Chapter 2

Ethan's POV

I stand in the corner of the dark hospital room with my arms crossed over my chest. The consistent beeping coming from the machines that are hooked up to my mate are setting my nerves on edge. My eyes stay on her, watching her chest rise and fall with each breath. She hasn't regained consciousness yet and it's eating away at me. She looks like an angel laying there. Her skin is a flawless ivory and her soft curls fan out around her in a fiery red halo. Her body is thin and lithe with gorgeous curves that I am aching to run my hands over. Unfortunately, I can't see her most stunning feature while she sleeps. Her eyes were a gorgeous violet with golden flecks in them. I have never seen eyes like that and I long to see them again. The few seconds where our eyes met was not enough for me. However, I can't forget the fact that she has something to do with what happened this evening.

Half a dozen of my men were killed in cold blood while at one of the local bars. We followed the scent all of the way to The Scourge and that same scent is all over my mate. Either she was there, or she knows who was. I'm determined to find out exactly what her connection is before I allow myself to get too close to her. I can't afford to let our mate bond get in the way of justice for my pack. We lost good men including one of our lieutenants. Some of them had mates, families. My pack and I are out for blood and hopefully she will hold the answers. I just pray that she will be innocent. I'd hate to have to kill my mate when I have been waiting to find her for so long.

There is a light knocking on the door and I turn to see who it is. The nurse comes in followed by my brothers Alex and Xander. Alex took after our mother with lighter hair and royal blue eyes. His skin is fairer too. Xander and I both look more like our father with dark hair and harsher features. The only difference for me is that I got our mom's sapphire eyes and Xander got our father's chocolate brown ones. I turn my gaze to catch the nurse eyeing me up with a little smirk before she walks over to check the monitors hooked to my mate. I ignore it and turn to Alex and Xander as they approach me and Alex speaks softly, "How is she? Any change?"

My eyes shift back to her sleeping form. "No. No change," I respond simply.

They both look over at her. "She really is quite beautiful..."

"Yeah. She is."

"So, are you planning on introducing her to the pack when she wakes up?" Xander asks, turning his gaze to me.

I scowl. "Of course not. I don't even know if I'm going to accept her yet."

"Seriously? She's your fated mate. Picked specifically for you by the Moon Goddess. You can't just ignore that," Alex argues in a tone that is a mix of both a yell and a whisper as he tries to not disturb the sleeping beauty.

Xander lets out a scoff at Alex's comment, but refrains from saying anything. We both know what he has against mates. My irritated gaze turns to Alex before I explain, "But I can't trust her. She might have killed my men. I need to find out why."

"Or she may be innocent. I mean look at her. She doesn't look like a cold-blooded killer," he replies back as he waves his hand in her direction as if making a point.

"Shows how much you know. She had been ready to pounce on me with her claws. I think the only reason I didn't wind up dead is that she caught my scent," I stated.

"And you didn't catch hers?" Xander questions with a raised eyebrow.

"I did... but it was mixed with the scent we had been tracking. By the time I realized that she was my mate, the dagger was already buried hilt-deep in her abdomen."

Bile seems to rise up in my throat as I remember the heartbroken look she gave me as she realized her own mate had stabbed her. And just like before a swirl of emotions instantly invades me. Thanks to the mate bond I instantly wanted her. I want to mark her and make her mine. But now, because of what happened, everything is so complicated. I can't take her as my Luna if she has done anything to make herself an enemy of my pack.

"So, if you aren't ready to accept her, what are you going to do with her?"

I clench my fists as I glare at her. My head and heart are at war right now in regards to this matter. Had she not been my mate she would already be dead. I've always been more of a kill first ask questions later kind of guy. It is only because of the mate bond that I immediately rushed her to the hospital to be saved before she had the chance to bleed out.

Finally, my head wins out. I need to put my pack first right now. "Once she wakes up and is out of harm's way she'll be escorted to the dungeons for questioning."

"Are you sure about that?" Alex asks.

My wolf growls and so do I. "You dare to question your Alpha?" I hiss.

Alex instantly puts his hands up in surrender. "I'm just making sure you've thought this through. Everything she feels, you will feel because of the bond."

I set my jaw in determination and nod. "I'm sure. I know what I'm doing." Alex opens his mouth as if to speak before thinking better of it and closing it once more. He simply sighs and nods, taking my word for it. Between the two of them, Alex is the one most likely to challenge my decisions. He's the next oldest and always asks the hard questions when I need it. Sometimes I appreciate it. And then there are other times, such as now where it just annoys me. I allow another glance at my beautiful mate before turning back to Alex. "I want two mated guards posted outside her door and another two at each of the hospital's entrances. Inform me once she wakes. The only people I want coming in and out of here is the approved medical staff, either of you, or myself."

