“I haven’t forgotten, but we’re life mates now.” He rubbed his forehead. “The challenge will be the first hurdle.”
“No! Ethan—”
He sighed and closed his eyes for a second before cupping her face in his hands. “Listen.
You heard Greggoire’s threat. He’s already planning to take you away from me. He’s fighting to the death. The same way he fought your father. Just like we predicted, the old rules don’t apply anymore. You’ve got to be prepared if I don’t make it out of this alive.” He kissed her temple and held her to his chest.
She pushed away from him. “Don’t say that!
Shut the hell up. I don’t want to hear you talking this way. I will not lose another person that I love.”
She walked out of the room. Losing him wasn’t part of the plan. It wasn't supposed to be this difficult. They'd come back, find Jordy, and deal with Ethan reentering the pack the right way, the way it had been done in the past. At no time had she considered that one of them might die. Now she didn’t know if Jordy was in danger or where he even was. And Ethan…
He was a part of her. If she lost him, she’d die. Bit by slow bit, she’d fade away without her mate. She was sure of it.
“Little one?”
She paused in her mad escape to the kitchen. She pressed her lips together. The truth of the matter hurt too much to even think about.
No way was she going to talk about what could happen. It all seemed much more dangerous than she realized.
“Now is not the time to be stubborn, Dani. We don’t have much time. Dig deep and talk to your wolf. She knows what must be done. Face it, deal with it, and then we’re going to go out there, end this rampage of Greggoire’s and get your brother back.” She sensed him heaving a sigh. “I promised you from the first day I met you that I’d help you. I love you, and I want to make sure you are up to what will come. You have to trust me.” She returned to the bedroom and, standing in the doorway, her breath hitched in her chest.
Ethan stood with his back toward her, strong, determined, confident, and what did she do? She refused to face the truth because she was scared. That wasn’t the kind of person she was.
She needed to stand up beside him and let him see that she believed in him. He’d come out on top tonight and be the alpha. It was destined.
She stepped into the room and gazed down at the weapons gleaming against the burgundy comforter. No longer alone, she needed to concentrate on getting her mate through tonight, because without him, she’d not complete what had to be done. “What do I need to do?” Chapter Thirteen
Dani walked beside Ethan’s big silver wolf.
She curled her fingers into the thick fur at the back of his neck. She wanted with all her heart to avoid the challenge. Greggoire always fought dirty, to the death, and who knew what would happen? It was no longer a fair game for her kind.
“I’ll be all right, little one.” Ethan turned his head and gazed over his back. “I love you. I’d never do anything to break us apart, and that includes losing tonight.”
She nodded and compressed her lips into a thin line. “We’ll be fine. You’ll win. We’ll find Jordy. Drover will go back to normal. I have to believe that.”
The pack, in human form, stepped back to make way for Ethan and Dani. She held on to him until they’d broken through the crowd, then remained beside him. The air thick with tension; she wasn’t ready to separate from Ethan and leave him alone yet. She struggled to breathe.
She finally gave up and let her wolf take control.
“Okay, little one, step back. Remember what I told you.” Ethan looked up at her.
Dani dropped to her knees and threw her arms around the wolf. She kissed the side of his furry neck. “I love you. Don’t leave me too.”
“I won’t. I love you too much not to win.” He stepped forward and pushed her away. “Go now.”
Holding her head high, she managed to find the will to keep walking. She refused to cry or show any doubts. If Ethan could stroll into the challenge without showing any fear, so could she. Inside her body, her wolf caressed her soul.
Her wolf was the one creature who knew the real anguish and apprehension she was going through…and understood.
Ethan’s wolf stood motionless, staring across the open space nestled between the river and the forest. He straightened his ears. Warmth came from her core. Looking at Ethan was like catching a glimpse of God. The legend, the prime alpha, the pack’s savior had returned.
Someone touched the small of her back. She whipped around and let herself relax at the sight of her friend. “Hi, Shelley.”