28.Persecution

Mia Miller.

My life had never been as upside down as it was now.

Second by second, I checked my phone to see how Lorenzo was doing. Ethan hired a nanny and left him under the supervision of two bodyguards, or wolves, I wasn’t sure how to digest this anymore.

I never imagined that working in a bar, especially Ethan's, could be so challenging. But there I was, buried in piles of paperwork, accounting, and cash flows, trying to keep my head in place while managing everything. Diplomas and experience don’t prepare anyone to deal with the kind of pressure Ethan’s gaze put on me. Always so serious, so reserved. Sometimes, I wondered if he trusted me for more than just the job.

And today… well, today seemed different.

“We need to adjust the supplier prices. The margins are too tight,” Ethan said, interrupting my thoughts. He was staring at the spreadsheets, his brow furrowed. “I’ll need you to come with me today to negotiate with them.”

“Me?” I asked, a little surprised. “Why?”

“Because you understand these numbers more than I do.” He glanced at me sideways, a rare spark of acknowledgment in his eyes. “And I’m sure you can get us a better deal.”

“But aren’t you a millionaire?” I said, with an ironic tone. “From what I’ve seen in your accounts, your family owned almost half of this city.”

“Just because I have money doesn’t mean I’m going to go around doing things recklessly. That’s what makes a person wealthy, human. I have a whole reserve full of wolves to take care of, manage income, and I’m the Alpha there, in addition to being a CEO.”

“I hate it when you refer to me as 'human.'" I rolled my eyes.

“Yeah. Maybe one day that will change,” he said, leaving me a little intrigued.

I felt a bit proud, but also an unexpected nervousness. Because going out with Ethan meant being alone with him, something I wasn’t sure how to feel about. Since I met him, the relationship was like a tightrope between distrust and… something else. An unspoken attraction that I didn’t know how to handle. But, in the end, I agreed.

“Let’s go. The sooner we leave, the sooner I’ll be back to see my son.”

I got into Ethan’s SUV, and as he drove along the roads, I sat in the passenger seat, the silence between us in the car feeling almost oppressive. I tried to focus on what I would say to the suppliers, how I would negotiate better prices, but his presence, always so near, distracted me. He had an aura... dangerous. Yet, at the same time, comforting. It was confusing.

We arrived at the supplier’s location, and the man, seemingly in his thirties, greeted us with a smile that seemed… fake, perhaps?

“Mr. Greenwood, it’s a pleasure to see you here,” he said.

“Hello, Andrew.” Ethan extended his hand for a brief handshake. “This is Mia. She’s handling the administrative side of my bar, and as I explained to you, we’re here to negotiate a better deal for both of us.”

The man looked me up and down, and Ethan seemed irritated by the looks.

“It’s a great pleasure. I didn’t know Ethan worked with such friendly women.”

I blushed and looked at Ethan, whose face was dark and serious. The negotiations were quick and to the point. I managed to secure better prices for the bar’s drinks, and Ethan seemed impressed, even though he didn’t say much. A slight nod as we left was enough, but not for Andrew.

“I hope to see you again, Mia Miller,” he smiled. “I’d love to show you the different drinks we import.”

I gave a weak smile in response, not knowing where to hide my face. “Thank you, ‘Mr.’ Andrew.”

When we got back in the car, I noticed Ethan’s flat expression.

“‘I’d love to show you the different drinks we import,’” he repeated, imitating the man’s voice. “Asshole!”

I couldn’t hold back a laugh. And at the same time, I didn’t understand his irritation; we didn’t have anything.

The drive back was a bit long, and we didn’t have anyone with us.

Then things started to go south, and I noticed by his worried expression.

“Is everything okay?” I asked, seeing the tense way Ethan gripped the steering wheel.

He didn’t respond immediately, but his eyes, always alert, fixed on the rearview mirror. That’s when I noticed it too. There was a car behind us, following closely. Too closely.

“We’re being followed,” Ethan finally said, his voice low and controlled. “Stay quiet.”

My stomach knotted. “Followed? Who could...?”

“I don’t know. But I smell wolves. It doesn’t matter who. What matters is we need to lose them.”

My heart raced as I tried to process what was happening. Was this normal for him? Being chased? I knew there was something strange about Ethan from the start, but that was beyond what I could imagine.

What was I thinking? He was a werewolf. I didn’t even feel safe in his presence. But I knew I’d have to live with that fact forever, because Lorenzo was one of them.

“Hold on,” he said, his eyes still fixed on the rearview mirror.

Ethan turned the wheel sharply, accelerating even more. The road became winding, and my body was thrown against the seat. I tried to hold my breath, but my heart kept racing. I knew he was used to dangerous situations, but to me, this felt like a scene from an action or horror movie.

Suddenly, he made a sharp turn onto a side road, covered with dense trees. The headlights cut through the darkness for a moment before disappearing completely as Ethan turned everything off and parked behind an old abandoned building. The car went silent, and we sat there, only hearing our hearts beating in our chests.

“Did we lose them?” I asked, trying to control my panic.

“For now,” he whispered, watching intently the path we had come from. The men’s car passed by us at high speed, unaware of our change of route. “That’ll give us some time.”

My body relaxed, but not completely. I knew this wasn’t over, and the way Ethan remained alert only added to the tension in the air.

“We need to leave,” he said, starting the car again. “They might come back to look for us.”

We left the hidden road and took a different route, trying to get as far away as possible. My eyes were glued to the road, but I could feel Ethan’s presence beside me, always on guard, as if waiting for the next attack.

Finally, after a few miles, we spotted a small roadside hotel. Ethan parked the car carefully, scanning the surroundings before speaking. “Let’s stay here for the night. They won’t find us for now.”

“But what about Lorenzo? They might go after him.”

“The mansion is guarded by hundreds of bodyguards and wolves. They won’t get there. I’ll send an alert to Nick. But I don’t know how long it’s safe for you to stay in the city; the reserve would be the safest place.”

The hotel was a simple place, with a rundown reception and dim lights. The attendant gave us a room with little question, as if he were used to people needing a place to hide.

The room was small, with just a double bed, an old TV in the corner, and worn curtains. I looked around, trying not to let my discomfort show.

“It’s just for tonight,” Ethan said, as if reading my thoughts.

“Right,” I replied, trying to keep my voice steady. I hated feeling vulnerable around him. He already had too much control over the situation, and that bothered me.

While Ethan locked the door and checked the windows, I sat on the bed, taking off my shoes. There wasn’t much to do. The chase had been intense, and I still felt the tension in my body, the adrenaline still running through my veins.

“Who were those guys?” I finally asked, looking at him as he approached. “Why were they after us?”

Ethan looked at me, his piercing eyes as always. He sat in the chair near the bed, breathing deeply before responding. “I don’t know who they are yet. But all of this is something you’re not ready to understand.”

I frowned, irritated. “You always say that. That I’m not ready. But maybe it’s time for you to start talking, Ethan. I’m not going to stay in the dark forever. Someone is after me, I got that message, do you know who it is?”

There was silence. He seemed to be considering my words, but, as always, his answers remained vague. “It’s not the right time for us to discuss this, Mia. And if I knew who it was, I would have already dealt with it.”

“Great,” I muttered.

I sighed, lying back on the bed. Even with all the confusion, there was a strange sense of safety being there with him. Even without answers, without explanations, a part of me trusted him.

What I didn’t understand was why.

“We need a shower. We’re sweaty,” he said, looking for a towel.

I watched as he took off his shirt, drenched with sweat. At worst, I was with the man I couldn’t stand, and at best, the man I secretly desired. It was going to be a long night.