Chapter 39
Ethan's POV
As I paced the office, Marlus’s words sank in, each one like a drop of ice water down my spine.
“This isn’t just about her showing up again, Ethan,” Marlus warned, crossing his arms as he watched me, his brow furrowed with worry.
“If Isabella’s back now, it’s not a coincidence. Chloe’s probably trying to divide loyalty in the Pack. And with the Council vote so close…” He shook his head, his gaze sharp.
“It could be exactly what Aiden and Chloe need to flip vote in Aiden’s direction.”
I clenched my fists, my wolf already on edge from the mention of Isabella. It had taken years to recover from her leaving, from her abandoning our bond just when I needed her most.
And now she was back? Right before the vote, a time when any hint of weakness could jeopardize everything I’d fought for. The rage bubbled up, and it was all I could do to keep it in check.
“She has no place here,” I growled, barely holding back my wolf. “She made her choice. She walked away, left me to fend for myself, and now she thinks she can just walk back in?”
The idea grated on every nerve in my body. “I won’t allow her to interfere, and I won’t let Chloe use her as a pawn to hurt my Pack.”
Marlus’s gaze softened slightly. “I know it’s… personal, Ethan. But you have to be careful. The Pack has long memories, and some may still see Isabella as your Fated Mate. It’s one thing to lose her once, but if Chloe can make it look like she’s here because of you…”
He trailed off, the warning clear. “It could weaken the Pack’s trust in you, make them question your bond with Olivia.”
I slammed my fist against the wall, the impact cracking the plaster. “She has no claim over me,” I hissed. “That bond was broken the moment she abandoned it.”
Marlus regarded me steadily. “And yet, she might still hold influence. You know how Chloe operates. She’ll use every weakness, every rumor, to undermine you. She’s relentless, and if she’s behind Isabella’s return, it’s a fucking trap.”
My jaw clenched as I forced myself to think through the rage, to see the situation for what it was.
Marlus was right. Chloe was ruthless, and Isabella’s return wasn’t just a reminder of my past, it was a threat to my future.
She was using the bond to weaken Olivia’s standing as my Luna. Every action Isabella took, every time she showed up, would only question who truly held my loyalty.
I took a deep breath, trying to control the anger that simmered just below the surface.
“Fine. If Chloe wants to play, I’ll play. But it ends on my terms. I’ll make it clear to everyone that whatever Isabella and I once had is over and she has no place in my Pack. I’ll handle her.”
Marlus gave a short nod, his eyes filled with a mix of understanding and caution.
“You’ll have to be strategic. This isn’t just about loyalty, it’s about perception. Even if she doesn’t have a true claim, she still has the advantage of nostalgia and history. Pack members who remember the two of you together might wonder –”
“I don’t care,” I snapped, cutting him off. But even as I said it, the thought gnawed at me.
I knew how deeply the Pack valued tradition and bonds. Chloe would exploit any vulnerability, and Isabella’s return could be the crack they needed to undermine Olivia’s position as my Luna.
This vote, the Council, everything hinged on proving my commitment.
Marlus’s gaze was steady as he spoke. “Then you have to make a choice, Ethan. You’ve claimed Olivia, but you have to make that clear to the Pack, to the Council –”
I let out a low growl. “Olivia is mine, and that bond will be proven.” My voice dropped, filled with a rawness I could barely control. “Isabella’s reappearance won’t change that.”
Marlus nodded, his voice calm but firm. “Then make sure everyone sees it that way. Because Chloe isn’t going to stop until she gets what she wants.”
I sat at my desk, going over the latest reports when a faint knock sounded on the door. Before I could even respond, the door cracked open, and in walked Isabella.
For a moment, I didn’t move, caught off guard by the sight of her. She looked almost the same as the day she left: soft, unsure of herself, with that fragile presence once pulled at me.
My wolf stirred uncomfortably, caught somewhere between protectiveness and old anger.
"Ethan,” she greeted, her voice soft and hesitant. It wasn’t meant as a question, but her tone lifted at the end showing her hesitation.
She took a step forward, her eyes searching mine as if trying to bridge the years between us.
I forced myself to stay calm. “Isabella,” I replied, keeping my tone neutral. “What are you doing here?”
She gave me a small smile, one that once would have softened me, but now only made my jaw clench tighter. “I just wanted to see how you were doing… as a friend,” she added quickly, sensing my unease.
“You’re leading a new Pack, taking on so much… I thought I’d offer some support. Like I used to.”
The words hung in the air, filled with memories that I didn’t want to relive. “I don’t need support from the past,” I replied firmly. “The Pack, Olivia, they’re all I need now.”
Her face fell, but she pressed on, moving closer. “Ethan, I know how we ended was painful – for both of us. But I thought… I thought maybe we could find some closure, even if only as friends.”
I stood, my chair scraping against the floor as I stepped away from the desk, putting some distance between us. “There’s nothing left to mend, Isabella.” I kept my gaze steady, watching her reaction closely.
But Isabella seemed unfazed by my words, and the softness in her eyes shifted, revealing a glimmer of determination. “Are you sure, Ethan? You know, the Pack remembers us. Some even believe that… maybe you were forced into this arrangement with Olivia Hartwyn?”
Her implication was clear, and I felt a low growl rising in my chest. “Is that why you’re here? To sow doubt? To question Olivia’s place as my Luna?” The accusation felt sharp even as I spoke it, but I didn’t care.
Isabella’s expression hardened, the vulnerability slipping away into something I didn’t’ recognize in her. “I just want what’s best for you,” she said smoothly. “And if there’s still a chance to reclaim what we had… I want to be here for it.”
Anger surged through me, but I kept my tone controlled. “Whatever we had is over. My loyalty, my commitment, is to Olivia now.”
“Are you sure? People are watching, Love, and I don’t like seeing them question you.” She took a step back, that mask of sweetness back in place. “But if you ever need me… you know where to find me.”
I didn’t respond, holding my ground as she left the room. But her words lingered, twisting like a thorn.
I had to stay focused, to prove that Olivia was my choice and not some shadow of a past that was trying to control me.
