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50. Mrs. Winters

"No."

I cross my arms, frowning at Luke. He holds my gaze, his own immovable with determination.

We're sitting in the kitchen, the table laden with breakfast that both of us made together. The morning was as blissful as they come, waking up in his arms, and then cooking together had been more than amazing.

Only, right now I want to whack him on the head.

"Why?" I ask

"Because I don't want him anywhere near you," Luke says firmly

"Come on!" I lean forward in my chair, towards him "He's my friend! He might still be worried about me taking a bullet."

His eyes only narrow at that "You're wellbeing is none of his business."

I close my eyes and take a deep breath. Calm, Elise, calm. What you need is to stay chill and make Luke see things from your side.

"Luke," I take his hand in my own "Don't you trust me?"

The steel in his gaze falters at that, his fingers tighten around my own "Its not you I don't trust."

"Ethan is just," I take a second to gather my thoughts "He just misunderstood where we stand. I don't want to be the reason someone gets hurt like that."

A frown tugs at the corner of his lips "You didn't seem to think that when you told me to get lost."

I blink at his serious expression and I try, seriously try and fail to keep my face straight since—

A laugh bubbles past my lips and still laughing I ask; "Seriously?"

His frown deepens "That is not funny."

"I remember proposing some very solid facts when I told you to 'Get lost'," I burst out laughing again

"That's it," Luke says, feigning hurt "My own mate doesn't think I might be hurt."

He stands up from his seat, and I, still gigging, quickly stop him by grabbing his arm. Luke looks over his shoulder at me, and its all I can do not to start laughing again at his 'devastated' face.

"I'm sorry," I stand to my feet as well so we're facing each other "I didn't mean to, honest."

He brushes his other hand along the side of my face, stopping as he reaches the back of my neck, leaving fire along my skin.

"You mean it?" Luke asks, and I realize he's not joking any more

I nod, his callouses skin brushing delightfully against my own, and a smile curves at my lips.

"I was sorry back then too," I tell him "But I knew I'd doom us both if I let my emotions get the better of me."

Luke steps closer, putting his forehead against mine "At the end of the day, you were the stronger one. Always."

I reach up to press a soft kiss to his lips before falling on my feet again, grinning.

"Like hell," I say smugly "You were going crazy."

Luke breathes out a laugh and wraps an arm around my shoulders, pulling my close to his side as we start walking.

"How could I not be?" He presses a kiss to my temple "You're amazing."

I look up, smiling like an idiot "I know I am."

With a contented sigh, I lean back in his warmth and realize where we are walking to; the library.

"You know," I murmur "This doesn't mean I've forgotten about what I said."

Luke lets out a dramatic sigh "I know."

"I'm still going to come clean to Ethan."

"I know," Luke grumbles "Honestly, you didn't even string him along. This is just unnecessary."

"Whatever it is," I nudge him "I need to do it."

"That doesn't mean I have to like it."
"Why do you hate him so much?" I sigh as I finally ask "He's always been nice to me, except for that one time."

Luke's jaw clenched at the mention of 'that one time'.

"Because he isn't nice," He says, his gaze hardened "I wonder if you know, but its well known that his pack is the one of the cruelest, most manipulative ones. All courtesy to its new Alpha. The fact that he's good to you doesn't sit well with me."

I furrow my brows. That sounds really far fetched, given what I've seen of Ethan. But I trust Luke to know more about packs than I currently do.

"I'll be careful," I promise

"Fine," he says in defeat. Then he's silent for a moment; thinking "Maybe you should do that before the mark is removed."

I raise an eyebrow, he continues "I want him to know you're out of his league for good."

I roll my eyes. Alpha males, they're always going to be beyond me. Then again, I suppose, I wouldn't like it if some girl was fawning over Luke. And for some biological reasons I don't get, males have a harder time with this sort of thing.

"Thank you, o mate of mine," I say to him dramatically "for letting me do things that I'd do even without needing your permission."

"Its more of a suggestion," Luke turns his face to me "But your utmost welcome, my love."

I laugh and shake my head as he smiles, then Luke turns the side of his face towards me, leaning down. When I only blink, he turns to face me.

