Chapter 63

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***Author’s note:***
*Hello, my little wolves!*
*So, as much as I was ready to get back to writing, this week didn’t quite go as planned. The new laptop I was so excited about... well, it arrived defective. Long story short, I had to return it. But don’t worry, I didn’t leave you hanging completely! To make up for the delay, I updated this new chapter for Christmas—and it’s a big one! I hope you enjoy it. Thanks for your patience, and I wish you all a wonderful holiday!* 
*xo,*
*Sadie*
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***Alicent***

Ethan pulls me close, his arms locking around me like a promise he’s afraid to break. The night air is cool, but his body is very warm and solid, and I feel like it shields me from the world. One of his huge hands cradles my face, his fingers splaying over my cheek with a tenderness that makes my breath hitch, while the other presses against the small of my back, keeping me anchored to him. 
His kiss isn’t gentle. It’s consuming. Ethan’s lips are demanding, but there’s an underlying softness, a whisper of longing that steals the ground beneath my feet. I know he can feel it, too. My hands find their way to his chest, and my fingers curl into his shirt. I can’t believe we’re kissing. I need to hold on to him to believe it’s real. His woodsy and a bit of leather cologne mingled, making my head spin. Ethan’s hand slips into my blond hair, his fingers threading through the strands, while the other remains a steady anchor on my back.
I dare to raise my hand and cup the side of Ethan’s face. I feel the stubble there and immediately shudder in need.
My heartbeat is racing. Every single cell in my body is on fire. We have a connection, no matter how he tries to fight it. He knows it. Even if Ethan is one of the hardest people in the world to read, I can still tell when he’s affected. Deep down, I know it. There’s a chink in his armor, even though he doesn’t like that. 
I feel my phone buzz and ring in my pocket with a new message. 
Ethan tightens his strong arms around me, breaking our kiss for a moment as though he’s allowing me to breathe. His dark gaze spits fire. 
“Ethan, please,” I beg. I don’t even know what I am begging for. 
“By the might of Goddess, I am only so strong!” Ethan whispers with his lips close to mine like he’s torturing not only me but him as well. “I am... broken, Little Dove.”
“I don’t care! I want you, Ethan! I want you to myself, in any shape you come in, because I’ll love you regardless of it. Jagged edges and all.” 
Before I know what he’s doing, Ethan closes the tiny gap with his mouth, kissing me again.
I thought that weeks of yearning for him to kiss me would finally bring me relief, let me breathe again—but no. Instead, I forget how to. What even is breathing? Words? They vanish, slipping through my fingers like sand. All I know is Ethan’s hands—hot, commanding, and restless— are on me. They glide down my sides, searing through the fabric as if it doesn’t exist. The heat of his palms burns through my clothes, making me ache for more, for less between us.  
I feel my phone buzz and ring again, but this time repeatedly, as several messages come in.
Ethan moves his hands to my waist, and I let out a moan against his mouth when I feel his thumbs touching the curve of my breast.
God! I wish he would take me right here and right now.
*Dear Lord, Allie! Chill.* 
He finally breaks our kiss. We’re both panting, but obviously, he’s not as breathless as I am. “Aren’t you going to answer your phone?” Ethan asks with his deep voice, looking at my lips, which I’m sure are swollen now, before turning his dark gaze to my eyes.
“I don’t want to,” I say breathlessly. The imprint of his large hand still burns on my cheek. The pressure of his demanding lips haunts mine. The sweep of his tongue etched into my very being. Ethan leaves me trembling. A kiss like that doesn’t just linger. It threatens to tear me apart. A kiss to change everything. Or to ruin it all.
His eyebrow goes up, a look of suspicion crossing Ethan’s face, and I reluctantly get my phone from my pocket. I just want to kiss him non-stop again and forget everything around us.
When I unlock the screen, a strange prickle creeps up my spine. The new messages are from an unknown number. My fingers hesitate, but dread wins, and I tap to open them. 
The first photo fills the screen, and my breath catches. Az and Logan. Together. Today.  
One by one, photo messages flood the screen. In one, they’re stepping out of my ex’s car, the reflection of the streetlights glinting off the windshield like an ominous eye. Another shows them at a diner, Logan scrolling through his phone with that careless tilt of his head while my son sits across from him, his small hands clutching a hamburger, his expression hollow, almost lost. 
By the time I reach the last photo, my chest is tight, my hand trembles so much I nearly drop the phone. Before I can process what I’m seeing, a new message appears. A single line of text. The screen blurs for a moment before the words come into focus, and the freezing grip of fear tightens its hold. 
