Landon feels humiliated in every way. This guy stole his girl and tried to kill him. Hope didn't even seem to care about him. He gets up and is ready to leave. Rafael wakes up just as Landon was leaving. Landon was so wrapped up in his thoughts that he forgot about his friend. Rafael wakes up and asks what happened. Landon helps him. Lizzie and Hope turn to them. A strange atmosphere surrounds everyone, especially Landon and Hope. Hope looks away from Landon. She can't look at his face. What can she do? Ethan has arrived with both feet in the door of her life and has laid everything bare. She can't deny what she feels for him. But he was very cruel to Landon. She knows that it most likely wasn't Ethan exactly, but rather his wolf side. They saw that he fought against it. He was so different from the normal Ethan.
Rafael, now standing more firmly and with Hope's memories falling into place, looked from Landon to Hope, then to Ethan, still lying vulnerable on the ground, covered only by his jacket. The confusion in his eyes gave way to understanding—and a growing anger. He remembered Hope, remembered the attraction he'd felt, and to see Landon in that state… He clenched his fists, the wolf inside him growling low, and took a step toward Ethan. "This guy…" he began, his voice low and full of fury.
"Rafael, what do you think you're doing?" Hope stepped in front of him instantly, hands raised, body tense. "He's unconscious! Get away from him now."
Rafael stopped, surprised by Hope's quick reaction, but his anger didn't diminish. "Get out of the way, Hope!" he yelled, his voice louder now, attracting Lizzie and Landon's attention. "Why are you defending him?! He almost killed Landon! He erased me! What the hell has gotten into you?!"
Hope didn't back down, her blue eyes flashing. "It wasn't him! It was... it was his wolf, his animal part. He was fighting it, Rafael! He knocked himself out so he wouldn't hurt anyone!" she defended, her voice firm, though her heart was racing.
With every word Hope said defending Ethan, Landon felt a tightness in his chest, as if the air was being squeezed from his lungs. It was as if she was choosing Ethan, even after everything.
Rafael laughed, a bitter, disbelieving sound. "Oh, right! The big bad wolf excuse! How convenient!" He stepped aside, trying to sidestep Hope, but she moved again, blocking his path. "Why are you defending this guy so much, Hope? Huh? You don't even know him that well! Or do you?" He glared at her, the accusation clear in his eyes. "Or maybe you knew him before? Even when you were with Landon? Maybe you've been cheating on him this whole time and now this is just your excuse?" His voice dripped with venom, the pain of his perceived betrayal of his friend mixed with his own confusion. "Seems like you wasted no time in leaving Landon behind and moving on with the first mysterious guy who came along, huh?"
"It wasn't that!" Hope protested, her voice cracking, the injustice of the accusation hitting her. "You don't understand what happened, what... what I feel!"
"Oh, I don't get it?" Rafael scoffed, crossing his arms. "It seems pretty clear to me. You forgot about Landon pretty quickly."
Before Hope could respond, Lizzie stepped in front of Rafael, her blue eyes flashing. "Hey! Leave her alone, you resentful little wolf!" Lizzie growled, picking up Hope's fight. "You don't know anything about what happened! Hope went through hell being forgotten by everyone, including you and your whiny little friend over there! She has the right to move on if she wants to!"
"Move on?!" Landon raised his voice again, joining the fight, pain giving way to anger. "She cheated on me, Lizzie! With that guy! I remember everything!" Hope turned to Landon, the pain and frustration evident on her face. "I cheated on you? What about you, Landon? You slept with Josie! Don't you accuse me of moving on when you did the same thing!"
Landon yelled back, his voice cracking with anguish and fury. "I DID THIS BECAUSE I FORGOT EVERYTHING! I DIDN'T KNOW WHO YOU WERE! But you didn't forget, Hope! You remembered me, us, and yet you slept with that guy! How could you?" The accusation hit Hope like a slap, leaving her speechless for a moment.
The clearing erupted in shouts and accusations. Rafael arguing with Lizzie, Landon yelling at Hope, Hope trying to defend herself, Lizzie defending Hope... It was a chaos of raw emotions, pain, and newly discovered memories.
