I Am His Wolfless Luna Chapter 56

Aria's POV

The fluorescent lights of the training facility buzzed overhead, casting harsh shadows as Ethan and I raced through the empty corridors. Every second felt like an eternity, knowing Lucas was out there somewhere, probably scared and alone. The sound of our footsteps echoed off the walls, matching the frantic rhythm of my heartbeat.

"The locker room," I gasped, already pushing through the heavy door.

The room smelled of chlorine and synthetic pine cleaner, the metal lockers casting long shadows in the artificial light. My hands shook as I yanked open my locker, only to find it empty except for a forgotten hair tie.

"Damn it!" The curse escaped before I could stop it, my composure cracking. "Where is it?"

"We'll find it," Ethan's deep voice was steady behind me, his alpha presence filling the small space. Unlike his usual commanding aura that made others instinctively submit, now his energy felt like an anchor, helping me stay grounded. "Take a deep breath, Aria. Think carefully - walk me through your routine today."

I pressed my fingers to my temples, trying to force my scattered thoughts into order. The pounding of my heart made it hard to concentrate. "I... I had it when I came in for afternoon training. Then I went to shower, and..." My voice cracked as panic threatened to overwhelm me again.

"Stay with me," Ethan murmured, stepping closer. The warmth of his presence at my back was oddly steadying. "What happened next?"

"I put it in my locker before showering." The memory slowly crystallized. "But when I came back..." I broke off, frustration and fear making my hands shake.

Ethan's alpha energy shifted subtly, wrapping around me like a protective blanket. "Good. That narrows down where it could be." His voice remained calm and focused, giving me something to hold onto as my world threatened to spiral out of control. "Let's check every locker systematically, starting from yours."

His methodical approach helped quiet the chaos in my mind. While fear for Lucas still clawed at my chest, Ethan's steady presence kept me from completely falling apart. Together, we began our search, his quiet strength giving me the courage to keep going when all I wanted to do was scream.

We methodically searched the locker room, checking every corner and crevice. Ethan's presence should have been overwhelming in the confined space, but instead, it felt oddly steadying. His movements were precise and controlled, even as his forest-green eyes blazed with barely contained fury.

"Here!" His voice cut through my spiraling thoughts. In a dusty maintenance cabinet, partially hidden behind cleaning supplies, sat my phone.

My hands trembled so badly I could barely unlock the screen. Three missed calls from Lucas. The timestamp made my heart clench – he'd tried to reach me.

The phone nearly slipped from my grip as I hit redial. One ring. Two rings. Each second stretched like torture until—

"Hello? Mountain View Boutique." A woman's cheerful voice answered.

"I'm looking for Lucas," I managed to say, my voice surprisingly steady despite the way my knees had started to shake. "My son—"

"Oh, thank goodness!" The shopkeeper cut in. "Yes, he's right here with us. Poor thing was quite upset when he wandered in, but he's calmed down now. Such a well-mannered boy – he remembered your phone number perfectly."

Relief hit me like a physical force. My legs gave out, and I would have crumpled to the floor if not for Ethan's quick reflexes. His strong arms caught me from behind, pulling me against his chest. The solid warmth of him seeped through my clothes as happy tears blurred my vision.

"He's really okay?" I choked out, clutching the phone like a lifeline.

"Perfectly fine," the woman assured me. "We've given him some hot chocolate and he's been telling us all about his favorite books. Quite the little gentleman."

"I'll be there right away," I promised, trying to keep my voice from breaking. "Thank you. Thank you so much."

As I ended the call, I became acutely aware of Ethan's arms still around me. His pine-and-mountain-air scent enveloped me, his chest rising and falling steadily against my back. I should have pulled away, maintained the careful distance I always kept between us. Instead, I found myself leaning into his strength, just for a moment.

"Let's get you to him," Ethan murmured, his breath stirring my hair. The gentleness in his voice was such a contrast to his usual commanding tone that it made my chest ache.

We hurried toward the parking lot, but the aftermath of fear and relief had left me shaky. As we approached his car, another wave of dizziness swept over me. I stumbled, my heel catching on the uneven pavement.

Ethan moved faster than I thought possible, catching me before I could fall. One strong arm wrapped around my waist, pulling me against him. The solid warmth of his chest against my back, the steady beat of his heart, the protective way his alpha energy wrapped around me – it was all too much and somehow not enough.

"I can manage," I protested weakly, even as my body betrayed me by settling into his embrace. "You've already done so much tonight..."

"Aria." Just my name, but the way he said it – low and intimate – made me shiver. "Stop trying to handle everything alone. Let me help you."

I wanted to argue. But exhaustion and lingering fear had stripped away my usual defenses. His presence felt like a sanctuary, his strength keeping the panic at bay. Just for tonight, I told myself. Just until I had Lucas back in my arms.