Oh, God. Oh, God. Oh, God.
“What happened?” Ethan firmly asks. For a second, I completely forgot he was here. “Why are you shaking? Who sent you so many messages?” 
I quickly lock the screen and try to free myself from his firm, warm grip. “Let me go! Please!” Az! I need to get to my son! “Let me go, Ethan!” 
When I struggle against his grip and end up twisting my wrist, his brows knit together, and Ethan releases me.
“Calm down, will you? What happened?” He asks, his voice firm but concerned. But I don’t answer, as soon as I’m out of his big arms I dash into the mansion. “Alicent! Wait!” Ethan says behind me and with long strides he easily catches up to me and turns me to face him. “Let me see the messages. Now!”
My eyes widen. No! Ethan can’t know! Damn it! Just when he was finally accepting what we feel for each other. I can’t show him the messages because he’ll want me to tell him everything, and then he’ll realize I’m more trouble than I’m worth it.
“No!” I say, feeling my eyes sting.
I try to run again, but to my surprise, Ethan quickly puts his shoulder close to my belly, and after one smooth movement, I see the world upside down. “Ethan! Put me down now!” I say, sounding like a mad woman. “Ethan! Where are you taking me? I’m serious, Ethan, put me—” *Smack!* “Did you just slap my ass? Ethan!” I yell at him, but he responds by slapping my ass again. “I can’t believe this!”
Before I know where he’s taking me, he’s already closing the door. Then, he finally sets me down on the floor. For a second I feel lightheaded, but his hands around me keep me from falling.
Ethan lets go of me but then shows me the palm of his hand, with his head tilted a little bit back. A silent command before he says, “Let me see, Little Dove. Now.”
I look around. Did he bring me to his bedroom? What is this place? It’s just gigantic. My bedroom here is huge, but two of them can easily fit in this room. 
There is a four-poster bed with a deep gray cover behind me. Large pieces of dark wooden furniture filled the room. There are landscape images on the walls. Paintings of forests, mountains, and the Moon. Yep, they really worship the moon around here. The paintings are incredible, I’m sure they are all expensive. There is a bust of a goddess on a side table in the corner near the window. I didn’t know people actually have things like that in their houses. Lord knows how much that thing cost. I’m not going near it; that’s for sure. I don’t want to accidentally knock it over. I spot a lot of books on one of the nightstands. I step back to avoid him, but I end up accidentally sitting on the bed.
I look up at him. His palm remains open, silently waiting for me to give it to him. I sink into the bed. God, I’m tired. My shoulders slump.
Feeling defeated, I unlock my phone and place it in his hand.

🐺 🐺 🐺
***Alpha Ethan***

I grab her phone and immediately realize that the messages are from an unknown number. I glance at her, noticing that her head is down, before turning my attention back to her ridiculous phone that looks like it’ll stop working at any moment.
Almost all the messages are photos of her son and her ex-husband. My jaw clenches on reflex. I keep scrolling until I read the last message, the only one in text.
**\[06:31 Unknown Number:** Found you.**\]**
‘What the hell?’ Kral growls in my mind, voicing my exact reaction.
I nearly bare my teeth at her old purple phone. A million questions flood my mind. Who sent her these messages? Why does someone want to find her? Who is she hiding from?
‘Or rather, running away?’ Kral adds.
I grip the small phone in my hand. ‘Does she have any enemies?’ I ask as though Kral would know the answer.
‘And who could hate her?’ Kral asks incredulously. ‘Look at her bright aura. Little Dove is everything that is good about the world. Nobody could ever hate her.’
This is the first time my wolf calls her Little Dove. ‘What about that bitch that lives with her son’s father? Maybe it can be her. No, wait. It can’t be. If it was her, the last message wouldn’t say they found her.’
I drop my arm, holding the phone a bit too fast, and she flinches at the sudden motion like she thinks I’m about to lash out or something.
I hold back the growl that threatens to escape my chest. I don’t want her to be even more scared. Then, with my other hand, I cup her delicate face.
Little Dove looks up at me like a wounded animal who is worried that a gesture of kindness might turn into a trap. 
Her frightened gaze makes my heart race. I feel Kral become restless in my mind. ‘Who had hurt her?’ 
‘Easy, wolf.’ 
“Tell me what’s going on,” I demand.
“It’s nothing.” She tries to look away, but I move my hand to the tip of her chin, forcing her to look up at me.