It was the sound of the fight that finally brought Ethan fully back to consciousness. He groaned, his head pounding harder from the shouting, and opened his eyes, disoriented. The first thing he saw was the starry sky through the leaves of the trees. Then he heard the shouting. He sat up with difficulty, his aching body protesting, and looked around. He saw Hope, Lizzie, Landon, and Rafael in the middle of a heated argument. Then he looked down. He realized he was naked, covered only by Hope's small denim jacket, which she must have put over him while he was unconscious. The jacket barely covered the essentials and was slipping dangerously. The memories of what had happened—the loss of control, the threat to Hope, the cruel words, the self-inflicted knockout—came back with a vengeance. He put his hand to his face, rubbing his eyes, and then ran his hand through his hair, a low groan escaping his lips. Shit. What the hell had I done?
"LANDON!" Ethan's voice rang out loud and firm, cutting through the argument. Everyone instantly fell silent, turning to him, surprised that he was already awake. Lizzie, Hope, and Rafael's eyes widened.
Ethan stood up, pulling Hope's jacket to try to cover himself better, the pain in his body secondary to the pain he saw on Landon's face and the confusion in Hope's eyes. He saw the pain on Landon's face, the broken hand, the dried tears on his face, the accusation in his eyes. Guilt hit him hard.
He walked slowly toward Landon, stopping a few feet away. His eyes met the boy's, and for the first time, there was no contempt or anger, just a deep, heavy regret. "Landon," he began, his voice husky, thick with an emotion he rarely showed. "I'm sorry." The words came out simple, direct, but heavy. "For everything. For the cruel things I said. For the pain I caused you. I… I lost control. It wasn't me there, not entirely." He hesitated, looking at Hope for a moment before turning back to Landon. "I know this doesn't fix anything, but… I needed to say it. And I need to explain." He took a deep breath. "About me and Hope… there's this thing called the Imprint. It's a werewolf thing, a bond… It's complicated, but it's real. It's not something I chose, or that she chose. It just… happened." He focused solely on explaining the Imprint as the reason for their connection, omitting the larger complexity behind it. "That doesn't justify what I did, the way I treated you. But maybe... maybe it will help you understand a little why things are like this."
The silence that followed was almost as heavy as the tension before. Landon just stared at him, his face still lined with pain but now with a layer of confusion. Rafael and Lizzie watched, unsure of what to say. Hope held her breath, waiting for Landon's reaction, her heart pounding in her chest.
Landon blinked, the tears stopping as he tried to process Ethan's words. The pain in his broken hand seemed distant now, replaced by deep confusion and a stab of disbelief. "Imprint?" he repeated, his voice hoarse, barely above a whisper. "What the hell is Imprint? Are you making this up to justify stealing her from me?" The accusation returned, but now it was laced with genuine uncertainty.
Ethan shook his head, running a hand over his face again, looking tired. "No, Landon, I'm not making this up." He looked at Hope, a silent plea for permission in his eyes, and she gave a small, almost imperceptible nod, her heart still clenching. Ethan turned back to Landon. "My mother told me. That my father… he was different, like me. He told her that some werewolves, the rare ones, have this. It's… it's like your soul finding its other half. It's not just love, it's… destiny. A connection that pulls you in, that completes you. You feel the person from afar, you know when they're in danger… it's like the universe conspiring to bring you together." He paused, his voice low, thick with raw emotion. "Ever since I first saw Hope, I've felt it. It's a force I can't control. I've tried to pull away, to give her space, but… it's impossible." He looked at Hope again, and the intensity in his gaze was undeniable. "It's not something I can just turn off, Landon. It's part of who I am, of who we are together."
Landon continued to stare at him, confusion giving way to an even deeper pain. He wanted to believe it was a lie, but the sincerity in Ethan's voice was palpable. "So… what does that mean?" Landon asked, his voice cracking. "That no matter what I do, no matter what I feel… she'll always be yours because of this… thing?"
