Luna Returned for Vengeance Chapter 08

Luna Returned for Vengeance Chapter 08

Ethan’s POV

Nora didn’t look back. Not once.

She just tightened her arms around Lucian Vale’s neck, her voice raw and exhausted.

“Honey…I’m worn out. I just want to go home.”

Lucian looked down at the woman in his arms. The cold, terrifying edge in his face softened

instantly.

“Okay. Let’s go home.”

He kissed her forehead. But when his eyes landed on her swollen cheek and the angry burns on her arm, his gaze darkened again.

“I’ve already called the best pack doctor. No scars. Once you’re patched up, I’ll make you that

Italian soup you love.”

Nora buried her face in Lucian’s chest. The way she leaned on him-completely trusting,

completely dependent-needed no explanation.

Ethan stood frozen. A deafening rush roared through his mind.

Honey.

Nora was calling someone else honey. And that someone was Lucian Vale.

In that moment, Ethan finally understood. Everything Nora had said was true. She hadn’t lied. She

hadn’t been putting on an act. She hadn’t been chasing him.

She was married. To someone far more powerful than anyone could have imagined.

She hadn’t just married into a top Alpha family. She was Lucian Vale’s legal mate, registered at the

Pack Hall.

Worse-Ethan could smell Lucian’s cedar scent all over her, tangled with her own. A true mate bond. Fully accepted. Fully sealed.

His wolf sank low in his chest, restless and defeated.

Ethan remembered that day at the law firm. Nora had told him her mate wanted to transfer all his

assets to her.

And what had he said?

“Do you truly believe such absurd claims?”

His chest ached, like a stone was pressing down on it.

He was the ridiculous one.

The black Maybach rolled slowly out of the parking garage and disappeared.

Ethan didn’t move. He kept seeing the way Nora had looked at him at the end.

Cold. Disgusted. Like he was something foul.

She had once loved him so much. She had pursued him relentlessly despite endless public ridicule. She had dragged herself out of a fever to watch his debate finals. When he’d said, “Let’s give this a

try,” she had lit up like she’d won the world.

Now she wouldn’t even turn around.

Ethan closed his eyes. For the first time, a strange panic stirred in his chest. His Alpha instincts

screamed at him to go after her. But reason held him in place.

He was a rational man. He pushed down the unfamiliar unease and turned back toward the VIP

ward.

But when he got there, everything was chaos.

Several New York Pack officers stood in the room. Sophie was huddled on the hospital bed, shaking

and sobbing. The moment she saw Ethan, she clung to him like he was her only lifeline.

“Alpha! Make them go away! They want to take me…”

She broke down in hysterical, tearful sobs.

But the officer stepped forward and held up his badge.

“Sophie. You need to come with us for questioning.”

Ethan’s face hardened.

“What is this all about?”

The lead officer opened a file.

“We’ve received a formal complaint. Sophie Lang is suspected of involvement in an illegal confinement case from five years ago. According to the complainant, Nora was kidnapped and subjected to the creation of humiliating private images. We have gathered substantial evidence. Sophie Lang needs to come with us to cooperate with the investigation.”

Ethan’s mind went blank.

Illegal confinement? Humiliating images?

He remembered Nora’s words to Victor, her voice breaking-

“Going to tie me up again? Take more humiliating photos? Just like you did five years ago?”

At the time, he thought she was hysterical. Ranting. Spinning vicious lies out of pure hatred for Sophie.

But now the officers were here. Badges. Documents. An official investigation order.

All of it real.

Sophie’s face was bone-white. She shook her head frantically.

“It wasn’t me… I didn’t do anything… Alpha, you have to believe me…”

In the past, Ethan would have stepped in front of her without a second thought. He would have demanded answers. He would have told everyone that Sophie had fragile she-wolf syndrome, that her health was delicate, that she couldn’t handle stress. He would have sworn she was incapable of such things.

But this time, Ethan didn’t move.

He just stood there. Cold. Detached. Looking down at Sophie like he was seeing her for the first time.

Sophie panicked. She gripped his sleeve, sobbing so hard she could barely breathe.

“Alpha, you can’t turn your back on me! Think of my late brother. You have to help me!”