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I Am His Wolfless Luna
Chapter 16
Ethan’s POV
The late afternoon sun slanted through my office windows, painting long shadows across the polished desk where Emma’s tears had fallen just minutes before. My wolf, Felix, paced restlessly in my mind, unsettled by the confrontation in the parking lot. Something about the whole situation felt off, like a puzzle with missing pieces.
I massaged my temples, trying to sort through the conflicting impulses warring in my chest. As facility administrator and Shadow Fang’s heir, I had a duty to maintain order. But watching Aria take Emma down with such precise, controlled power had stirred something primal in me. The memory of her fluid movements made Felix whine with interest.
A knock at the door interrupted my brooding. Aria entered at my acknowledgment, her chin lifted in that proud tilt that seemed to challenge gravity itself. The fading sunlight caught her dark hair, highlighting strands of deep mahogany. Even without her wolf powers, she carried herself with the dignity of an alpha’s daughter.
*You wanted to see me?‘ Her voice was cool, professional, betraying none of the fire I’d witnessed earlier.
‘Sit down, Aria.‘ I gestured to the chair across from my desk, noting how she chose to remain standing. “About what happened with Emma-”
‘I won’t apologize.” She crossed her arms, the movement drawing attention to the lean muscle of her shoulders. “Not for defending myself, and certainly not for protecting my son.”
Felix growled softly, responding to the steel in her voice. I forced myself to maintain my stern expression, though part of me admired her unwavering strength. “As the facility’s administrator-”
I understand.” She cut me off, reaching into her bag to withdraw an envelope. “Here’s my resignation.”
“No.” The word came out sharper than intended, heavy with alpha authority. Several things happened at once – papers on my desk rustled from the force of it, Aria’s eyes widened slightly, and Felix surged forward with unexpected intensity.
I took a breath, moderating my tone. “The training facility needs your expertise. Especially now, with the wild wolf attacks increasing.” I stood, moving around the desk to face her directly. “I can’t accept your resignation.”
She lifted one eyebrow, a gesture that somehow managed to convey both skepticism and challenge. “Can’t? Or won’t?”
“Both.” I stepped closer, close enough to catch the faint scent of her shampoo – something clean and crisp that made Felix stir with interest. “You’re the most qualified combat instructor we have. The young wolves respect you, especially after… demonstration days before.”
A ghost of a smile touched her lips. “You mean when I put three transformed wolves on their backs without shifting?”
“Among other things. I couldn’t help returning her smile, remembering the grace with which she’d moved. The moment stretched between us, charged with something I couldn’t quite
name.
Her phone’s sharp ring shattered the tension. Aria glanced at the screen, her expression softening slightly. ‘I need to take this.”
I nodded, watching as she moved toward the window to answer. The late afternoon light painted her profile in gold, softening the warrior’s edges I’d come to associate with her.
‘Leo?‘ Her voice carried a warmth I hadn’t heard before, making Felix growl softly in my mind. “No, you’re not interrupting anything important.”
The casual dismissal shouldn’t have bothered me. Yet I found myself listening intently, tracking the subtle changes in her expression as she spoke to the North Pack wolf who’d been her friend through the years of exile
“The Alpha Heir’s Bali?” She turned slightly, and I caught the flash of uncertainty in her eyes. “I don’t know, Leo. That’s not really my scene anymore.”
My hands clenched involuntarily at my sides. The annual ball was a major social event, where young alphas and their potential mates could meet under formal circumstances. The thought of Aria attending with Leo made Felix pace anxiously.
‘Fine,” she finally said, her voice softening with a warmth I hadn’t heard before. “You’re impossible to say no to, you know that? Yes, next Friday. I’ll be there.”
She ended the call and turned back to face me, her expression once again carefully neutral. “Was there anything else, Administrator?”
The formal title felt wrong on her lips, especially after the moment we’d shared. “Stay,” I said quietly. “The facility needs you. The young wolves need you.” I paused, then added, “I won’t interfere with your methods again.”
Aria studied me for a long moment, her amber eyes unreadable. Finally, she nodded once. “On one condition.”
“Name it.”
‘No, more forced apologies.” She stepped closer, close enough that I could see the gold flecks in her eyes. “I won’t compromise my principles, not even for Shadow Fang’s heir.”
The challenge in her voice made Felix rumble with approval. “Agreed.” I held out my hand to seal the deal.
She hesitated for a fraction of a second before taking it. The moment our skin touched, a jolt of awareness shot through me. Felix surged forward with such force that I nearly staggered. Aria must have felt something too – her pupils dilated slightly, and her breath caught.
We held the handshake a heartbeat too long before she pulled away. “Good evening, Ethan,‘ she said softly, turning to leave.
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Chapter 16
I watched her go, my hand still tingling from her touch. The sun had nearly set, painting the mountains in shades of purple and gold.
Felix whined softly, already missing her presence.
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