Strange Request

Chapter 2: Strange Request 

Riley’s POV  

I had barely finished my first sip of coffee when Ethan dropped the question, and for a moment, I wasn’t sure if I’d heard him right.  

“Would you be willing to be my boyfriend?”  

I blinked at him, the mug halfway to my lips. My heart stuttered in my chest as his words sank in. Ethan shifted uncomfortably in his seat, his hazel eyes darting to the floor before meeting mine again.  

“You… you want me to be your what now?” I asked, setting the mug down carefully.  

He winced, running a hand through his dark brown hair, a habit I’d already noticed in the hour or so we’d spent together. “Not my real boyfriend,” he clarified quickly, his voice laced with embarrassment. “Just… fake. For one day. Maybe two.”  

“Fake boyfriend,” I echoed, leaning back against the counter. Of all the things I expected from my new neighbor, this wasn’t it. My wolf stirred uneasily beneath the surface, sensing something intriguing about this man, though I couldn’t pinpoint what it was.  

“Yeah,” Ethan said, letting out a nervous laugh. “I know it sounds crazy, but hear me out.”  

I crossed my arms, giving him a small nod. “I’m listening.”  

He let out a breath, clearly trying to steady himself. “So… my ex-boyfriend—Liam—he’s getting married. Three months after we broke up. And he invited me to the wedding.”  

I raised an eyebrow. “That’s… bold.”  

“Exactly!” Ethan said, throwing his hands up. “It’s the ultimate power move, right? Like, ‘Hey, Ethan, look at how happy I am without you.’” He sighed and slumped against the counter, shaking his head. “I can’t show up alone. I just can’t. It’ll look pathetic.”  

I studied him for a moment, taking in the tension in his shoulders, the frustration etched into his sharp features.

 But beneath that, there was something deeper, a vulnerability he was trying hard to mask.  

“So, you want me to go to this wedding,” I said slowly, “pretend to be your boyfriend, and… what? Make your ex jealous?”  

Ethan winced again, this time more visibly. “I know it’s petty,” he admitted, his voice quieter now. “But yeah. That’s the gist of it. Just for one day. I’ll even pay you if that makes it less weird.”  

I shook my head quickly, holding up a hand. “I don’t need your money.”  

The truth was, the idea of pretending to be someone’s boyfriend was absurd. But there was something about Ethan—something I couldn’t ignore. It wasn’t just that he was attractive, though that was impossible to miss. Tall, broad shoulders, hazel eyes that seemed to shift with the light, and a confidence that faltered only when he was being completely honest, like now.  

No, it was more than that. There was a pull, an inexplicable connection that made me want to stay in his orbit. My wolf, usually restless and wary around strangers, was oddly calm in his presence. Almost… drawn to him.  

I realized I’d been staring at him a moment too long when Ethan cleared his throat, looking even more uncomfortable. “So… yeah. If this is too weird, you can just say no. I get it.”  

“No,” I said quickly, and his eyes widened slightly.  

“No?” he repeated, his tone edged with disappointment.  

“No,” I clarified with a small smile, “I mean, no, I don’t think it’s too weird. I’ll do it.”  

His jaw dropped slightly, and he straightened, clearly not expecting that answer. “You… you will?”  

I shrugged, trying to play it cool even as my wolf practically howled its approval in the back of my mind. “Sure. Why not? Sounds… interesting.”  

Ethan blinked at me, his disbelief quickly replaced by relief. “Oh my God, you’re serious?”  

I chuckled softly. “You did just help me move half a dozen boxes. Call it payback.”  

He grinned, and for a moment, the tension in the room evaporated. “You have no idea how much this means to me. Thank you. Really.”  

“Don’t thank me yet,” I said, smirking. “You haven’t told me the details. What’s the plan?”  

He hesitated, biting his lip—a gesture that sent an unexpected jolt through me. “Well, first we’d have to… you know… come up with a backstory. How we met, how long we’ve been together, stuff like that. And we’ll need to practice.”  

“Practice?” I asked, arching a brow.  

“You know, like… holding hands, maybe a hug or two. It has to look convincing.” His cheeks flushed a faint pink, and he avoided my gaze.  

The thought of touching him, even in pretense, sent my pulse racing. My wolf stirred again, this time more insistently. I pushed the feeling aside and gave him a teasing grin. “Careful, Ethan. If I didn’t know better, I’d think you’re looking forward to this.”  

He groaned, burying his face in his hands. “Don’t make this more embarrassing than it already is.”  

I laughed softly, feeling a strange warmth spread through my chest. “Relax. I’ll help you pull this off.”  

What I didn’t say, what I couldn’t say, was that this wasn’t just about helping him anymore. The moment he’d asked me, something had shifted. The inexplicable pull I felt toward him was stronger now, and I needed to figure out why.  

Because if there was one thing I knew for certain, it was that meeting Ethan wasn’t just coincidence.  

It was fate.