15. Ethan

I stand hiddenin the shadows, my gaze locked on the house—our house. The silhouette dances across the curtains of what isn't just any room, but a bedroom we've painstakingly pieced together for our future mate. It's not just a gamble, it's a bold statement in a world where the concept of a destined mate may as well be a fairy tale. For some packs, that fairy tale never becomes reality.

Fate tangled my path with hers when we were nothing but kids, lost in the bliss of ignorance. Her name, echoing in my mind, now screams its significance. The moment Tyler shoved that background check in my face, showing her picture with that unmistakable toothless grin, I was on the verge of losing it. I can't shake off the memory of her sauntering into the ice cream shop, all dolled up in a white frilly dress. Even as a kid, I was damn sure the universe was dropping a hint. Her curious gaze locking onto mine was no chance encounter.

The universe likes playing its cruel games, weaving people in and out of our lives like some twisted fate until the sword of Damocles drops. I'd like to think I was onto something back then. Otherwise, what the hell was I thinking, letting my canine nick her finger? It was a moment that never should have happened, but there it was.

Her curiosity wasn't laced with anger either. Instead, it was filled with a sense of wonder, drawing her to my corner, away from the rest. Our world, one of secrecy and survival, wasn't meant for such reckless crossings, and even more so back before we came out of the proverbial supernatural closet, when every shadow could be an enemy and our kind was seen as a threat needing to be neutralized. Werewolves, vampires, fae, you name it, were all cast out by a world too narrow-minded to grasp the depths of our existence.

Now, as I head to the clan house, a fierce sense of duty clashes with the urge to dwell in those memories of Ava. It takes everything in me to turn my back on our home, on her, and blend into the forest.

The spring air, crisp and brimming with new beginnings, offers a brief respite. The forest and mountains are more than just a backdrop to my life. They straddle the line between our concealed world and the human one we navigate with calculated steps.

Today, however, the freedom of the forest eludes me. As my pack's alpha, the weight of confronting the elders—my father—about a woman's presence in our home weighs heavily on my shoulders.

Not only that, but soon, they will all know Ava isn't just any woman. No, she is our fated mate.

The run to the clan house, which lies at the heart of our territory, feels shorter than ever. Each stride tightens the knot in my stomach, and anticipation gnaws at me with every breath. The hunters and humans got it all wrong. We're not the monsters they paint us as, but facing my father, our clan alpha, whose reign has lasted centuries, is the real challenge. Our ancestors pledged to keep our worlds apart, and the world now knows of our existence.

As I make my way to the secluded chest on the back porch, which serves as a hidden cache for those times when clothing becomes necessary, I feel a gaze piercing through me, sharp and condemning. I know exactly who those eyes belong to as well.

Natalie Green, the clan's iota, is watching me. She oversees our resources with a precision that commands respect, yet in moments like these, she is nothing short of annoying. She's just a few years younger than me, a born wolf, and there's a beauty about her that one would admire in a sister. That's how I see her, despite my father's desperate attempts to pair us up. To him, she's perfect luna material, embodying everything a luna ought to be.

But she isn't Ava. She will never be Ava.

The difference between them is night and day. Ava, with her delicate frame, is the antithesis of Natalie's tall, robust build. Natalie, a rarity as a born female wolf, could have her pick of any pack, yet her heart seems foolishly set on ours.

Slipping into a pair of sweatpants, I brace myself before turning to face Natalie. She's dressed casually in jeans and a cropped T-shirt, her honey-blonde hair in a long braid. She leans against the railing, her interest in me far from concealed. It's a look I've grown accustomed to, a byproduct of our nature, but today, there's a sharpness to it that sets my teeth on edge.

I will have a mage make her smell like rotten cabbage for life.Tyler's thought, shady and filled with spite, cuts through our link, but I shut him out. I'm in no mood for his antics.

"Nat," I greet her with a nod, my hand already on the backdoor, itching to avoid any further interaction.

She catches my arm, halting me. "Ethan, wait," she warns, nodding toward the house. "Alpha Hughes is in a foul mood."

"When isn't he?" I snort, my irritation flaring at her touch.

She ignores my attempt to shake her off, pressing closer and digging her nails into my bicep, as if proximity could sway my feelings.

What can we do to get her to stop squawking? Tyler's annoyance flickers through my shield. You can tell all the packs she has herpes. Tempting, yet wildly inappropriate. I block him out again, this time locking him out so I can't see what he is planning.

Let him have his fun.

"Is there something else?" I pull away, crossing my arms, which only causes her gaze to become more intense.

