23. ARIA

As I watched Ethan become increasingly consumed by his quest for vengeance, my heart ached with helplessness. I had tried everything to reason with him, to persuade him to abandon his dangerous mission, but he remained determined to uphold his family name and legacy.

But what cost was too high to pay? As I struggled to comprehend Ethan"s mindset, I was torn between my love for him and my fear for his safety. I knew he was putting himself—and our pack—at risk by continuing down this path of retribution, but he seemed deaf to my pleas and blinded by his need for revenge.

Elinor"s condition only added to my anxiety. The sight of her battered body filled me with dread, a stark reminder of the brutality that awaited those who dared to defy the Black Moon pack.

They had taken her for a few hours and tortured her before returning her half-dead. I had been through that valley.

Even as fear and uncertainty gripped our pack, I refused to give up. I knew Ethan was strong, and that he would stop at nothing to protect those he loved. But I couldn"t shake the nagging doubt in my mind. Would he listen to reason, or would his thirst for vengeance lead him down a dangerous path from which there was no return?

As the tension mounted and the stakes grew, I could only watch and wait, praying for Ethan to see reason before it was too late. In the face of uncertainty and danger, only time would tell what fate had in store.

It was just Elinor and I in the house. She had refused to talk to anyone after her ordeal, and I knew better than to push it. I knew she would talk to me when she was ready. And she did.

I listened as she recounted her harrowing experience, her voice trembled with fear and anger. She described how she had been ambushed by members of the Black Moon pack and dragged to a remote location where she was subjected to hours of torment.

"They... they beat me," she whispered. "They taunted me and demanded to know where you were... but I refused to give them anything."

Tears welled in her eyes as she recounted the brutality of her captors, and the pain and fear she had endured during her captivity. The experience had left deep scars, both physical and emotional, that would take time to heal.

I listened to her story and my heart ached. How could anyone be capable of such cruelty? The Black Moon pack would stop at nothing to achieve their twisted goals, leaving a trail of destruction and suffering in their wake.

Once Elinor had finished recounting her ordeal, I gathered her in my arms and held her close as she trembled. Just as she had nursed me back to health after my ordeal, I would do whatever it took to care for her, to help her heal from the wounds—both seen and unseen—that she had suffered.

It had been days, and I longed to speak with Ethan. It felt like he was avoiding me to process his grief, so I gave him time, but I missed him. Finally, I got the chance to speak with him.

"Ethan," I began tentatively. "I understand you feel a responsibility to uphold your family name and legacy, but please, hear me out."

He turned to face me, his expression hard. "Aria, I appreciate your concern, but I can"t sit back and do nothing while our pack is under threat," he replied.

"I know, but rushing headlong into battle fueled by anger and vengeance is not the answer," I pleaded, reaching out to gently grasp his arm. "Patience and strategy are what will ultimately lead us to victory. We need to think things through and plan our moves carefully."

Ethan"s gaze softened slightly as he regarded me, a glint of doubt crossing his features. "But what if we wait too long, and the Black Moon pack strikes again?" he countered.

I shook my head. "We need to be smart about this, Ethan. Reacting out of anger and emotion will only lead to more bloodshed and suffering. We owe it to ourselves—and our pack—to approach this situation with caution and restraint."

There was silence between us as Ethan mulled over my words, his brow furrowed in thought. Then, finally, he let out a heavy sigh, the tension draining from his shoulders.

"You"re right," he conceded. "I"ve been so focused on seeking revenge that I"ve lost sight of what"s important. Thank you for reminding me." He then moved in and wrapped me in a tight embrace.

I smiled softly, relieved that he was starting to see reason. "We"re in this together, Ethan," I reassured him, squeezing his arm gently. "And together, we"ll find a way to protect our pack and honor your father"s legacy without sacrificing our humanity in the process." And with that, I leaned in for a kiss.

As I sat in the dimly lit café, sipping my coffee, and lost in thought, I drifted back to the previous night. I leaned in to kiss Ethan. and the urgency and hungry response felt as though he had been waiting for me. I smiled as I rubbed the back of my neck where he had left a faint hickey.

He was as hungry for me as I was for him. I slid my hand to his crotch, finding his length through the thin fabric. He grew under my touch, and the way he filled my hand had me clenching my pelvis with need.

I looked him in the eyes once he was rock hard, and the pleasure that shone there delighted me. I couldn"t have loved him more at that moment.

