Chapter 26: Shattered Composure
Chapter 26: Shattered Composure
(Ethan’s POV)
My world collapsed the moment I saw Marcus emerge from the business car.
The rumors were true. Samantha had retained his services. My Luna was preparing for divorce.
My heart hammered against my chest as I realized she had seen me with Rebecca. The careful image I’d maintained as Alpha King meant nothing now. I was ruined, beyond redemption in her eyes.
Logan, my wolf, howled in anguish inside me. He had always warned me against this deception. Now his pain mirrored my own as we faced the consequences of my choices.
In that moment, I wasn’t an Alpha King worried about territory or power. I was simply a man watching everything that mattered slip through his fingers.
William Pierce sat in the driver’s seat of Hector’s car, about to step out when I barked sharply, “Wait.”
The beta froze, his hand on the door handle. Through the windshield, he observed the tense tableau
unfolding outside – Samantha standing frozen, her eyes locked with mine.
William glanced at Hector, noting the play of moonlight and shadow across the Southern Alpha’s face. His expression remained unreadable, almost serene despite the chaos erupting around us.
I watched as Hector’s fingers moved methodically over his obsidian prayer beads, the rhythmic motion a stark contrast to the turmoil outside. The sight filled me with cold dread.
Rebecca noticed Samantha and tensed beside me. I felt her momentary anxiety, quickly replaced by a strange assurance. She knew this was my territory. Whatever happened, she believed I would protect her.
“Ethan, let’s go inside,” she murmured, deliberately linking her arm through mine.
Her voice carried just enough volume to reach Samantha’s sensitive hearing. I saw my Luna flinch as if
struck.
My gaze met Samantha’s across the distance between us. Her eyes were red–rimmed, evidence of recent tears. The hurt within them pierced me like a physical wound.
I recoiled instinctively, fighting the overwhelming urge to rush to her, to hold her, to explain everything. My wolf clawed at my insides, desperate to reach our mate.
“Blackwood, what’s wrong?” Victor Willis’s voice cut through my thoughts, jolting me back to reality.
The European Alpha stood watching me with narrowed eyes, his wife beside him. This business alliance was crucial for the pack’s future. Years of negotiation would crumble if I faltered now.
There was no turning back.
I withdrew my arm from Rebecca’s grasp and gestured toward the restaurant entrance. “Nothing. This way, please.”
With that seemingly composed gesture, I made my choice. Business over heart. Pack over mate.
As I turned away, my internal turmoil raged. I simultaneously dreaded and yearned for Samantha’s outburst –
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Chapter 26 Shattered Co.
any sign that she still cared enough to fight for us.
Call out to me, Sam, I silently pleaded. Call out to me!-
But only silence followed as I led my guests inside.
(Samantha’s POV)
My tears only flowed after Ethan turned his back.
The man who had once vowed to prioritize me above all else had chosen differently. Career over family. Power over love. The realization crushed me more thoroughly than any physical blow.
FORKS
All the memories I’d clung to, all the excuses I’d made for his absence and neglect, crumbled to dust. My body trembled uncontrollably as the weight of his betrayal settled upon me.
“Ms. Reed, if you need a moment, we can postpone this meeting.” Marcus’s voice pulled me back to the present as he offered a crisp white handkerchief. “I’ll be in Ravenwood City for a while.”
I blinked, startled by his kindness. The distinguished lawyer stood patiently, his expression professional but not unkind.
“I apologize for the scene,” I managed, forcing a weak smile. “I’m fine. Let’s go.”
I accepted the handkerchief and wiped my tears, trying to maintain a facade of composure. But my distress
betrayed me.
As I took a step forward, the world tilted precariously. My knees buckled beneath me.
The baby! Panic seized me as I thought of the tiny life I’d only just confirmed was growing inside me. My
limbs felt weak, offering no support to either of us.
“Careful, Ms. Reed!” Marcus’s voice reached me as a strong hand grasped my arm.
The touch was both firm and respectful. My head rested momentarily against a solid chest, a faint scent of
sandalwood reaching me.
“Are you alright?” A calm voice inquired. Hector Grayson.
I looked up, meeting his compassionate gaze, I must look a mess, I thought absently. Tears streaking my makeup, face flushed with emotion.
I was unaware of how this vulnerability evoked a wave of protectiveness in the Southern Alpha. His eyes darkened slightly as he steadied me, one hand at my elbow, the other briefly touching my waist.
He noted my thin clothing, inadequate for the evening chill. The warmth of his hand seeped through my blouse where he held me.
“Still dizzy?” he asked softly, his voice pitched low for my ears alone.
“A little better,” I replied, gently pulling away. “I’m fine. Probably just low blood sugar. Let’s go inside, i cold.” Hector’s gaze lingered on the spot where his hand had rested against my side. Something flickered in nis eyes before he nodded, matching his stride to mine as we walked toward the restaurant entrance.
He stayed close, subtly protective without being overbearing. Marcus followed behind us, maintaining a respectful distance, aware of the delicate dynamics at play.
Entering the private room of The Moonlit Garden, my mind replayed Ethan’s tender look toward Rebecca. The
< Chapter 26 Shattered Co
way his hand had rested possessively on her lower back. The man who had pledged unwavering loyalty had
dealt me a devastating blow.
My heart ached with a hollow emptiness I’d never experienced before. Not even when I’d first discovered might never conceive. This pain was different – sharper, more complete.
I gestured numbly for Hector and Marcus to sit. William, acting as my de facto assistant, opened the Crimson Count Reserve I had brought as a gift..
The meticulously prepared dishes arrived, including the famous Alpha’s Feast, simmered for twenty hours and served in a sealed clay pot that the server ceremoniously broke open at our table. The rich aroma filled the room, but held no appeal for me.
I found myself mirroring Ethan’s distraction, still painfully aware of his presence in the adjacent room despite everything. My wolf, Chloe, whimpered inside me, sensing his proximity.
(Ethan’s POV)
My unease grew with each passing moment of Samantha’s silence.
Victor Willis droned on about business alliances and territory agreements, but I couldn’t focus on his words. My thoughts remained fixed on Samantha, sitting just one wall away with my rival and her lawyer.
“Ethan?” Rebecca tugged at my sleeve, drawing my attention back to our table. “Mr. Willis asked about the new shipping routes.”
I mumbled some response, but my mind was elsewhere. The Alpha’s Feast before me remained untouched, despite it being my favorite dish.
James Quinn, seated at my right, shot me a concerned look. He could sense my distraction, my growing agitation.
“Excuse me,” I said abruptly, rising from my seat. “I need a moment.”
I didn’t wait for a response before striding away from the table. A sense of urgency propelled me forward. I had to see her, to speak to her, to make her understand.
Logan paced anxiously within me, pushing me toward our mate. The wolf recognized what was at stake better than I had.
I ignored the waiter’s protests as I approached the adjacent private dining room. Through the partially open door, I could hear Samantha’s voice, clear and resolute.
“Lawyer Marcus, I’ve decided. I want a divorce.”
Her words stopped me cold. I stood frozen outside the door, my hand halfway raised to push it open.
She paused, then added with steely determination that chilled my blood:
“I don’t care what it takes, even if it means mutual destruction. I won’t back down!”
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