Ethan's Hope

The next day Ethan came to the healer's house that treated Cora. He wanted to see Cora's condition and confirm she was all right. When he arrived, Ethan knocked on the door. The healer who had been treating Cora welcomed him.

"Is Cora all right?" Ethan asked.

"Yes, she's getting better and can't wait to see you," the healer replied.

Ethan smiled and then entered the room where Cora was resting. Cora was a little surprised to see Ethan there. She immediately woke up from her sleeping position.

"It's ok, Cora! If you don't feel strong enough to get up, don't make me force you," Ethan said, looking worried.

"No problem Ethan, I just overslept. My condition is good and what do you need to come here. Shouldn't you be doing your work in the pack house?" asked Cora.

Ethan then stood up and took a chair in the room. He moved it next to Cora and sat down facing her.

"Mmm, I just wanted to confirm your condition. Thank goodness you've recovered. I'll be on my way to the pack house after this," Ethan replied.

Cora nodded, then they sat silent until Ethan resumed talking. Meanwhile, Cora gave her sweetest smile.

"Do you want to come? I'm sure many people would like to meet you, but if you don't feel strong enough, I won't force you," Ethan invited awkwardly.

"Of course, I want to. I'll come with you to the house pack. I get bored staying in this room." Cora said.

They nodded at each other. Then Ethan went outside to wait for Cora, who was getting ready. Ethan had planned to take Cora on a tour of the Crescent Pack area. They'll visit the house pack to see their activities and to introduce Cora to the pack leaders. Naturally, Cora was very excited and grateful to Ethan for his welcome.

"I owe you one, Ethan," Cora said suddenly as she and Ethan walked out of the healer's yard towards the pack house.

"I don't think of it as a debt, don't think of it that way, ok?" said Ethan.

Cora smiled as she nodded.

It didn't feel like they had walked far enough, and they finally arrived at the pack house. Ethan introduced Cora to all the pack members, who all seemed very happy to have Cora with them.

Cora missed the activities she used to do with the Blood Moon pack, but that was just a memory she might never be back. Cora was also a little worried about the current state of the Blood Moon pack. She was sure Dave couldn't take full responsibility for his duties as Alpha.

Then Cora started daydreaming. Ethan, who had just finished teaching the students in the house pack, ran over to Cora.

"Hi, Cora, are you all right?" asked Ethan, waving his hand in front of Cora's face.

"Yeah, I'm fine! If you have a lot of work to do, don't let my existence distract you!" said Cora.

"Calm down! I can count on my Beta to do almost all the work in this pack before we came. He did it because I was in no condition to look after this pack," Ethan explained later.

Cora sympathized with Ethan's answer.

"How about we sit on that park bench instead?" Ethan continued, pointing to a wooden chair in the garden overlooking the mountains.

"It's sound great!" said Cora.

The two of them sat there and talked about everything. It seemed that they enjoyed talking to each other, even laughing together from time to time.

"It's been a long time since I laughed out loud like that. Your presence has brought me out of my funk," Ethan said.

"What do you mean?" asked Cora, a little clueless as she raised an eyebrow.

"I've just lost my Luna. I'm still in mourning since I lost my wife. My life has become meaningless and like dying, but as an Alpha, I have a lot of responsibility to take care of this pack. Luckily, when I lost my identity and neglected all my duties as an Alpha, I had a Beta I could trust. Thanks to him, this pack survived," Ethan explained at length.

Cora looked at Ethan with pity. She could understand Ethan's pain at losing his mate, just as she had lost Alpha Dave. She got rejected by him.

"Fortunately, The Moon Goddess has prepared a second-chance mate for me, namely you, Cora! I was so lucky to meet you that night, and this may sound a bit sudden, but if you have nowhere else to go, I would like to ask you to be my Luna," Ethan continued.

Cora was silent for a while. She felt so confused. On the one hand, Lucy, her wolf, realized that Ethan was her second-chance mate. Cora felt suspicious of her destiny mate. She is afraid that what happened to her will be repeated again.

