**Ethan’s POV
I saw Behar was at the front of the incoming wolves and Madalynn ran straight toward him. She must have told them that we’d got reinforcents, so they’d sent theirs in, too.
A group of Behar’s wolves started to move in our direction, and we were outnumbered again.
Rosalie was after Madalynn, and I knew I needed to stop her right away.
“Rosalie, co back!” I shouted again, and tried to persuade her not to run into the enemies’ ambush. “Madalynn was lucky this ti, but they’d be back! We’ll get them next ti!”
That ti, she seed to finally hear my words and she turned around to look at .
Her eyes fell on , and I could tell she was staring at my ugly wounds all over my upper body. Her gaze was gentle, and I could tell she was worried.
Was she worried about , or worried about her son’s father?
I covered myself with so clothes so that she wouldn’t need to see those wounds. I hated how it felt. I hated that I was weak.
It should be my job to protect her, but here she was, fighting in my stead.
She walked over and gently bumped with her front right shoulder. It was ti for us to return before Behar and his guys caught up to us. However, I wasn’t able to shift.
Rosalie’s concerned wolf eyes focused on my face to see if I was okay.
“Don’t worry, Rosalie,” I said. “You’re not going to be rid of just yet. I’m just tired.”
‘Get on one of your wolves’ back,’ Georgia said to through the mindlink. ‘Unless you want Rosalie to give you a ride.’
Not arguing with my little sister, whose tone conveyed that she was angry with at the mont, I climbed onto the back of one of my n, while Georgia hopped on Rosalie’s.
The way back to camp was easy as our enemy also knew that it wasn’t their best ti to attack either.
Without the imdiate crisis chasing us, I couldn’t help but admire how gorgeous Rosalie was. She was smaller than many she-wolves, but so fast. And her brilliant white fur glead in the fading sun. Even though her fur was stained slightly by blood and dirt, I still couldn’t find other words to describe her other than pure and innocent and beautiful.
However, bitterness spread within .
After yesterday’s conversation about Soren, she seed to avoid as much as possible. Though I didn’t bla her for what she said, it didn’t an that it didn’t hurt.
I wished it was who went to the islands to execute the tasks instead of Soren. That way, hopefully she wouldn’t see as much of a monster.
And now, today, I’d fallen into the enemy’s trap so stupidly, and she’d had to rush over to rescue !
I didn’t want to know what she was thinking about right then-probably that I was just an arrogant, heartless, stupid, and weak *sshole... I sighed bitterly.
We approached the camp, and I thought I should say sothing to her. I wanted to be with her, even if it was under the guise of just being friends.
But as we got close, a swarm of people ca rushing at her. She had her responsibilities and priorities, and I knew I wasn’t either of them.
She turned and looked over her shoulder at , as if asking whether I would be okay. I couldn’t bring myself to be a burden and I gave her a reassuring smile. “I’ll be fine, don’t worry. Go do your thing.”
She hesitated for a mont then headed back to her tent. I figured she would shift and get changed there.
Georgia went in another direction and we followed. Before I knew it, the wolf I was riding had deposited at the tent reserved for healing.
“I’m fine!” I told her as I swung my leg down off of the warrior’s back.
“Let them check you out!” Georgia said, narrowing her eyes at .
Knowing now was not the ti to argue with her and have her screaming at , I went inside and took a cot, waiting for the healers to have a chance to co and look at . They were all busy elsewhere, which was fine. I didn’t need anything but a few minutes of rest.
Seeing that I was just waiting, Georgia’s eyes narrowed as she stopped next to my cot, her arms folded. “What the actual h*ll, Ethan?”
I glared at her. “What are you talking about?”
“I cannot believe you are that stupid!” she barked. “Did you really think Rosalie could allow herself to get taken prisoner by f*cking Madalynn? And did it not occur to you that, if that b*tch in the cage had been Rosalie, you would’ve felt the mate bond to her?”
I wasn’t in the mood to argue. In fact, I was just as upset as myself. Not because I’d chased after the imposter, but because I had almost put Rosalie in danger.
I didn’t say anything. Just then, one of the healers ca over to check out.
Georgia and I were both silent while the doctor patched up my cuts and gave so pain dicine that I didn’t really want. I took it anyway before I returned my attention to my sister.
“Ethan, please tell you actually thought it through?” Georgia’s tone cald down a bit.
I stared at her and slowly shook my head. “I wasn’t going to take the chance, Georgia.”
She waited patiently for to say the rest. “I’d lost her way too many tis in the past, and... I couldn’t afford to lose her ever again. If there was even a one percent chance that Rosalie needed rescuing, I’d go after her. With my luck, you never know when the mate bond might fail you or other conditions could overshadow it.”
My sister stared at . It was actually quite uncomfortable. Finally, she sighed. “Well, you sure are lucky that she ca to rescue your *ss, or Madalynn and Behar probably would’ve killed you!”
