Chapter 41

“What do you mean?” Ethan stood up and with long strides approached Mars anxiously.

“I saw it being spread in the comments under an article. People are demanding you be eliminated as a choice.” Mars’ eyes were wide and bloodshot. His red hair stuck up in the places where he kept running his hands through it.

“Let me see,” Ethan held out his hand and Mars thrust his phone into them.

Ethan unlocked the screen and began swiping through the comments. I stood up and approached them gingerly, my energy drained from stress and despair. I looked over Ethan's shoulder and read the petition.

After a few moments, Ethan's shoulders relaxed and he let out a relieved puff of air.

“What is it?” I asked, not understanding why he wasn't freaking out anymore.

“It's not an official petition. Just something being spread around by lesser wolves. They need to feel like they have more power than they really do,” Ethan pressed a hand to his forehead and shut his eyes tightly. “That's all.”

“For now!” Mars took his phone from Ethan and shoved it into the pocket of his suit pants. “You may not think they have a lot of power, but the masses influence the elites in more ways than one.”

Mars was staring heavily at Ethan, silently pleading for him to understand.

“I think it's time we reconsider the alternative relationship we discussed.” Mars raised his brows, deliberately pronouncing the word ‘relationship’.

I didn't understand at first, but when I saw Ethan's eyes widen and his brows furrow together, I had an idea of what Mars meant.

He was talking about the plan to divorce me and marry Sarah. I wanted to like Mars, but the more he was against my marriage with Ethan, the more I wished he would just butt out of the whole thing.

Ethan looked over at me, eyes wide. He didn't know I knew about the Sarah thing, I don't think I ever told him what she said. I didn't want to put the idea into his head anymore and I never really found out if he was actually considering it or not.

“No.” Ethan said, firmly.

“Ethan-” Mars tried to speak but Ethan held up a hand to silence him. Mars wasn't happy about it, but he clamped his jaw shut and listened.

“I need you to support me in every way possible right now, those alternative plans were never a choice and I don't want you bringing them up anymore” Ethan sounded so authoritative as he spoke. He puffed out his chest and lowered his voice to assert dominance.

I bit my lip to keep from smiling too wide. It was the first real smile I'd been able to conjure up since Dora went on her blasphemous rampage online. Ethan never wanted to replace me with Sarah, even after his best friend tried to convince him to many times. He wouldn't cast me away like that, not when we were friends at this point.

Mars relented. Bowing his head and taking a step back he apologized, “Alright Ethan. I'm sorry.” He then looked at me, and for a second real genuine pity morphed onto his face. “And I'm sorry for what you're going through, too, Ava.”

I nodded my head, accepting.

With that cleared up, Ethan ushered Mars and I into his office to discuss the next course of action. I was pleased to finally be part of Ethan's business meetings, though the circumstances made it bitter sweet.

“Now, my plan for this is simple but it should work.” Ethan brought up a few articles on his computer and urged us to look at the screen. Each article was from today, criticizing our silence in the midst of all this drama.

“What's this?” I asked.

“We need to start making public appearances again.”

My eyes widened and I started to shake my head. Even Mars questioned whether or not that was a good idea.

“Listen,” Ethan ran a hand through his slicked back hair. “The more we’re quiet, the guiltier we seem. We go out, we refuse to discuss the situation other than denying it. We don't let them rattle us-”

Ethan turned and took both my hands in his, catching my eye and holding my gaze. His eyes were warm, comforting. He didn't often look so reassuring.

“Ethan,” I breathed out but he continued.

“We don't let Dora scare us.” His words were final, there was no arguing with him.

I held his gaze, I could do this. I wasn't always brave, but I could be for him.

So, we kept our heads up. We continued attending small charity events, quiet public parties, interviews (but very rarely since they all only wanted to know about my situation with Dora), and events thrown by other alphas for alphas.

I was even invited to Rachel’s tea party. Apparently, every year Rachel, Donatello’s wife and Luna, invited all of the other higher-powered Lunas to a tea party at her garden.

Her gardens were extensive, extravagant. It was the most beautiful set up I'd ever seen. Flowers covered tables and butterflies fluttered around the bushes surrounding them.

When I entered the party, in a pretty sundress and sunhat, Rachel welcomed me with open arms.

“Oh my dear!” She cooed, enveloping me in a tight embrace. “Such an awful bit of gossip going on about you.”

I nodded, letting her go. Her kindness surprised me. Not very many people believed that it was just gossip - lies told by Dora.

A group of other Lunas stood behind her. Their faces were less welcoming, more disgusted. They sneered as I approached them. One was particularly nasty looking.

She had white hair and a small pointed nose which she thrust up in the air when she talked.

Unfortunately, I was stuck next to her at one of the tea tables that were set up. She and a ginger-haired girl who was equally upset to be near me.

“This is Carrie,” Rachel introduced us as she showed me where to sit, “And her friend Emily.”

“I'm Ava,” I introduced myself with a smile, despite their frowns.

The white haired girl, Carrie, sneered, “We know, you're the wolf-less daughter of a maid who abused her half sister and manipulated a powerful alpha into marrying you.”

A lump formed in my throat at her words and I felt tears pricking at my eyes.

I truly wasn't free from Dora’s revenge anywhere.

“That's not what happened,” I smiled nervously as the tears welled more.

“I don't understand why Rachel invited you here.” The ginger girl, Emily, spoke up, picking up her teacup and taking a sip. “You aren't even a Luna, can't be.”

I tried to defend myself, but Carrie crinkled her pointy nose, “No true Luna would treat another werewolf in that way. No true Luna would have to manipulate her way into finding a mate.”

I started to stand up, I couldn't listen to this anymore.

Both of them stood up with me. I opened my mouth to ask them to let me be excused, but my voice left me as I watched the girls rush over to a large display of cakes and sandwiches.

Together they pushed over the display creating a large crash. Everyone at the party turned to look at the three of us.

The girls looked at me, faux surprise on their faces.

“Oh silly us!” Emily barely held back her laughter. “Ava, since your mother's a maid, would you mind cleaning this up? I'm sure you know how.”

That was my last straw. The dam holding back my tears broke free and they flowed down my face rapidly. I couldn't handle it anymore.

Without so much as a goodbye, I turned and ran from Rachel's estate and down the street.

I ran until I couldn't anymore, and collapsed on the street.