"— Alright, I'll call them and ask if they know anything — Hope said, finally giving in and letting out a resigned sigh.
— It's really good that you do that, or else all of us could very well be screwed — Ethan said, without softening the gravity of the situation.
But right after that, the rigidity in his posture dissolved. A playful, sly smirk crept onto Ethan's lips as he looked her up and down.
— Besides... I'm still a virgin, and I have zero intention of going back to that place or dying before fixing this — he said with a playful wink.
Hope's face flushed instantly. Her cheeks turned a bright shade of red, and her mouth opened and closed for a second before she could formulate a response.
— Ethan! You are... my God! — she exclaimed, covering her face for a moment, completely flustered. — Why do you only think about these things?!
— Beats me... — Ethan shrugged, letting out a low, velvety laugh. — Maybe it's my wolf side taking over? Or maybe the fact that I spent twenty years trapped in a hell without even being able to... relieve myself, let's say, does that to a man's head.
He took a step closer, closing the distance between them until the heat from his body made the air thin around them. He slid his hand along the curve of her waist, pulling her with possessive firmness against his hip.
— Besides... I only think about doing that kind of stuff with you, of course — he whispered right next to her ear, his voice raspy and low.
A violent shiver ran down Hope's spine, making her entire body tremble under his touch. Her heart hammered against her ribs, torn between the immediate fire Ethan lit inside her and the suffocating guilt trying to rescue her from giving in.
— So why don't we settle this before it's too late? — Ethan teased, his deep, velvety voice murmuring against the soft skin of her neck, where he pressed a slow, warm kiss that sent shivers through the hybrid's body.
Hope froze for a full second, her heart pounding wildly against her chest as the sensitivity of his touch disarmed her. But in a sudden surge of clarity, fighting against her own attraction, she placed her hands on Ethan's chest and gave him a push, shoving him back a few inches.
— Ethan, stop! N-no... it's still way too early for these things! — she protested, panting softly and trying to regain control while adjusting her shirt, her cheeks still burning with embarrassment.
Ethan didn't show the slightest trace of annoyance or rejection. Instead, he let out a low, amused laugh, chuckling at the tribrid's embarrassed and startled reaction.
— Relax, little wolf... Maybe it really is too early — he said, adjusting his jacket calmly, keeping his green eyes fixed on her with that calculating glint. — But if we wait too long... we might not even get the chance to find out.
He offered a teasing half-smile, leaving the warning hanging in the air as the cool night breeze blew between them, reminding Hope that beyond the tension burning between them, the shadow of Ethan's plan and the threat of Malivore kept pressing forward without relief.
Hope took a deep breath, trying to collect her thoughts, and with a subtle move, used the moment to shift the direction of the conversation, brushing aside the flirting vibe he had set and asking something that had been pounding in her mind.
— So... Ethan, can I ask you something? — she said, her voice a bit steadier.
Ethan raised an eyebrow, letting out a amused nasal laugh before answering:
— You can ask whatever you want, little wolf... Except a kiss would be the payment for the service.
— Ugh, you... — Hope rolled her eyes, taking a deep breath so as not to lose her patience. — Forget it. It's about the imprint... Do you still feel it?
The question fell into the night silence. Ethan stayed quiet for a long moment. That was a topic that had been circling his mind for days, but he still hadn't found the exact words to define what he was feeling. Deep down, he knew he no longer felt bound to Hope in that same mystical, suffocating way as before — something fundamental had shifted.
— That question is a bit of a mystery even to me — he finally replied, his voice low and thoughtful.
Hope frowned, feeling a strange tightness in her chest.
— What? What do you mean?
— To tell you the truth, Hope... I don't feel connected to you in that way anymore — he confessed, looking down at his hands. — It's like, the moment I transformed into a werewolf for good — at least in my final version, and not that horse-sized hound out of the Twilight movies —, it feels like that invisible thread tying us together broke.
He turned his head to look at her, the intensity of his green eyes gleaming in the half-light.
— I don't know how to explain it right. But what I can tell you for sure is: I love you. And that's a fact. I will never feel for another woman what I feel for you at this exact moment.
Hope offered a shy smile, feeling the warmth creep back up her cheeks. Thinking about it, he really had lost any filter or tact; the Ethan from back then would never say things like that so directly.
— So... basically, I'm not your imprint anymore? — she asked, seeking confirmation, torn between surprise and a hint of relief.
— Of course you are, Hope... I just don't know how to answer that properly — he mused, running a hand over his face. — It's as if one part of me is still the same, but the other turned into something completely different. You can even tell by my eyes. They used to be blue... now they're green.
Hope nodded slowly, understanding the weight of that physical and spiritual metamorphosis.
— I spent years in that place, counting down the minutes just to see you again — Ethan continued, his voice losing its playful edge and gaining a layer of deep melancholy. — But as time went on, I lost hope of ever getting out. I kind of stopped dreaming. And changing that now... even though I came back, it's pretty hard.
Hope nodded again, her eyes shining with the painful empathy she felt for him.
— I understand, Ethan...
And to his surprise, a small, genuine smile touched her lips.
— And I'm happy about that — she added.
Ethan knit his brow, confused and slightly on the defensive.
— You're... happy about that?
— Yes! — Hope explained, gesturing lightly with her hands, feeling a huge weight lift from her shoulders. — Now that you say you're no longer bound to me by some mystical force, I can finally be sure that what I feel here is real. It's not something forced by fate, by the world, or by other forces... It's completely mine.
She looked out at the horizon for a moment, organizing her memories before continuing:
— When I met Landon, I was sad, angry, and longing for something or someone I had no idea who it was... Then he came into my life and I gave in. Even if just a little, I wanted to feel happiness again. But it was never the same. I always felt like a piece was missing. And when you showed up at the school, I realized I didn't feel that missing piece anymore—it was as if everything that was gone had come back. Besides...
Hope brought her hand to her chest, her fingers finding the small wolf necklace hidden under her collar.
— This necklace you gave me... it helped keep me sane through a lot of hard times.