I didn’t know what to say.
She shook her head at . “I’m... dumbfounded,” she said, and I chuckled. Her eyes narrowed even more. “Idiot,” she muttered.
I couldn’t argue with that at the mont.
Georgia glared a bit longer before she was so fed up that she headed out of the tent.
I took a deep breath and considered taking a nap. I was exhausted. The wounds weren’t as bad as they appeared. I’d bled, but for so reason, I did notice I was healing faster than before, but my insides felt like a giant jigsaw puzzle soone was straining to put back into the right order, and they weren’t nearly finished yet.
A mont later, my mate bond kicked in, and I slled the fragrance that always filled my lungs when Rosalie was nearby. It brought a smile to my face. It was truly a blessing to just know she was around.
I wondered what she was busy with now.
But when she appeared in the opening of the tent, I felt my heart tighten. Was she here for ?
Then, she saw . A smile ca to her lips. She rushed between the doctors and around the cots. “There you are,” she said, stopping next to my cot. She was wearing a clean dress, her hair pulled back away from her elegant neck. She was stunning.
She was like sunshine. As long as she was willing to talk to , all I could feel was warmth, happiness, and content.
“Here I am,” I said, lifting both hands to present myself.
“Georgia said your wounds would need my attention right away. Here, drink this.” She handed a cup of water as she looked over. I knew she had mixed her blood in.
After staring at her for a couple seconds, I peeled my gaze away and looked down at the cup in my hand. It was obvious that Georgia told such a white lie in order to get her stupid brother an opportunity to be with Rosalie.
However, was I really worth it? I hurt Rosalie deeply before...and now, I didn’t even have the strength to protect her any more.
“I was feeling lightheaded before.” Realizing that I’d been silent for too long, I knew I had to say sothing. “But I’m better now, I think.”
“Oh, good,” she said. “I was worried.”
I knew I probably shouldn’t stare at her, however, the concern in her voice made so hopeful that I couldn’t help but look at her again.
Rosalie placed a hand over her heart. I saw her beautiful bright eyes, and I saw the sincere care in them.
Sincere care for a friend.
Both of us avoided yesterday’s conversation and my stupid act today. I should feel grateful that we’d moved past those and could interact like friends again.
However, why couldn’t I be content?
“About ?” I wanted to hear her soft lips say that it was that she was worried about.
Rosalie’s cheeks turned a soft pink color as she looked down at the floor. “Well, you just never know.” She cleared her throat and looked back up at . “Do you mind if I check you over?”
Though the doctor had done a thorough job, who was I to refuse the queen?
“Please, go ahead,” I told her.
She ca over to , slowly, cautiously, and like the way she would do to others that might need her help. As she leaned over , checking my cuts and abrasions, I did my best to stay back out of her way, but whenever her hair brushed against my cheek, I couldn’t help but breathe her in.
Thoughts of leaning over and kissing her neck ca to mind.... I held back.
“I think you’re okay,” she said, looking into my eyes. “You scared for a minute.”
“Sorry,” I told her. That blush was still about her cheeks. I licked my lips.
She reached down and patted my hand. “I think you’ll recover,” she said with a teasing smile. But then, her hand froze on top of mine, and her expression changed. Her eyebrows knit together, and her mouth turned down at the corners.
She dropped her eyes and saw the ring on my hand beneath her own as she pulled it away.
My ring. I had managed to recover it today. It was the sa one I’d given to Madalynn—just to shut her up.
But Talon told there’d been pictures of Madalynn wearing it, and Rosalie must’ve seen them at so point, because the look on her face told that the ring brought back bad mories for her.
I wanted to say sothing to comfort her, but I wasn’t sure what to say. So hurts are harder to take away than others, and with all of the lies and deceit from our past circling around in her mind, what could possibly co out of my mouth to ease her troubles?
“I, uh, need to go check on supplies,” she said, her hands folded in front of her now. “There are other wounded who need to be taken care of. I heard that we took so prisoners hostage, too. Soone will need to check on them soon.”
“It sounds like you’re really busy.” I nodded understandably, letting her off the hook. “You should go do that stuff. Do you need to do anything?”
“Oh, uh, no,” she started backing toward the door. “I’m good. You rest. Yeah, I’ll just... go check on Rowan. See you—later.”
“See you soon,” I said, wondering if she’d misunderstood when I provided her with the opportunity to leave. Did she think I was saying I wanted her to leave?
Because that wasn’t the case at all.
Yet, looking down at the ring on my finger, I knew we couldn’t avoid the unhappy monts from our past forever. Sooner or later, we would have to face them.
However, now wasn’t the ti.
For now, it was probably best this way.
Until I tried to figure out the right opportunity to tell her that I’d lied to her—again, at the Goddess’s temple.
And that lie just might be the most painful one of all.
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