CHAPTER THIRTEEN

Ethan’s POV

As the sensation twisted inside me, I knew immediately that I was in the grip of guilt. It was a familiar feeling, one that had plagued me for days, weeks, even months. It had taken hold of me so completely that I felt as if I were drowning in it.

The source of my guilt was simple: I had hit her. My hand had struck her face, and I had watched in horror as she stumbled backward, a look of hurt and shock on her face. I knew I had hurt her, and I couldn't forgive myself for it.

The worst part was that I loved her. I loved her more than anything in the world. But my werewolf side had taken over, as it so often did. It was like I was watching from a distance as my body acted on its own, without my conscious input. I was trapped inside my own skin, unable to control my own actions.

I had tried so hard to rein in my werewolf side, to keep it from taking control. But it was like trying to hold back a tidal wave. No matter how hard I fought, it always came crashing down on me, wash