Ethan’s POV
“You-you’ve gotta be joking, right? His niece? How the hell am I his niece?!” Claire screamed, leaping to her feet with rage burning in her teary eyes.
She couldn’t believe it-she was related to the bastard who slaughtered her family. The man who wiped out an entire bloodline, a legacy that should still be ruling the Moon Fall Pack.
Every head in the garden snapped toward us. People whispered, curious and confused about the commotion. But Claire? She wasn’t overreacting-far from it. Learning that the monster who destroyed her life shared her bloodline was enough to break anyone.
I reached out a hand and gently motioned for her to sit down. “Claire, let me explain everything,” I said, hoping to calm the storm inside her.
At first, she resisted, too consumed by the whirlwind of emotions. She stayed on her feet, trembling, letting her anger overflow. But I didn’t pull my hand back, holding out hope she’d take it.
Minutes passed. Slowly, reluctantly, she sat, her tension only easing slightly as Wolves Warriors approached. They looked ready to intervene, their concern evident. Through the mindlink, they asked what was going on. ‘Nothing serious’, I assured them, instructing them to stand down and keep a watchful eye from a distance.
“I know this doesn’t make sense,” I began, voice steady. “Why Christopher Gale would kill his own brother-it’s unthinkable. But you know how wolf hierarchy works. Fate is brutal. If you’re born an ordinary wolf in the pack, that’s your role. No exceptions.”
I tried to explain it with a definition that was much easier to understand than I had to explain in outline about the reason that fake Alpha who wanted to control the resources owned by The Moon Fall Pack was able to overthrow the entire Pack, then became the king.
Her hand, cold and shaking, rested in mine. I could feel her turmoil. The truth I was about to share wasn’t something I wanted to throw at her like this. But Chen Lien was right-there was no hiding this forever.
Even though I knew how impossible it would be for her to accept. Christopher Gale wasn’t just ruthless-he was certifiably insane. A power-hungry psycho willing to do ‘anything’ to grab what wasn’t his. Claire had to know the truth.
“So, he’s my real uncle or not?” Her voice trembled.
God, she deserved better. I was no saint myself-I’d done terrible things for power. But I’d never made my loved ones suffer like this. Not for decades.
I nodded. “He’s your dad’s eldest brother, from a different mother. An illegitimate son desperate to prove himself worthy of being an Alpha-or stealing the power outright.”
This wasn’t a story. It was cold, hard fact. Christopher Gale was the kind of man who exploited weaknesses, and Jacob Wensiker-Claire’s father-had one. After years without children, Jacob finally had Claire. She was the chink in his armor, and Christopher struck without mercy. He brought the greatest Alpha of his time crashing down, taking his legacy with him.
Claire’s grip tightened around my hand. Tears streamed down her face. “I’ll forgive you,” she whispered, “but only if you help me get revenge for my family’s deaths.”
Wait, what?
“W-what did you just say?” I asked, startled.
She met my gaze, unwavering. “Help me avenge my family-not just Jacob Wensiker, but Sister Alberta, the orphans, and all the others he killed. If you do that, I’ll give you all the power you’ve ever wanted in your life.”
“Hey-hey, don’t mess with me like that!”
“Do I look like I’m joking around you, Ethan Randall?”
She wasn’t. Her determination was carved into her face, a fiery resolve that couldn’t be shaken. Claire would see this through, even if it cost her life.
“I don’t even remember about Jacob Wensiker or the mother who gave birth to me,” she continued, her voice hard. “But he murdered everyone I loved at that orphanage. I want you to-”
I pulled her into my arms, pressing kisses to her neck and leaving my mark. Let the world know she was mine. I released a surge of pheromones to soothe her and make everyone else back off.
Wolves weren’t stupid. When an Alpha’s pheromones flooded the air, they took the hint and left us alone.
“Let’s stop this here,” I murmured, my tone soft but firm. “This isn’t a conversation to have in public.”
“Oh, so now you’re scared someone will overhear me?” she hissed, her breath warm against my ear.
“Claire Halle.” I said her name slowly, locking eyes with her, willing her to calm down.
But she wouldn’t back down. Her anger was raw, untamed, and overwhelming. I knew I’d never win this fight-not against her. I’d known it from the moment we met. Claire wasn’t just any wolf-she was the Luna chosen by the Moon Goddess herself, the only one who could temper the brutality that consumed me.
“Is ruling the Moon Fall Pack not enough for you?” she snapped. “Or should I throw in my body, too?” I frowned, confused when I heard that. “I’ll give myself to you, Ethan. Use me however you want. And if you want to kill me afterward so I’m out of your way when you marry Lucy Torrance, fine. Just help me kill Christopher Gale, and you can do anything you want to me.”
Christopher Gale was insane, sure. Reckless, ambitious, and unhinged enough to think he could take down an Alpha like Jacob Wensiker. But me? I could do it.
“Okay, I’ll do it,” I said. Claire’s eyes lit up. Relief and joy swept over her face. “But you’ll have to wait a year,” I added.
“W-what?!” she exclaimed, her voice rising. “I can’t wait that long! Don’t you see? He’s closing in on me day after day! His plans are in motion-he could find me any day and-”
“He won’t touch you as long as you’re with me,” I interrupted.
“Ethan, you don’t understand, I-”
“I understand ‘everything’,” I said firmly. “So stay by my side. At least until I’ve seen my baby born.”