Chapter 34

The moonlight gave the area a ghostly glow and made long, scary shadows. When Ethan stood at the edge of the area and looked at Gabriel, the alpha who had once broken his heart, the strain in the air was almost too much to bear.

"You're here," Gabriel said in a voice that was strained and full of both hope and fear.

Ethan didn't say anything right away. His heart was pounding in his chest as he thought about how painful it was to be turned down and how humiliating it was to be told he wasn't good enough. But he had come here tonight to put the past to rest, face it, and maybe find a way to heal.

"I am," Ethan said with a steady voice. "But it's not to get back together like we used to."

Gabriel nodded, and he looked sad. "Ethan, I know I hurt you. I was a fool because my pride and lack of knowledge made me blind. But I've spent nights looking at the moon and realizing that I was wrong. You were meant to be my partner, and I should have loved you more."

Ethan's eyes were wet from tears