Chapter Five #2
Beside me, Joanna tensed. “You’re talking about exposure. You want to out your own kind? That’s suicide.”
Ethan chuckled darkly. “Suicide? No, Joey. It’s evolution.
It’s the next step in our existence. We’ve been hiding in the shadows, afraid of what the humans might do if they find out about us—but no more.
It’s time for us to take our rightful place in the world.
And if that means a few humans must die along the way…
” He shrugged, a chilling nonchalance in the gesture.
“So, the humans you slaughtered? They were only casualties of your cause?” Joanna demanded, marching toward him.
“Oh no, kitten. They were an experiment. One body each month.” His gaze traveled to her lips. “To see how long it takes until my hunter comes running back to me.”
Joanna grabbed Ethan’s chin, shoving him hard against the wall. “There were two bodies last night,” she hissed between her clenched jaw. “Or did you forget?”
Ethan’s chest heaved with laughter as he pulled his head away from Joanna’s hand.
“I… got carried away last night, I’m afraid.
Especially when the scent of my alpha was mingling with yours.
” He closed his eyes, a smile still on his face.
“Shit. I got jealous and had all these fucking questions running through my head. ‘Why are they together? Did she tell him about us? Is he trying to claim what’s mine?’” He opened his eyes, staring at Joanna with a sickening hunger.
“‘How badly does she miss the way I taste?’”
This was a waste of time. If there was a revolt happening, I needed names, plans. “Who’s leading the revolution?” I asked, my voice steady despite myself.
A sly smile formed on Ethan’s lips. “That’s such a great question, Alpha.”
“Ethan, if what you’re saying is true, then we need to know who’s involved. We need to stop it before it goes any further.”
Ethan laughed. “Why would I want to stop it, Marcus? Besides, it’s already in motion. And as for who’s involved…” He leaned forward. “Naw. I’m not going to spoil the fun.”
Joanna cracked her knuckles. “Give us a name.”
Ethan’s smile widened. “Isn’t it funny how one little word can hurt someone’s feelings? You and I used to be an ‘us.’”
I could feel the frustration building inside me, the urge to shake the answers out of him growing stronger with each passing second. But I knew that wouldn’t get us anywhere, because Ethan was enjoying this. He was enjoying the power he held over us.
I took a deep breath, pushing up my sleeves. “Alright, Ethan. You don’t want to help? Fine. But remember, I can play this game, too.”
Ethan’s smile faded, a flicker of uncertainty in his eyes. “What does that mean?”
I leaned in, lowing my voice to almost a whisper. “It means I know things. Things that would expose you as the traitor you are to your new friends, Ethan.”
A hint of fear finally appeared in the depths of Ethan’s eyes. “Care to elaborate, Alpha? Or are you full of shit?”
I smiled, a cold, calculating smile, ready to throw his jeering back at him. “That’s such a great question, Beta.”
Ethan gawked at me, wavering between defiance and self-doubt. Joanna stood tense, her eyes locked on him, waiting for his response.
“You’re bluffing,” Ethan growled, but his voice lacked conviction.
I leaned in closer. “You know I have eyes and ears everywhere. How hard will it be to spread a few rumors? You’re already a drunk.
But you think you can betray your pack for a cause as righteous as freedom, and then throw it all away for human pussy?
And a hunter’s at that? Sounds like a plan to double-cross to me.
” It was a weak bluff—spreading rumors like that would only put my pack in danger.
But my beta was a selfish bastard who failed to see that, and my performance was enough to shatter his bravado.
“You wouldn’t.” His eyes flickered to Joanna in a panic. “I was teaching her a lesson—This is about our survival as a species, Marcus.”
“Survival?” Joanna interjected, her voice as sharp as the silver knife she seemed to love so much. “You murdered innocent people because a girl ghosted you. I don’t think you’ll last long in any scenario.”
Ethan growled, yanking against his chains. The silver surged through the restraints, reacting to the tension and buckling his knees. He caught himself before he met the floor. “The humans are destroying the world,” he hissed in pain. “We have to fight back.”
I shook my head, disgust curling my lip. “This isn’t about survival. This is about your twisted desire to dominate.”
Ethan laughed through gritted teeth. “And what about you, Marcus? You don’t want power? Bullshit. You’ve just always been too afraid to do what’s necessary. Too soft to challenge other packs when you know you and I could own this whole fucking city.”
I snarled at him, my wolf surging to the surface. “I’m the fucking alpha, Ethan. I don’t want power. I am power.”
Ethan sighed. “Then join us, brother. Fight with me. Revolution is inevitable. Look at what one human has done to us already. She’s ensnared us.”
I shook my head, turning away from him. “You’re a lost cause. But a promise is a promise, Ethan.” I turned to the bottom of the staircase.
As Maya and Lucas descended the stairs, their faces grim, Ethan’s eyes widened in terror. He knew what was coming, and he knew there was no escape.
“You can’t do this,” he pleaded.
I ignored him, my gaze locked on the pair at the bottom of the stairs. “What’s your verdict?”
Maya and Lucas exchanged a solemn glance. “We find him guilty,” Maya replied.
Lucas nodded in agreement. “Guilty.”
I sighed, turning to face Ethan. My friend. “I, Marcus Blackwood, Alpha of the Blackwood Pack, sentence you, Ethan King, to death.”
Ethan’s eyes filled with panic. “Marcus,” his voice cracked. “Don’t do this.”
I shook my head. “Maya, escort Lucas and Miss Sullivan upstairs.”
Joanna’s eyes widened in disbelief. “Wait. What?” She took a step forward, her fists clenched at her sides. “I’m not leaving.”
I turned to face her. “You’ve meddled enough, Miss Sullivan. This is pack business.”
“Pack business?” Joanna spat. She stiffened like a cat before the pounce.
Ethan shook his head. “Joey,” he whispered. It was a last-ditch effort to stir some shred of pity for the connection once shared. “I lied, Joey. I was luring you out, but only to save you—I swear. Revolution is inevitable. I wanted to protect you.”
Maya stepped up behind Joanna. Her hand was firm yet gentle on Joanna’s shoulder, a silent command.
Joanna’s furious gaze flicked from Ethan to Maya, then to me. She hesitated for a moment, then turned to follow Maya.
As they ascended, I watched the hunter’s retreating figure. The door at the top of the stairs closed behind her with a loud clank, leaving me alone to execute my best friend.