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last update Last Updated: 2025-03-20 23:41:04

50

Ethan

The phone felt heavier in my hand than it should have. I stared at the screen, waiting for those three dots to reappear—but they didn’t. Just an empty screen, mocking me.

I swallowed hard, my throat dry. Something gnawed at my gut, a tension that refused to fade. I told myself I was overthinking. Maybe he changed his mind about replying. Maybe he just set his phone down.

Or maybe—

I shook my head. No. I needed to stop.

I exhaled sharply, pushing off the counter. The weight in my chest didn’t ease as I moved toward the bathroom, turning the faucet on. Cold water hit my palms, but it did nothing to clear the unease clinging to me like a second skin.

I scrubbed a hand over my face and met my reflection in the mirror. My jaw was tight, brows drawn together, eyes shadowed from a night of barely sleeping. I looked like someone barely holding it together.

Damn it, Riley.

I turned away, showered quickly, and dressed in the first clothes I could find—a plain black tee and jeans. My
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    51 EthanMy stomach dropped the moment I saw him. Liam.He stood there, leaning against my car, arms crossed over his chest, his expression thunderous. The sight of him sent a jolt of unease through me. My first instinct? Turn the hell around. Pretend I hadn’t seen him.But before I could even pivot—“Ethan.”Damn it.I clenched my jaw, forcing myself to stop. Slowly, I turned to face him, keeping my expression as neutral as possible. “Liam,” I greeted stiffly. “What are you doing here?”He let out a humorless chuckle. “That’s funny. I was about to ask you the same thing.”My brows furrowed. “What?”Liam pushed off my car, taking a step closer. His blue eyes—once warm, once something I could lose myself in—were now cold and burning with something unreadable. Anger? Resentment? I couldn’t tell. Maybe all of the above.“You know exactly what,” he said sharply. “Don’t play dumb with me, Ethan.”I exhaled slowly, already exhausted. “Look, I have no idea what you’re talking about, but I’v

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  • Bouquet Of Deception    52

    52EthanI clenched my fists as Liam tightened his grip on my arm, his blue eyes flashing with fury. “Because of you,” he hissed, his voice low and dangerous, “Owen has trust issues now. You ruined everything.”I stared at him in disbelief before letting out a sharp, humorless laugh. “Are you serious? You tried to win me back at your own wedding, Liam. That was all you. And now you have the audacity to blame me for your mess?” I wrenched my arm free, rubbing the spot where his fingers had pressed into my skin. “That’s so fucking disgusting.”His nostrils flared, but I wasn’t done. “First, it was your messages. Now this? Stop harassing me, Liam. I mean it. If you don’t, I’ll file a complaint.”Instead of looking remotely apologetic, Liam laughed—a low, cruel sound that sent a chill down my spine. His expression twisted into something mocking, filled with venom. “A complaint?” He smirked. “You really are pathetic, Ethan. Always playing the victim. You know what? I was only ever with you

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  • Bouquet Of Deception    53

    53RileyI should’ve known Ethan wouldn’t just let it go.The second I saw his message—You up?—I hesitated. I wanted to respond, tell him I was fine, make up some excuse about being busy. But my fingers hovered over the keyboard too long, my thoughts too tangled to form a lie that would hold up.Three dots. Then nothing.Damn it.I should’ve answered. Should’ve said something to keep him from worrying. Because knowing Ethan, this wasn’t over.I ran a hand through my hair, exhaling slowly. My body was still on high alert, every muscle tense from last night. Zane had pushed me, tested me, made it clear that my time was up. He wanted me to come back.And if I didn’t—My gaze flicked toward the window, toward the faint claw mark on the frame. A reminder. A warning.Zane had never been patient. He wasn’t going to wait much longer.A knock at the door made me flinch.I went still, my pulse jumping.Too early for anyone else. Too deliberate to be a neighbor.Ethan.I closed my eyes, took a s

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  • Bouquet Of Deception    54

