The Wolfless Contract Luna (Grace and Ethan) novel Chapter 27

**Glass Gardens Falling by George Orwell**
**Chapter 27: Jealous Rage**

**Grace’s Perspective**

Ethan stands framed in the doorway, his face an unyielding mask of stone, betraying nothing of the tumult within.

The atmosphere shifts, a palpable chill wrapping around us, filled with unspoken danger. His gaze zeroes in on my hand, which is still cradling the cup as Lori sips cautiously from it. I can see something dark and unsettling flicker in his eyes, a shadow of emotion that sends a shiver down my spine.

“What are you doing?” His voice, though deceptively calm, carries an undercurrent of something sharp and dangerous.

I instinctively pull back, placing the cup on the bedside table with a soft clink. “Lori needed water. I was just helping him drink,” I explain, my voice steady but my heart racing.

“I see that.” Ethan steps further into the room, each footfall reverberating loudly in the sudden silence that has enveloped us. “And you felt the need to do this personally?”

Heat rushes to my cheeks, a mix of embarrassment and frustration. “He’s injured. I was just—”

“Luna Grace is very kind,” Lori interjects quickly, sensing the tension. “I apologize if—”

His words falter as Ethan moves behind me, his presence looming, a silent force pressing against my back. He doesn’t touch me, yet the heat radiating from his body envelops me, making my heart race even faster. His scent, a blend of earth and something distinctly him, surrounds me, making it hard to think clearly.

“There are Omegas for this,” Ethan states, his tone dripping with a politeness that feels like a warning. “You don’t need to personally attend to every pack member’s needs, Grace.”

*He’s jealous.*

The realization hits me like a bolt of lightning, illuminating the dark corners of my mind. Alpha Ethan Greymane, powerful and always in control, is actually feeling jealousy over Lori.

“I wanted to check on him myself,” I manage to say, my voice trembling slightly. “He was tortured because of me.”

“He was tortured because of Damien,” Ethan counters, his hand resting lightly on my shoulder, a possessive gesture that sends a thrill down my spine. “Don’t take that burden on yourself.”

Lori’s eyes widen in surprise, darting back and forth between us before he clears his throat, trying to diffuse the tension.

“Alpha Ethan, I need to be clear about something.” His voice is careful, each word measured. “I would never have improper thoughts about someone I’ve sworn loyalty to. Luna Grace is my Alpha’s daughter. She’s like family.”

Despite Lori’s attempt to ease the situation, the tension remains thick and palpable.

“Besides,” Lori continues, “I already have a mate.”

My head snaps toward him, shock coursing through me. “You have a mate?”

“Yes.” A small, almost shy smile appears on his battered face. “We’ve been together for two years. We kept it quiet because—well, it’s complicated.”

“Who?” The question bursts out of me before I can rein it in. “When did this happen? Why didn’t you tell me?”

Lori’s smile turns sheepish, as if he’s been caught in a secret. “Like I said, complicated. But I promise, Luna, my loyalty to you is purely—”

Ethan’s hand slides down to my waist, pulling me back against him with a possessiveness that makes my breath hitch.

I gasp, feeling the solid warmth of his body behind me, his arm forming a protective band around my middle. The gesture feels intimate, claiming, and I can sense Lori’s surprise as he goes still.

“Alpha,” he says slowly, carefully, “may I ask—what exactly is your relationship with Luna Grace?”

Ethan’s gaze drops to me, expectant, as if he’s waiting for me to speak.

*Tell him,* his eyes seem to say. *Tell him the truth.*

That we’re mates. That I signed a contract to be his Luna. That everything between us is real and complicated and terrifying.

But the words refuse to come.

“We’re cooperating,” I finally say, forcing the words out. “Ethan is helping me with the separation case. And I’ve agreed to assist with Stellarnight pack affairs in return.”

Ethan’s entire demeanor shifts in an instant.

The warmth that surrounded us bleeds away, replaced by something colder and more menacing. His arm loosens its grip, not releasing me entirely but no longer holding me close. I feel the change like a physical withdrawal, leaving me feeling exposed and vulnerable.

*Stupid. Why did you say that?*

Lori looks between us again, clearly sensing the tension but wise enough not to comment further.

“I should rest,” he says diplomatically, trying to ease the atmosphere. “Thank you for visiting, Luna Grace. Alpha Ethan.”

Ethan remains silent as we exit Lori’s room, his hand finding the small of my back, firm and guiding, leading me down the hallway. We pass several pack members who quickly avert their eyes, scurrying away as if sensing the storm brewing between us.

*He’s angry.*

Not the explosive rage that Damien would have displayed, but a colder, quieter anger that feels somehow worse.

He pulls me into his study, closing the door with deliberate care, the click of the lock sending a wave of anxiety through me.

“Ethan—”

“Cooperating.” He turns to face me, his expression fierce. “That’s what you told him. That we’re cooperating.”

Heat floods my face, embarrassment mixing with frustration. “We are—”

“Is that what you think this is?” He steps closer, invading my space. “A business arrangement? Professional cooperation?”

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