Underwater: The Silent Luna novel Chapter 125

Chapter 125

They woke late.

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Late enough that afternoon light had already settled over the room in a thicker, Jazier way. Their last round of lovemaking, the emotional

weight of the day, the late sleep after, all of it had dragged them under until lunch was likely cold by then. They dressed and left the

room together, Meadow still a little sleepy-looking, Ethan quieter than usual because his mind was still turning over everything Nightshade and Echo revealed.

Keith was in the kitchen when they arrived.

He looked up, saw Ethan, and grinned immediately.

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“I was wondering when you will come out.”

Ethan did not bother answering.

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He was too used to Keith for that to get under his skin, and besides, Meadow was already moving toward the food with singular focus. She was hungry. Properly hungry. Ethan watched her go for the table and found himself doing the same a second later. Elaine was in the

kitchen supervising what Rashel was doing. After the attack, Keith and Elaine had brought Rashel over to the cabin to make sure she was

alright. For privacy, she had been sleeping in Keith’s house and only coming over when needed, which Ethan appreciated more than he

would say aloud.

Once food was in front of them, Ethan got to the point.

“So, have you investigated the wolf?”

Keith nodded.

“The wolf is not packless. He tried to carry a rogue scent, but I figured it was artificial. I do not know what pack he belongs to, but he was

a warrior wolf.”

Keith looked toward Meadow briefly after saying that, still baffled. He had not stopped thinking about what he saw. About how a female

beta who was not a trained warrior took down a fully trained male warrior of equal breed that quickly. It did not sit like normal combat. It

sat like buried potential.

He linked Ethan privately,

“Are you sure she isn’t a trained warrior?”

Ethan answered in the same private way.

“No, she isn’t, but she is swift, and she hits hard.”

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Chapter 125

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He smiled as he said it, and Meadow caught enough from both their faces and the direction of their attention to know very well they were talking about her. Ethan did not even try to hide the pride in him anymore.

“You needed to see it, Keith. She was almost a blur. That wolf did not stand a chance.”

Keith nodded.

“Well, we must train her because she has potential.”

Ethan’s expression grew thoughtful.

“I will want you to do it personally.”

Keith agreed at once. That made sense. If Meadow was to be trained, it needed to be by someone Ethan trusted completely. Not only because of her skill, but because of her vulnerability too. Keith understood both.

Then Keith returned to the more pressing matter.

“As for the intruder, do you mind telling me anyone you might have had some form of altercations with?”

That question only brought one name to Ethan’s mind quickly.

“Alpha Malcolm.”

Keith looked surprised, and Ethan explained. He told him about Ceenas. About the offer Malcolm made. About how he and Joseph walked

away from it. About Malcolm seeing him in the wheelchair. About the phone call that came later and the new proposal. Keith listened

carefully, his face tightening more with each piece. By the end of it he understood why Malcolm would come to Ethan’s mind first, even if

certainty was still far away.

“It might be him, Alpha, but I would request that we talk to them in Ceenas and investigate before we strike. It might be coincidental,

and this person might be from a different pack. A lot has been happening lately. People have been attacking packs and taking them over.

This might be a spill over from that problem. Maybe they believe taking you out would make Whitewood vulnerable and easy to take

over.”

Ethan thought about that carefully,

It was reasonable. Too reasonable to dismiss. Whitewood had resources. Territory, A wounded Alpha in the eyes of outsiders. A pack that

might look softer from a distance than it really was. It made sick sense that someone could think taking Ethan out would weaken the

whole structure enough to seize it. He did not like the thought, but he respected it.

So he chose to take Keith’s view into consideration.

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12:02 Wed, Jun 17

Underwater: The Silent Luna