Surrogate for My Brother-in-law - Chapter 35: Chapter 35

After eating the most decadent slice of chocolate cake I had ever seen, dinner was over. Leo offered to take me home with him and Eva, but Ethan insisted on driving me home.
“I brought her out,” he said, “It's my duty to see her home safe.”
“You know she'll be safe with us,” Leo said.
“Of course. But I am a gentleman,” Ethan shrugged. “Anyway, I don't know, you and your wife might need to make a stop for something personal. I wouldn't want poor Tessa to feel awkward.”
I couldn't imagine what “personal” stop Leo and Eva might need to make. From the looks on their faces, neither did they.
But I did not want to be trapped in a car with Eva when she was so clearly furious with me. Leo and Ethan couldn't see it, but I could. So I accepted Ethan's hand up from the table.
“We really should give you your privacy, Alpha Leo,” I said. “I will see you tomorrow.”
“All right then, if you're sure,” Leo said. “Ethan, take care of her.”
“You know I will. While they're in my territory, your wolves are like my own.” He reached out and clasped Leo's hand. “Hey, it's just a drive, man. You and your Luna should take the long way home, enjoy the night air.”
“I think we will,” Leo said.
In the car, I thanked Ethan for covering for me.
“Hey, I get it. I don't know what's going on with that Luna, but I don't think I like her much,” Ethan admitted. “I didn't want to say anything in front of Leo, though.”
“No, please don't. It'll just cause trouble.”
“If you're sure,” Ethan said. “But I mean, you said she was holding your mother hostage? How is that okay? That is not something a Luna should do.”
“I know,” I said, “but I can't say anything against her. She's the Alpha Daughter, and now she's a Luna. I'm just a maid.”
“You're a lot more than just a maid, Tessa,” Ethan protested.
“No, I'm not. It's not safe for me to be anything but a maid right now,” I said.
After that, we drove in silence until we reached the manor.
Ethan said, “You can trust Leo. I know he's messed up a couple times with you. But I promise you, he's got the makings of a great alpha. You just have to give him a chance to be.”
“I want to,” I admitted. “I want to trust him. If it was just me, maybe I'd risk it. But it's not.”
“It's your mother, too,” Ethan said.
And my baby, but I didn't dare tell even Ethan about that. “Yeah.”
“I get it,” Ethan said. “Okay. I'll keep my mouth shut, since you've asked me to. But I don't like it.”
“I know.” I leaned over and kissed him on the cheek. “Thank you, Alpha Ethan.”
“Hey, we're friends, right? It's just Ethan.”
“Okay.” I paused. “I know it's just an alias but... I kind of like it when you call me Angel.”
Ethan grinned. “I like it, too. Good night, Angel. Take care of yourself.”
I smiled and slipped out of the car before I did anything else I really shouldn't do. What was I thinking, being so familiar with an alpha from another pack? We weren't really dating, he was just covering for me!
But he hadn't seemed to mind.
Eva stormed into my room without knocking. I suppose I was lucky she didn't kick the door down. Repairing it was always a hassle because putting a door back on its hinges was nearly impossible for one person to do alone. And no one ever bothered to help me. They were too afraid of Eva to interfere even that much.
I understood. I was afraid of her, too.
“What do you think you're doing?” Eva demanded.
“Going to bed?” I replied, hoping against hope that she'd see how late it was and decide to wait until later to yell at me.
I was just so tired from the day. The hope of seeing my mother crashed against the disappointment of missing her by a few days. Then helping that poor wolf, Wilson. Then the tense dinner with her and Leo and Ethan. I was just wiped out.
Eva slapped me across the cheek.
“Don't be a smart ass,” she snarled. “You know what I meant. What do you think you're doing, going out with Alpha Ethan?”
“It was just dinner,” I said, holding my cheek with one hand and curling the other one over my belly in an effort to protect the pup.
“Just dinner, huh? What, you didn't have enough with Leo, thought you'd find yourself your own alpha? Is that it?”
“N-no,” I stammered. “I was just... he was just being nice, that's all. I didn't want to say no. It'd be rude.”
“Hmph.” Eva rolled her eyes. “Sure. Whatever. I know what you're after, Tessa. I don't buy that innocent act of yours.”
I shook my head but I didn't dare argue any further.
She grabbed my shoulders and shook me once, hard.
“Don't you dare do anything like that again,” she snarled.
“L-like what?” I whimpered
“Like going off without orders from me! I can't have you running around and risking everything.”
“I don't understand,” I said. “What does it matter what I do, so long as I'm around if you need to switch with me?”
“I'm not explaining myself to you,” Evan sneered. “Just don't even think about leaving this manor without my permission. Ever. You hear me?”
I nodded miserably, but I wasn't going to obey. Not this time. If Ethan needed me to help one of his wolves, I was going to go.
“W-won't Alpha Ethan get suspicious if I suddenly stop going out with him?” I asked. “Alpha Leo already said it was okay.”
Eva snorted. “Of course he did. Well, don't get too excited about Alpha Ethan. I know what he's like.”
“Huh?” I asked.
“He's probably already chatting up some pretty girl in his own pack.” Eva shrugged. “He's a womanizer. Leo likes him, and he calls him that.”
Leo had said something like that. And Dr. Lee had warned me, too. But I didn't think Ethan would just drop somebody without a good reason.
And we weren't even dating. So it didn't matter how many pretty girls he talked to or took to dinner.
“This won't get in the way of your plans,” I promised. “It's just... I just needed a break. He was nice to me, and I needed a break. That's all.”
“Whatever,” Eva said, shoving me towards the bed. “You're lucky you have to work for Leo in the morning. Go to bed. And if Ethan contacts you... how did he even get in touch with you?”
“I just ran into him and Dr. Angel in the yard,” I lied.
“Oh, yeah. Her.” Eva crossed her arms. “Who is she, anyway?”
“I don't know,” I said. “I think, maybe, she's living in our territory but I don't know where. She always wears a mask and she doesn't talk much.”
“Huh. Weird. You'd think we'd know about a healer in our own territory,” Eva mused. “Well. If you see her around, you come get me. If Ethan contacts you, you come get me. I don't want you doing anything without consulting me, understand? I won't have you messing up my plans with your stupid little schemes.”
I nodded. I knew better than to defy her.
She huffed and left, slamming my door behind her. I slumped against the headboard of my bed. I'd gotten away with nothing but a sore cheek. I was lucky.
I changed into my nightgown, turned off the light, and curled up in bed. Despite how tired I was, sleep took a while to come.