The Meeting with Ethan

Lily's heart pounded as she met Ethan Drake's intense emerald stare. His eyes were blazing with barely restrained fury, heightening the rugged handsomeness of his chiseled features. She felt pinned in place like a butterfly to a board.

"Well, Miss Blackwood," Ethan growled in a low, dangerous tone. "It seems you've been a very naughty girl, sneaking around my property trying to uncover secrets that are not there and don't concern you."

Lily swallowed hard, hating how those words sent a shiver of twisted excitement down her spine. Get a grip, she scolded herself. This man - if he even was a man - could be a terrifying monster for all she knew.

"I...I was just doing my job as a journalist to investigate the stories," she stammered, trying to sound braver than she felt. "If there's nothing out of the ordinary or supernatural going on, then you have nothing to fear from me."

Ethan threw back his head and laughed, a mocking sound that raised the hairs on Lily's arms.

"And if the rumors do prove to be true?" He took a step closer, his powerful body emanating waves of commanding strength and animal magnetism. "What then, little journalist? Will you run screaming to the authorities with your proof?, Condemn me to the world." Can you even handle the truth?,

Lily couldn't tear her gaze away from his intense eyes, chips of amber fire flickering in their green depths. There was something almost hypnotic about him, lulling her senses into a state of dangerous distraction. She found herself imagining what it might feel like to run her fingers through his thick, tousled hair.

Bad idea, Lily! she mentally scolded herself. This man is not human and could shred you to ribbons!

Yet a darker, more reckless part of her mind seemed to purr appreciatively at that idea. God, what was wrong with her? This insane mutual attraction made zero sense and could only lead to peril.

"Maybe we got off on the wrong foot," Lily said in a placating tone, dragging her thoughts away from the gutter. "Let's just talk this through rationally, Mr. Drake. If you explain your situation to me, I'll do my best to be objective and see things from your perspective. I don't want to blindly misrepresent or persecute anyone without facts."

For a long beat, Ethan simply stared at her, an unreadable look on his striking face. Then, surprising Lily, he touched her long grey hair, closing his eyes as he ran his hand down her back.

You need to stop this nonsense for everybody's sake before you put yourself and your loved ones at risk.

"Go home and think about what you want to do next," he told Lily in a calmer voice. "Continuing this investigation could put you in unimaginable danger. I urge you to drop this and walk away."

Part of Lily wanted to agree just to get away from these terrifying supernatural people. But her journalistic drive to pursue the truth was strong.

Before she could respond, Ethan stopped her. "Go home and decide what's more important—your life or this story. We'll discuss it again after you've slept on it."

Lily wanted to argue more, but Ethan's tone was final. With a curt nod, she turned and hurried out, Marshall trailing behind, looking confused.

"So what happened?" he pressed once they reached the car. "Did you get him to confess about being a werewolf?"

Lily couldn't focus with visions of Ethan's intense eyes and muscular body clouding her mind. She quickly shook her head.

"Not exactly," she evaded. "Let's just go home, this is way bigger than I realized."

Marshall wanted more details but could see Lily wasn't in a sharing mood. With an irritated huff, he peeled out of the manor's driveway, leaving Lily alone with her confusion and the undeniable physical pull she felt toward the mysterious Ethan Drake.

"Lilith, please do a full background check on Miss Blackwood here. I want to know everything - where she was born, what schools she attended, past relationships and employment history, all of it. Unearth any potential biases or ulterior motives that could make her coverage of our situation less than impartial."

The dark-haired woman's lips curved in a slow, unpleasant smile. "Of course, Mr. Drake. It will be my genuine pleasure."

There was an undisguised thread of malice in Lilith's tone that put Lily on edge. The woman's cold amethyst eyes raked over Lily appraisingly, leaving her feeling uncomfortably violated and judged. This Lilith clearly didn't like her, for whatever reason.

Just then, the doors to the study banged open again to admit another stunning woman with wildly curling blonde locks and glowing golden eyes. Lily recognized her immediately - it was Crystal, the ruthless Luna of Greyland pack, Ethan's biggest rival werewolf pack in the area, that had agreed to merge with his own pack.

"Hello, Ethan," Crystal purred in a throaty voice, slinking forward in a tight scarlet dress that revealed far too much-bronzed skin. "I heard you captured a delicious little mouse that has been poking around where she doesn't belong."

With a shameless wink, Crystal ran one crimson-tipped nail down Ethan's chest in a blatantly seductive caress. 

Ethan caught Crystal's wandering hand and pushed it away firmly. "Enough games, Crystal. I didn't summon you here for that. We have a very serious situation brewing that could expose us all ."He dismissed Crystal's flirtatious advances without a second glance.

"You're far too lenient with that nosy little bitch, Ethan," she snapped, stalking over to glare up at him defiantly. "I saw the way you looked at her. Like she was a juicy steak and you were starving."

Ethan bristled at her accusatory tone, but couldn't fully deny the truth of her words. There had been something utterly bewitching about Lily Blackwood's bold defiance and keen intelligence that sang to the primal part of him.

"Lily Blackwood is an innocent human who got in over her head, nothing more," he countered gruffly. "She doesn't deserve to be tortured or killed just for being an overly tenacious reporter."

Crystal's full lips curved in a predatory smile as she trailed a pointed nail down Ethan's bare chest. "Is that all she is to you? Just an irritating pest? Because the alpha wolf I know would never be so affected by a mere human female unless she set his baser instincts burning..."

She leaned in close, her breath hot on his neck. "We both know you desire her, Ethan Just as I desire you. Why not take what we want and be done with it?"

Before Ethan could respond, Lilith cleared her throat sharply. Both werewolves turned to face the raven-haired witch, her amethyst eyes glittering with disapproval.

"If I might interject," she said in a clipped tone, "My latest vision showed escalating danger surrounding Miss Blackwood's continued involvement. I foresee a grim fate for us all if she persists in her inquiries."

Ethan felt torn between cautious concern over Lilith's dire prediction and a powerful, inexplicable urge to protect Lily at all costs, even from herself. He needed time to grapple with these conflicting instincts.

"Crystal, leave this matter to me for now, and await my instructions," he ordered in a tone that left no room for argument. "I will convene with your Alpha to discuss a course of action regarding Miss Blackwood and this rising situation. We cannot afford to be rash or divided when potentially dealing with an existential threat."

Though she looked mutinous, Crystal offered a mocking little half-bow before sweeping out in an air of authority. Pinching the bridge of his nose, Ethan turned to his most trusted advisor.

"Lilith, keep a very close eye on Miss Blackwood and her movements. I have a sense this is only the first storm of the thousands of storms that are yet to come."

The mysterious witch nodded solemnly. "As you wish, Alpha. I will be vigilant and share anything my visions reveal."

As Lilith swept from the room, Ethan couldn't deny the strange, protective fire that burned in his soul whenever he envisioned Lily's bold hazel eyes and luscious curves. She was meant for great things in the coming events, Ethan was more certain of that with every passing moment.