Ethan couldn't focus as he felt a sharp pain on his left side. Resisting the urge to yelp, he wondered, 'What the hell was that?' As the pain subsided, thoughts of Kasia flooded his mind. Was this connected to her somehow?
Quickly opening a telepathic link with Janet, Ethan's attempt to speak was abruptly interrupted. Janet lashed out at him. "As your advisor, I should be made aware of everything, yes?" she said.
"Yes, Janet, what's..." Ethan began.
"So, why wasn't I informed that Kasia is not a normal human? Is she even human?" Janet questioned.
"She's human. What's happening?" Ethan answered.
"She fought Aimee and won," Janet explained.
"No, that's impossible," Ethan protested. "Are you sure that's what happened?"
"Tell that to Aimee. They were the only two in the restroom. I intervened before it escalated, but you can see for yourself. I am sure she is on her way to complain to you," Janet explained.
Without warning, the heavy doors to Ethan's office were forcefully thrust open, and Aimee stormed in. Her heels clicked loudly against the polished marble floor as she marched towards him, her eyes blazing with anger. "You need to get rid of her," Aimee demanded through gritted teeth, her voice echoing off the walls of the spacious room. The air around them crackled with tension as she stood in front of Ethan's desk, her hands clenched into fists at her sides.
"Aimee, I specifically told you not to come barging into my office without permission," Ethan responded with a stern tone.
But Aimee was not backing down. "Don't try to change the subject. You need to get rid of her. She's dangerous."
Ethan's eyebrows furrowed in confusion. "Who are you referring to?"
"The little stray you picked up," Aimee clarified, her voice dripping with disdain. "She's dangerous, and she doesn't belong here."
Ethan let out a sigh as he leaned back in his chair. "She's been through a lot, Aimee. I'm sure whatever happened between you two was just a misunderstanding." He dismissed her with a wave of his hand, but it was clear that this was not a misunderstanding. Aimee's face was swollen and severely bruised. If Janet had not warned him in advance, he would not have been able to hide his surprise.
"No. This wasn't a misunderstanding. She viciously attacked me while I was simply trying to have a conversation with her." Aimee hissed through clenched teeth, her eyes blazing with anger and hurt.
"I find that hard to believe. You're always stirring up trouble," Ethan spat back.
"How dare you accuse me of lying!" Aimee's voice rose in fury, her nails digging into her palms.
"That's exactly what I'm doing. I know how you operate, Aimee," Ethan said coldly, taking his seat with a scowl.
"You have to get rid of her," Aimee persisted, her voice shaking with desperation.
"And you have to stop telling me what to do. You are not my Luna, Aimee, and you need to understand that you'll never be. You hold no power here," Ethan growled dangerously.
"Then maybe she'll just conveniently disappear," Aimee threatened, her tone turning sinister.
"What did you say?" Ethan's eyes narrowed in warning.
"She might end up having an accident; hit her head, fall into the river," Aimee suggested with a twisted smirk on her face.
"You will not lay a finger on her," Ethan said.
"And I won't if you get rid of her," Aimee responded.
"This is a dangerous game you're playing, Aimee. You know it is forbidden to harm another pack member," Ethan said as his eyes narrowed.
"She's not even part of our pack yet. So, that rule does not apply. She's just a lowly rogue. And how does it look that our Alpha has yet to find his Luna, but is sniffing behind a rogue?" Aimee countered, baring her teeth in a feral grin. "So, I think it is you, Ethan, that need to be careful. It seems that maybe your little plaything doesn't care about you as much as you think."
Aimee turned around to leave and came face-to-face with Janet. 'This bitch doesn't know when to stay out of my way,' Aimee thought angrily. Before she could tell Janet to get out of her way, Janet backhanded Aimee across the face and then gripped her throat.
"How dare you insult our Alpha! Who do you think you are?" Janet growled. "You are lucky that I don't drag you to the courtyard and beat you in front of everyone for your subordination!"
"Janet..." Ethan started, but Janet interrupted.
"Apologize to your Alpha!" Janet demanded.
"I'm... I'm sorry," Aimee managed to squeak out, and Janet released her. Aimee scurried away, and Janet closed Ethan's office doors.
"I told you not to sleep with her. That fool is not going to stop until she gets her way or she is sent elsewhere," Janet scolded Ethan.
"With the upcoming gathering, I hope she finds her mate or sends her to another pack," Ethan explained.
"Good. This does not change the fact that Aimee had a point. And Alpha is incomplete without his Luna," Janet said. "You have two options: find your fated mate or claim a mate."
"I told you that I would not settle for anything less than my fated mate. When I found her, I would mark her immediately," Ethan stated.
"Then, what are you waiting for?" Janet pressed, her voice laced with impatience.
Ethan shifted uncomfortably, his gaze dropping to the ground. "What?"
"I'm not an idiot, Ethan," Janet continued. "I know that Kasia is your mate."
A flicker of surprise passed over Ethan's features before he quickly composed himself. "How?"
Janet simply raised an eyebrow at him. "It is part of my job, and I know a mate bond when I see one," she stated matter-of-factly. "Now, when are you going to tell her?"
"It's complicated," Ethan muttered, avoiding Janet's sharp gaze.
"Goddess, you act like a pup sometimes," Janet groaned, earning a growl from Ethan. "Your growling doesn't scare me, Ethan. It really is not that complicated. It worked out with Lana. It will work out with Kasia."
"She's not like Lana," Ethan argued. "She's still conflicted. She..."
"You are letting your fear get in the way of what needs to be done," Janet interrupted firmly. "Go to her. Treat her like you would if she were a she-wolf."
Ethan took a deep breath and squared his shoulders, ready to face his fears and confront Kasia about their mate bond.
"Where is she now?" he asked, determination clear in his tone.
"At the orphanage," Janet replied with a knowing smile, proud of Ethan for finally taking action towards his destined mate.