Alex and Xander both stand straighter and nod before clearly using our mind-linking abilities to give out orders as I leave the room. I can't stay here any longer or I might lose my resolve. It will be best if I stay away until she is done being questioned. I briskly strut down the hallway and to the elevator and push the down button. As I reach the main floor, I see a couple dozen guards walking into the lobby before fanning out to take their places. "Alpha," two men salute as they approach the elevator that I just stepped out of. I give them a brusque nod before the doors close between us.

*****

The next day is spent in my study as I keep myself busy with business reports and various paperwork. I have not heard anything about my mate all day and am beginning to feel distracted, my thoughts constantly going back to her. "We should go see her. I miss her." My wolf states insistently.

"No. We have work we need to do. Alex will let us know when she wakes up."

"She should have been awake by now. What if something is wrong? We should be there for our mate."

"For the last time, no."

"Why do you always have to be so stubborn?!" My wolf complains.

"I don't know. Why do you?" I counter and my wolf growls at me in irritation. "Fine. If we don't hear anything by the end of the evening, we'll go check on her. Happy now?"

"Yes."

Now that our little argument is finished, I quickly shut off the link to my wolf so I can try to put my focus back on work. It isn't until several more hours and a break for dinner than I finally hear anything. "Ethan, she's awake." Alex's voice rings out in my head. "She is being discharged and then we'll take her to the dungeons. Do you want us to wait for you?"

"No. Go ahead. I'll meet you at the cells."

"Okay. We'll see you there then."

We cut off the mind link and my wolf speaks out. "She shouldn't have to go to the dungeons. She's our mate. We know she's innocent."

"We don't know that. That is why she has to be questioned."

"Then you should be the one to do it."

"No. I can't. I wouldn't be able to do what needs to be done if she tries to hide something from me."

"She wouldn't do that."

"YOU DON'T KNOW THAT!" I growl at my wolf in frustration. This is already hard enough on me as it is. I don't need him giving me grief and getting in my head the way he does. He whimpers and backs off, realizing that he has pushed me too far. I don't bother saying anything else as I sigh and cut off our link once more. I stand up and organize the last of my files before leaving my office to head to our dungeons.

I arrive and walk down to the lowest level where all of the empty cells are. No one is down there except for Angelo who I have ordered to take care of her questioning. He is standing against the stone wall opposite of the cells with his hands clasped in front of him and his face looking straight ahead. When he hears my approach, he quickly salutes me. "Alpha."

"Angelo. The prisoner is on her way."

He gives me a gruff nod and we soon hear the clang of the metal door at the top of the stone steps. There is the shuffling of feet and the thudding of boots as they start their descent. I breathe in and catch the heavenly scent of lavender and honey that my mate gives off and my wolf instantly purrs. I can sense him wagging his tail in excitement to see our mate once more. When they reach the bottom landing my eyes immediately meet with hers. For a split second her face displays surprise and happiness, but once she notices my stern demeanor her expression slips away, replaced by one that shows unease and confusion. I keep my expression hard and cold, but inside I feel my heart breaking inside my chest and my wolf whimpers, hating that we are causing that frown that is now on her angelic face.

I clasp my hands behind my back, straightening myself to my full height as I take a step towards her. "What is your name?"

She narrows her eyes at me and mimics my posture, ignoring the pain on her wrists caused by the silver cuffs that have her hands bound behind her back. "What's it to you?"

"I'm the one asking the questions here," I announce through clenched teeth as I try to keep my temper in check.

"Yes. But that doesn't mean I have to answer," she states forcefully back.

I take another step closer to her so that she is forced to look up to meet my eyes. "Answer me! What is your damn name?!" I growl using my Alpha voice.

"Fuck you," she spits back and my eyes widen for a split second, surprised that she was not affected by my Alpha aura. Even the guards had stepped away uncomfortably, but she held her ground and proceeded to curse me without even flinching.

I glare at her, my breathing a bit heavier as I try to keep myself calm. "Take her away," I order the guards as I wave to the cells lined up behind me. Alex watches their backs as they pass me and I don't bother to turn around. Instead, I turn to Angelo. "Treat her like you would any other prisoner. I want to know what she knows."

He nods and I walk away, stomping up the stairs as Alex swiftly follows me. "Do you want to talk about this?" he asks as he hurries to catch up with me.

"No," I state through gritted teeth before slamming the door open and walking out into the crisp evening air. My wolf bursts out and my body shifts before I run off towards the patch of trees nearby. I need to get away and cool off before I lose it.