Harper. pov
The room was quiet as everyone fixated on their phones. Alpha Lucas had been messaging me, and I didn’t want to divert Alpha Ethan’s attention since he was also absorbed in his device.
“Harper, can we meet?” the message chimed on my phone. I frowned as I typed my response.
“I’m married, stop texting me.”
I hesitated briefly before hitting send, my heart pounding with anxiety. The atmosphere was still, with only the soft hum of the air conditioning and the occasional tapping of fingers on screens breaking the silence.
Alpha Lucas replied swiftly, his tone possessive. “You’ll always be mine, Harper.”
My eyes widened, and a chill ran through me. How could he say that?
Just as I was about to reply, Alpha Ethan glanced up from his phone, his intense blue eyes meeting mine. “Everything okay?” he asked, his voice deep and husky.
I nodded, attempting to appear calm, though my hands trembled. “Yeah, just checking the news.”
Alpha Ethan’s gaze lingered on me for a moment before he returned to his phone. I couldn’t shake the feeling that he might suspect something.
Suddenly, my phone beeped again. Alpha Lucas’s message sent a chill through me. “I know you’re with him, but you’ll never really belong to him.”
My heart raced as I stood up, almost toppling my chair. “I need some air,” I muttered, snatching my phone and hurrying out of the room.
As I stepped into the cool evening air, I felt a hand on my shoulder. It was Alpha Ethan. “Harper, what’s going on?” he asked, his tone firm yet gentle.
I turned to him, tears brimming in my eyes. “It’s Alpha Lucas,” I whispered. “He won’t stop bothering me.”
Alpha Ethan’s expression darkened, his jaw tightening. “He shouldn’t be harassing you,” he growled.
As he drew me closer, an unsettling sensation lingered within me, suggesting that Alpha Lucas’s fixation was far from resolved.
“You are trembling,” he remarked, releasing his hold slightly. “Why are you shaking? Do you lack the courage to defend yourself?” His smile accompanied a slight tightening of his grip. “I do have courage, but circumstances are not favorable; Lucas is genuinely displeased with our relationship.”
He stepped back, rubbing his jaw thoughtfully. “Lucas should not be your concern,” he emphasized, placing his hands in his pockets. I rose silently, my gaze fixed on him, captivated by the soothing quality of his voice.
“I appreciate your concern, Ethan,” I replied, my voice barely audible, “but you fail to grasp the extent of Alpha Lucas’s obsession. He will go to any lengths to possess me.”
Alpha Ethan’s demeanor shifted to one of seriousness, his eyes gleaming with resolve. “I will not allow that to occur, Harper. You belong to me now. My pack will ensure your safety.”
A wave of gratitude washed over me, yet fear still clung to my thoughts. “What if Lucas confronts you?” I inquired, my voice quaking.
Alpha Ethan’s expression was reassuring. “I will manage him. You are safe in my presence.”
As he embraced me once more, I felt his warmth enveloping me, soothing my anxious heart. However, just as I began to feel at ease, a loud crash resonated from outside, followed by the sounds of snarling and growling.
“Remain here,” Alpha Ethan commanded, swiftly shifting into his wolf form.
I watched in awe as he leaped out of the room, his powerful physique moving gracefully beneath his sleek fur. The sounds of conflict intensified, compelling me to follow.
As I hurried outside, I witnessed Alpha Ethan confronting Alpha Lucas’s pack. The atmosphere was charged with tension, the scent of blood and sweat permeating the air.
To my surprise, a woman was exchanging sharp words with Alessia. As we approached, Ethan halted midway, unable to contain his laughter at the scene before us.
“Welcome, Sarah,” he said calmly, chuckling softly. I shifted my gaze towards him, curious about the identity of the woman. He made no effort to intervene, even as his sister Alessia became embroiled in the altercation.
“This woman can’t mind her own business. Just five minutes ago, she nearly yanked my hair,” Alessia remarked with evident disdain, making her way to the couch with a graceful stride.
“Who is she?” I inquired in a hushed tone, hoping to keep my question from reaching the lady’s ears.
Ethan glanced at me sideways. “A friend.”
“She’s a real piece of work!” Alessia exclaimed.
“Sarah can be a bit… intense,” Alpha Ethan clarified, still amused. “Alessia, please calm down. Harper, come over and meet Sarah.”
Though I hesitated, Alpha Ethan’s encouraging nod prompted me to approach the fiery individual.
Sarah turned to face me, her sharp green eyes assessing me critically. “So, you must be the renowned Harper,” she remarked, her tone laced with sarcasm. “Ethan’s latest distraction.”
Alessia scoffed from the couch. “Distraction? Look who’s talking, Sarah.”
Sarah shot Alessia a hostile look before redirecting her attention to me. “I am Ethan’s oldest friend. We grew up side by side.”
I could sense an underlying tension between them.
Alpha Ethan stepped in, placing a reassuring hand on Sarah’s shoulder. “Sarah, please behave.”
Sarah’s demeanor softened, and she offered a sweet smile. “My apologies, Harper. I just have a strong instinct to protect Ethan.”
As the atmosphere lightened, I noticed Alessia observing from the sidelines, her expression filled with concern.
“Alessia,” I called out, rushing to embrace her tightly.
“Harper, I’m so sorry,” she murmured.
“This woman has a knack for ruining everyone’s day. I don’t know who invited her,” she sneered, casting a glare at Sarah.
I observed how captivated she was by Alpha Ethan, a pang of jealousy striking me as a radiant smile graced her lips.
“I can’t stand her,” Alessia whispered closely in my ear, sending a shiver down my spine as I realized the situation was affecting me deeply.
Alessia’s warm breath sent a chill through me as she murmured, “She’s trouble, Harper. Keep her away from Ethan.”
I leaned back, scrutinizing Alessia’s expression. Her eyes burned with a fierce sense of protectiveness.
“Who is she?” I inquired, my voice barely audible.
Alessia’s focus remained fixed on Sarah. “Ethan’s childhood friend, or so she asserts. But there is more to her narrative.”
Sarah’s laughter resonated throughout the room, igniting a pang of jealousy within me. Alpha Ethan’s eyes crinkled at the corners as he beamed at her.
“Alessia, please don’t,” I cautioned, sensing her rising anger.
However, Alessia’s demeanor turned frigid. “Keep an eye on her, Harper. She will stop at nothing.”
As if attuned to our discussion, Sarah approached, her hips swaying gracefully.
“Harper, darling, I trust Alessia isn’t filling your head with nonsense,” Sarah said, her tone laced with false sweetness.
Alessia hissed, her eyes ablaze. “You are the poison, Sarah.”
The atmosphere was charged with tension. Alpha Ethan intervened, his voice steady.
“That is enough. We have more urgent matters to address.”
Sarah’s smile wavered momentarily before she regained her composure. “Certainly, Ethan. I am here to celebrate my visit.”
As the group shifted their focus to the aftermath, I could not dismiss Alessia’s warning.
Who was Sarah, truly?
And why did Alpha Ethan place his trust in her?