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Todos os capítulos de Alpha Ethan: Capítulo 21 - Capítulo 30

116 Capítulos

CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE

Liana’s POVA floorboard creaks, and my eyes jolt open.It takes me a moment to realize I’m lying on Ethan’s bed.My body heats. Before today, I’d never even been in a man’s bedchambers before—let alone fallen asleep on their soft quilt with my hair soaking their pillows. At least I had the grace to clothe myself in the tartan dress after my bath. Even if my feet are bare, and my skirts have risen to my thighs.I can smell him on the sheets, soft and masculine, and my cheeks flush.The room is dark, though a fire is crackling in the hearth, emitting a soft glow. When I glance at the narrow window, I notice the crescent moon outside. It is nighttime already.Beside the window, Ethan sifts through his wardrobe. He’s wearing his kilt, but his shirt now hangs over the arm of his chair.I bite my bottom lip.I saw him topless when he was in the fighting ring, and his hard muscle had seemed fearsome. Now, I find myself admiring his broad shoulders and the way that the muscles in his back sh

CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO

Liana’s POVMany of the men in this Great Hall remind me of beasts. But there’s something different about the dark-haired male who prowls toward us.It’s not just that he wears breeches instead of a kilt. It’s the calculated disinterest on his face, and the fluid way he moves.He reminds me more of a cat than a wolf.People much bigger than him watch him warily as he passes by.When he stops in front of our table, Ethan leans back in his seat, a look of dislike etched onto his face.“Brought your pet to the feast, I see?” says Blake.He’s almost as tall as Ethan, though not as muscular. He looks like he’s in his early twenties like Ethan, too. I catch his scent of shadows and pine—like a forest at night.“We need to talk,” says Ethan.A slow smile spreads across Blake’s face, and dimples puncture his cheeks. “So we do.” While Ethan’s voice is low and rough, Blake’s is smooth like silk. “After we eat.”He looks at the door on the left-hand side of the hall and Ethan inclines his head.

CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE

Liana’s POVMy mouth dries.Blake’s gaze pins me to the spot, while Ethan’s thick arm holds me against his chest.I’m not used to being so close to a male. Back at the palace, I had to dance, and smile, and sweet-talk nobles at social gatherings. If any of them had held me like this, they would have been executed. This is not appropriate. And it’s certainly not the way I wanted to meet the male that Ethan said is the most dangerous wolf in the Northlands.But it is the strange heat pulsing beneath my skin that finally makes me try to shuffle out of Ethan’s grasp.“Behave,” growls Ethan, and I stiffen.He has not used this tone on me before, and panic surges through me. Have I misjudged this male?But then I remember he was going to tell Blake I was his prisoner. I do not see how that can work to our advantage, though. If Blake knows who I am, then it only makes me look weak.Before I can decide how to react, Blake takes my hand in his and presses his lips to my knuckles. I freeze.“It

CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR

Liana’s POVIt could be my imagination, but Ethan looks a little uncomfortable.Blake, however, is grinning. He has one ankle on his knee. Again, he reminds me of a cat. This time, a cat who has found a couple of mice to play with.Whatever this condition is, it cannot be good for me.“You know, I didn’t take you for someone who would engage in such an archaic tradition, Ethan,” says Blake.“Aye, well, it’ll keep her safe until we can get the Heart of the Moon.”“The Heart of the Moon. Yes. That’s the reason.” Blake’s eyes glint in the firelight.“What condition?” I ask.“I’ll tell you when we get upstairs.” Ethan gets up. “Come on, it’s been a long night. You must be tired.”“You really should challenge him for the title, you know,” says Blake.Ethan turns back around. “Who?” His tone is weighted.“Rob, of course.” Blake picks up his wine glass. “Who else?”“That would cause trouble, and you know it.”“You’re the rightful second in command. They’re going to think you’re weak.”“Only

CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE

Liana’s POVIhave been alone since my mother died.The loneliness has always spread through my body like rot. Even though I am continuously surrounded by people, it has lurked beneath my skin and threatened to consume me.This morning, when I wake up alone, it feels different.It’s an alone where I can hear my own thoughts; they mingle with the gentle patter of rain against the thin window.For once, I don’t have to perform to anyone, because there are no ladies-in-waiting ushering me out of bed. Instead, I can lie bundled up in the soft quilt in a room filled with intriguing piles of books and sweet-scented herbs.This morning, I’m not the king’s daughter, or Marius’s wife, or a princess with duties.I am just. . . me.A thrill surges through my body.There are so many things I should be worrying about—the Wolves, the inevitability of Marius’s army finding me, Blake telling the acting Wolf King who I am.And Ethan.Ethan, and whatever condition he wants me to agree to in order for me

CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX

CHAPTER 26Liana’s POVThe red strip of fabric dangles from my fingers, and I feel my jaw clench. Anger bubbles up inside me. He can't seriously think I would wear this. It's humiliating."It's a collar," I reply."Don't look at it like that."I toss it back into the box and shove it towards Ethan. "I'm not putting it on.""It's not that different from a wedding ring—""And as you can see, I'm not wearing one of those either.""You would have if I had left you at the Borderlands.""So my options are to belong to Marius or to you?"Ethan's jaw tightens. "Surely I'm the better option. Right?"I glance down at his wrinkled shirt, stretched over his taut muscles, then back up to his intense gaze. It pierces through me, making my heart race a bit.The first time I laid eyes on Ethan, I thought he was a monster. He looked like one in that fighting ring, his broad chest exposed, his body as solid as stone.But the real monster that night was the one sitting next to me. He threatened to take

CHAPTER TWENTY-SEVEN

Chapter 27Liana’s POV“Ground rules?” I narrow my eyes.Ethan sighs, then nods at the bed. “Why don’t you take a seat?”“I’d prefer to stand.”He huffs out a laugh. “This is the first rule—if I ask you to do something, I need you to do it.”“Why?”“Because I’m an alpha. And it’s expected.”“So alphas are so fragile they cannot bear to be challenged on anything?” I cock my head to the side. “I think you are a lot more similar to Southlands lords than you realize.”A soft grunt of displeasure scrapes against his throat as he folds his big arms. I have to stop myself from staring at the way his biceps strain against his sleeves. I have to suppress my smile, too. Why is it so satisfying to get a rise out of him?“No,” he mumbles. “It’s not like that.”The corner of my lip twitches. “What is it like?”He sighs. “Okay, I suppose it is a wee bit like that. I’ll look weak if you challenge me. And if I look weak, that puts you in danger. Aye?”I roll my eyes. “Fine. But if you ask me to do an

CHAPTER TWENTY-EIGHT

CHAPTER 28Liana’s POVSomething seems to pass between the two males.Blake inclines his head. He walks back toward the castle, the breeze ruffling his dark hair.In the distance, I hear shouting and the thunder of hooves.“If Vladimir tells anyone who she is, I’ll kill you.” Ethan is breathing hard, his teeth gritted and his jawline tense.Even a hundred feet away, Blake hears him, looks over his shoulder, and arches an eyebrow. He says something I can’t hear, and a low growl vibrates in Ethan’s chest.“Don’t you think I know that?” he says. “Just get on with it and be quick.”Blake’s lips curve, but he walks a little faster and disappears around the castle walls.Ethan is breathing fast. “Stay close to me.”We hurry across the grass, Ethan taking care to keep stride with me. When a cry of pain rattles through the air, he breaks into a run. I chase after him.I stumble into chaos when I reach the courtyard, and I lose sight of him.The air is loud with raised voices, and Wolves are g

CHAPTER TWENTY-NINE

CHAPTER 29Liana’s POVWolfsbane.The air is sucked out of the infirmary. Ethan tenses, and a cry tears from Becky’s lips.In the book I read, it didn’t seem like there was a cure.“Can you fix him?” The plea in Ethan’s voice breaks something inside me.“Perhaps.” Blake walks over to his workstation, and selects a pipette.He takes a sample of John’s blood and holds it up to the torch flickering on the wall.“What are you doing?” I ask.“Identifying the strain.”Ethan’s gaze seeks mine. I can see he is lost, floating away, and looking for something to hold onto. Even though we barely know each other, he wants it to be me.I know that feeling. I felt like I was drowning when my mother was dying. I wanted to grab onto someone, anyone—my father, my brother, the ladies-in-waiting—so that my head would remain above the water. Only, they always remained out of reach.I will not remain out of Ethan’s reach.My gaze flits back to Blake. “Can he be cured?”“There’s only one person in the North

CHAPTER THIRTY

CHAPTER 30Liana’s POVJohn’s chambers are warm and quiet.A fire crackles in the hearth, casting light onto Ethan’s face as he sits in the wooden chair beside it. He’s changed out of his blood-soaked clothes—as have I—and he’s bathed. His hair is damp and brushed back from his face. He looks younger and more boyish when he’s clean.Becky snoozes in a chair next to the bed, and John breathes softly as he sleeps. Alongside my relief at his recovery, a swell of satisfaction blooms in my chest. He is going to be okay. And I helped.Still, a dark shadow hangs over me.“What are we going to do about Marius?” I ask.“Don’t worry about that.”“Not all of your people have returned. He hurt John because of me. And if he has more of your men...”Ethan runs a hand over his mouth. “It’s not your fault. We’ll get him back for this, I promise you.”Something twists in my gut. Now, more than ever, I do not want to go back to Marius. And, after spending time with Ethan, my initial plan of giving my f

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