It had been a week since Ethan kept me in his cabin. A week for me to think things through; to rationalize. I was no closer to understanding my situation than I was a week ago. Ethan took care of me as promised, but I could tell that he was spending too much time with me...watching me. His, 'clan,' needed him. I eavesdropped on his phone calls several times, catching bits of the conversations he had with a multitude of people I didn't know.
I was sure of this-something big was happening. I didn't know what it was, but Ethan was becoming impatient. It involved a neighboring clan. I tried to snoop for details, but Ethan was careful. He never spoke in-depth whenever I was within distance. His tone was always hushed, and his words were clipped; to the point.
Eventually, whatever the issue was boiled over and Ethan could no longer ignore it. "I have to leave," he said abruptly.
I grabbed the remote from beside me on the couch and muted the television. "What?"
"I have to leave," he repeated.
I gathered that. "Where are you going?"
"Neighbors," was all he said.
I made a face. "Neighbors?"
He nodded tightly.
"How far are they? Can I leave too?"
"You're not leaving, Annie. Must we go through this again?"
"I know that, Ethan," I said through gritted teeth. "But what am I going to do here? Hobble around until you decide to come back? Whenever that might be."
"Of course not," he said. "Gavin will be looking after you."
My brows shot up. "Gavin? Who is that?"
"My beta."
I nearly choked on my saliva. "What?"
"My beta," he repeated. "Second in command."
"I don't know him."
"I do. You'll be perfectly safe with him."
"No, Ethan. I'm not going to stay here with some man I don't know. No."
He growled. "Gavin is family. Like a brother to me. In fact, he's more trustworthy than Edwin. Hence why he is my beta."
I shook my head vigorously. "No, Ethan."
He approached from the kitchen, kneeling in front of me by the couch. He was so tall that even on his knees, he towered over me. "It's only for one night. He won't lay a finger on you in harm, mea vita."
I scoffed. "No."
"Don't make this difficult. Otherwise, I'll have to alter my plans."
"And do what?" I asked.
"Take you with me."
"I already suggested that."
"To another wolf den?" he specified.
I felt my face pale. Shit. "Ummm..."
"Exactly. Though our clans have a binding agreement, the unmated wolves will hover, Annie. Seeing as you are my mate, but have not been fully claimed, problems will arise."
I gulped. "What kind of problems?"
"Put it this way," he said, gently tucking hair behind my ear. "If another wolf so much as looks at you the wrong way, I'll be forced to protect you at all costs. Unmated wolves are hard to control around unmated females. No matter the fact that you're human. I do not feel comfortable having my mate around hungry, lustful wolves. My wolf will become protective and my instincts will override reason."
"Can't you control it?" I asked.
"No. My wolf stands by his proclamation that you are ours. Anything that puts you at any type of risk is more than enough incentive to set him off. I won't have control. I will kill anyone or anything that is deemed a threat towards you. Including the sexual desires of other wolves. If that happens, it will be the same equivalent as declaring war against said neighboring clan. I cannot afford to have them as my enemy. We need to stand together."
I absorbed this. At least, I was trying to. "So, I'm trapped here?"
"I'm coming back, Annie."
"How long? And when can I get some fresh air?"
"I'll be gone for one night. I'll be back before you wake. I will take you outside then."
My eyes widened. "I have to spend the night with Gavin?!"
His face hardened. "Do you want the rest of the males to assist? Since you're being so difficult."
"No."
"Good, then its settled," he said, getting up and shoving his hands into his jeans pockets. He jerked his head towards the kitchen. "Gavin is here. Introductions are in order."
"Now?" I asked, turning my head in horror.
The sliding door opened. A man-just as huge as Ethan-walked in; wearing a black tank top, ripped jeans and a backwards cap. Like the others, he was barefoot. I realized that they didn't need clothing for protection. It was more of a formality than a necessity.
"Alpha," he said with a wink. He padded across the wooden floor; his weight heavy as he clobbered. He stopped beside Ethan and they clapped hands; doing some sort of bro handshake. "This must be Sol Luna," he said, turning to face me.
I swallowed the sudden lump that formed in my throat. He was just as intimidating. Underneath the cap, I noticed that his blonde hair was cropped short. He had a beard, which was a dirty blonde. His eyes were just as captivating as Ethan's. A sparkling Caribbean blue. From the people that came by the cabin throughout the week, I noticed that their eyes were abnormal. Every single one of them. Including Dina's, which were an odd hue of brown. Like diamonds or neon, their eyes glowed or sparkled, revealing the animal hidden within.
Gavin smiled at me, revealing a dimple that looked curiously related to Ethan's. I scrunched up my nose. "Are you guys related?"
Gavin barked out a laugh. "A smart one."
Ethan was trying to hide a smirk, but it was noticeable. So was his damn dimple. Ugh. "Cousins, love. We're cousins."
I knew it. "Oh," was all I could muster.
Gavin kneeled on the floor, taking up the exact same stance Ethan had just performed minutes before. It was a little eerie. "Nice to finally meet my Sol Luna." He offered a large hand. "I'm Gavin Dune."
I don't know why I did it, but I looked up at Ethan before shaking his hand. Ethan finally smiled and nodded his head in approval. I slid my fingers into Gavin's. It engulfed my palm. "Annie Bell," I muttered, looking away from his intense eyes.
His smile widened and he lifted my hand to his lips to press a warm kiss across my knuckles. "Luna," he whispered.
Ethan growled.
Gavin chuckled and released my hand, rising to toss a muscular arm around Ethan's broad shoulders. "What do you need me to do, Alpha?"