    54EthanThe moment I stepped into my building, I kept my head down, moving quickly. I passed Riley’s apartment without so much as a glance at his door, even though I knew he was there—I had seen his car in the parking lot.I didn’t stop. Didn’t hesitate.I just unlocked my door, stepped inside, and slammed it shut behind me. The lock clicked into place, but it didn’t make me feel any safer.My chest was tight, my hands still trembling from the encounter with Liam. The words he had thrown at me kept looping in my head, taunting me, tearing into the wounds that hadn’t even fully healed yet.Lame in bed. Useless. Pathetic.I sucked in a shaky breath, willing myself to shake it off, but it wasn’t just Liam. It was Riley too.First, he had been acting like my mere presence annoyed him. And now, Liam pulling this bullshit?Fuck. All. Of. This.I threw my keys onto the counter and went straight to my room, kicking my shoes off before collapsing onto my bed. My face hit the pillow, and befor

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  • Bouquet Of Deception    55

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  • Bouquet Of Deception    56

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  • Bouquet Of Deception    57

    57RileyI should leave.That thought pounded through my skull, loud and insistent, but my body refused to move. Instead, I stayed where I was, my arms wrapped around Ethan like I could shield him from everything—his past, his pain, his self-doubt. As if holding him tight enough could erase the way Liam had made him feel.But I wasn’t stupid. I knew it didn’t work like that.My fingers traced slow circles against his back, feeling the way his breathing evened out, the steady rise and fall of his chest as he drifted toward sleep. He was still clinging to me, his body relaxed but his grip firm, like he was afraid I’d disappear if he let go.That was what got me. That quiet desperation, buried under all his stubbornness and sharp words. He didn’t trust easily, but when he did, it was complete. He had given me that trust tonight, let me see him vulnerable, let me touch him in ways no one else had. And fuck—he’d said it out loud.“I trust you, Riley.”Those words had damn near undone me.A

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  • Bouquet Of Deception    58

    58EthanI woke up to an empty bed.The warmth that had been wrapped around me all night was gone, replaced by cool sheets and a faint scent of him lingering in the air.My stomach clenched. Had he left?I sat up, rubbing the sleep from my eyes, and glanced at the clock on my nightstand. 6 a.m.Shit.I threw off the covers, pushing past the dull ache in my body. Riley hadn’t exactly gone easy on me last night, and I was feeling it. But there was no time to dwell on that—not when I needed to get ready for work.Still, my chest felt weirdly tight. I hadn’t expected him to stay, but waking up alone stung more than I wanted to admit.With a sigh, I swung my legs over the bed and got up. First things first—I needed water. My throat was dry as hell, and if I was gonna survive the day, I needed something to wake me up.I padded barefoot into the kitchen, running a hand through my messy hair. My brain was still catching up to the fact that it was morning when I rounded the corner—And froze.

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    Chapter 76 Riley Speedy had never been quiet before. My wolf had always been restless—always pushing, always growling, always demanding to be heard. But ever since Ethan’s accident, he’d been worse. A constant storm in my chest, pacing, snarling, berating me for what I’d done. You hurt him, Speedy spat, every second of every day. You pushed him away. You let him get hurt. This is your fault. It was never-ending. No matter how much I tried to bury myself in work, no matter how hard I trained or how many distractions I shoved in my face, he was always there. Pounding against my skull. Reminding me. And the worst part? He wasn’t wrong. Ethan was in a hospital bed, fighting for his life, and I hadn’t even gone to see him. Because I was a coward. Because I couldn’t face the reality of what I’d done. Because I knew the second I saw him lying there—pale, motionless, barely breathing—I wouldn’t be able to hold myself together. But ignoring it didn’t change the truth. It on

  • Bouquet Of Deception    114

    Chapter 76 Riley Speedy had never been quiet before. My wolf had always been restless—always pushing, always growling, always demanding to be heard. But ever since Ethan’s accident, he’d been worse. A constant storm in my chest, pacing, snarling, berating me for what I’d done. You hurt him, Speedy spat, every second of every day. You pushed him away. You let him get hurt. This is your fault. It was never-ending. No matter how much I tried to bury myself in work, no matter how hard I trained or how many distractions I shoved in my face, he was always there. Pounding against my skull. Reminding me. And the worst part? He wasn’t wrong. Ethan was in a hospital bed, fighting for his life, and I hadn’t even gone to see him. Because I was a coward. Because I couldn’t face the reality of what I’d done. Because I knew the second I saw him lying there—pale, motionless, barely breathing—I wouldn’t be able to hold myself together. But ignoring it didn’t change the truth. It on

