Ethan, are you sick?
Ethan, are you sick?
(Ethan’s POV)
I found her at Moonlight Photography, sitting behind her desk like nothing was wrong. Like my world hadn’t just shattered. Her amber eyes widened slightly when she saw me, but otherwise, her expression remained neutral,
“Ethan? What are you doing here?”
I stumbled forward, the scent of moonlight wine heavy on my breath. I’d been drinking since leaving the hospital, trying to numb the pain.
“The cub is gone,” I said, my voice hollow. “Melissa lost our cub.”
Amber’s face paled. She stood up quickly, coming around the desk What? When did this happen?”
“Yesterday.” I swayed slightly, gripping the edge of her desk for support. “After she saw your picture in the pack group.”
“My picture?” Confusion crossed her face. “What picture?”
“Your new assistant posted it. Called you the Alpha’s mate.” The words tasted bitter on my tongue. “Melissa saw it and got upset. Started screaming. And then…” I couldn’t finish the sentence.
Amber
s hands flew up defensively. “Goddess Luna testified, this has nothing to do with me. I’ve been so busy lately that I haven’t even seen your Melissa. Her miscarriage has nothing to do with me. You should stop blaming me.”
I stared at her, the fog in my brain clearing slightly. That defensive gesture. Those words. They were so familiar, so… Amber. Not the amnesia–addled woman she’d been pretending to be.
“You remember,” I whispered, taking a step closer. “You remember everything.”
Her eyes widened, then narrowed. “What are you talking about? I’m just saying I had nothing to do with Melissa’s miscarriage.”
But I wasn’t listening anymore. My mind was racing back through time, remembering all the other “accidents” that had befallen Melissa whenever Amber was around.
The moonlit pool incident at the pack meeting three months ago. Melissa had ended up soaking wet, claiming Amber had pushed her. Amber had insisted she was nowhere near Melissa when she fell.
My mother had pulled me aside that night. “That Chase girl is dangerous,” she’d whispered. “She wants to hurt your mate.”
The broken ritual water basin during the pre–engagement ceremony. Melissa’s dress ruined, her hands cut by the shards. Amber swearing she hadn’t touched it, that it must have been poorly balanced.
Victoria had been there too. “My sister has always been clumsy,” she’d said loudly enough for everyone to hear. “Or perhaps just jealous.”
The healing crystal in the dressing room that somehow shattered, scratching Melissa’s face just days before our wedding. Amber claiming innocence while my mother and Victoria whispered accusations.
“It’s always the same with you,” I said, my voice rising. “Accidents happen around you, and somehow you’re never responsible!
Amber’s expression hardened. “Are you seriously blaming me for your mate’s miscarriage because my assistent posted a photo of me working? Do you hear how ridiculous that sounds?”
“It’s not just this!” I shouted, Noah stirring restlessly within me. It’s a pattern! The pool, the basin, the crystal—and now this!”
“You’re drunk, Ethan,” she said coldly, crossing her arms. “And you’re not making sense.”
I studied her face. The calm, collected woman before me was nothing like the fiery, temperamental Amber I’d known. The one who would have thrown something at me by now for making such accusations.
Ethon are you st
+25 BONUS
“You’ve changed,” I muttered, running a hand through my hair. Or you’re pretending. I can’t tell anymore.”
Amber sighed, reaching for her purse. “I’m going to get you some hoonlight herb rea to help with the alcohol. Stay here and don’t break anything.”
She walked past me, her scent–now mingled with Dominic’s making Noah whine in confusion. The door closed behind her with a soft click.
I slumped into her chair, the room spinning slightly. Had I imagine that flash of the old Amber? Was I so desperate to blame someone for my loss that I was seeing ghosts of the past?
My phone buzzed with a message from my mother: “Where are you? Melissa is asking for you.”
I couldn’t face them yet. Not like this. Not until I understood what was happening.
The silence of the studio pressed in around me, and I closed my eyes, letting darkness claim me.
(Amber’s POV)
I gripped my steering wheel so tightly my knuckles turned white. The nerve of that man! Coming to my studio drunk, blaming me for his mate’s miscarriage because of a photo my assistant posted?
Cora growled within me, sharing my indignation. I took a deep breath, trying to calm us both.
“He’s always been like this,” I muttered to myself. “Always believing the worst of me.”
I pulled into a parking spot near a convenience store and called Liam.
“Ms. Chase?” His eager voice answered immediately.
“Liam, I need you to go to the studio. Ethan Blackwood is there, and he’s drunk.”
“Ethan Blackwood?” Liam’s voice rose an octave. “The Alpha’s cousin?”
