Chapter 92

Ethan

Angela chatters, talking as if we’re already lovers as she eats her little salad. My wolf revolts in my mind, nearly pushing through the defenses I’ve built to keep him at bay.

“Moving to the Silverclaw Pack will be difficult but my parents are close enough that I can visit, and besides, it won’t be as far as it is from here to home,” she says with a giggle. I nearly choke on my lunch when my wolf gags in my head.

“She is not our mate,” he growls, disgusted, and then he rolls over, gagging again. “I’m going to be sick.”

“You and me both,” I mutter, then realize Angela is watching me. She narrows her eyes on me in a confused and annoyed expression. Great.

“Did you say something?” I ask, not really caring whether she did or not. I’d give anything to have the ability to make her disappear and make Fiona appear right now. I didn’t get a chance to talk to her before coming to lunch with Angela, but I didn’t miss the hurt written all over her face.

“I asked when you want to set the date for the wedding,” Angela repeats.

I’ve known for a while that Angela has wanted to be with me, but I now realize part of could be because her parents have pushed her toward me like mine have tried to push me to her. Maybe that could be a good foundation for changing her mind.

“It’s worth a shot.”

“Angela, what about your mate?” I ask, trying to appeal to her wolf instead of the human side. The baser instincts of the wolf could help tip her toward my side. “Haven’t you ever wanted to find your mate?”

She pauses, looking at me over the bite of salad she was about to eat.

“I’ve thought of it, but my parents—”

“Who knows you better, your parents or the Moon Goddess?” I question, knowing she can’t deny my reasoning. “The Goddess has someone out there for you who will love and cherish you. She knows better than any of us, so who are we to deny her wisdom and selection?”

Angela hums in thought, her fingers tapping against the table in a steady cadence as she thinks.

“I know you’ve spent most of your life with a crush on me but think about how much happier you’ll be when you find your mate.”

She nods slowly, the tapping of her fingers stopping as she looks up at me. Her eyes sweep over my face, searching for something I don’t know if she’ll find. I only hope she will make the right decision, sending up a silent prayer to the Goddess for aid.

“If we choose not to marry, will you sever ties with my pack?” She asks, leaning in for my answer.

“No. I don’t want to lose any allies.”

“Then I’ll think about it and give you an answer soon.”

With that, she stands, pushes away from the table, and walks away, leaving me alone and a bit more relieved than I was before.

Fiona

He chose to go with her.

Ethan said he didn’t want to marry her, but when push came to shove, he went with her. The nausea that filled my stomach as he left grows as I shift in my chair. I try to remind myself that he’s not dating me, that he can end our relationship whenever he wants to because technically, we’re not together.

Thinking that way doesn’t help, though.

Neither did the nasty looks his parents and their guests shot me as they left. Of course, they knew I’m the human they hate so much. It was clear in their glares as they passed by me and then got into the elevator.

Ethan’s father, in particular, glared at me until the doors closed.

He’s terrifying, but I stand by my feelings. I want to be with Ethan for real and not because of any contract. I want to be more than just a sex buddy for Ethan, and I want him to want that too. Of course, I don’t know what he’s thinking after the encounter with his guests.

The conversation in his office seemed heated, and because the door was closed, I couldn’t hear much.

All I know is that Ethan’s parents and the other couple were not happy with him, and that the unknown couple threatened to cut ties with Ethan’s Pack. They argued loudly, sometimes loud enough for me to catch pieces of their conversation.

It wasn’t good.

They don’t approve of me, but they surely approve of and support Angela. Just like they said last night. However, the threat of hurting Ethan’s pack with the loss of an ally must’ve been too much for him to risk.

Now, Ethan and Angela are on a date.

My stomach rolls again, and I close my eyes to calm the nausea. I let my head rest against the back of my chair, taking deep breaths to work through the pain filling my chest. With how things are going, I don’t think Ethan and I will be able to have a relationship.

Ethan has to do what’s best for his pack.

He has a duty to them to find the best Luna.

And if that isn’t me… I take several more deep breaths, blinking back tears that fill my eyes. If that isn’t me, then maybe it’s Angela.

I don’t want anything bad to happen to Ethan because he chose to be with me, and I’ll have to tell him that. I have to tell him that I understand there’s more going on than I can understand, and that he has to make the decision that is best for him and his pack.

Standing, I make my way to the bathroom. My legs wobble beneath me, so I lean on the counter and look at my reflection. Pale and teary eyed, I look like the weak human Ethan’s father claims me to be.

The door behind me smacks against the wall, making me jump, and Angela walks in.

“Oh, I didn’t know you’d come in here to hide,” she says, smirking at me. I try to ignore her while I splash some cool water on my face, but of course, she won’t allow that. “Ethan has gone to talk with my parents.”

She pauses and looks down at me before speaking. “Did you really think an Alpha like Ethan would be able to stay with a human like you? Even if you are in love,” she sneers mockingly, “The elders would never allow it. There no way a human and an Alpha could mate together without the entire Lycan nation revolting against it.”

Her words sink in, like a knife plunging into my heart. The sharp pain makes me gasp and curl my fingers into my palm, my nails digging into the skin there.

“You are not qualified to become a Luna, especially to a great Alpha like Ethan, so even if I do not end up marrying Ethan, the Lycan council will never grant your marriage. It would be better for everyone if Ethan found a Lycan mate to ascend with him,” she tuts, brushing a few pieces of hair out of her face and dragging a finger across her smudged lipstick to fix it.

I grit my teeth, grinding them to keep quiet.

I know she’s right. I’m not a Lycan and know next to nothing about their world. What good would I do as a Luna?

“Now that you’ve got something to think about,” she says, glancing at me again, “I have to get back to my parents and Ethan. Have a nice day.”

With one last condescending glare, Angela leaves the bathroom and leaves me to mull over what she just told me. It’s something I’d already come to know.

The reason Ethan allowed me to only be his sexual partner was because humans are simply not worthy of being a Luna.