Chapter 20

Ethan helped Leo sit on the edge of his bed, the tension in the air heavy enough to cut through. Leo's breathing was still ragged, and the adrenaline from his earlier outburst hadn't completely left his system. His knuckles were bloodied, and the raw, angry skin stung, but he didn't seem to notice or care. He was too wrapped up in his thoughts—thoughts that made his expression hard, his jaw clenched.

Ethan, ever the loyal companion, left Leo for a moment to step outside. He dismissed the guards stationed at the door and they obeyed as they didn’t argue. Though, Ethan outranked them, and his authority was absolute. He spoke with calm authority, and the guards nodded, disappearing into the shadows of the hallways, leaving the entrance unguarded. Ethan knew Leo needed privacy now more than ever, and having eyes and ears around would only complicate things.

Returning to the room, Ethan closed the door softly behind him and moved to sit beside Leo on the bed. The silence between them was thick, unspoken words swirling in the air. Ethan waited, knowing that pushing Leo too soon wouldn't yield any answers. Instead, he let the quiet sit for a moment, giving Leo the space to gather his thoughts.

Finally, Ethan stood up and with due respect broke the silence. "Why did you do it, Leo?" His tone was gentle but probing, a friend’s concern wrapped in the question. He already had a guess, but he needed to hear it from Leo’s own lips.

Leo stared at the floor, his hands clasped tightly together, the blood from his knuckles smearing across his fingers. His thoughts were a tangled mess, but there was one clear thread that ran through them all—Lucy. Her name, her face, her voice—it was all that occupied his mind. The memory of her, on her knees, vulnerable and scared, haunted him. He couldn’t stand it, couldn’t stand the idea of her suffering any more than she already had.

"It’s all because of Lucy," Leo finally said, his voice low, almost a growl. His eyes were distant, focused on something only he could see. "But my father... and Isabella... they’re in the way and there's nothing I could do about it."

Ethan nodded slowly, the weight of Leo’s words settling between them. He had suspected as much. He had seen the way Leo looked at Lucy, the way his mood shifted whenever she was near. They've talked about her numerous times to an extent that Ethan had to stalk Lucy to keep her from harm.

"It’s complicated," Ethan said carefully, trying to navigate the delicate situation. "Lucy is... she’s a maid, Leo. She doesn’t have the status, the reputation, to stand beside someone like you. You know how your father thinks, how the rest of the pack will see it." Ethan sighed and continued. “They're kind of right, more reason I don't blame them but then again. She's your mate and you both felt it. I guess that is more important than upholding the pack's culture.”

Leo’s head snapped up, his eyes narrowing as he turned to face Ethan. There was frustration in his gaze, but also something like desperation. "I know that, Ethan! Do you think I don’t know how impossible this is?" His voice was sharp, cutting through the room like a blade. "But what the hell am I supposed to do? Just forget about her? Just let her be treated like she’s nothing?"

Ethan didn’t flinch under Leo’s intensity. He knew Leo’s anger wasn’t directed at him, but at the situation—at the helplessness he felt. Ethan took a deep breath, trying to remain calm and rational in the face of Leo’s turmoil.

"I’m not saying you should forget about her," Ethan replied, his tone steady. "But you have to be careful. If your father finds out how deep your feelings run above the pack's rule, and if Isabella gets wind of it... this could get ugly, Leo. You know what Isabella’s like. She’s not going to let this go."

Leo’s fists clenched again, his knuckles white with tension. He didn’t want to think about Isabella, about the jealousy and vindictiveness that he knew lurked behind her pretty face. And his father... Alpha Eric was another obstacle entirely. Strong, commanding, and unyielding, his father wouldn’t tolerate any deviation from what he considered to be the right path for his son. And in his father’s eyes, Lucy wasn’t on that path.

"What am I supposed to do, Ethan?" Leo’s voice was softer now, the anger fading away to reveal the vulnerability beneath. "Tell me what I can do, because I’m out of ideas."

Ethan sighed, feeling the weight of his friend’s dilemma. He wished he had an easy answer, a clear path that Leo could follow. But the reality was far more complicated, and the choices Leo had to make were anything but simple.

