So I decided to ask for Ethan's help. I went to his place. As expected, he's living a luxurious life. He's probably one of the wealthiest and most influential men in this country. He lives in a huge mansion that looked like a palace in the old times. Ethan's the perfect definition of the modern prince.
"Milady, my footman said you came to see me?" Ethan asked, approaching.
I stood up from the bench. "Please drop the politeness," I said. "I want to cut to chase. I came here to ask for your help."
"You look anxious. Did something happen?" Ethan asked.
"I know it's a foolish thing to do, but my fiance was taken by my enemies. I need to save him, so I'm asking for your help. You're strong and powerful; please help me," I said.
"You don't have to beg me for that. I can lend you some men to save your fiance, but I'll go with you. I don't want you to be in danger," Ethan said. "But before that, I want to ask you something in return."
"What is it? Money?"
Ethan seemed to laugh. "Do I look like I need money? Of course not. I want you to date me if we successfully save your fiance."
"Date you?!" I asked in a surprised tone.
"Yup. Do you have a problem with that?" He asked.
"No. No. I can date you." I don't know how Ethan could ask such a thing. He already knows I'm getting married, but he still wants to date me. But I have no other choice. He's the only one I know who can help me save Aaron.
"Alright. Since you've agreed, let's go straight to business. Come with me first. You can't go into a battlefield without getting prepared." Ethan turned and led me to a room where he kept all his weapons.
"Pick your weapon," he said. "These weapons can penetrate even the strongest werewolves."
"Why do you have these things?" I asked, confused.
"I was once a werewolf hunter before I awakened to my true nature," Ethan replied. "Don't worry. I have quit that kind of work. But it taught me a lot of things, including our own weaknesses."
"Thanks for helping me. You're such a reliable friend," I said, taking a dagger that had been hanging from the wall.
"You're most welcome. Careful with that dagger. It's poisoned. You'll die with a single stab." Ethan handed me the sheath.
"Thanks," I said.
"Now let's go. I'll call three of my best men to accompany us." Ethan led me outside the room and closed the door. He called his men and met us at the balcony. He introduced me to them. "Tricia, this is Mark, Glenn, and Sarah."
"Hi, I'm Tricia." I wanted to shake their hands, but the two guys ignored me.
Sarah shook my hand. "It's nice working with you, Tricia. Ethan told us you wanted to save a friend," she said.
"Yeah. Thanks for helping me."
"It's not for free," Mark interrupted. "Ethan paid us."
"Huh?" I was surprised. "Did you?"
"They are my employees; of course I pay them. Don't think about it. Let's focus on saving your friend now. That's our mission," Ethan said.
I felt a little bit guilty. I know I owe Ethan a favor, and he rarely does anything for someone without expecting something in return. I hope dating him would be enough.
"Is everyone ready?" Ethan asked.
"We are always ready," Glenn replied.
"Alright then. Let's go. Tricia will lead us to the enemy's territory. We have to be alert. It's a dangerous place. I have been there before," Ethan said.
We left Ethan's mansion together. We got into a black coupe. Mark drove us to the place but had to stop since the area couldn't be driven in anymore. The road ahead was rough and covered in steep rocks.
"Seems like we'll have to take a walk," Mark said.
Sarah sighed. We stepped out of the car together. We're still quite far away from the Bone-Reavers territory, but I can already sense how dangerous it is to go on. But we can't go back now that we're here.
Dusk had already settled down when we arrived near the place. I'm glad today is not a full moon, but despite that, there seems to be an event going on. Watching from the distance, we saw that the pack had gathered around the platform where ceremonies are often held.
To my surprise, I saw Aaron standing there right in front of Alpha William. I knew it; he used him to lure me here and then kill all of us. But I can't let that happen, over my dead body.
"Tricia, what's your plan?" Ethan asked.
"I hope you guys are ready for whatever's going to happen. I won't just stand here and do nothing while they make fun and torture my fiance," I said, stepping forward.
"Tricia, wait," Ethan grabbed my wrist. "Please don't let your emotions control you. We need to have a plan if you really want to save him. Look, there are a lot of them, and it's just four of us."
"But we have our weapons. We need to act now before they killed Aaron." I shook Ethan's hand off. I'm going to kill Alpha William. As fast as I could, I ran towards him, drawing out the dagger Ethan gave me.
Everyone didn't seem to notice me before I appeared behind Alpha William and was about to cut his throat, but I stopped when Aaron screamed something.
"Tricia, don't!" He exclaimed.
Everyone's attention turned towards me. Loud gossip started to overwhelm the place. Slowly they walked towards me, like zombies wanting me dead.
"Back off!" I said, holding the dagger firmly. "Or I'm going to cut your alpha's throat."
They seem to realize I am serious and started stepping back, but Alpha William burst into sheer laughter. "What are you doing?" he asked. "She's just a little brat who can't control her wolf. Snatch and bring her to the dungeon."
"Father, please... don't," Aaron said.
Father? The word struck me like lightning. Did Aaron just call Alpha William father? Right. They looked very similar. Are they really father-and-son?
"Son, this girl, she's the one who killed your mother. We can't let her go unpunished," Alpha William said.
My hand grew limp from what Alpha William said. I lost the courage to inflict pain. The poisoned dagger fell from my hand. In that complete silence, I heard it clatter on the ground. I can't believe the Luna I killed was Aaron's mother.
"You lied. She's not my mother," Aaron said, approaching. "Hellen was my mother. You raped her and left us, didn't you?"