Ethan took a deep breath, his gaze meeting Landon's with weary seriousness. "That's not for me to say, Landon," he replied, his voice firm but without the cruelty of before. "I don't control Hope, and this Imprint... it doesn't control her either. It's a connection, a force that pulls me to her, that explains why I feel the way I do so... overwhelmingly." He paused, choosing his words. "But it doesn't take away her free will. The Imprint may be one of the reasons I love her the way I do, but it doesn't force me to do anything. And I'm sure it doesn't force her either." He looked at Hope, a look she'd never seen in his eyes before. "If Hope wants to be with you, Landon, that's her choice. Neither I nor this bond can change that. The Imprint may give a... little help, but that's all. We're still free to make our own choices."
Hope listened to Ethan's explanation, and her heart sank even more. He was being more honest now, explaining the nature of the Imprint without using it as a weapon. But he was still leaving out the most crucial part: that this connection wasn't just a newfound Imprint. It was the echo of a love that had already existed, a love she didn't remember but that he carried. She knew, instinctively, that Ethan was protecting her, maybe Landon too, from the full truth about their past, about Lucifer. But the omission still stung, leaving a void where their full story should have been.
Landon absorbed Ethan's words, his face pale in the moonlight. Free will. The choice was hers. He looked at Hope, at the way she looked at Ethan—not with forced love, but with a mixture of pain, understanding, and an undeniable connection. The last spark of hope died in his chest. He couldn't compete with fate, with his own soul, and now, not even with her choice.
Lizzie watched with wide eyes. "So... like, the universe ships you guys, but she can still choose otherwise? How confusing!" she muttered.
Landon let out a dry, humorless laugh. "Imprint," he repeated, the word now sounding like venom. "A supernatural fairy tale with free will at the end." He clutched his broken hand. "So…we never had a chance, did we?" He looked at Hope, his eyes red but with cold resignation. "No matter what we had…it was bound to end."
He shook his head, a dry sob escaping. "You know what? Screw it." He turned away abruptly. "Let's go, Raf."
Rafael hesitated, looking from Landon to Hope, then back to Ethan. He opened his mouth, but decided against it. With one last look at Hope, full of disappointment, he nodded to Landon and the two of them began walking together out of the clearing, disappearing into the trees.
Hope watched them go, her heart sinking. Lizzie sighed dramatically, breaking the tense silence and running a hand across her forehead as if exhausted by the drama. "Phew! I thought this would never end. Seriously, you three need a reality show. Or some serious therapy." She shrugged, a wry smile appearing. "Well, at least the whiner and the angry wolf are gone. Less explosive testosterone per square foot." She turned to Hope and Ethan, her gaze skimming over Ethan's partial nudity before settling on Hope with a 'mission accomplished' air. "Now, about the... shall we say... situation on display here," she gestured vaguely to Ethan, "I think you two have a lot to talk about. And I have better things to do than stand by and watch a half-naked, destined couple. I'm going to go see if Rafael needs ice for his chin or his bruised ego." She gave Hope a sly wink. "Have fun.
"Thank you, Liz," Hope murmured, a small smile appearing despite herself. Lizzie's tart but oddly comforting presence was something she had missed.
Lizzie shrugged again, with one last curious look at Ethan. "You're welcome. But seriously, Hope, tell me the sordid details later," she whispered before turning and heading the same way as Landon and Rafael, leaving Hope and Ethan alone in the now silent clearing.
Ethan watched Lizzie go, then turned his gaze back to Hope. He adjusted her jean jacket, which was tied precariously around her waist, feeling the thin, light fabric against his skin. He realized that the jacket was slipping down, revealing more than it should have. A small, embarrassed smile played on his lips as he scratched the back of his head. "Yeah… I don't think this is working so well," he commented, the blush returning to his neck.
Hope laughed softly despite the tension. "No, really. We need to get you some clothes." She looked around at the torn pieces of his favorite leather jacket scattered across the floor. "I'm sorry about your jacket."
"It wasn't your fault," he said, the smile fading as the guilt returned. "Hope," he began again, his voice hoarse and full of regret. "I'm sorry. Again. For what I said to Landon…for the way I acted. It wasn't me. I mean, it was," he corrected quickly, frustrated with himself, "it was the werewolf part. The beast. It seems like…like she has a conscience of her own, that she thinks for herself. And she's…territorial. Possessive. Vicious." He looked at her, his eyes filled with a pain that went beyond the physical. "I fought it, Hope. I swear I did. But she's strong. And what she said…about you…" He swallowed, unable to finish the sentence, the fear that he'd gone too far written all over his face.
