Chapter 38
Ethan's POV
Alpha Gideon’s presence always carried an edge of formality, so I knew he wouldn’t waste time with pleasantries today.
I watched him as he took his seat across from me at the restaurant, his gaze sharp and calculating.
“So, Ethan,” he began, placing his drink down with a precise motion. “There’s quite a bit of talk going around about your claim to Olivia.”
I kept my expression even though the irritation clawed at me. “Gossip runs rampant in the Council, Aiden being the main culprit.”
He arched an eyebrow, as if amused by my restraint. “And yet, where there’s smoke, there’s often fire. So, enlighten me, what exactly is your bond with Olivia?”
It was clear now why Gideon had chosen to meet. He wasn’t here to hear my defense; he was looking for leverage, a reason to push for a stronger commitment from me.
“Olivia is mine,” I said firmly, letting the finality of the words linger. “Aiden’s rumors are just another attempt to undermine my position.”
Gideon smiled, but there was nothing friendly about it. “Yours, yes, but actions speak louder than words. A completed bond would have silenced these rumors, wouldn’t it?”
His gaze held mine, his words pressing into me like the weight of a challenge. “Without that bond, how do I know you won’t falter when it counts?”
I felt my wolf stir in response to Gideon’s insinuation, urging me to growl back, to assert my dominance. But I kept my tone level. “Olivia and I have what we need.”
He nodded, considering my answer carefully, as if weighing its worth.
“Perhaps. But the Council needs stability, Ethan. And if your position is unsteady, then Aiden’s influence could sway some minds.”
The underlying threat was clear, and I could feel the tension building in my jaw. “You’re implying that my commitment to Olivia is lacking.”
He leaned back, his expression thoughtful. “I’m suggesting that your claim to her needs reinforcement. A bond marks commitment but results secure alliances. Like that formula Olivia’s company has been developing. That could be powerful.”
So that was it. My fists clenched under the table. “Her formula?”
“Yes,” he said, leaning forward with a hint of a smile. “Lunera Beauty has garnered some attention in more circles than just the Packs. Imagine the influence a unique product like that could bring.”
He wasn’t just asking for a formula; he was asking for a piece of Olivia’s work, her vision, the pride she’d poured herself into.
“Think about it, Ethan. Olivia’s formula isn’t just a product; it’s a symbol of influence. Every Pack wants something others don’t have. This formula could secure alliances across regions, strengthen bonds, even quiet dissent among those who waver in their loyalty to you.”
Offering it up like a bargaining chip felt like betraying a part of her. The thought turned my stomach. “You’re asking for a steep price, Gideon.”
Gideon’s pleased smile deepened as he leaned forward, his fingers tapping rhythmically on the table.
“But it’s a small price to pay for power, isn’t it? Or do you believe Aiden would hesitate to make such a trade if it meant securing his own position?”
I kept my gaze steady, forcing myself not to react. “I’ll consider it,” I said, my voice as even as I could manage.
Gideon’s lips curved in a pleased smile. “I’m offering you a guaranteed vote and a seat on the Council.” He paused, letting his words sink in. “The question is, how much does that mean to you?”
As I strode out past the edge of Pack grounds, I spotted Aiden lingering just beyond the border, leaning casually against a tree as if he’d been waiting for me.
His posture was too comfortable, too smug, exactly the attitude that made my wolf want to lunge forward and show him what it meant to challenge me. But I held back, every instinct screaming to keep my emotions in check.
With the Council vote still looming, I couldn’t afford to let Aiden get under my skin, no matter how infuriating he was.
“Aiden,” I called, my tone laced with ice as I approached him. His smirk barely concealed his contempt. “I know what you’ve been spreading about Olivia and me.”
Aiden straightened, an insufferable smirk tugging at his lips. “Just trying to make sure everyone sees things for what they really are, brother. Or are you really going to keep pretending she’s yours without the bond to prove it?”
My wolf clawed to the surface, ready to tear Aiden’s smug expression apart, but I forced myself to keep my breathing steady. If he wanted to provoke me, he’d have to try harder.
Hurting him would be too easy and the repercussions could be devastating to everything I’d worked for. “Stay out of my business,” I said coldly, stepping closer, hoping my voice conveyed the warning my wolf was dying to deliver more forcefully.
Aiden’s smirk only grew wider, his eyes glinting with a twisted kind of satisfaction.
“You know, it’s pathetic, really. You have her right there in front of you, but something keeps you from sealing the bond. Are you so afraid she’ll reject you like Isabella did?”
The mention of my former Mate felt like a blow, a raw wound Aiden had no right to open. My voice dropped, deadly calm. “Keep Isabella out of this.”
“Touchy, are we?” Aiden taunted, clearly enjoying himself. “What’s stopping you, Ethan? Or is it that deep down, you can’t trust her either?”
His words struck a chord, stoking an ember of doubt I’d worked hard to ignore. My wolf, however, snarled with a possessiveness that wouldn’t be ignored.
Completing the bond with Olivia wasn’t just about politics, it was about her. About making her mine in every sense of the word.
I took a slow breath, grounding myself as I tried to rein in my temper. “You’re in no position to talk about trust. The only reason you’re scrambling for votes is because you’ve destroyed any loyalty you had, Olivia’s included.”
Aiden’s smirk wavered, irritation flashing in his eyes. “Maybe so. But at least I know who I am.”
He laughed, a dark sound that grated on my nerves. “Your uncertainty is the only thing holding you back from claiming her. I wonder, does she even know what she’s getting herself into?”
I clenched my fists, my wolf bristling. “Olivia’s stronger than you’ll ever understand.”
“Oh, I understand well enough. But can you handle it, Ethan?” he sneered. “Or are you afraid you’re too broken for her?”
A surge of anger burned through me, but beneath it, doubt lurked, festering and feeding on Aiden’s words. I forced myself to look him straight in the eye, my wolf fighting to surface, to break through and claim what he already considered his.
“You don’t understand anything about us, Aiden,” I growled, barely holding back the shift threatening to take over.
I forced myself to turn away, leaving him standing in the shadows, his laughter echoing in my ears like a dark promise.