"What?" I raise an eyebrow at the expectant look

Luke cocks his head to a side "Just a verbal thank you?"

Another laugh escapes me and I move out from his arm, walking ahead to open the library door "You're unbelievable."

"What?" He walks in after me "Not even a kiss on the cheek?"

I shake my head, not bothering to turn to him as I walk to a shelf "Stop being greedy, Luke."

His arms wrap around me from behind "I only get you for what? One life time? That's a short time already."

I look back at him, meeting his amused gaze with my own "Since when are you so openly affectionate?"

"Since you're my mate." Luke leans down, reducing the distance between us to almost non-existent "I would've been before, but you'd probably run away screaming."

I turn around in his hold, hooking my arms around his neck "I wouldn't run, darling, I'd slap you."

Luke snorts "True enough."

His eyes run over my face, softly, leisurely, a small smile coming on his face, warmed by something I cant yet categorize.

"Is this what people call a happy ending?" He asks

I allow my own eyes the pleasing task of looking over him, over every little scar, every sharp angle of his face, the face of the man I cant even imagine my life without. What happened along our way to this? When did this sneaky bastard put my heart in a sac and ran off with it?

I pull my hands down, only to wrap them around his waist, propping my chin on his chest. Luke smiles down at me, wrapping his own arms around my frame. 

"Yeah," I give him a soft smile "They do."

...

"All clear?"

I get up from the couch I've been sitting on as I see Luke enter our room, not looking particularly happy.

He nods "The coast is clear."

I put my book down and move my arms as if warming up. I tug my ponytail tighter and take a deep breath, Luke's lips tug upward.

"You're acting like you're about to spar with someone," He shakes his head, amused

"Oh, you have no idea, Winters." I tell him seriously

Gently breaking the news of having found your soulmate to a guy who's been pinning on me for I have no clue how long is going to be harder than a punch in the face.

"As you say, Mrs. Winters," he motions me to follow

"Mrs. Winters?" I ask as we leave the room

Luke casts me a quick glance from the corner of his eyes "You don't plan on staying Ms. Attwood for the rest of your life do you?"

I roll my eyes with a laugh "We are not getting married."

He stops dead in his tracks "We aren't?"

"Definitely not for the next five years," I say dismissively "Maybe ten."

Seeing as he doesn't start walking even then, I look over my shoulder at Luke's utterly shocked expression and flash him a grin.

"You're welcomed to try and convince me otherwise," I wink

Before he can say something that might convince me right then and there, I race down the stairs.

Since we cant let anyone really know that Luke and I are mates, and Ethan is being an exception, Luke made sure no one would be seeing me meet Ethan.

I sneak out of the mansion, giving a nod to the guards who return it.

Alright, so Ethan was supposed to meet me in the far side of the back yard— if you can call it that. Its more of a secondary garden.

One of the many reasons why I'm going to miss this mark even in the short while its going to be masked is that it enhances my senses to an insanely new level.

I detect Ethan's scent the moment I reach the back yard. He's standing at the very far end, by a few apple trees.

I hurry over to him, trying and failing to find a script for what I have to say. Ah, screw it, I'll just go with the flow.

He sees me coming and a offers me that polite smile of his as a greeting. When I reach closer, I offer him a wave, stopping within hearing distance.

"I see you're still alive," I say as greeting

"I could say the same about you," Ethan says "How are you feeling?"

"Splendid as always," I grin "More so because I won."

We both just stand there awkwardly for a moment.

"About last time," Ethan breathes in a deep breath, not meeting my eyes

"Before you start apologizing," I cut him off hurriedly "It's okay. You were stressed. I was stressed. Luke was stressed. That's what happens when a bunch of stressed people get stuck together."

Ethan meets my gaze, his own remorseful "I shouldn't have forgotten that you're a werewolf, I should've been more careful."

"As someone who constantly messes up, it'll be really hypocritical of me to hold a grudge," I shrug with a smile "And now that the cursed Hunt is over, we can move on with our lives."

Ethan huffs out a laugh "I was starting to think its never going to end."

