Ethan’s P. O. V
I parked my car in the park’s lot, a central hub of activity for this pack. Almost everyone here knows who I am, and now, they’re all staring at me with curiosity but too afraid to approach or ask questions.
I led Claire to a corner of the park. We sat on the grass, surrounded by others, and pulled out the food we bought, making us the center of attention. Because even though it is a park, it is the center of the crowd. Everyone in this Pack uses this area as the center of their lives. Whether it’s a school, shops, a shopping center, a recreation center, or just a place to look for something small.
But I didn’t care. I let them see Claire, who they would know for the rest of their lives as my Luna. Although they all knew that I was engaged to Lucy Torrance, they also had to know that this wanta was really my Luna.
“You still haven’t answered my question,” Claire began impatiently.
Yeah, not that she’s been a patient girl, but when it comes to the deaths of the sisters and orphans who are her family, Claire becomes a bit aggressive, as if she has to know everything to be sure. And I knew all that very clearly.
“Why don’t you eat first?” I suggested. She hadn’t eaten anything yet, and a few bites wouldn’t fill her up.
“I’ll eat when you start talking,” she replied firmly.
I chuckled. “Then I won’t say a word.”
Wasn’t my message clear enough? It seemed so, as she began to look irritated. My threat worked, and she started eating as she should.
She started with a sandwich, devouring it like it was her first meal in days. To be fair, she hadn’t eaten properly for a while.
“Are you just going to sit there and watch me eat, making us the center of attention?” she asked.
“Do you realize that?”
“With everyone staring at us, and their weird looks, how can I ignore it and act like nothing’s happening?”
“I wish I could handle it as well as you do,” I admitted. But that didn’t make Claire feel any better.
“Aren’t they staring because I’m not Lucy Torrance?” she guessed.
I chuckled again, this time more audibly, which prompted a comment from her.
“Stop laughing. I’m not making some cheap joke.”
“Oh really? Then why do I hear jealousy in every sentence from your sweet little lips?” I teased, trying to be romantic in front of her, not caring about the attention from others or if we became a topic of gossip.
“Ethan, can you be serious for once?”
“I’ll say everything if you finish your food, isn’t that the deal?” I reiterated. Claire, surprisingly, complied with my request.
She ate everything slowly but surely-from the sandwich to the shrimp burger, and even the mac & cheese, which I didn’t expect her to enjoy.
“Are you just going to watch me eat?” she asked with her mouth full, looking like a squirrel.
I shook my head. “I’ve already eaten, so I don’t need anything else.”
“Then drink this.” She handed me an untouched latte.
“Didn’t you say you wanted coffee? Why give this to me?”
“I’ll ask you to buy me another one after I finish all of this.”
She’s amazing. Always knows how to make me laugh. Not wanting to offend her or make her mad over a cup of coffee, I accepted the cup from her.
This is incredible. I felt a calmness I never experienced with Lucy. Claire was more easygoing, cheerful, and full of amusing things to say, unlike the rigid and goal-focused Lucy who wanted to be my Luna. Claire had no such ambitions.
Thinking about this, I lay down on the grass beside her while she continued to eat.
I loved watching her eat properly, without feeling nauseous or vomiting. Aren’t pregnant women supposed to feel queasy and refuse food due to discomfort? But it didn’t seem to bother her.
“Get up. Don’t you see they’re still watching you?” she said.
“I don’t care what they say, I’m tired,” I replied, covering my eyes with my hand.
“Why did you bring me here? Didn’t you know you’d become the center of attention as the Alpha?” she asked again.
“Why are you so talkative now?”
“Because you haven’t answered my question properly. And I won’t stop until you do.”
Ah, she’s persistent. But she’s right. I can’t hide this forever. She’ll hate and leave me once she knows my true intentions of using her.
Besides, she’s eaten enough now. She should have the energy to handle her anger.
“If I tell you this, will you curse and scream that I’m a murderer in front of everyone here?” I tried to joke.
“Of course, I could do that.”
“So, you’ll kick and call me a bastard, huh?”
“That might be my last resort if you say something I don’t want to hear.”
“Oh really? Then give me an example.”
I moved my hand to see her expression. Unexpectedly, Claire shoved a big piece of her burger into my mouth, forcing me to eat it in one bite.
I struggled for a moment, but she held my hand, laughing. Is this kind of joke really that fun for her? Ah, let’s just enjoy this moment.
“So, what do you want to say? Why does Christopher Gale seem so eager to kill me?” she asked.
“Because you’re the last descendant of Jacob Wensiker,” I replied bluntly.
As expected, Claire was stunned, staring at me without blinking. I sat up, took the remaining burger from her hand, and ate it, finding it surprisingly tasty, although she liked it more than I did.
“Don’t you know who Jacob Wensiker is?” I asked her.
Ah, it’s impossible she doesn’t know after all this. Claire must have done some research on Jacob Wensiker and his missing last descendant, even if just a little.