Chapter 108
Elara's POV
I sat in the back seat of Ethan's car and stared at the two heads in front of me.
Chloe's hand rested on the center console. Her fingers drummed against the plastic, then stopped. She said something I couldn't hear. Ethan turned his head slightly toward her and smiled.
Actually smiled.
Not the tight, protective smile he gave me. A real one.
Chloe's cheeks went pink. She touched his arm. Just her fingertips on his sleeve. Nothing major.
Ethan didn't pull away.
I watched her hand stay there for three seconds before she drew it back.
A part of me knew this was good. If Ethan had a girlfriend... I needed that breathing room. But seeing them so easy with each other, a complicated knot tightened in my stomach. The sourness I'd felt seeing them at the bus stop hadn't gone away. I pushed it down. This was for the best.
I pulled out my phone and reread Cole's message for the fifth time.
Tonight. 9 PM. Black Ridge north entrance. Come alone. —C
My thumb hovered over the screen. Cole wouldn't call a meeting unless it was urgent. Wild Hunt. It had to be about Wild Hunt.
Maybe I should tell Warren. Ask him to authorize a mission. Take down that mercenary pack before they got any closer to my family.
Wild Hunt had a reputation. Even in the wolf world, they were notorious. Guns for hire. No loyalty except to money. They'd hunt their own kind if the price was right.
I needed to know what Cole had found.
I tried to focus on that. On the meeting tonight. On the danger.
But my brain wouldn't cooperate.
Instead, I kept seeing Kael's face above mine. Feeling his hands on my waist. His mouth on my neck.
The way he'd looked at me when I'd begged him to help me.
The way he'd said my name.
Heat crawled up my neck. I turned my face toward the window and pressed my forehead against the cool glass.
Stop it. Stop thinking about it.
It was the drug. Just the drug. Dylan had spiked my drink and my body had reacted and Kael had been there and I'd been out of my mind and—
And it had felt incredible.
I squeezed my eyes shut.
No. Don't go there.
But I could still feel it. The weight of him. The heat. The way our bodies had fit together like they'd been made for it.
My face burned.
"Elara?"
I jerked my head up. Ethan was watching me in the rearview mirror.
"You okay?" he asked.
"Fine."
His eyes narrowed. "You sure? You look flushed."
"I'm fine," I said again. Sharper this time.
Chloe twisted in her seat to look back at me. "Are you feeling sick? Do you want us to pull over?"
"No. I'm just tired."
Ethan's jaw tightened. He glanced at Chloe, then back at me in the mirror.
"Listen," he said. "About me and Chloe. I know this might be... awkward. I should have told you sooner. I just—"
"It's fine, Ethan."
"I mean it," he continued. "I should have said something before now. I didn't want you to find out like this."
Oh.
He thought I was upset about him dating Chloe.
I almost laughed.
"I'm not upset," I said. "I promise. I'm just thinking about other stuff."
"What stuff?"
"School stuff."
Ethan didn't look convinced, but he let it drop.
We pulled up in front of the house. Ethan put the car in park and turned to Chloe.
"Wait here for a sec?" he asked. "I'll be right back."
Chloe nodded.
Ethan got out and opened my door. I climbed out, slinging my duffel over my shoulder.
He walked me to the front steps. At the door, he stopped and turned to face me.
"No matter what happens," he said quietly. "You're still my sister. Me being with Chloe doesn't change that."
Something warm uncurled in my chest.
"I know," I said.
"Good." He squeezed my shoulder. "We're heading to the library. You need anything?"
"No. I'm good."
He studied my face for another moment, then nodded and headed back to the car.
I watched him go. Watched him slide back into the driver's seat. Watched Chloe smile at him.
Then my eyes drifted left.
To Kael's house.
The driveway was empty. No car. The curtains were drawn. Dark windows.
He wasn't home.
My stomach twisted.
How was I supposed to face him after last night?
Was I supposed to pretend nothing happened? Act normal?
What even was normal between us now?
And why had he agreed to it?
The question had been eating at me all morning.
On the dance floor, he'd said I needed to pay a price for the target card. An equal exchange.
Was that what last night had been?
Payment?
My hands curled into fists.
No. I couldn't accept that. I wouldn't.
If that's all it had been to him—a transaction—then I was done.
I wasn't some prize he could collect.
"Elara?"
I spun around.
Mom stood in the doorway, smiling. "Why are you standing out here? Come inside."
I forced my expression to smooth out. "Sorry. Just spacing out."
She pulled the door wider. "How was the wilderness training camp? Did you get hurt?"
"No. It was fine. I learned a lot."
Her eyes swept over me, checking for injuries I knew she wouldn't find. "Good. I'm glad you're home safe. I made blueberry pie."
"Thanks, Mom."