Scarlett’s POV

​The flight to Australia felt like it lasted forever. I spent most of the time curled up in the leather seat, staring out at the endless blanket of clouds. My mind was a mess. Every time I closed my eyes, I saw Leo’s face, heard his voice, and felt the heat of his skin against mine. Then, the memory would shift, and I would see the dark, hungry eyes of those two Alphas in the room. I would feel the snap of bones under my teeth and the warm spray of blood.

​When the jet finally touched down, the sun was shining brightly over a beautiful city. The man who had been looking after me—a man I later learned was named Friedrich—helped me off the plane. I realized during the flight that Friedrich wasn’t a werewolf at all. He was a human, a very powerful and wealthy business partner of Ethan’s who happened to be in Nigeria for a big meeting. He was calm, professional, and didn’t seem bothered by the fact that he had spent the night transporting a girl who turned into an invisible wolf.

​Friedrich took me to a stunning five-star hotel suite. It was the kind of place that looked like it belonged in a movie, with floor-to-ceiling windows that showed the blue ocean in the distance. He made sure I had food, clothes, and everything I needed before stepping out to make some calls.

​"I will be nearby," he said with a polite nod. "Ethan will be here soon."

​I spent the entire day alone in that luxury. I walked around the room, my feet sinking into the soft carpet, but I felt like a prisoner. I kept thinking about the two Alphas. I kept wondering if I had truly killed them. The image of the skin peeling back from that man’s arms haunted me. I wasn’t a killer—or at least, I hadn’t been until my wolf took over.

​Today was my birthday. I was twenty-three years old today. Instead of celebrating with friends or family, I was halfway across the world, hiding in a hotel.

I remembered my seventeenth birthday clearly.

The noise. The teasing. The way I had rolled my eyes while secretly enjoying every second of it. The way I didn’t have to think about danger... or hiding... or blood.

My chest tightened.

That life felt so far away now. Like it belonged to someone else.

​My thoughts eventually drifted back to the Full Moon Pack. I could only imagine the chaos that was happening there right now.

The truth about Luna Olivia and my parents being alive was out there now. I knew the pack would be in an uproar. Only Ethan could tell me what was happening or what had happened, and the wait for him was eating me alive.

​Just as the sun began to set, my doorbell rang.

​"I’m here. Open up," Ethan’s voice rang clearly in my head.

​I jumped to my feet, my heart racing with pure excitement. I didn’t care about the mystery of the mind link or the danger anymore; I just needed to see a friendly face. I ran to the door and pulled it open.

​It was him. Truly him.

​The last time I had seen Ethan was a year ago. It was my own fault; I had told him that it was better if he didn’t visit me often. I needed to stay hidden, and his presence made me feel too connected to the world I was trying to leave behind. But looking at him now, I regretted every second of that distance.

​I jumped into his arms, hugging him as tight as I could. Ethan caught me easily, his strong arms wrapping around me like a shield. He smelled exactly the same... But He felt different, though. His shoulders were broader, and his grip was stronger. I pulled back just a little to look up at him.

​Damn. This man was fine. Three years had turned him into someone truly impressive. He had a sharper jawline and eyes that seemed to see right through my soul.

​He stepped inside and closed the door, his eyes scanning me from head to toe. "Are you okay, Scar?" he asked, his voice deep and full of worry.

​"Yes," I whispered, though my hands were still shaking. "But Ethan, I’m so scared. I think I killed those men. I think they are looking for me."

​"Don’t be scared," he said, placing his hands on my shoulders to steady me. "I have handled everything back in Nigeria. I have people on the ground making sure the trail stays cold."

​I looked at him, my eyes wide. "What is going on? Are the authorities looking for me? Are the other packs hunting a Red Wolf?"

​Ethan sighed and shook his head. "First of all, no one is looking for a killer because the Alphas didn’t die."

​I felt a massive weight lift off my chest. "Really? They’re alive?" 𝕗𝚛𝚎𝚎𝐰𝗲𝗯𝗻𝚘𝚟𝚎𝗹.𝕔𝐨𝕞

​"Yes," Ethan said, his expression turning dark. "They were unconscious and very badly injured when they were found. They have a lot of broken bones and missing skin, but they will live. And don’t worry—I’ll take care of them. They will beg for mercy for what they tried to do to you. No one touches you and gets away with it."

​I nodded in relief. Knowing I wasn’t a murderer made it easier to breathe. But the relief didn’t last long. Ethan’s eyes narrowed as he looked at me, his brow furrowing into a deep frown.

​"Scar," he said, his voice dropping to a growl. "Why did you participate in that contest? You were supposed to be in hiding. You were supposed to stay out of gatherings. Why did you take such a huge risk?"

​I tried to find the words to explain. I wanted to tell him about the need to feel seen, about the restlessness in my wolf, but I stopped when I saw where his eyes were resting.

​He wasn’t looking at my face anymore. He was staring at my neck.

​My heart stopped. My hand flew up to cover my skin, but it was too late. I had forgotten. In my rush to shower and change, I hadn’t realized how visible the marks were. The dark, purple-red hickeys Leo had left on me were like a map of the night we had spent together.

​Ethan’s face went from worried to absolutely furious in a split second. He reached out and grabbed my arms, his grip firm but not hurting me.

​"Did those men do this to you?" he growled, his wolf pushing close to the surface. "Did they put their hands on you before you shifted?"

​I swallowed hard. I couldn’t lie to him. Not after everything he had done to save me. I looked down at the floor, my voice trembling.

​"No," I whispered. "It wasn’t them."

​Ethan froze. He looked completely confused, his mind clearly trying to put the pieces together. "Then who, Scar? Who touched you? Who marked you like this?"

​I took a shaky breath, the guilt suffocating me.

​"Ethan... please forgive me," I said, my eyes filling with tears.

​"Scar, what did you do?" he asked, his voice soft now, almost afraid of the answer.

​​I looked up at him, my heart breaking for the secret I was about to reveal. "Ethan... Leo was there. He was at the arena. He saw me... he recognized me." My voice hitched as the truth finally spilled out. "And we... we had sex."