Chapter 0009
Ethan
I swallow the sigh that tries to escape as I look down at Fiona. Why did I choose her? Because I have a horny wolf telling me she’s the one.
“Why don’t you tell her she’s your mate?” My wolf asks, intently watching Fiona.
“Once I tell her, Fiona will have control over me, and I’ll be forced to agree to her demands,” I remind him. The thought of her feeling like she owns me or that she has a say in how I live makes me want to vomit. “And think of the other women. Who knows if Fiona is a greedy woman? Besides, how could a human be a proper Luna?”
Humans don’t understand our world or our burdens, so if a human became the Luna of my pack, it could ruin everything. She wouldn’t be able to lead the way a werewolf would. There’s too much risk to my pack and the election to take a chance that could very easily hurt everyone.
I just need to sleep with her until I’ve gotten over this attraction. Everything is riding on my shoulders, and I can’t let a human make all my hard work go up in smoke.
“I won’t allow you to reject her!” My wolf booms, his voice bouncing through my skull.
“It doesn’t matter. The most important things right now are our pack becoming an official wolf pack and for me to win the Lycan King election,” I respond, not wanting to argue any longer. He knows we have a substantial responsibility. Having a human Luna will only make that responsibility heavier.
My wolf huffs in annoyance before he reminds me, “One of the requirements to be eligible for the Lycan King election is to have a Luna, or else you won’t even qualify.” Thaven’t forgotten.
“I will find a suitable Luna before the election. One who isnt weak and human,” I tell him, cutting off any room for argument. My parents have drilled in every rule and regulation while teaching me to become a great Alpha.. They trained me, schooled me, and disciplined me to be the perfect leader, the Lycan King, always reminding me that my choices were not just for myself, but for the good of the pack as well.
The pack always comes first. Everything else comes second. Father’s voice echoes in my head, and I clench my jaw. My goal has always been to do whatever it takes to strengthen the pack, and that is what I’ll do by finding
my Luna. someone more suitable to be my
Fiona
He stares down at me for a minute, not answering my question. It looks like he’s going to brush it off, so I grab his hand and ask again, “Why choose me?”
Running a hand through his hair, Ethan tilts his head to the side dismissively and answers, “Because sex helps me relieve my work stress.”
Was that it?
1 drop his hand and step back while the feeling of disappointment restricts my chest. I shouldn’t have wanted a different answer, but I did, and Ethan must have noticed that.
“It was you who mentioned a physical relationship,” he teases, but the teasing doesn’t lighten the mood for me. My thoughts split between Jack and Ethan. I don’t want to give Jack the satisfaction of seeing me crumble under his treatment.
“How long would this relationship take place?” I ask, needing to know more information. There’s two parts of me warring with each other. One part that is jumping at the idea of being with Ethan, but then there’s the other part
+25 BONUS
Chapter 0009
screaming to run and avoid more heartache.
“One year.”
One year. I can live with one year. A year is long enough to gather myself and rearrange my life. I can divorce Jack, reclaim my inheritance, and start over.
“Alright. One year,” I agree, nodding. Ethan watches me for a second before turning, walking over to his workspace, and picking up a large, thin manilla envelope.
“The details are all here,” he says. “I had this contract drawn up. For one year, you and I will maintain a confidential sexual partner relationship. During this time, you are not allowed to kiss or have sexual relations with any man besides me.”
I gape at Ethan as he drops the contract into my
hands.
“You can’t limit my personal rights!” I exclaim, glaring at him. “Just because you’re rich, you think you can make demands on me, but I can hardly ask you for anything!
If this is how he sees our relationship going, I don’t know if I can live with that. Even if it’s just for one year, I can’t be trapped again.
“Relationships, whether personal or professional, are give and take. No one side should have to carry brunt of the other,” I remind him. Being a CEO and businessman, you think he would know that.
the full
So far, I’ve asked him for help, yet his only response is bringing me to this room and wanting to sleep with me. Is this how our entire year relationship will go?
“I don’t want to be controlled. I’ve had enough of that with Jack during our marriage,” Irat. “Everything had to be done his way, and I had no say. I can’t do that again. Being controlled is the last thing I need. I don’t want to go into this with no way to ask for help if I need it. I can’t live like that again. I can’t be pushed down and belittled. Jack did that all the time to where I felt like I didn’t have a voice.”
Ethan steps closer, hooking a finger under my chin and lifting my gaze to his. His eyes search my face, almost as if he’s trying to look into my soul. What he hopes or wants to find, I don’t know, but I know he sees the desperation I feel climbing up my throat.
“Who said you can’t make demands on me?”
I stare up at him, unsure if he’s playing or being serious. Everything he’s done up to now tells me he doesn’t want to listen to me, but then he goes and does something like this. He changes his attitude again, bringing back that whiplash feeling.
“Can I?” I question, raising an eyebrow and waiting.
“I never make unfair deals.”
