Page 76 of Ethan
He glanced over, eyes warm. “So we’re good?”
I reached for his hand, threading my fingers through his. “We’re good.”
He leaned into me, shoulder brushing mine. “Also, I’m still technically your superior when you’re injured, so don’t even think about walking around like a smug bastard.”
I kissed his temple. “Too late. I’m your smug bastard now.”
Ethan groaned again but didn’t pull away.
Chapter 18
Ethan
One Week Later
Griffin and Mauricewere already at it when I walked into the party, voices carrying over the hum of conversation.
“I’m telling you, you’re better off staying put here for now,” Griffin said, arms crossed, his tone somewhere between stern and exasperated. “The wild wolf problem’s easing up, sure. Less sightings these past few days. But that doesn’t mean it’s over. The enforcers are still clearing out the stragglers. It’s safer in town until we’re done.”
“Safer, maybe. But I’m fully healed, thanks to our boy healer here.” Maurice jerked his chin at me, and I resisted the urge to roll my eyes. “Cabin’s where I belong. I’d be more use out there than cooped up here.”
“More use?” Griffin snorted. “You’d just get yourself in trouble again, and I’d be the one hauling your sorry ass back.”
Maurice puffed his chest. “Don’t underestimate me, boy. I could still show you young pups how it’s done. Back in my day, we didn’t run to a healer every time we scraped a knee. We toughed it out.”
“Oh, right,” Griffin said dryly. “That explains why you ended up in the clinic last week.”
The table roared with laughter. Maurice slapped his thigh and shook his head. “Cheap shot.”
Griffin leaned forward, grin widening. “Besides, things are different now. That’s why Cooper’s been talking about ramping up training, maybe even taking in more recruits. We need enforcers who know how to work together, not just charge in swinging like it’s twenty years ago.”
Maurice arched a brow. “Oh? Afraid the new blood’s too soft? Need more bodies to make up for it?”
“Not soft,” Griffin shot back. “Smarter. Which is why you should let us handle the wolves, old man, and stick to retirement.”
Maurice opened his mouth, then paused, squinting at Griffin. “Retirement? You calling me old?”
“I didn’t say old.” Griffin leaned back, smug. “Just… slower.”
That did it. Maurice barked out a laugh so hard it shook his shoulders, and Griffin followed, trying and failing to keep a straight face.
I watched them, shaking my head. The food hadn’t even arrived yet, and they already sounded half-drunk. Typical enforcer party.
I felt a tug at my pant leg and looked down to find Micah standing there, fidgeting nervously while his mother hovered behind him.
Cathy’s warm smile was tinged with exhaustion, though her eyes glistened.
“Ethan,” she said softly, laying a hand on her son’s shoulder. “We just wanted to thank you. For everything.”
Before I could answer, Micah blurted out, “You saved us. You saved my grandpa. If you hadn’t come—” His voice cracked, and he bit down on his lip, fighting not to cry.
The words hit harder than I expected. My throat tightened, but I crouched down to meet his eyes. “Hey. You did the right thing, Micah. You stayed brave when it mattered. That counts just as much.”
Micah’s cheeks flushed, and Cathy brushed a hand through his hair. “He’s right,” she said. “But I want you to give him what we made, remember?”
Micah perked up, as though he’d been waiting for permission. From behind his back, he pulled out a folded card, the edges covered in doodles of wolves, trees, and stick figures that were probably meant to be us.
“It’s for you. I drew it myself.”