"Is it true?" she demands, her blue eyes trying to pierce through me. I despise the way she thinks she has any right to scrutinize me, to aspire to be my luna.

"Is what true?" I play dumb, though I can guess what's on her mind.

"Don't fuck with me, Huggie." The nickname, meant to be endearing from others, sounds like an insult coming from her.

That nickname is reserved for those who have actually earned my respect, and she hasn't. "Don't," I rumble, the warning clear in my voice. "You never supported me working with the humans. You never wanted me out there, saving their lives."

"You took a human woman home," she hisses, the words slicing the air like a verdict of guilt.

I merely arch a brow, offering neither confession nor denial. She scrutinizes me, her nostrils flaring in a desperate search for any betraying scent. I cloaked myself in the earth's perfume, rolling my fur in mud to mask my trail. Let her damn well try to uncover my secrets.

"Are you done now?" I snap, my patience fraying at the edges as I cross the threshold into the kitchen. The dimly lit space contradicts the cabin's rustic fa?ade with its sleek, modern amenities.

"Listen, Ethan," Natalie begins once more, her voice trailing me into the house.

I ignore her, my senses ensnared by the delicate aroma of chocolate chip cookies that wafts through the air. Mom's baking is a barometer for her moods. She could be riding the high of bliss or stewing in discontent.

"Seriously, Ethan," Natalie presses, her tone sharpening in a bid to command my attention, prompting me to close my eyes and exhale slowly in frustration.

I finally pivot to face her in the expansive kitchen, devoid of warmth with its modern lines and echoing space. "Natalie, what now?" My voice is a growl, barely tethered by civility.

Her eyes dart toward my father's office. "Your father is about to make you an offer," she says, her confidence swelling anew, her smirk sharp and chilling. "It would be in your best interest to accept." She turns on her heel and exits, leaving frost in her wake.

What's that all about?

"Ethan." My father's voice cuts through the silence, beckoning me from the hall. His office, sitting on the first floor to remain accessible, awaits. Despite our occasional clashes, his steadfast leadership has never faltered over the years. And he's kept the clan safe.

Dragging my hands down my face, I tread down the hall toward him, pushing open the door to find him silhouetted against the bay window, flanked by towering bookshelves. My mom sits cocooned in a reading chair, lost to the world in her book, likely oblivious to my presence. I brush a kiss atop her head, her hum and soft smile a brief balm to my spirit.

Zane offers a playful smirk, his presence akin to a Viking sprung from legend. He's my father's steadfast beta and partner, and his bond with my father is unshakeable. Some spiritkin like to keep the children's lineage a mystery, but we have always known. I am the echo of the man by the window, and Tyler of Zane.

"Sit, Ethan," he instructs, his gaze returning from the village sprawled before us. His features, a mirror of my own, hold the weight of years and battles waged for our kind's place in the world.

"Father," I greet, sinking into the seat, feeling momentarily dwarfed by the history and decisions that permeate this room.

"The hunters are growing bold," he states, his voice carrying the gravitas of experience. Alexander Hughes, my reflection in time, bears the marks of leadership with a grace hardened by conflict. "Tell me, is Mystic Med seeing more attacks?"

I let out a breath, finding comfort in the familiarity of this conversation. "The simple answer? Yes."

"I want the long answer," my father demands, his tone leaving no room for the brief summaries he knows I'm inclined to give. I should have seen this coming. He's always digging deeper, expecting more.

"We're noticing a slight uptick in attacks. It's mostly the loners living on the outskirts, beyond the safety of our town and between territories," I report, feeling the weight of responsibility press down on me. "Shifters, mainly."

"They see us as easy prey," Zane chimes in, his casual lean against the wall belying the gravity of his assessment. "Isolate us, pick us off one by one," he muses, his gaze sharp. "That's exactly what I'd do."

"Does the name Kit Mason mean anything to you?" my father probes, slicing through the tension with the precision of a seasoned alpha.

"No," I snap out, frustration edging my voice. The name sounds too mundane, too pedestrian to trigger any alarms. "Should it?"

"We believe he's the one in charge of the Puritas Umbra," Zane adds, dropping this bombshell on me. It's just one more thing for me to have to dissect. "But it's probably just an alias. We're on his trail for the first time in years."

Shock jolts through me. "You have more than a name?" I blurt out, my control slipping. The thought that we've even scratched the surface of their anonymity sends my mind reeling. "They've cloaked his identity in shadows for years."

"Yes, and we have the fae on our side," Zane reveals, nonchalantly linking pieces I hadn't even considered connecting. "We have a spy in their ranks."