"I don’t know, Leo," Ethan admitted, his voice carrying the honesty of someone who wished they could offer more. "But whatever you decide, you have to be smart about it. You can’t let your emotions rule you, not when so much is at stake. You need to find a way to navigate this, to protect Lucy without putting her—or yourself—in more danger."

Leo nodded slowly, absorbing Ethan’s words. "I’ll figure it out," Leo said finally, his voice filled with quiet determination. "I have to."

Ethan placed a hand on Leo’s shoulder, offering silent support. "And I’ll be with you every step of the way. Whatever you decide, I’m here for you."

Leo glanced over at Ethan, gratitude flickering in his eyes. He knew Ethan meant it, that he would stand by him no matter what. 

The tension from their earlier conversation still lingered in the room, but they both knew there were other matters to attend to—pressing responsibilities that couldn’t be ignored, no matter the turmoil in Leo’s heart.

“Leo,” Ethan said, his voice firm but gentle, “you need to pull yourself together. In two days, we’ll have pack members from all over coming here for the celebration. The full moon is almost upon us, and you can’t afford to be seen like this—in a shattered state.”

Leo nodded, rubbing a hand over his face as if to wipe away the lingering frustration. He was well aware of the significance of the upcoming gathering. It was a crucial event, one where alliances were reaffirmed, and the strength of their pack was on full display. A night that can never be forgotten. As the Alpha’s son, all eyes would be on him, watching his every move, waiting to see if he would live up to the expectations placed on his shoulders. He would have to fight with other strong wolves of other packs to show the strength of his pack.

“I know,” Leo replied, his voice heavy with resignation. “I’m aware of what’s coming.”

Ethan watched him for a moment, and the exhaustion that seemed to hang around him like a dark cloud. He needed to get Leo out of his head, to help him refocus. 

“Let’s train,” Ethan suggested, his tone lightening slightly as he tried to lift Leo’s spirits. “It’ll help clear your mind, get those thoughts out of your head for a while.”

Leo looked at Ethan, considering the offer. Training had always been a reliable way to channel his energy, to push aside the noise in his mind and focus on something tangible. But just as he was about to agree, a memory flickered in his mind—something he’d noticed earlier that hadn’t made sense at the time but now seemed all too clear.

“Ethan,” Leo said slowly, his gaze narrowing as he recalled the shadow he’d seen while they were leaving the hallway earlier. “When we were leaving... I saw someone. A shadow in the corner. I didn’t think much of it at the time, but now... I have a feeling like I know who it was.”

Ethan’s face remained impassive, but Leo noticed the slight shift in his posture—the way he stiffened, even if only for a moment. That reaction told Leo everything he needed to know. Ethan knew exactly who it was.

“Ethan,” Leo repeated, his voice firmer now as he locked eyes with his Ethan. “Who was it? Don't tell me you don't know.”

Ethan hesitated, his gaze slipping away from Leo’s for a brief moment before he answered. “It was your father,” he admitted, his voice steady but laced with caution. “That’s why I rushed to get you out of there. I didn’t want him to see more than he already had.”

Leo felt a cold chill run down his spine. If his father had been watching, then he would have seen everything—the way Leo had reacted, the anger, the frustration, the care he had shown for Lucy. And if he had seen all that, it wouldn’t take much for him to piece together what it was all about.

“So, he knows,” Leo said, his tone more a statement than a question. “He knows it’s about Lucy.”

Ethan placed a hand on Leo’s shoulder, trying to reassure him. “Don’t worry about that for now, he doesn't know and there's no way he could have known. He could only make his guesses,” Ethan said, his voice calm and measured. “But then we’ll deal with it when the time comes. Right now, you need to focus. We’ve got the full moon approaching, and the celebration... you can’t let this throw you off balance.”

Leo’s mind was still racing, but he knew Ethan was right. His father might have seen everything, might even be drawing conclusions as they spoke, but he couldn't be sure about his conclusion. He needed to keep his focus, to prepare for the days ahead. The last thing he could afford was to be distracted when his pack needed him at his best.

“Okay,” Leo finally agreed, his voice steadier now. “You’re right. Let’s train.”

Ethan nodded, satisfied that he had managed to steer Leo back on track, at least for the time being. “Good. We’ll get started now, clear your head, and we can figure out the rest later.”

Leo stood up and they both headed toward the training grounds.