“Little Dove...” My tone is warning as I narrow my eyes at her.
Her meadow green eyes dart to the side. “Those messages must be a mistake,” she says, laughing softly. “Probably spam or... I don’t know, uh, maybe those messages are meant for someone else.” Her voice pitches higher as if sheer enthusiasm could sell the lie.
“I saw all the messages. It’s obviously meant for you. Do not lie to me,” I say, holding her gaze. “What’s going on?”  
“It’s nothing! I swear!” I can hear her heartbeat racing.
“Nice try. Not happening.” 
“Ethan... you saw it yourself, the messages are from an unknown number, I have no way of knowing who they are from!” She says and I snort at that. She hugs herself with a sad gaze.
For once, I don’t feel in control. Something is going on with her, and I need to know. I’m feeling like my feral wolf is feeling now, determined to do whatever it takes to protect her. I know my reasons for wanting to keep her safe are less than noble. I’m attracted to her and want to keep her here even though I shouldn’t. I have a fated mate waiting for me, for Goddess’ sake! But I can’t reason my feelings. I reasoned before that it would be far better to avoid her, but I can no longer do that.
“Are you in danger?” I ask through clenched teeth, trying to control my temper.
She is about to slowly shake her head to deny it, but I let out a deep growl, and then she nods, wincing her shoulders slightly.
“You will not leave Blackmoon from now on, understand me? You are forbidden from stepping foot out of here.” I don’t know what the hell is going on, but let’s start with that.
She gasps. “You can’t forbid me, Ethan!” 
“Oh, Little Dove. And that’s where you’re wrong.” I smirk. “I’m the Alpha here. Think again. You. Are. Forbidden.” 
She opens her mouth. “The nerve! This is none of your business!” She says. Her little hand tries to take mine from her chin. “And I don’t think you get to forbid me from doing things. You are not the boss of me!” 
Her cute, furious gaze makes me realize something. I can’t hold back anymore. If anything, it only fuels my desire to know.
If her living in my packhouse meant we were crossing a line, we’re jumping straight off a cliff tonight. This is a point of no return. Whatever hell she is in, she isn’t alone anymore. The animal part of me is feral to protect this tiny woman. I’m an Alpha. I’m good at what I do to protect everyone in my pack. But I’m also cursed, and there’s no relationship that will get in my way to stop me from breaking the curse. I won’t let it. 
“Tell me what’s going on. Right now.”
“Ethan,” she whispers, biting her lower lip. “Please. I don’t want to talk about it.” 
Her sad green eyes are my undoing. I only have so much restraint. I look down at her breasts. From this angle, I can see the color of her bra. Green. A shade darker than the color of her eyes. Fuck. I take a step back. I need to feel her too much. I want to hear my name on her lips. ‘Focus, boy!’ Kral reminds me.
“Now that we’ve started this conversation, we’re going to finish it.” I frown, crossing my arms. 
She just gaps at me. “I don’t know where to start.” 
“Start by telling me who you’re running away from!” She opens her mouth to protest, but I continue. “You don’t want to lie to me, Little Dove.”
She nervously twists her fingers together. “It’s not a big deal.” 
“Someone’s out there looking for you. Threatening you,” I say sternly. “It is a very big deal. I am responsible for the health and safety of everyone here, and that includes you. And you’ve put your safety at risk. Now I want to know everything.” 
She looks at my face for a few seconds before sighing. My tone is clear. I am not going to bend on this.  
I’ve never spoken so harshly and used my Alpha command with her like this before, but I need her to tell me what’s happening. Since she’s been living here, I’ve never seen her so desperate, except the day she thought her son was having an allergic reaction. I want to help her, and for that, I need to get to the bottom of her secrets.
She looks up at me, and the innocence in her meadow green eyes makes my wolf and I all the more protective. She is really like a *little dove*. Something so fucking precious and delicate that you just can’t help but want to admire and nurture it. Even if you know it’s a wild creature, and you shouldn’t. She’s so pure that just looking at her stirs something deep within me. I can’t help but want to protect her, to hold her close and never let go, pushing me past the point of reason.
Little Dove rubs her face, looking defeated. “What do you want to know, Ethan?” 
“Tell me everything. Right now, Little Dove.”
She sighs before finally saying, “I grew up with a loving family. We were not wealthy, but we had enough to be comfortable. My brothers and I were all close. My parents gave me everything they could. But the most precious things my parents and brothers ever gave me? Their lives.”