Free Web NovelChapter 128: Chapter 128
Deal?
Ethan’s POV
Pain was the first thing I felt.
A heavy painful ache was pounding inside my head like something had exploded inside my skull. It was so bad that for a few seconds I couldn’t even open my eyes properly.
I groaned quietly and tried to move.
That was a mistake because the moment I tried to sit up the pain in my head became even worse and a sharp wave of dizziness rushed through my body. My hand immediately grabbed my temple as I forced my eyes open slowly.
The room was dim.
For a moment I couldn’t remember where I was or what had happened.
Then the memory hit me. Everything came back all at once.
The broken door.
Riley standing there naked.
The smell of her heat in the air.
And then—
Gunnar.
My jaw clenched tightly.
"Damn it," I muttered under my breath.
They had knocked me out. Those bastards actually knocked me out.
I pushed myself up slowly while gritting my teeth against the pain in my head. My legs felt unsteady but I forced myself to stand.
Anger was already boiling inside my chest. I was going to get Riley back.
She belonged to me. She was still my wife and no one had the right to take her away from me like that.
But as I stood there trying to steady myself something else suddenly came back to my mind.
The image of Gunnar’s face.
His glowing eyes.
And the sharp white fangs that had been fully visible when he nearly crushed my throat.
For a moment I just stood there thinking about it. Then slowly a smile spread across my face.
And before I could stop it, a laugh escaped my mouth.
A low laugh at first. Then it grew louder.
Soon I was laughing like a madman standing alone in the room.
"So that’s it," I muttered between laughs. "The mighty Alpha Gunnar."
"A vampire."
I shook my head slowly as the realization became clearer. "This is fucking interesting"
That was what they had been hiding all this time. That was the big secret.
The almighty Alpha who everyone feared.
The strongest man in Obsidian Veil. Was not even fully a wolf.
He was a hybrid. Half vampire. Half fucking wolf.
"Interesting," I whispered with a dark grin. "Very interesting."
The Alpha that everyone worshipped had weaknesses after all.
And I had seen it with my own eyes. That information alone could destroy him.
Just imagining the chaos it would cause in the pack made my smile grow wider.
But before I could think further—
Clap! Clap! Clap!
The sound echoed suddenly behind me. Slow. Deliberately.
I turned around instantly. Caden was standing near the doorway.
He was clapping slowly with a calm expression on his face.
Behind him Cane leaned casually against the wall.
But the way he was staring at me made my stomach tighten slightly.
There was pure hatred in his eyes.
"Well well well," Caden said calmly as he stopped clapping.
"The dutiful and loving husband Alpha Ethan Forlorn is finally awake."
His tone sounded amused. Like he was enjoying this moment.
I swallowed slightly. Even though I hated admitting it, standing in front of both of them made me uncomfortable.
Ever since childhood I had never been able to beat either of them in a fight.
Not once. And it had always irritated the hell out of me.
Caden alone was already stronger than me, by far unmatched strength.
But Cane...
Cane was even worse. I don’t even want to think about Gunnar, he’s a monster.
Facing any of them together was not something I wanted.
Still I forced a smirk onto my face. "Well," I said casually while stretching my neck a little.
"That was a rude way to treat a guest."
Cane scoffed loudly. "You broke into our space Ethan, uninvited."
His tone was cold and sharp.
I chuckled lightly "I just came to see my wife."
The moment I said that word both of their expressions darkened instantly.
Good.
That reaction pleased me.
I folded my arms and leaned slightly against the wall like I wasn’t bothered at all.
Then I tilted my head slightly.
"Although I must say I learned something very interesting today."
Caden raised an eyebrow slowly."Oh?"
I grinned wider. "Your brother, Gunnar."
I paused slightly before finishing the sentence. "He’s a vampire."
The silence that followed felt heavy. Then I laughed again.
"So tell me something," I continued with amusement.
"Are you two also hybrids like him?"
"Because if your dear brother is hiding fangs then maybe both of you are hiding something too."
