SHADOW OF DECEPTION

allowing the warmth of the sun to penetrate my skin.It was another new life entirely,

rself.""I own a couple of businesses offshore but I'm also next in line to be Alpha, so I'm learning the ropes in case my dad ever decides to drop the ball."Oh. Now the dominant, arrogant vibes he gave up was coming from a place."Too much?" Ethan prodded a couple of minutes later when I didn't say anything."Oh, no-no...it's uh, just a lot to take in," I tell him before I turn around to face him, walking backward. "But if you're supposed to be Alpha, then aren't supposed to be in the pack house. Why here?" I spread my hands to encompass the large estate we were taking a stroll in.Ethan grew pensive very quickly, the smile falling off his face. He also plucked off a flower but he studied it instead for a minute.I gave him time to think through his thoughts. Thrusting his hands into his pockets, Ethan squared his shoulders staring at me before looking away, into the distance."Ever since I was a kid, I've also known how important I was to the pack. My dad always made anything concerning me a really big deal, and as a kid, I loved it but the older I grew, I realized that all it did was set me apart." Ethan glanced briefly at me. "I had friends and I am loved by the community...but sometimes, I just wondered, if they loved me for me and not because I'm the Alpha's son."I reached out to hold his hands, twining our fingers together as I silently offered him comfort. "Also, having that title on my head gradually felt like a noose around my neck and I slowly realized that...all my life, everything I've been doing has only been a front. Nothing was real, and I hated it so I bought this place, converted it to my style, and ever since, this has been the only place...I can truly be."His story was touching, bringing tears to my eyes especially when I could rela