Chapter 8 Wolves Recognize Their Mates

Ethan Moore's POV:

When I pulled off my mask, Ava looked a bit shocked.

I could tell Ava recognized me as the guy who saved her that day. I got her situation, even though we didn't really know each other. I was just some illegitimate kid who had to fight tooth and nail to get where I was now. One look at the gnarly scars on my back, and one would get what I had been through.

But Noah seemed pretty into Ava, and that kinda lit a fire under me.

"It was you who helped me that day!" she gasped, eyes wide with shock.

Ava's eyes were all shiny and bright. I knew folks in the Pack called her a promiscuous woman. No clue how that rumor started, but I doubted it. Her eyes looked so pure, and even the freckles on her face seemed innocent.

"It was no big deal, really. Don't sweat it. I really need this earring. If you like it so much, you can hit up the stall on the other side, and I'll give you something else to make up for it." I kept it polite. Lots of girls in the pack liked that about me, even though they saw me as just a beta.

After I said that, I watched Ava's face closely. If she was like the other girls in the pack, she'd jump at the chance to get close to me, even if her goal was to become Noah's mate.

"No need. You helped me, so I should be the one to repay you. Here, take this! It's my childhood amulet. I hope it keeps you safe." she offered.

I stared at the bracelet in my hand, noticing how crudely it was made.

After handing it to me, Ava walked away. I noticed her ears were a bit red, and I couldn't help but smirk. How interesting.

The masquerade ball kicked off soon after. In the crowd, I spotted Noah. Even with his mask on, a bunch of girls surrounded him, asking him to dance.

Following the etiquette, I went up to Noah to say hi, then smiled at the girls around him. Right then, I heard gasps.

Girls usually liked my looks more than Noah's, so I wasn't surprised. Noah, on the other hand, didn't look too happy.

At the masquerade ball, everyone was treated equally. It was a tradition in the Silver Pine Pack, where even a regular beta could court the Luna, though no one usually did.

I never liked noisy places, so I grabbed a glass of sweet wine and moved to the side.

Just then, a girl named Amy with her hair up walked over. When our eyes met, her face flushed. "Ethan! Would you like to dance with me?"

Seeing her shy look, I knew she must've worked up a lot of courage to ask. Being a gentleman, even though I wasn't into dancing, I agreed.

The symphony started in the center of the hall. The girl in front of me wore a fringed long dress, and as we danced, it shimmered like water under the sun.

We danced like that, and out of the corner of my eye, I saw Ava being dragged around by some unattractive guy, forced to dance.

Ava's dance moves were awkward, like a baby deer trying to walk in high heels, struggling to keep up with the music.

It reminded me of a dark time in my life. My mom was a maid for the Frostbite Pack Alpha, forced to have me. After I was born, she was killed by my dad's mate.

I had to call the woman who killed my mom "mom," or I'd be kicked out of the Pack and become a wanderer. For a kid without a wolf, that was a death sentence.

Later, because my trial results were better than her useless son's, she tried to kill me.

After a long time on the run, I ended up in the Silver Pine Pack, went through a lot, and finally became Noah's guard. I never gave up on revenge, and Ava seemed like a reflection of my past. We were both lonely and weak once.

Maybe I should keep up my gentleman act and help Ava. It was a tough call.

At the masquerade ball, there was a part where partners were swapped at the climax to help everyone mingle.

On the next beat, when Ava was about to fall into that guy's arms, I reached out and grabbed her waist, pulling her to my side, while Amy ended up with that sleazy guy.

It was not that I didn't care about Amy's safety. I knew her; she was a well-known figure in the Silver Pine Pack. No guy would dare mess with her. Plus, Amy noticed Ava's situation, and I figured she'd be willing to help.

Sure enough, when the guy recognized Amy, he got a lot more respectful. I saw the surprise in Ava's eyes and smiled a bit. "Nice to see you again, Ava."

I was sure no girl could resist my moves, but when I saw Ava's smile, I felt a bit moved.

"Ethan, you helped me again," she said, her voice filled with gratitude.

"It's okay, just follow my lead. You haven't danced like this before, have you?"

Ava shook her head. I held her waist, guiding her step by step, like teaching a kid, leading her to spin in the center of the dance floor.

Ava's steps got lighter, her face glowing with a shy smile.

If this was training, then I thought I did a good job. I just wondered how Noah would feel knowing I danced with the woman in his Luna Trial.

I remembered the way Noah looked at Ava was different. Maybe even cold Noah had moments of affection. How interesting.

But it seemed Ava was different for me too. Her eyes were so beautiful and lively.

Suddenly, a spotlight hit us from the stage, the pack's reward for the best dancers.

Under the light, I saw Noah in the distance, and he was staring at me with a hostile gaze.

Yeah, how could a wolf not recognize his fated mate?