Before I could even finish the sentence Cane suddenly pushed himself away from the wall and stepped toward me with a furious expression.
"You want to find out?" he snapped.
His fist was already clenched tightly.
I immediately tensed. Cane was definitely going to punch me.
But before he could move further Caden raised his hand and stopped him.
"Cane."
Cane looked irritated but he stopped.
Caden shook his head slightly. "Let me handle this."
Cane stared at me for a moment longer with clear hatred in his eyes before stepping back again.
He crossed his arms and leaned against the wall again but I could tell he was still angry.
Caden then walked closer to me slowly. His movements were calm and controlled.
When he stopped in front of me, his expression looked thoughtful.
"Let’s make a deal, Ethan."
I blinked. Then I burst out laughing loudly. "A deal? You suddenly want to negotiate with me now instead of punching me on the face?"
I shook my head in disbelief. "That’s a little late for that, don’t you think?"
My grin became wider."I’ve already seen your dirty little secret. You think I’m just going to forget that?"
Caden nodded slowly.
A strange smile appeared on his face"Fair enough." His eyes suddenly became sharper. "Then we’ll do this the hard way."
For some reason the way he said that made a small chill run through my spine.
I frowned slightly."What are you talking about?"
Caden looked directly into my eyes."If you reveal to anyone what you saw today..."
He paused for a moment.
Then he finished the sentence calmly. "Everyone will know that you murdered your own mother to have your stepsister."
The words hit me like a bomb. My entire body froze. My eyes widened instantly.
For a moment I couldn’t even breathe properly.
I clenched my fists tightly. "You’re insane," I said through gritted teeth.
Caden chuckled softly."Am I?"
He tilted his head slightly. "You strangled her that night didn’t you?."
"You thought no one would ever figure it out. But unfortunately for you..."
He tapped his temple lightly."I’m very good at finding secrets Ethan."
My stomach twisted painfully."How do you know that?" I demanded angrily.
Caden’s smile grew slightly. "Oh Ethan. You would be surprised how much information I have access to."
Behind him Cane spoke coldly."You were never as careful as you thought you were, you’re still a bastard."
I felt anger rising inside me again. "You have no proof," I snapped.
Caden shrugged casually. "Maybe."
"Maybe not."
He leaned slightly closer to me. "But tell me something. Do you really want to take that risk?" free𝑤ebnovel.com
His eyes were cold now. "Because if you open your mouth about Gunnar’s secret..."
"We will open ours about yours."
My jaw tightened so hard it started hurting.
Caden stepped back again calmly. "Choose wisely, Ethan."
The room fell silent again.
My mind was racing. If what he said was true then they really could destroy me.
The council would tear me apart if they found out what I did.
My position. My reputation. Everything would be gone.
But at the same time the thought of letting them walk away with their secret made my blood boil.
Cane suddenly spoke again.
"You should be grateful we’re even offering you a choice."
His voice sounded disgusted. "If it were up to me I would have broken your neck the moment you tried to touch Riley."
My eyes narrowed slightly."You seem very protective of another man’s wife."
Cane’s expression darkened instantly.
But before he could react Caden spoke again. "She is not yours anymore."
His voice was calm but firm. "You lost that right the moment you treated her like property instead of a person and once she’s stable, she’s divorcing you, good a thing you haven’t marked her."
My smile became cold."She is still legally my wife."
Caden’s gaze hardened. "Not for long beware."
Something about the confidence in his voice made me uneasy.
He looked at me for another moment before turning toward the door.
"Think carefully about your next move, Ethan." He paused before leaving. "Because if you make the wrong choice..."
He glanced back at me one last time. "Your entire world will burn and we will hunt you."
Then he walked out of the room.
Cane followed him but before leaving he stopped beside me for a moment.
He leaned slightly closer. His voice was quiet but filled with pure hostility.
"If you ever go near Riley again" he paused " I won’t need Caden’s permission next time before breaking your nose."
