Ethan’s POVI kicked open the metal door and walked into the wooden house. A familiar scent flooded into my nostrils or I was just imagining it? When I had used this place as a grieving corner when my parents died, there was a particular scented candle I always lit. I smelt it again this time as I placed Ariah on a couch. I stared at her for a while, so innocent and beautiful, then I shook my head and closed my eyes. I checked for a pulse by placing two fingers lightly on her neck, then on her wrist. Her heartbeat was kind of normal, I wasn’t sure, the doctor had to decide. My wolf had gone crazy just because she was on the verge of dying. How was I to explain that to myself now? How was I to try and justify the fact that I didn’t want anything to do with her? This was so frustrating, a lot of shit had happened in just one fucking day and I couldn’t even recount everything as I sat there with a frown on my face. What was taking the doctor so long though? I needed to be sure she wa

Ariah’s POV The wind was relentless, as light as I was, I was sure it could sweep me completely off my feet if I were to step outside. We sat in awkward silence as the entire house seemed to rattle under the force of the violent winds. Lowell looked from Ethan to me and I did the same, Ethan just sat still, not looking at either of us as his face glowered with anger. “Well, this is an awkward night,” Lowell said, breaking the silence.“Guess what?” Ethan said to Lowell without looking at him. “What?” Lowell asked.“We have a fucking meeting tomorrow morning by 8 am!” He bellowed and Lowell shrunk away. “Yeah, damn the fucking wind,” Lowell said and shook his head sympathetically. “But you’re the king, you can go late for a start.” “I don’t go late, Lowell.” The king pointed out emphatically in a firm, hard voice. “And now you’ll have to, I blame it on the fucking wind,” Lowell repeated. “No! I blame it on her!” Ethan suddenly snapped, pointing an accusing finger at me who ha

Ethan's pov "Don't take it too seriously, Ethan," Lowell said as I walked into the kitchen I was familiar with. I shook my head, "That's the problem with you, Lowell, you do not know how to fucking treat this kind of people." I said angrily. The young maid that had been assigned here was in the kitchen and she was terrified to see me in such a state, when my eyes fell on her, she shrunk in fear and wanted to leave the room. "Hey you, make me coffee, hot, black coffee and if you do it wrong, I'll bathe you with it." I snarled and she nodded, her body convulsing with fright. I turned to Lowell and said, "You see? That's how it's done." He shook his head, "She's a maid, in fact, regardless of that, there are nicer ways to say it that wouldn't make her tremble so badly." Lowell replied in his ever-composed manner. I scoffed, "Sure, teach me all the fucking morals, eh Lowell? Teach them to me like I'm some fucking kid." My voice was hard and harsh. "While you work on your fucking

Ethan’s POVI shook my head as the reality of what he was saying occurred to me. I got to my feet still shaking my head with a smile of disbelief on my face. “You’re kidding me,” I said.The elders stared at each other, all thirteen of them, and only the one who spoke earlier had the guts to rise to his feet with his hunched back. “King Ethan, don’t you see…the possibilities and how well this will profit everyone?” He asked.“No, listen, you all have got to be kidding me. This is the fucking modern era, not some age where some fucking marriages are arranged.” I said, the smile disappearing from my face as I cast a glowering stare at them. “This is absurd.” “Yes, it is, but it is the only way.” The elder said firmly.From the corner of my eyes, I saw the curious and eager look on Lowell’s face and I knew he wanted to say something and he did. “We should also consider the fact that the king, Ethan, might have a mate already.” He said.All eyes fell on me, all thirteen quizzical, worn

Ariah's POVKing Ethan drank for a while without saying anything to me. He just sat on a couch, refusing to allow me to attend to his needs, if he had any that is. I was really confused, there was a dejected look on his face. But something made me smile inwardly, if something was wrong and he came to me first, what did that mean? Was he developing an attraction for me? Or could it be trusted? That could be the case. I just sat quietly on a couch far away from him, then he dropped the half-empty bottle and said. “Come over here, Ariah.” He tapped the space next to him on the couch he sat on. “Come and sit here.”I didn’t completely trust him. I didn't trust him at all. I believed that his actions were partially influenced by the alcohol, but could I refuse his orders even if they were under alcoholic influence? I couldn’t. I stood up and sat next to him, there was still a little distance between us. “What do you think?” He asked.I stared at him blankly, I didn’t know what he was ta