4. Ethan

4

ETHAN

" M aybe we can help each other," I say, breaking the silence. "I'll keep an eye out for anything unusual, and you can share what you find with me. Deal?"

"Deal," she replies, looking excited. "I think we make a good team."

I smile, a slow, genuine smile that comes from deep within me. "I think so, too, Grace."

As we continue to talk, I can't shake the wolf inside me that howls at her presence. It demands that I recognize and admit she's my mate, even though the whole thing sounds insane.

I didn't even want a mate fifteen minutes ago, but I can't convince my wolf of that now.

"Do you ever get the feeling that you have a connection to someone you just met?" I ask, the words slipping out before I can stop them.

Grace's eyes flicker with something I can't quite place. "Sometimes," she says quietly. "Maybe it's the universe's way of telling us that some connections are just... meant to be."

I find myself drawn even closer to her, both physically and emotionally. The forest around us seems to fade away, leaving just the two of us in this charged, enchanted moment.

"Tell me more about your work," I say, my voice gentle. "What drives you to seek the truth?"

She hesitates, pausing before she answers. "I've seen what lies and secrets can do to people. They can destroy lives, tear families apart. I believe that everyone deserves to know the truth, no matter how hard it might be to uncover."

I nod, my expression thoughtful. "That's a noble pursuit, Grace. And a dangerous one."

"I'm not afraid of danger," she replies, her voice steady. "I'm more afraid of what happens when the truth stays hidden."

My gaze intensifies, and for a moment, it feels like I'm looking straight into her soul. "I admire that," I say softly. "And I'll do what I can to help you find what you're looking for."

"Thank you," she says, feeling an overwhelming sense of gratitude. "I appreciate that more than you know."

As Grace and I continue to talk, I can't help but feel the tug of fate pulling me towards her. It's as if the universe has conspired to bring us together, and the sensation is both exhilarating and terrifying. My wolf senses are going crazy, but I have to be careful. Shifters have always tried to keep our existence a secret, and while a few humans have been welcomed in as mates to some of my pack members, it's not the norm.

I listen to Grace talk about her passion for uncovering the truth, and it's taking everything in me to fight back my animal urges. My wolf is howling inside me, desperate to claim her, to mark her as mine. But there's something else, too, something unexpected. While my wolf is clearly going crazy over Grace, I also feel a sort of calm wash over me. I'm not so antsy, not so troubled. It's as if her presence alone is enough to soothe the restless beast within me.

I immediately sense that Grace's presence may hold the key to my stability. The Reckoning has been looming over me, and I've been struggling to find balance between my human and wolf selves. Could Grace be the answer I've been searching for? The thought is both thrilling and terrifying. I grapple with the internal conflict of wanting to reveal my true nature to her while also fearing her rejection.

My mother had been human, and she'd left my father and me when she discovered our true identities. The pain of that abandonment still lingers.

"Ethan," Grace says, breaking me out of my thoughts. "Can you show me where the body was found? The one that recently happened. They wrote an article about it." She brings out a clipping, a small thumbnail of the location showing me exactly where it was. I know it well. "It's supposed to be just a few minutes' walk from here."

I hesitate, my mind racing. Bringing her to that spot feels like a step towards revealing more than I should. But I can't resist the force compelling me to help her. Most wolves can't resist their mates, and my wolf is urging me to get closer, to trust her.

"Sure," I say, trying to keep my voice steady. "I can show you."

As we walk through the dense forest, I can't help but steal glances at Grace. Her presence is intoxicating, and the connection between us grows stronger with each step. The forest floor is soft beneath our feet, and the sunlight filters through the canopy, casting a golden glow on everything around us.

We reach the clearing where the body was found, and I can see the curiosity and determination in Grace's eyes as she surveys the area. Despite my wariness, I feel a strange sense of pride that she's here with me, trusting me to help her find the truth.

"This is the spot," I say, my voice hushed. "This is where they found the body. At least, based on that picture you showed me."

Grace looks around, taking in every detail. "It's so quiet," she murmurs. "It's hard to believe something so violent happened here."

I nod, feeling the weight of the memories. "The forest can be deceiving. It hides its secrets well."

Grace studies the cliff that looms over us. I study the piece of paper she'd given me. One of the theories was that the body had been thrown from the cliff, and not actually attacked in the woods.

Scanning the article, my pulse quickens and my feral side snarls at what I read. No wonder Grace's suspicions have been aroused. This incident has all the makings of a shifter attack. A rogue one.

Could there be an outcast shifter in Pilham Cove? My pack hasn't mentioned anything to the rest of us. I tuck the question away for later.

Grace has stopped looking around, and is now staring at me in silence. Her head tilted sideways as if trying to figure me out.

We stand there in silence for a moment, the tension between us thickening. I can feel my wolf urging me to act, to claim her, but my human side is holding back, afraid of what might happen if I reveal too much.

"Grace," I say, my voice rough with emotion. "There's something about you that's different. I can't explain it, but I feel like I've known you forever."

She looks at me, her eyes wide with surprise and something else—something that looks like hope. "I feel it, too, Ethan. It's like we're connected in some way."

The words hang between us, and I can't fight the pull any longer. "Would you like to go out with me? Maybe grab a bite to eat or something?"

Grace's face lights up with a smile. "I'd love that," she says eagerly. "How about right after you finish work?"

Throwing caution to the wind, I reply quickly. I don't intend on losing an opportunity to spend more time with her. "It can be right now."

Her eyes widen in surprise, but she nods, a grin spreading across her face. "Okay, let's go."

Without another word, I take her hand, the warmth of her touch sending a jolt of electricity through me. Leaving my axe and the half-felled tree behind, we slip away into the forest, the world around us fading into the background as we focus solely on each other.

As we walk hand in hand, I can't shake the feeling that this is the beginning of something extraordinary. Grace's presence calms me in a way I've never experienced before. The thought fills me with hope and fear in equal measure, but for now, I'm content to take things one step at a time.

"Where should we go?" Grace asks, her voice full of excitement.

"Let's start by getting to know each other better."

"Perfect," she replies, squeezing my hand. "Lead the way."

As we make our way through the forest, I can't help but feel a sense of anticipation building within me. Grace is unlike anyone I've ever met, and I can't wait to see where this journey will take us. For the first time in a long time, I feel a glimmer of hope that maybe, just maybe, I can find a way to reconcile the two sides of myself. And with Grace by my side, anything seems possible.