🌙 Episode 8: The Trap
The night air was crisp as Lila left the Blackthorn Grand, her bag slung over her shoulder. The city streets shimmered with rain from an earlier storm, the streetlights casting long shadows across the pavement.
She walked quickly, still shaken from the confrontation with Ethan in the archives.
You're not ready for the truth.
His words echoed in her chest, both infuriating and heartbreaking. She wanted to scream, to cry, to demand answers until he couldn't deny her anymore.
Instead, she kept walking.
She didn't notice the figure watching her from across the street.
Or the second one following her from behind.
---
Ethan had been pacing his office when Marcus burst in.
"She's gone," Marcus said urgently. "I saw her leave. Alone."
Ethan's blood ran cold. "Damn it."
He was out the door before Marcus could say another word, his wolf already straining against his control.
Find her.
The bond burned in his chest, pulling him toward her like a compass.
---
Lila turned down a side street, hoping to cut through toward the bus stop.
But halfway down, the hairs on the back of her neck stood on end.
She slowed, glancing around. The street was too quiet. No footsteps. No cars. Just silence.
Then she heard it. A soft scrape of shoes on wet pavement.
She spun, and her heart stuttered.
Two men stood at the mouth of the alley, blocking her escape.
"Evening, sweetheart," one drawled, his smile sharp and cold.
She took a step back, clutching her bag. "What do you want?"
The second man smirked. "Just a little conversation. You've been poking around where you don't belong."
Fear spiked through her, but she tried to keep her voice steady. "If you don't leave me alone, I'll scream."
The first one chuckled. "By all means. No one will hear you."
Before she could react, they moved—unnaturally fast, closing the distance in heartbeats.
She bolted, racing deeper into the alley, her breath ragged. But another figure stepped out of the shadows ahead, blocking her path.
Trapped.
Her chest heaved as she stumbled to a stop. Three of them now.
The leader stepped closer, eyes glinting with something not human. "The Alpha's little human. I can smell him on you. Do you even know what you are to him?"
Her pulse thundered in her ears. "S-stay away from me."
He grinned. "You don't even know, do you? He's been keeping secrets. But we'll be happy to tell you."
As he reached for her, a furious snarl ripped through the night.
Ethan.
He was a blur of motion, slamming into the leader with bone-cracking force. The two crashed into the wall, the bricks shuddering.
The other rogues lunged, but Ethan was faster, his golden eyes blazing, his growls animalistic. He moved like a predator, striking with brutal precision.
"Run, Lila!" he shouted over his shoulder.
But she couldn't move. She was frozen, watching in horror as his strength and speed defied every human limit.
One rogue lunged for her instead. Ethan roared, tearing him away before he could touch her. His fist connected with the rogue's jaw, sending him sprawling.
The leader staggered up, blood smeared across his mouth, laughing even as he wiped it away. "Careful, Alpha. She's seeing too much."
Ethan's voice was a deadly growl. "Touch her again, and I'll end you."
The rogues exchanged glances, then melted into the shadows, retreating with mocking grins.
The silence afterward rang loud in Lila's ears.
Ethan turned to her, chest heaving, his golden eyes still glowing faintly in the dark. "Are you hurt?"
She shook her head, but her voice trembled. "What are you?"
His jaw tightened. He'd known this moment would come.
"Tell me the truth," she whispered, tears glistening in her eyes. "Please."
For a heartbeat, he almost did. Almost told her everything—that he was a werewolf, that she was his mate, that the bond burning between them wasn't just desire but destiny.
But then he saw her shaking hands, the fear etched across her face.
Not yet.
He stepped closer, cupping her face with aching gentleness. "All that matters is that you're safe."
Her breath hitched. "Safe? Ethan, I was almost—"
"I won't let it happen again," he vowed, his voice rough, desperate. "You have my word."
Her heart twisted. She wanted to believe him. She wanted to lean into his touch, to trust the fire in his eyes.
But a part of her whispered that safety wasn't enough anymore. She needed the truth.
He pulled back, his voice a low command. "Go home. Don't leave your apartment until I say it's safe."
"And if I don't?" she whispered, defiance sparking through her fear.
His eyes darkened, the Alpha in him pushing through. "Then I'll find you myself."
The bond between them pulsed, hot and undeniable. She swallowed hard, then turned and walked away, her legs trembling with every step.
Ethan watched her go, his wolf snarling in protest.
Because he knew this wasn't over.
The rogues weren't retreating.
They were hunting.
And next time, he might not be able to resist telling her the truth.
---
Far away, the rogues gathered in the shadows of the city's edge.
"She's seen him fight," one said.
"She's asking questions," another added.
The leader smirked, his lip still bleeding. "Good. The more she knows, the sooner the Alpha will break. And when he does—"
He licked the blood from his lip.
"She'll be ours."
---
✨ End of Episode 8