"Me too," I roll my eyes

Ethan closes the last bit of distance between us "When Luke told me you wanted to meet, I was worried you're about to put a bullet through me."

"Ha ha," I roll my eyes, but cant help but feel a little pleased that I give off the vibe to hunt down those who bother me. Moon, is it wrong to feel good about that sort of things?

Then Ethan stops, I see the tension that seeps into his frame and his eyes narrow as he looks around. I watch him in confusion.

"Ethan?"

"Is Luke with you?" he looks over the yard "I can—

He stops again, his eyes snap to me and widen. Realization hits me like a brick. Crap, my scent is changed now.

I clear my throat awkwardly "Yeah... you wanna walk while I tell the tale?"

Ethan just stares at me, mouth opening and closing like a fish. I grab his arm and start walking, making him snap out of his stupor.

"He marked you?!"

"Pretty much, yep."

Ethan comes up in front of me, eyebrows furrowed in concern "What happened?"

Before he can assume anything, I put my hands on his shoulders, squeezing a bit "Hear me out."

He nods, closing his eyes, his shoulders sag slightly as he loosens a breath. When he opens his eyes again, the crystal blue is sharp with calculation.

"The silver bullet?" he guesses

I nod "But, that's not the only reason."

Ethan looks at me expectantly, I take a deep breath, look around to make sure no one's listening, then pull Ethan closer.

"Luke and I are mates."

"What?"

"My reaction exactly," I cant help the little chuckle that escapes me "But maybe a bit more happy."

Ethan lets out a ragged breath "Maybe we should walk."

So I start telling him, as briefly as possible, that Luke and I both had feelings for each other even before we knew we're mates and that because of how Luke's wolf is, we didn't find out until the very last moment of the hunt and then everything went to hell when former Alpha Supreme tried to kill us.

Sitting on a patch of grass, looking over the forestry that stretches ahead as the night wears on, I let Ethan process through all that. He didn't once say anything when I told him.

Finally, he turns to me.

"Are you happy?"

"I..." I blink, surprised "Of course, its all I could've asked for."

Ethan nods, turning his face ahead.

"I'm sorry," I mumble, pulling my legs to my chest and resting my chin on them "If I hurt you."

He shakes his head, a small smile tugs at his lips "You have nothing to apologize for, Elise. I'm not hurt. I just..."

He takes a deep breath, as if he cant express what he's feeling. And that frustrates him. He looks down at his hands, eyes tracing the path of the lines on his palms.

"There are things I regret not having done," He says quietly "Times I wish I could bring back and people I wish I could've saved and—

His words catch, he swallows thickly. Ethan shakes his head and turns to face me with a small smile.

"I wanted to be there for you," He says "In any way I could, not necessarily as a partner. But that seemed to be the only way I could've helped."

Ethan leans back on his arms "And if you're happy with Luke, the least I can do is congratulate you. And hope you kick his ass if he's not doing everything he can to win your heart every day."

I can't help myself. I throw my arms around him, hugging him tight. Ethan stills in my hold.

"You're too complicated to be real, Ethan, you know that?" I say

"So I've been told," He breaths out a laugh and pats my back "You should let go in case you fall through my image and into the ground."

I pull back and flash him a bright grin "Friends?"

He surprises me as he lifts up a fist for me to bump "Only if you convince Luke to stop bullying me like I'm his younger brother."

"Deal." I bump my fist with his with a snicker

I roll my eyes towards the night sky just in time to see a shooting star go by. I grasp, shaking Ethan's arm with enough force to detach it.

"Make a wish!" I say urgently "Maybe its still valid!"

"What?" he raises his brows "I don't—

I growl out in frustration. We're running out of time and he doesn't know what to wish for—

An idea lights up my head and I stand up, putting my hands around my mouth.

"I wish Ethan gets the prettiest, most amazing mate ever!" I howler

Just then, another shooting start goes by. I grin back at Ethan, who looks at me like I'm nuts.

He lets out a short, surprised laugh "You're mad."

I smirk smugly "One of the many reasons my mate loves me."

...

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