Besides that, Cora felt inferior. She was the new person in that pack and unworthy of Alpha Ethan.

"I'm sorry, Ethan. I can't make up my mind right now," Cora replied.

"Why? You were Luna once before. Of course, you'll fit in more easily."

"That's why... I'm a rejected Luna. I was used goods," Cora explained.

"Come on, Cora! Don't say that about yourself. You are a very precious woman to me. I'll never let you feel that kind of pain again. I promise to make you happy!" Ethan explained with sparkling eyes.

However, it seems that Ethan's words have depressed Cora. Ethan seems to be forcing her; perhaps the wound in her heart hasn't fully healed. Cora just wanted to take a moment for herself. To understand what was going on in her life.

"Sorry, Ethan! I think I have to go. I need to calm down," Cora said as she walked away from Ethan.

Ethan took a long breath. He could only stare at Cora's departure. He also realized that he shouldn't insist because it might make Cora uncomfortable. The man returned to his office with the pack house and left Cora to calm down. Meanwhile, it turned out that Cora had just gone to a small lake not far from the pack. She sat on the lakeshore.

"Pardon our Alpha, Miss!" a middle-aged female voice suddenly startled Cora from behind.

"Who-who are you? Why are you following me?" asked Cora, stuttering and frightened.

"I'm sorry if I startled you. I am an Elder of the Crescent Pack," said the middle-aged woman.

The woman was the wife of a former Beta who had died, and now the Beta status was carried on by her son as the successor to her late husband. Sofia became the most trusted Elder in the Crescent Pack and was known for her dedication. It turned out that Elder Sofia had been watching Ethan and Cora as they talked. Of course, she knew what they were talking about because a werewolf's hearing is acute and can reach a radius of several miles. So she tried to follow where Cora was going to explain something.

"I'm sorry, Elder! I didn't get a chance to meet and greet you before."

"That's okay. The important thing is that I already know you, and I came here because I want to talk to you about something," Sofia explained.

Then the woman sat down next to Cora and started talking.

"This pack used to have a good Luna called Clara. She loved her Alphas and The Crescent pack members. She treated the omegas very well. However, then she caught a deadly disease. No one could cure her. As Alpha Ethan told you earlier, he became weak. He always mourned the loss of his Luna. We fear the pack is on the verge of collapse and vulnerable to attack from other packs," Elder Sofia explained.

"I am sorry for that!" Cora said.

"Thank you. I agree with Alpha Ethan. You are a gift from the Moon Goddess to our pack. Your presence is much needed!" Elder Sofia explained again.

Cora shook her head, "You praise me too much! Maybe my arrival is just a coincidence. I'm new to the pack. I'm afraid the other members won't accept me as Luna," Cora said.

"Believe me! There are no coincidences in this world. All fate has been outline by the Moon Goddes. I know that you are Alpha Ethan's second-chance mate. The Moon Goddess has planned for you to meet him that night. Isn't that a beautiful destiny!" Elder Sofia said, reassuring Cora.

"Are you sure the Crescent Pack will accept me?" Cora asked, still feeling a little inferior.

"We love Alpha Ethan very much, so his decision is the best for our pack. They'll love you."

Cora finally understood this pack needed her. The Elder managed to convince her. After the talk, she took Cora back to the healer's house. It turned out that Ethan was already there, waiting for her.

The man immediately approached Cora, "Cora, I'm sorry! I was hasty in asking you to do something you didn't want to. I think you need some time to think about it." Ethan said.

Cora just smiled, "No, don't apologize! You're completely innocent!" she replied.

"I won't force you anymore. I'll wait until you're ready to be my Luna," Ethan said again.

Cora made up her mind and felt she had to answer Ethan. Who seemed very disturbed by their conversation earlier.

"I've talked to Elder Sofia, and it looks like I'm ready to be your Luna now!" Cora said suddenly.

Ethan, who had bent his face, was immediately surprised and widened his eyes. He felt happiness, especially when he saw Cora smiling sweetly at him.