Chasing His Kickass Luna Back Chapter 241

Karl

The sun has barely made its morning ascent into the sky by the time I’m pulling into Ethan’s gravel driveway.

The tudor-style facades of his mansion catch the golden early morning sunlight, and it’s actually quite beautiful. A row of four stained glass windows on the front of the house, each depicting the same tree in a different season, absorb the golden sun and seem to glow with color.

One thing is for sure: Ethan has always had good taste when it comes to his home. I just wish he had the same good taste when it comes to women.

I can’t help but let a sigh out as I pull up the driveway. Maybe it’s a bit earlier than it should be, but after what happened at dinner last night, I felt as though I couldn’t wait.

I’ve driven to his house as my very first task of the day, hoping to catch him before he’s too wrapped up in his own duties. My goal is simple: talk to my brother, reason with him, and try to make him see the truth about Gianna.

As I walk up to Ethan’s front door, my mind whirls with memories of what Abby said last night. She was right; I shouldn’t place the blame entirely on my brother. He was in a coma for years and lost his entire biological family to the same disease that put him in the coma, and Gianna had all that time to sink her claws in.

There’s no telling exactly what she said to him while he was in the coma, and there’s certainly no telling what sort of lies she’s whispering into his ear now. I’m certain that it was her idea when he offered to take over as Alpha, and I wouldn’t be one bit surprised if she isn’t spinning all sorts of webs of deceit now that she’s his ‘election manager’.

It just pisses me off. Whatever Gianna wants from me, she should have brought it up with me—not my sick brother. But it’s too late now, and all I can do at this point is hope beyond hope that he’ll see some sense.

Either way, I’m not sure how he’ll react to what I have to say, but it needs to be said. I raise my hand to knock on the door, but before my knuckles can make contact with the wood, the door swings open.

And there she stands: Gianna, with that smug fucking smile plastered on her face as if she’s been waiting for me.

“So she’s living with him now?” my wolf, just as angry as I am, hissed inside of my head. “What a little leech.”

“Ah, Karl,” Gianna purrs, her voice dripping with false sweetness. “What a surprise to see you this morning after your stunt last night. Are you here to see Ethan?”

I nod, my jaw clenched. I need to keep calm, to show restraint. Reacting like I did last night, no matter how much Gianna irks me, won’t help anything. “Yes, Gianna,” I manage. “I need to talk to him. Is he here?”

She scoffs. “Perhaps he’ll consider speaking with you,” she says. “But don’t hold your breath.”

She steps aside to let me in, but her eyes never leave mine. As I enter the house, I can feel her gaze lingering on me, as if she’s trying to size me up, to figure me out. It sends a shiver down my spine, but I push the discomfort aside.

Ethan is in the living room, sitting on the couch and flipping through this morning’s newspaper. He looks up when he hears us enter, and his eyes widen slightly when he sees me.

“Karl?” he says, setting aside the newspaper. “What are you doing here?”

I take a deep breath, trying to find the right words. “Ethan, we need to talk,” I say, glancing over at Gianna. “Privately.”

His eyes narrow, and he stands. He looks much taller now that he’s recovered, and he no longer needs his cane. “Whatever you need to say, you can say it in front of my mate.”

I sigh, straightening my jacket. “Alright, fine,” I say curtly. “Gianna is manipulating you. She’s a liar and a cheater, and she’ll be your downfall.”

Gianna’s eyes flash with anger, but she remains silent, letting me speak.

Ethan’s eyes narrow even further, and he takes a step closer to me. “We’ve been over this, brother,” he says. “You’ve got it all twisted.”

I take a step closer to him as well, lowering my voice to a tone that’s barely above a growl. “Ethan, you’ve only heard her side of the story,” I insist. “And you’re refusing to hear what really happened. The ‘cheating’? Gianna orchestrated all of that. She only ever wanted to become the Luna, and now she’s using you for that goal.”

Ethan frowns deeply, the lines in his face turning just a shade darker with the expression. “I believe you’re mistaken, Karl,” he hisses. “I know my own mate. She would never do that.”

I can’t believe how blind he’s being, how easily he’s taking her side. “Ethan, you have to believe me. She’s not who she appears to be. I know her better than anyone, and I’ve seen the lengths she’ll go to for power. You’d really side with her so willingly over your own brother?”

Gianna finally speaks up, her voice icy. “Karl, you’re just bitter because things are rocky between you and Abby. You’re trying to ruin our relationship out of jealousy,” she says. “And besides…” She scoffs. “You’re not Ethan’s real brother.”

I turn to face her, my anger bubbling up. “No one asked you,” I hiss. “And you don’t know the first damn thing about Abby, nor do you know the first thing about our family.”

Ethan steps between us, his face flushed with anger. “That’s enough, Karl,” he says, his voice cold. “I won’t forgive you so easily for trying to ruin my relationship. Leave. Now.”

I can’t believe what I’m hearing. My own brother, choosing Gianna over me. It’s like he’s under some sort of spell, and I can’t break through to him.

Without another word, I turn on my heel and storm out, ignoring Gianna’s triumphant smirk boring into the side of my head. It’s a chilling feeling, and it confirms my worst fears—that my own brother, the man who I’ve looked up to for years, is being blindly manipulated by a woman he barely knows.

I walk away from Ethan’s house, my anger and frustration simmering beneath the surface. Once I’m back in my car, the first thing I do is pull out my phone and dial Sarah with a new resolve in my mind.

“Sarah, we need to schedule the volunteering you suggested,” I say as I drive away, leaving no room for preamble. “I want to boost my approval ratings as soon as possible.”

Her voice comes through the phone, confident and reassuring. “Of course, Karl. I’ll get right on it. We’ll show them what you’re made of.”

As I hang up the phone, my determination only grows stronger. I can’t let Ethan be the Alpha if he’s so easily swayed by his new girlfriend. I’ll do whatever it takes to win this election and protect our pack from the threat Gianna poses.

This is far from over, and I won’t rest until I’ve exposed Gianna for who she truly is and reclaimed my brother from her clutches.