My eyes go wide at the revelation. A fae, embedded in Puritas Umbra… The audacity of it sends a chill down my spine. I swallow hard, the taste of fear bitter on my tongue. If anyone can hide in plain sight, it's the fae.

My father hums, a sound that seems to stir the air itself, as he brushes his thumb over his lip in contemplation. "We're ramping up patrols. I need you three at the clan house three nights a week."

That's not going to work.

I steal a glance at Zane, catching the slight cock of his head. Damn, he's observant—a trait Tyler undoubtedly inherited from him. His raised eyebrow silently questions me, but I offer no reply.

"With our work schedule—" I start, but my father cuts me off with a comment that brooks no argument.

"And the woman you brought home," he interjects, his knowledge of Ava not surprising but unwelcome all the same.

I steel myself, my muscles tensing as I prepare to defend my actions and choices. For a fleeting second, doubt creeps in, but I squash it. If I'm to lead this clan one day, then I must stand firm for what I believe in, for what's best for us all.

"Ava is our fated," I state, my words deliberate.

He leans back with a resigned sigh, his eyes masking the storm beneath. My mother, on the other hand, springs into action like a shot, her book and blanket clattering to the floor as she barrels toward me.

"Tell me it's true. A fated mate? Blessed by the moon? Did you recite the incantation?" she questions, her words coming at me in a rush. "Blessed by the spirit comet?"

Fated mates are rare. Sure, anyone can bond. The moon often nods in approval, but it's not every day she outright blesses someone, and mates chosen by the spirit comet? That's even rarer. It's also a feeling unlike any I've ever experienced.

With one look, one scent, I knew Ava was ours. A fierce protectiveness came over me when we first saw her. I thought it was nothing more than us caring for a patient, but it was so much more. My vision danced with fireworks when I scented her, nearly making me fall on my ass. And the fact that she was hurt nearly threw me over the edge.

"It's true," I confirm, watching the realization wash over them.

"Well, I'll be." Zane can't help but chuckle as he strides over to shake my hand, his grip as solid as ever. "Congratulations are in order, or not…" He hesitates, reading the storm brewing in my expression.

"It's complicated," I mutter, the word human hanging unsaid between us.

"I assumed as much," Zane quips before scooping my mother into his lap, drawing a burst of laughter from her that fills the room with something light. They are not fated mates, nor chosen by any comet. "How did you know?" he asks, intrigued.

"I just knew." I shift uncomfortably.

"A fated mate. Come on, you have to know the difference." Zane won't give it up.

Shaking my head, I give in. "It was like the world slowed down until all I saw was her…all I could scent was her. I swear my vision crackled with sparks."

"The spirit comet." My mom smiles. "Sparkles." Her eyes blur with tears.

"On the fool's moon, no less," my father interjects, his eyebrow arching in that way that suggests he's piecing together a larger puzzle. "You know as well as any other wolf never to make a promise on a fool's moon. It has the potential to be a false love."

"And what about Natalie?" My mother sits up, her eyes wide as she looks from Dad to Zane.

"What about her?" I retort, an uneasy sensation twisting in my gut.

My father exchanges a knowing look with Zane, who suddenly finds the pattern on the carpet utterly fascinating. "Her father proposed a mating bond. With Tyler hitting twenty-seven?—"

"That's a bullshit rule, and you know it," I cut him off, my irritation boiling over. This custom, waiting until twenty-seven for the spirit comet's blessing, for that just in case moment, feels stifling.

He just raises an eyebrow, letting me vent until I run out of steam. "We had to consider that you might not find a mate on your own, and I need a luna worthy of leading the clan," he says, using that politician's tone I detest. It always puts me on edge. "We accepted."

"What?" I explode, quickly cutting Tyler and Brody off our link to regain some semblance of control. I need a moment to corral my thoughts.

My mother attempts to soften the blow. "We didn't know."

It doesn't help.

"I will give you three until the next full moon to make it official with your new mate," my father says. "If you reject Ava, you will have the chance to find another luna. If Ava rejects you, then you will be lost to your spirit animal, and I won't allow that to happen. Reject Ava, and you'll accept Natalie as your luna, or they'll fight for position of luna to avoid the wrath of nature all together."

I'm seething, my gaze locked outside the window, to where the shadows of the trees play across the clan's lands. My jaw is clenched so tightly it hurts, and my body is a live wire of fury.

Screw this.

My options are a joke. Instead of dignifying this sham with a response, I storm out, leaving their expectations and my rage echoing in the room behind me.