The Alpha
Chapter 42
Ethan's POV
The elevators ding open as I reach the foyer to my penthouse. It's late and I'm exhausted after such a long day. I walk in and turn on the lights, startled when I notice Scarlet sitting on the sofa. She has her knees bent up in front of her with her hands resting on top. She seems lost in thought as she stares out the wall of windows. It's like she didn't even notice or care that she is no longer alone, no longer sitting in the dark.
I'm instantly worried. Clearly something is wrong. I toss my leather jacket over the back of a chair and walk slowly over to her. Cautiously, I sit down beside her. When she still doesn't acknowledge my presence, I reach up and gently sweep her hair behind her ear. Her eyes suddenly focus on me and I can tell she has been crying. Her eyes are red and puffy and dried tear tracks mark her cheeks. I cup her cheeks as her lip quivers as she looks at me. "Babe? What's wrong? Are you hurt?" I question worriedly. She bites her lip and shakes her head before taking a shaky breath.
"I have something I need to tell you..." she begins and I can tell she is nervous. This of course, causes my anxiety to spike as well.
"Okay... what is it?"
"You know how you told me about your mother?... And how she... died?" she replies softly, carefully. My lips press together. I do know. In a moment of weakness, I had pretty much yelled it at her. It's not something I like to talk about, let alone think about. I manage to give her a curt nod, silently telling her to continue. "Well, I had asked Jo about it. Turns out she knew your mom."
My eyes widen imperceptibly. Jo must be older. What happened to my mom was about twenty years ago when the war was just starting to come to an end. St. Louis had been won and renamed Crescent City. Survivors were wandering into our borders regularly, ready to make this their new home. "Okay..." I say, not sure what she is getting at.
"Well, she said that your mother died when rogues had attacked the packless. She died saving a little girl..." Scarlet pauses for a moment as she inhales deeply before letting it out in a quivering breath. "She died saving me."
brain seems to be struggling to comprehend what she is telling me. "What do
as fresh tears begin to leak out of her eyes and down her rosy cheeks. She shakes her head and I instantly reach out for her, pulling her into an embrace. She sobs into my shoulder as I lightly run my fingers through her hair and down her back soothingly. My thoughts are swirling around in my head as I try to make sense of everything she just told me. It's like I'm in shock. My own mind seems to be indistinguishable. Luckily, comforting my beautiful mate seems to be calming my own
lie. I have no idea whether it was an intentional lie or not and I guess I may never know. But my mother died a noble death. My mother died being the kind of Luna that people love and respect. She saved a young girl, my beautiful mate. I miss my mother and I love her, but now that feeling has come back tenfold. She is the reason that my angel, my love is
What happened to my mom was
sniffles and a small smile lights
the feel of her against me. She tilts her head before I feel her soft lips press gently against my cheek. She wraps her arms around me and embraces me tightly. It's as though she knows exactly what I need right now, my perfect mate in
*****
house office. They arrive shortly after me and I sit on the edge of my desk. "You guys should take a seat," I warn as I gesture to the two leather armchairs that are positioned in front of me. They give each other questioning looks before following my suggestion. "Last night, I got some new information that I think you both need to hear," I begin as they both look at me. I inhale deeply before I
you're sure?"
"Yes," I answer.
are innocent?"
to
place them in jobs in the city. I know of several of our businesses that are hiring and according to Scarlet there are a lot of skilled
stare at me and at first, I think they believe I have gone crazy. Finally, Alex speaks. "I think that's a good idea.