Chapter 358: Fulfilling The Conditions (Bonus)
Ethan obliged, removing the ring from its box before gently sliding it onto her finger.
It fit perfectly.
Hayley lifted her hand, admiring the sapphire as though she could hardly believe it was really there.
"It’s beautiful..."
She looked back at Ethan, leaned across the console, cupped his face, and pulled him into a gentle kiss.
When she finally drew back, there was a faint flush across her cheeks.
"Come on." A bright smile spread across her face. "Everyone’s waiting for you."
They stepped out of the sedan together. This time, it was Hayley who reached for his hand.
The two walked side by side through the gates of the Arcorys Residence until they arrived at the courtyard.
There, they both came to a stop before a large bonfire burning brightly, surrounded by nearly every member of the Arcorys Family.
It was a tradition among the Arcorys wolves to gather around the family fire whenever an occasion significant enough called everyone home.
And tonight, was one of those nights.
The Challenge was going to happen.
The moment Ethan stepped into the firelight, the gathered wolves erupted into cheers.
"Ethan!"
"Our Ethan’s here!"
Laughter and welcoming voices rang out from every direction as several members greeted him with broad smiles.
Gaston was the only one person who wasn’t smiling.
The Alpha’s eyes widened in disbelief. "You...?"
Neither Ethan nor Hayley acknowledged him.
Hand in hand, they continued walking straight past him until they arrived before the family Elder.
She was an elderly woman whose silver hair fell past her shoulders, her weathered face softening into a gentle smile the moment she saw the pair standing before her.
She nodded at them both before reaching out to take their hands.
Gradually, silence settled over the gathering as everyone watched the Elder look into Hayley’s eyes, then Ethan’s.
Several long moments passed without anyone speaking.
Finally, a warm smile spread across the Elder’s face as she said. "Their hearts are one."
The courtyard erupted into cheers and applause, the sounds echoing around the bonfire as laughter spread among the gathered wolves.
Gaston was really not looking good.
The Elder slowly released their hands before extending one arm toward the open space surrounding the great fire.
"The challenge will be held."
Another wave of cheers erupted, but this time, Gaston could no longer remain silent.
"So this is truly what we’ve become?" His voice cut through the celebration, bring the cheers to a stop.
Everyone turned toward him.
Hayley looked at him. "Get over yourself, Uncle."
Gaston ignored her remark as his gaze swept across the gathered members of the pack.
"Are we truly prepared to let our family fall this low?"
He pointed directly at Ethan. "That person is not a wolf, he isn’t even human either."
His voice grew louder. "Have none of you ever stopped to wonder why Alpha bloodlines have always sought other wolves? It is because our blood must remain pure."
Hayley’s expression hardened. "There has never been any such rule in this pack."
"That’s one of the fucking problems." Gaston shot back. "In some packs, it isn’t a choice, but a requirement."
"There are packs that have married third cousins... even fourth cousins... all to preserve the purity of their blood."
"I know it isn’t a rule here, but are we truly going to let this become the future of our generations? Mutated and wrong."
He pointed toward Hayley. "Not only has Hayley chosen to become a second wife, she is willingly setting herself on the path to taint our bloodline."
Hayley’s fist slowly tightened, her fury slowly growing.
The Elder then spoke. "He raises a relevant point."
She looked around the gathering. "The pack is also guided by the precedents established by those who came before."
Hayley turned toward her in shock.
Gaston’s smile gradually returned. "Good, then I believe there should be no need for all of this in the first place."
"Bullshit." Percival stepped forward.
Once everyone’s attention had shifted to him, he began, "My father always said that anyone who has dined and bled for this pack is also part of this pack."
Then he turned toward Ethan. "And Ethan has done both. So far as I’m concerned, he’s just as much a wolf as anyone standing here."
Percival slowly turned back toward the gathering. "Who here doesn’t know this face?"
No one answered, but Jeremy stepped forward next. "Moreover, dormant genes exist."
He gestured toward one of the older men within the gathering. "Look at Big Uncle Melvin, he’s married to a vampire and yet none of his children are vampires, they’re all wolves."
Jeremy turned towards the Elder. "Ethan is a hybrid. If children were ever to happen, the likelihood is that his dormant genes would simply express themselves."
At this time, there was no one within House Arcorys who didn’t know what Ethan truly was.
Ethan himself remained mostly silent throughout the exchange.
This was a matter concerning the Arcorys Pack itself, and he understood that this wasn’t his place to dominate the discussion.
Still, from the voices he could hear throughout the gathering, it sounded as though the murmuring had begun leaning in their favor.
Although, Jeremy’s comparison regarding dormant genes wasn’t entirely accurate.
That logic would have applied to the overwhelming majority of hybrids in the world. The 99.9% whose mixed heritage usually remained dormant whenever they had children with someone of a pure race.
But Ethan wasn’t one of those hybrids. He belonged to the 0.1%, with each of his individual natures being complete in its own right.
Therefore in a matter concerning genes, his would not be dormant.
Ethan’s attention moved toward the Elder.
The old woman had remained quiet for some time now, her eyes lowered in thought as every wolf around the bonfire waited upon her decision.
Finally, she raised her head and said. "It is true that the Alphas and Lunas before us have only ever taken wolves... or humans... as their mates."
She nodded slowly. "It is also true that, in Hayley’s case, her own blood may very well dominate. Although...that is not something any of us can state with certainty."
Her gaze then moved toward Gaston. "But we have also always stood by the very words Marvin taught this family. The same words his father—your own father—made every one of us uphold."
She smiled. "We choose who we call family."
Her eyes settled upon Ethan. "Young Ethan may not be a wolf, but he has more than earned the right to be regarded as one."
She extended her hand once more. "The challenge shall proceed tonight. Please prepare yourselves."
The courtyard erupted into cheers once again.
Gaston’s expression darkened with dissatisfaction, but he met Hayley’s eyes as he said, "One hour."
Without waiting for a response, he turned and disappeared back into the residence.
Their battle was going to start in the following hour
—
Inside his room...
Gaston walked directly toward an old cabinet built into the wall.
He unlocked one of the concealed drawers before reaching inside and pulling out a small metal box.
For a moment, he simply stared at it.
However, he opened the lid and within it was a dark-purple crystal.
A Beelstone.