A Tangle of Fate and Fear
What? I flushed from the idea, shuffling my feet before turning away sharply to grab my clothes, putting some space between us.
I swallowed, gripping my towel tighter. “I should get dressed,” I murmured before turning to face him with my clothes held against my chest.
He blinked, seemingly surprised before he nodded and moved to face the door. He didn’t leave. A small smile grazed my lips.
Tension stayed thick in the air between us but my paranoia was long gone. I quickly changed into a pair of large comfortable grey sweats. My fingers trembled all through despite the warmth lingering on my skin.
I could feel Ethan, his presence, his awareness of me, even with his back turned. By the time I finished, the air in the room had shifted, but neither of us acknowledged it.
Not yet.
Ethan remained where he was, his back still facing me. His head tilted slightly, his dark hair tousling. It felt like he was hesitating before he finally spoke. “You expected me to leave entirely, didn’t you?”
His voice was even, but in it was a hint of something light. It was an attempt to calm the tension. It was nice to know I wasn’t the only one feeling it.
I finished smoothing out my clothes and combing through my damp hair with my fingers. “Would’ve made more sense,” I admitted, eyeing him. “I mean, you had the perfect excuse.”
He exhaled, his fingers flexing at his sides before he slowly turned his head just enough for me to see the sharp cut of his beautiful profile. “Maybe. But I don’t want to leave, not with him still downstairs.”
My stomach tightened, triggering my cheeks to heat up once more. I bit the inside of my cheek, shifting slightly. “You think he’d try something?”
Ethan let out a slow breath before finally turning to face me, his eyes unreadable. “I don’t think so,” he admitted. “But you seem to think so, I shouldn’t take that lightly.”
My pulse thumped against my ribs. The thought alone made me uneasy. Higan was too reckless and unpredictable. No matter the dynamics between Ethan and Alpha Harris, if Higan decided it wasn’t enough to stop him, it wouldn’t be.
A sudden realization hit me, and I sucked in a breath, dropping my voice. “Can he,” I hesitated, my nerves kicking in. “Can he hear us?”
Ethan’s lips twitched. Then, to my utter mortification, he chuckled. Low, rumbling, dark, and amused.
My face heated instantly. I didn't expect him to outrightly laugh. It wasn’t crazy to think so.
“He can certainly try,” he mused, the hint of amusement in his voice doing nothing to help my sudden embarrassment.
I crossed my arms, attempting to school my expression. “That’s not funny,” I muttered.
Ethan huffed another chuckle before shaking his head. “No, it’s not.” But the ghost of his smirk remained.
For some ridiculous reason, I liked the sound of his laughter.
I looked away, willing my face to cool before sighing. “Either way, thanks.” I said with a pause. “For sticking around.”
Ethan’s expression softened, the teasing glint dimming just enough to reveal something gentle beneath it. “You shouldn’t thank me for that,” he said, watching me carefully.
I knew he meant I was safe. That as long as he was here, nothing would happen. But that wasn’t the only reason he stayed. He stayed so I would feel as safe as he claimed I was.
And that made all the difference.
“Will you wait here till your parents arrive?” He inquired.
“Probably,” I nodded with a hum. “Is there a reason why they’re still here?” I tilted my head to ask.
Ethan then shuffled on his feet, seemingly embarrassed, “Harris is technically waiting for me to return so indirectly, so is Higan.”
I gasped, realizing what he meant. “You’re keeping Alpha Harris waiting?” I rushed to the door to unlock it.
“Well I felt you getting anxious and thought to check in,” he defended himself rather calmly, with no sense of urgency whatsoever to go back to whoever was waiting for him.
And he didn't think to mention he needed to return. He simply waited till I felt comfortable. That was awfully sweet of him.
“You should head back!” I pulled open the door and urged him to leave.
“Right,” he concurred yet he still gave me one more sweep of his gaze, hesitating for a minute longer than necessary.
Then, without another word and leaving the thump of his boots to fill the silence, he slipped out the door.
The density of the atmosphere somehow loosened in his absence. I barely registered the soft click of the lock engaging as I exhaled deeply, dropping my shoulders.
I was alone. Finally, Not that I didn't like being around Ethan but he had been making me nervous for a while now. I wasn't sure why but I knew it wasn't because I feared him. It would most likely be because of whatever bond we had.
My fingers grazed my bottom lip as the ghost of a kiss returned to caress it. The kiss with Ethan in my bedroom. The tantalizing needy kiss.
“Ugh,” I shook my head aggressively. That was a fluke! A fluke!
I drained the thoughts out of my head, filling it with my parents. I wasn't sure when they would arrive so I sought to kill time in the bedroom. Anything would do to get my mind off both Ethan and Higan.
Humming to myself, I crossed the room to the window. Carefully, I pushed aside the curtain just enough to peer outside.
Springville as far as I could see was still. Shadowy outlines of trees swayed with the chilling evening breeze. Just past them, rooftops sat vivid under the streetlights, familiar yet distant.
Two months. Almost three. That was how long it had been since I’d last seen my parents. Since I'd last been here. Springville. A place that had never quite been home, not in the way it was meant to be.
Even now, a strange unease coiled in my stomach as I stared at it. As much as I like the town, it wasn't much of a problem. Not the place itself but the people, The pack.
I exhaled slowly, my breath fogging the glass. I didn’t know why I was looking or what I expected to find. A sign that things had changed? That I had? A promise of something better?
I narrowed my eyes, focusing absentmindedly. My head buzzed with a distinct sound. Suddenly, the town sharpened.