Chapter 79
CHARLOTTE’S POV
Before we left for New York, I had already made up my mind to attend the festival. Something deep inside me kept pushing telling me that some truth would come out that night. In a place filled with Alphas and other high ranked wolves, I wanted to see if there was another Alpha with the moon mark on his neck. And more than that, I needed answers, about Ace’s wife, and her connection to my dream, my accident.
I told dad I was going to the festival. He was happy, almost proud, that I was finally accepting my role as the next Alpha of Brimstone pack. I didn’t share his excitement. Becoming a female Alpha wasn’t common, no matter how strong the bloodline was. Even though he promised to give me time before stepping down, the thought still scared the shit out of me.
We arrived in New York late in the morning. Liam couldn’t go to school at that time, so I asked his nanny to stay with him. Les had texted me earlier that she would be at the hospital, so I drove straight there.
When I got to her office, I could hear voices from inside. They were arguing. “I told you this is not something we should be talking about here,” Les said, her voice sounding tense.
“And when exactly were you planning to talk about it?” the man replied in a lower tone.
I pushed the door open, immediately, their voices stopped and both turned to look at me.
It was a man standing in front of her desk. I could only see his back at first, but I recognized it was Ethan instantly.
When he turned fully, his face was flushed red. Les was standing stiff behind her desk, her fingers gripping the edge of it before she quickly let go. She looked like she had been caught doing something she shouldn’t.
“You don’t get to decide that for me,” Ethan muttered under his breath, but I wasn’t sure if I was meant to hear it.
Les shot him a look before forcing a small smile at me.
“Charlotte…”
“Ethan!” I said in surprise. “When did you get here? I saw you yesterday morning and you didn’t say anything about coming to New York.”
There was a strange silence in the room.
And suddenly, I felt like I had walked into something I wasn’t supposed to see.
“Yeah, from now on, I’m expected to be by your side at all times. So expect to see my face all the time.” He sounded as if he was joking and being serious at the same time.
“Right… but what are you doing in Les’s office?” I queried.
“Nothing!” Les quickly said, a little too fast. Her face was still flushed. “He came to see you. You weren’t around, so he stepped into my office to chat, but he ended up pissing me off.”
She was lying. Her foot was violently tapping hard against the floor. She always does that when she is uncomfortable or lying. And this didn’t look like a simple argument. They only knew each other because of me, and they never really got along. Ethan usually disappears whenever I say Les is coming with us somewhere. So what were they even fighting about?
“I’ll see you later. I need to go,” Ethan said suddenly. He didn’t even look at me properly before he bolted.
“Okay…” I drawled, looking from the door back to her. “What just happened? You both looked like you were about to beat
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Cugner 79
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24
9:30 am P
Chapter 79
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She stood up and walked and the desk, the car on the banor chair heater con fine for comfort. To warned about you. At least go with Lun 1 don’t be his you know that the pestant gore Sex will he then son but if he don’t fight well, for won’t be or same mange kane Nor furing the festival
I went back to my office and tried to work, but at night sheep wouldn’t come. I toont and net saring the dark celing Was I ready to see Ace in heat, filled with hut and device, maring in poble with his wife My somarks onset at the though I wanted to deny it, but jealousy burned through me. I had fallen for him. I wanted him in myell Lod’s watch fum mate another wothat exen it’s his wife. I want to see in nakerf alone, releasing all his teasing wide me. If he’s going wif want it to be with me. Call me greedy, but I couldn’t help in I can’t imagine hins doing that with another word operat one who could have been the same woman that tried to kill me years a
I missed him like crazy. He hadn’t called since he left, and I longed to hear his voice. No matter how much I med to convince myself. I knew that belonged to him. I was ready to throw caution aside. Damn the consequences. I could keep letting fear rule me when it came to him
Two days later, I got off the plane and into the car with my driver, heading toward a place that could dewy me menu and emotionally, I asked Ethan not to come with me. The journey was long, five, maybe x hours. As we got closer, the sound of howls filled the air, and fames leapt high into the sky, lighting up the darkness like the place itself was alive
The driver dropped me where the other luxury cars were parked. There were so many, all shining in the freight, and 1 walked in alone. I wore a long black dress that went to my toes. Les insisted I cover everything According to her, the hidden I was, the safer I’d be. I pulled a mask over my face as I stepped forward everyone else had masks to hiding themselves behind painted expressions or leather coverings
The space was massive, open under the night sky. At the center, a huge fire burned sparks flying into the air, Wolves moved around it, mingling, howling, some dancing, some watching the flames as if it gave them strength. Luxurious tents and stands ringed the open space, filled with shadows that shifted with every flicker of firelight. The air smelled of smoke, we and something wild, raw, the hunger of everyone there.
My hands trembled as I clutched my purse tighter. This was insane.