Hope took a step toward him, her expression softening, understanding replacing the shock. "I know, Ethan," she said, her voice low but firm. "I've seen you struggle. I've seen the beast trying to take control. I understand what it's like to lose control, to have something inside you that you can't quite tame." She stopped in front of him, her blue eyes meeting his. "I feel that way too sometimes," she confessed, her voice dropping even lower, almost a secret shared only between them. "Like there's a beast inside me, something bloodthirsty that hasn't quite been unleashed. I'm scared, Ethan. Scared that if I take one wrong step, that beast could be unleashed and…and end so many lives." She looked away for a moment, the vulnerability in her voice palpable. "So I understand. More than you know." She looked back at him, the connection between them deepening. "And about what you said to Landon... about the Imprint not forcing anyone..." She took a deep breath. "You're right. What I feel for you..." She hesitated, her face flushing slightly. "...it's not just because of that. It's more. It's my choice too." The words came out, honest, vulnerable, breaking down the last barrier between them.
Ethan felt immense relief wash over him at Hope's words. A small, genuine smile played on his lips as he looked at her, at the strength and understanding in her eyes. He glanced down for a moment, noticing his favorite leather jacket lying torn and dirty on the floor, a reminder of the chaotic fight. "Damn," he grumbled, his tone genuinely complaining. "Look at the state of my favorite jacket. That thing really showed no mercy."
Hope couldn't help but laugh, a light, clear sound that seemed to dissipate some of the heavy tension hanging over the clearing. "Seriously, Ethan? You almost died, you fought your own inner beast, you had an emotional showdown worthy of a soap opera, and you're worried about your jacket?" She shook her head, the smile still on her lips.
"Hey, that jacket has a story!" he protested with a mock-offended look, but the smile on his face gave it away. "And it was expensive." He shrugged, his smile widening. "But I guess you're right. We have more important things to deal with right now." He held out his hand to her. "Shall we get out of here? We need to find your clothes... and maybe mine too." He glanced down at her denim jacket that barely covered him.
Hope took his hand, their fingers intertwining naturally. "Let's go," she agreed, feeling the warmth of his hand and the familiarity of his touch. The heavy atmosphere was still there, the consequences of what had happened that night would surely come back to haunt them, but in that moment, walking out of the clearing together, hand in hand, it seemed like they could face anything. "I have my tricks," she said with a mischievous smile, and closed her eyes, concentrating. She muttered a low spell: "Invisique." A slight ripple seemed to pass through the air around them, and then, to any outside observer, they simply disappeared. "Now, let's go," she said, pulling him by the hand.
They walked together through the dark forest, invisible to the eyes of the world, hand in hand. The silence between them was now comfortable, filled with mutual understanding and the silent promise of what was to come. Ethan followed her, trusting her, feeling the warmth of her hand in his. Ethan followed her to her room at the Salvatore School. After she "borrowed" some clothes from some boys there, she gave them to Ethan. After dressing him, she took him back to the school gate, of course using "invisique". Ethan ran back to his beloved motorcycle...
I'm sorry my beautiful, I left you alone for so long...
..... Hope looked at Ethan with a strange look, Had he called that motorcycle beautiful?
What are you doing Ethan? Hope asked as she looked at the scene in front of her.
Huhumm .. Look Hope I know it doesn't seem important but this bike is currently my most valuable "possession" that I have and I also have a lot of affection for it, you don't need to be jealous of it, Ethan smiled at Hope playfully
Okay then mister motorcycle lover, let's go, it's late, where are you going now? Hope asked.
Being honest with you, the day was full of events, I want to rest, Ethan said as he yawned, sleep was really taking over him.
Okay then, but take me to school, I need to go back, I'm sure Lizzie went out telling everyone what happened here and I also need to confirm if people really remember me, Hope said as she got on the bike and tapped the front for Ethan to sit down and take her away.
Ethan laughed at that, not saying anything else and got on the bike, Hope put her arms around his waist and they both continued on the road.