  • Bouquet Of Deception    113

    Chapter 76 Riley Speedy had never been quiet before. My wolf had always been restless—always pushing, always growling, always demanding to be heard. But ever since Ethan’s accident, he’d been worse. A constant storm in my chest, pacing, snarling, berating me for what I’d done. You hurt him, Speedy spat, every second of every day. You pushed him away. You let him get hurt. This is your fault. It was never-ending. No matter how much I tried to bury myself in work, no matter how hard I trained or how many distractions I shoved in my face, he was always there. Pounding against my skull. Reminding me. And the worst part? He wasn’t wrong. Ethan was in a hospital bed, fighting for his life, and I hadn’t even gone to see him. Because I was a coward. Because I couldn’t face the reality of what I’d done. Because I knew the second I saw him lying there—pale, motionless, barely breathing—I wouldn’t be able to hold myself together. But ignoring it didn’t change the truth. It on

  • Bouquet Of Deception    112

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  • Bouquet Of Deception    111

    Chapter 76 Riley Speedy had never been quiet before. My wolf had always been restless—always pushing, always growling, always demanding to be heard. But ever since Ethan’s accident, he’d been worse. A constant storm in my chest, pacing, snarling, berating me for what I’d done. You hurt him, Speedy spat, every second of every day. You pushed him away. You let him get hurt. This is your fault. It was never-ending. No matter how much I tried to bury myself in work, no matter how hard I trained or how many distractions I shoved in my face, he was always there. Pounding against my skull. Reminding me. And the worst part? He wasn’t wrong. Ethan was in a hospital bed, fighting for his life, and I hadn’t even gone to see him. Because I was a coward. Because I couldn’t face the reality of what I’d done. Because I knew the second I saw him lying there—pale, motionless, barely breathing—I wouldn’t be able to hold myself together. But ignoring it didn’t change the truth. It on

  • Bouquet Of Deception    110

    Chapter 76 Riley Speedy had never been quiet before. My wolf had always been restless—always pushing, always growling, always demanding to be heard. But ever since Ethan’s accident, he’d been worse. A constant storm in my chest, pacing, snarling, berating me for what I’d done. You hurt him, Speedy spat, every second of every day. You pushed him away. You let him get hurt. This is your fault. It was never-ending. No matter how much I tried to bury myself in work, no matter how hard I trained or how many distractions I shoved in my face, he was always there. Pounding against my skull. Reminding me. And the worst part? He wasn’t wrong. Ethan was in a hospital bed, fighting for his life, and I hadn’t even gone to see him. Because I was a coward. Because I couldn’t face the reality of what I’d done. Because I knew the second I saw him lying there—pale, motionless, barely breathing—I wouldn’t be able to hold myself together. But ignoring it didn’t change the truth. It on

  • Bouquet Of Deception    109

    Chapter 76 Riley Speedy had never been quiet before. My wolf had always been restless—always pushing, always growling, always demanding to be heard. But ever since Ethan’s accident, he’d been worse. A constant storm in my chest, pacing, snarling, berating me for what I’d done. You hurt him, Speedy spat, every second of every day. You pushed him away. You let him get hurt. This is your fault. It was never-ending. No matter how much I tried to bury myself in work, no matter how hard I trained or how many distractions I shoved in my face, he was always there. Pounding against my skull. Reminding me. And the worst part? He wasn’t wrong. Ethan was in a hospital bed, fighting for his life, and I hadn’t even gone to see him. Because I was a coward. Because I couldn’t face the reality of what I’d done. Because I knew the second I saw him lying there—pale, motionless, barely breathing—I wouldn’t be able to hold myself together. But ignoring it didn’t change the truth. It on

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