“Right. Well, my parents were never happy together. They had me and Axel—we’re twins—and things got progressively worse. Fate’s not always right, as my packmates can attest, and some couples aren’t willing to do the work to figure out how to be happy. When I was nine, my mom’s wolf came home smelling like another man. Dad’s wolf went on a rampage and killed the human she’d slept with. Moon Ridge put a hunting party together, found his wolf, and killed him.”
My eyes widened behind my sunglasses with every sentence he added.
He was right.
That was seriously messy.
“Mom didn’t regret the affair. I was angry at her for it, but she was such a mess that I couldn’t show it. And dad obviously wasn’t faultless. He wasn’t physically abusive, but he had treated her like shit since we were babies. Axel couldn’t see it. He worshipped the ground that man walked on our whole lives. He was devastated by the loss, and blamed mom for everything. When I took her side, he hated me too, and all of us talked shit about each other for years.”
I grimaced.
Ethan added, “When all of us couldn’t take it anymore, she moved Axel in with my dad’s parents. We were thirteen. He told us not to contact him again, and I was young enough to listen. Mom was just… too broken to disagree. I don’t think she’ll ever move on from what happened. She’d have to admit to herself that she’s more than partially at fault, and I think it would kill her.”
“I hope there’s a happy ending to this story.”
“There is. Axel and I eventually made up, after his mate’s best friend insisted on being my friend. Iris. She’s the one who made me go to the Feral Pack when my issues with my wolf got so intense I couldn’t get out of bed. It was worse, before I was with the pack.”
Possessiveness made my chest just slightly tight. “And was there ever anything between you and her, or…” I trailed off.
“Iris? No. We kissed once because she thought she was dying, but there was never any chemistry between us. She’s happily mated to one of the older Feral Pack guys. Kai. They have two kids. She had a baby in her arms when she made her mateliterally drag me here. I think she thought I’d refuse otherwise. I see her less than I see Axel, now.”
I nodded. That probably shouldn’t have been a relief, but it was. “Are you and Axel close?”
“No, I don’t think that’s ever going to happen, but I see him a few times a year. Him and his mate, Morgan, opened a coffee shop in town with the money we inherited from our grandma. He still works with the pack a few days a month, but they’re pretty busy.”
“The moneyyoumade on the investmentsyoumade with the moneyyouinherited from your grandma and generously shared,” I corrected.
“Yeah, but that makes it sound more complicated than it is. It’s his money.”
“Ethan, that wasyourmoney. You just chose to give it to him. Your grandma gave it to you because she thought your mom and brother were assholes. Sharing it with your family was really kind.”
“Anyone would’ve done it.”
“No, they wouldn’t have. My family sure as hell wouldn’t. My parents regretted having a kid and barely knew I existed. And do you really think Axel would’ve, after everything that happened?”
He grimaced. “I like to think he would, but I honestly don’t know.”
“Give yourself some credit for being a good person.”
“Alright, you win. I’m amazing.” Ethan stretched his arms over his head and leaned back against the pillows a little more.“That’s the extent of my drama, Muffin. Brother problems, wolf issues, and fuck-me money.”
I snorted. “It’s fuck-youmoney.”
“I’d rather you fuck me.”
I couldn’t stop myself from grinning.
“Do we know each other well enough for me to hear your restaurant struggle yet?” he asked.
My humor faded.
Hehadshared his messy shit with me. It seemed only fair that I share mine.
“I started working in a restaurant when I was fourteen, scrubbing dishes,” I admitted. “I was hungry all the time. My parents spent all their money getting high. I figured that if I worked in a restaurant, I’d get free food, so I lied about my age to get a job. I’m sure the manager could tell I was too young, but my stomach growled five times during the interview alone. She gave me a full plate of food before I went home, and I ate myself sick.”
“I watched the chefs when I wasn’t cleaning, and asked a million questions. Food was fascinating. I dropped out of high school after a year, and went to culinary school. Someone really should’ve warned me about predatory loans before I did, but I probably would’ve gone anyway to be honest.”
Ethan frowned. “You have loans?”