“Yes. Make sure he gets home safely. He’s… not in a good place right now.”
“Of course, Ms. Chase! Right away!”
After hanging up, I sat in my car, processing what had just happened. Melissa had lost her cub. Despite everything, I felt a pang of sympathy. No woman deserved that pain.
But to blame me? To dredge up those ridiculous past “accidents” that Victoria and Melissa had orchestrated to make me look bad?
I remembered each incident clearly. The moonlit pool where Melissa had deliberately fallen in, then screamed that I’d pushed her. The ritual water basin that Victoria had knocked over while pretending to reach for a napkin. The healing crystal that Melissa had broken herself, then claimed I’d thrown at her.
Each time, Ethan had believed them over me. Each time, his trust in me had eroded a little more.
“And now he has the audacity to throw those incidents in my face? I hissed, Cora snarling in agreement.
I started my car again, heading toward my riverside apartment. I needed space, needed to think.
My phone rang–Liam calling back.
“Ms. Chase, I’m at the studio, but there’s no one here.”
“What? Are you sure?” I gripped the phone tighter.
“Positive. I’ve checked everywhere. The front door was unlocked, but the place is empty.”
Great. A drunk Ethan was now wandering the streets, probably still blaming me for all his problems.
Ethan, are you sick?
“Okay, Liam. Lock up and go home. We’ll deal with this tomorrow
Tended the call, feeling a headache building behind my eyes. Cora whined softly, sensing my distress.
“I know, girl,” I murmured. “It’s not our fault. Not this time.”
(Liam’s POV)
+25 BONUS
1 locked the studio door, my mind racing. I’d only been working for Ms. Chase for a few days, and already I was caught in pack drama involving the Alpha’s cousin!
My phone buzzed with notifications from The Pack Bond group. Curious, I opened the app to find several members discussing Melissa’s miscarriage, with some suggesting it was somehow connected to the photo I’d posted.
My stomach dropped. Had I really caused this?
“This is ridiculous,” I muttered, my wolf bristling with indignation.
Anger flared within me. How could posting a harmless photo of Ms Chase working cause someone to lose a cub? It made no
sense.
Before I could stop myself, I typed: “Interesting how some she–wolves are so fragile they can’t even see a photo without falling apart. Meanwhile, others endure actual hardship with grace. #Justsaying”
I hit send before I could reconsider, then immediately regretted it. This wasn’t professional. Ms. Chase wouldn’t approve.
But within seconds, Lucas Blackwood had replied with a laughing emoji and: “Drive safe tonight, Liam. Don’t get hit while waiting at a red light. Some drivers are so distracted these days.”
I stared at the message, confused at first, then understanding dawned. He was referencing the car accident involving Ms. Chase and Melissa–the one where Melissa had supposedly been hit while innocently waiting at a traffic light.
The accident that pack gossip suggested had been staged.
“No way,” I whispered, eyes widening.
More messages flooded in, with pack members adding thinly veiled references to other “accidents” involving Melissa. It seemed I wasn’t the only one who doubted her stories.
“Watch out for falling ritual basins!” wrote one pack member.
“And flying healing crystals!” added another.
I put my phone away, feeling slightly better. At least the entire pack didn’t blame me—or Ms. Chase–for what had happened.
(Amber’s POV)
My phone rang just as I was settling onto my couch with a glass of moonlight wine. Dominic’s name flashed on the screen.
“Hey,” I answered, unable to keep the weariness from my voice.
“What’s wrong?” he asked immediately, his deep voice sending a shiver through me despite my mood.
“Nothing. Just tired.”
“Amber.” His tone brooked no argument. “I saw the messages in the pack group. What happened with Ethan?”
I sighed, taking a sip of wine. “He showed up at my studio drunk, blaming me for Melissa’s miscarriage.”
“What?” The dangerous edge in his voice made Cora stir. “He came to your workplace intoxicated?”
“Apparently she saw a photo Liam posted of me in the pack group and got upset. Started screaming, and… lost the cub.”
Dominic was silent for a moment. “Are you alright?”
Ethan, are you sick?
The simple question, focused on my wellbeing rather than the drama, made my throat tight with emotion.
“I’m fine. He was drunk and talking nonsense. Bringing up old accusations.”
“I’m coming back tonight.” His voice was firm, determined.
“No,” I said quickly. “You have the Shadow Peak IPO tomorrow. Its important.”
“You’re more important.” The conviction in his voice warmed me
I smiled despite myself. “I’m really okay. Just annoyed. Focus on your work, and I’ll see you when you get back.”
“If he approaches you again-
“I’ll call you immediately,” I promised.
After some convincing, Dominic reluctantly agree
