heartbeat quickened. Shame welled inside me, and he picked up on the panic.