Underwater: The Silent Luna novel Chapter 104

Chapter 104

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Meadow and Ethan ate in the room, still close, still wrapped in the cocoon of what the evening had become. The film played on. The cabin

settled into silence around them. Outside, the world remained where it always was, but inside the bedroom there was a strange feeling of pause, as if time had been kind enough to hold back for a while and let them have this.

Then Ethan’s phone rang.

The sound jarred against the softness of the moment. Ethan frowned and reached for it, mildly annoyed at being interrupted. The number

on the screen made him pause. Ceenas. That surprised him enough that he answered instead of ignoring it. He could not imagine why

anyone there would call him rather than Joseph, but curiosity got the better of him.

“Hello.”

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His tone was flat at once, emotion shut away by habit.

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“Good afternoon Alpha McCloud. This is Alpha Malcolm Rodriguez.”

Ethan recognised the voice immediately.

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“The grammar Alpha.”

He said it dryly, the jab easy and automatic. Malcolm laughed on the other end, and Ethan felt some of his annoyance loosen despite

himself.

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“I come across as that sometimes Alpha, but trust me, I mean no harm.”

There was something light in Malcolm’s tone that kept the call from turning stiff. Ethan relaxed slightly against the headboard, Meadow

curled against his side while he listened.

“To what do I owe this call?”

“I was hoping you would consider us meeting and redrafting a partnership plan.”

Ethan said nothing at first, and Malcolm continued.

“I regret the way our last meeting went. I must confess that I was out of line, and apologise to you and your brother. It will be nice if we

can sit and discuss matters and come to an agreement.”

Ethan was not moved.

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“Honestly, partnering with Ceenas was Joseph’s idea, not mine. I just went along for support. I do not want a partnership, Alpha.”

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Chapter 104

He said it plainly. No insult. No extra sharpness, just truth.

On the other end Malcolm sighed.

“I am not the bad guy, Alpha McCloud. I am just an Alpha doing what he can to secure the lives of his people.”

Ethan’s mouth twitched.

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“Trying to rip us off was a destitute and dubious way of rendering your service to your people, don’t you agree?”

Malcolm laughed again, this time properly, and Ethan almost smiled. The man had caught the dig for what it was. That alone made him

slightly easier to tolerate.

“This partnership will be to our benefit. Other packs are being absorbed these days, Alpha. If an Alpha does not conquer a pack, another

pack will conquer the Alpha’s pack. There is no neutral Alpha anymore. They are all out to amass wealth and territories. I am saying we

team together in case something like that happens. We can come to each other’s aid.”

That made Ethan go more thoughtful, Meadow, though not following every word, looked up at him and watched his face change. He

stroked her hair absentmindedly while he listened.

“And what would stop you from trying to take over my pack and territories? Whitewood has a lot of territories under it, and we have a lot

of money and resources. What would stop you from double-crossing us and taking over our pack?”

Malcolm went silent for a moment.

“My father owes your father a debt, Alpha McCloud. I can never betray that. That is why I am asking for this. There have been some funny

things happening lately, and I want to have the muscle necessary to withstand it if it ever comes my way.”

There was enough honesty in that answer to make Ethan respect it, even if only a little.

“I am sorry. I am not ready for that kind of partnership right now.”

He kept his voice respectful this time. Malcolm seemed to hear the finality in it because he changed direction.

“How about a business partnership?”

That gave Ethan pause. Business was different. Business could benefit both of them without tying Whitewood’s throat to Ceenas’ blade.

He considered it for a second longer than he meant to.

“I am willing to look into that and discuss it with my cabinet, then I will get back to you. Right now, I am on vacation with my wife, so I

would not want to be disturbed.”

“Congratulations, Alpha. I wish you all the best, and say hello to the Luna on my behalf.”

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Chapter 104

The call ended after that.

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Ethan put the phone down and drew Meadow back against him fully, though his thoughts had shifted now. The film still flickered across

the screen in front of them, but he was no longer watching it. Malcolm’s words stayed with him. Absorbed packs. Alphas reaching for

more land, more wealth, more control. Funny things happening. Ethan did not trust easily, and he trusted that call only up to a point, but

that did not mean he dismissed it outright. Malcolm wanted something. That much was obvious. The real question was whether the

danger he hinted at was real, exaggerated, or merely useful to his own plans.

U

Meadow snuggled closer into his side, content and warm, and Ethan let his fingers move through her hair again.

He would investigate before agreeing to anything. Business could be discussed. Weighed. Tested. He would not walk into another Alpha’s fear or ambition blind. Still, part of him kept worrying at Malcolm’s words even as he lay in bed with his wife. The world outside this room had not stopped becoming more dangerous just because Ethan had found one peaceful evening inside it.

He reached down for the covers pooled across his thighs and pulled them higher over their bodies.

Then his fingers brushed the upper part of his thigh, close to his pelvic area.

And he felt it.

Not strongly. Not cleanly. But there.

A sensation.

Faint as a whisper. Small enough that another man might have doubted it. But after seven years of numbness, Ethan knew the difference

between nothing and something.

And this was something.

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11:59 Wed, Jun 17

Underwater: The Silent Luna