The collision of our mouths sent fireworks throughout my body. Heat boiled from my core, and I savored the kiss, but I wanted more.

With one move, I undid the button holding back his massive shaft. It jutted out of his pants and I wrapped my hands around his girth. With a slight squeeze, I provided just the right amount of pressure to cause him to grow a bit more as he moaned.

As I started to stroke, Ethan tipped his head back and the lines of tension in his face relaxed. With a hurried groan and grunt, I watched the glistening moisture gather at his tip. .With a flick of my tongue, I tasted the salty sweet of precum before taking the whole of his length into my mouth.

At first, he tried stifling his pleasure but as I continued to bob my head, he began to groan louder. He held my head as though he wanted to thrust his hips and take me one his own account, but this was on my terms.I sucked vehemently until he lifted me away.

His hands grabbed my shoulders and lifted my apex to his mouth, where he licked and sucked my clit with dominant force. The aggression he displayed was not unwelcome, as he dipped one finger then two inside of me, tracing my inner walls and making me squirm. He found me wet and moaning in pleasure.

I was dripping with desire when he slid me onto the floor, with my ass in the air and tilted my hips back and up, and filled me from behind. Ethan drove into me with fast and smooth strokes and hit all the right places, even ones I didn't know I could get pleasure from.

I moaned as the pleasure coursed through me. And just when I thought it couldn't get any better, he pinched one of my nipples as he continued to thrust in and out. The electricity ignited every corner of my being.

I clenched my core at the coffee shop as I remembered the waves of delight he'd sent coursing through me. I took another sip of my coffee and smiled in bliss.

It was definitely a memorable night that I couldn't wait for it to happen again.

The rest of the day was quite uneventful as we headed to dinner. I couldn"t remember the last time we'd sat together at a table for anything. As we sat around the dining table, the comforting aroma of a hearty meal filled the air, mingling with the sounds of clinking silverware and soft conversation.

The table was set with an array of dishes—steaming bowls of hearty stew, crusty bread, and a colorful salad—all prepared with care by Ethan"s butler, who had taken it upon himself to ensure that we were well-fed and nourished.

"So, Ethan," I began, "I"ve been thinking about our next move with the Black Moon pack."

Ethan glanced up from his plate, his expression thoughtful as he listened. "Go on," he prompted.

"I think we need to start observing their pack more closely," I continued, gesturing emphatically with my fork. "We need to find out their weaknesses and vulnerabilities so we can exploit them."

Elinor nodded, her eyes alight. "She"s right, Ethan," she chimed in. "Knowledge is power, and the more we know about our enemies, the better equipped we"ll be to face them."

Ethan considered our words, his brow furrowed in thought. "You"re both right," he conceded, his voice grave. "We can"t afford to underestimate the Black Moon pack after what they"ve done. We need to be smart, strategic, and above all, united in our efforts to bring them down."

We continued to discuss our plans over the meal. We were a formidable team, united in our goal to protect our pack and seek justice from those who had wronged us.

After we ate, Elinor excused herself to catch up on some reading.

I smiled at Ethan. "Shall we walk?"

He smiled, and we stepped outside into the crisp, cool air, together, the serenity of the outdoor area enveloping us. Tall trees swayed gently in the breeze, their leaves rustling softly as birds chirped in the distance. The scent of pine and earth hung in the air, mingling with the faint hint of wildflowers that bloomed nearby.

I took a deep breath, savoring the tranquility of our surroundings as we walked side by side along the winding path. The soft crunch of gravel beneath our feet echoed in the stillness, creating a soothing rhythm that seemed to lull the worries from my mind.

"Ethan," I began, turning to face him as we walked. "I know that you"ve been carrying a heavy burden lately, but you don"t have to do it alone. We"re a team, remember?"

He glanced at me, his expression troubled as he shook his head. "I appreciate your offer, Aria, but I can"t burden you with my problems," he replied reluctantly. "I"ve already put you through so much, and I can"t bear to see you suffer because of me."

I reached out and gently took his hand, squeezing it reassuringly. "Ethan, we"re partners in this," I said, my voice filled with conviction. "Whatever comes our way, we"ll face them together. You don"t have to carry the world on your shoulders alone."

He hesitated for a moment, his gaze searching mine as if trying to gauge the sincerity of my words. Then, slowly, he nodded.

The evening was peaceful, and I was more than glad to see Ethan lighten up a bit. I could tell he felt better, at least for now. It was nice to see him relax. It felt good to be there for him, to support him however I could.