Ethan’s POV
My car stopped in front of Roux Fashion Studio, I didn’t even wait for Bruno to open the door for me before I yanked the door open myself. I couldn’t wait. I raced into the building with Zoey in my hand. I didn’t even bother to wait for Isla and Other pups, they know their way up and I wanted Emily to see them immediately.
The Roux Fashion Studio is a Marvel of modern designs. The large floor-to-ceiling windows bathed the white room in natural light, and the sleek furniture was arranged artfully around the spaces. The mannequins were draped in Emily’s latest designs. The perfectly tailored garments resonate with the sophistication and classiness she was known for. The place smelled of fresh fabric and the subtle scent of lavender gave it a calm and creative ambiance.
Cynthia, Emily’s assistant was roosted behind the sleek white desk checking through papers. The floors are smooth, polished concrete which made every footstep echo in the vast space. Cynthia raised her head to look in my direction, her eyes brightened up when she saw me.
“Hi, Ethan,” she greeted, she threw me seductive looks. She’s human so she isn’t aware of my werewolf rank.
“Where is she?” I asked
“She’s in the fitting room,” Cynthia responded with a sultry tone which annoys me a lot.
‘Come out, I’m here,’ I mind-linked Emily.
‘You miss me that much?’ Emily’s voice came back playfully as usual.
This is not a matter of joke can she be more serious?
‘It’s Urgent,’ I pressed.
‘I have to finish fitting this client,’ she said, taking her time.
I glanced down at Zoey, who was innocently holding the tennis ball in her hand.
‘Zoey is a witch,’ I dropped the bomb on her, she knew what it meant to be a witch in our clan.
Like lightning, Emily appeared after a little pause. Her face widened in shock. She rushed towards me and halted right in front of me.
“Mama,” Zoey shouted and took a rush towards Emily, hugging her leg. Emily picked her up and placed a kiss on her forehead.
“What did you just say?” She’s now facing me with her voice barely a whisper, her breath hinged in her throat.
“Cynthia give us some space,” Emily said with all seriousness, Cynthia knew this wasn’t the time to joke around with her boss so she left immediately.
As Cynthia left the room, Emily returned her gaze to me.
“I said…” I wanted to say it but decided to just show her instead. I collected Zoey from her hold and placed her on the cold floor.
“Will you show mummy what you showed me in the car?” I asked her in a whisper as if Emily was not hearing. She nodded her head and picked up the ball which was already on the sofa.
“Mama watch,” she said in excitement. She placed the ball on her palm and held her hand out. In a matter of minutes, the ball started to float and I was in awe.
Emily’s almost fainted and she had to steady herself against one of the tables.
“No….” she whispered. I mean, I understand how she felt. Firstly, she had a past with a witch who almost took her life which she sometimes and somehow still gets PTSD from. Secondly and most importantly the the whole of our clan had a rough past with witches, they almost wiped us out before my grandfather who was a powerful Lycan took them down. Since then, witches are not been allowed and anyone suspected to be a witch will be killed on the spot.
“Ethan, you know what this means,” she said with a trembling voice “If the pack finds out”
“They won’t. Not unless we tell them.” I said trying to assure her that Zoey was going to be protected.
“Witches are hated, witches are feared in our clan, She will be killed on the spot once they find out”
Tears pricked the corner of Emily’s eyes.
“Calm down Emily, they won’t find out.” I gripped her shoulders tightly. “Listen to me, Em. We will protect her together, She’s Our family and I promise you that no one is going to lay a finger on her. I swear I won’t let anything happen to her” I assured her and I meant every bit of it.
Zoey is just a little girl and I don’t care who her biological parents are, she’s now my family and I’ll do anything to protect my family.
Emily looked down at Zoey, who smiled up at her, completely unaware of the fear gathered around her.
“She’s just an innocent little girl, She wouldn’t know how to keep to herself. When the elders sense something, they start asking questions.
“We’ll keep her close,” I insisted. “She’s strong, and so are we. We’ll train her, teach her how to control her powers. We’ll make sure she never uses them in front of anyone else.”
“I don’t want her to live in fear, Ethan. She’s just a child. She deserves to grow up happy, not looking over her shoulder all the time.” Emily wiped her tears, her mind racing.
“She will be happy,” I assured her. “Because she’ll have us. We’ll be her shield and when the time comes… we’ll deal with the elders but for now, we keep this between us.”
Emily nodded as she tried to calm the storm of emotions swirling inside her. She knelt, pulling Zoey into her arms and holding her tightly.
“You’re safe, Zozo,” she whispered into Zoey’s hair. “I’ll keep you safe, no matter what.”
Zoey wrapped her little arms around Emily’s neck, Obviously unaware of what was going on at the moment.
“I love you, Mama,” she said softly.
“I love you