Chapter 20

[ 496 words ]

Chapter 20:

But Ethan’s arm felt forged from steel, locked around my waist, giving me no room to move at all.

He tipped his head down, his stare burning and unchecked as it swept over my body.

That usual icy distance in his eyes had disappeared, overtaken by a desire so fierce it nearly looked ravenous.

“Falling apart now?” he teased in a low voice, mockery curling through every word. “What happened to that fire you had when you were mouthing off to me?”

𝖳𝘩𝗲 𝖻𝘦𝘀𝘁 r𝖾𝘃𝗂𝘦𝘸𝘀 on 𝘨a𝘭no𝘃e𝗹𝗌.𝖼𝗈𝗺

Shame and fury tore through me at once. I shoved at his chest, trying to force even the slightest space between us. “Ethan, let me go!”

Rather than loosening his grip, he pulled me in tighter, while his free hand caught my chin and tilted my face up toward his.

I knew exactly what came next. As his fated mate, my body had already turned traitor against my mind, aching for his touch in spite of everything.

My lashes quivered as I shut my eyes on instinct, bracing myself for the harsh kiss I was certain was about to fall.

One second. Two seconds…

But that expected heat never touched me.

I felt his rigid body go abruptly still, and then the crushing force that had trapped me disappeared all at once.

I opened my eyes and saw Ethan standing several steps away.

The desire in his eyes was fading with frightening speed, giving way to an icy sharpness.

“Sorry.” The word came out short and rough. He didn’t spare me another glance before turning and walking straight out of the master bedroom.

The loud bang of the closing door seemed to shake me to the core.

I remained there, unmoving, with the cold towel crumpled by my feet. Tears broke free before I even realized it, slipping down my cheeks.

I was so pitiful.

Only a moment earlier, being that close to Ethan had almost made me forget every hurt between us. But in the end, all I had done was make a fool of myself again.

To him, I was probably nothing more than a toy tied to him by the mate bond, useful now and then for easing his physical urges.

His self-control had nothing to do with respecting me; it was because the sacred place in his heart had long belonged to Ivy alone.

I picked up the towel and wiped at my tears like I was moving on instinct before climbing beneath the covers and curling into myself.

Only one thought was left in my mind—I couldn’t remain here any longer.

I wanted to get away—get away from this villa built on deception, get away from the suffocating Thorn Pack.

I missed my father.

If he were still here, he never would have let me suffer through something like this.

I wanted to go somewhere with mountains and rivers, somewhere no one knew my name, and quietly bring this child into the world.

I would teach them how to run, teach them how to hunt, but I would never let them know their father was such a heartless Alpha.

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