Chapter 48: Chapter 48

"Harry…" I ran up to him, embracing him tightly the moment I saw him. He grunted in response, and I didn't realize I was crushing his bones from squeezing him too much. I step away, looking at him mirthfully. I was so glad he was fine. The gunshot he took nearly killed him, and if he ever took his life by chance, I would never forgive Allen.

"I'm so glad you're okay," I mumbled, stroking his head. He shrugs, smiling back at me.

"Well, who's going to take those bullets if I weren't there?" he asked, and that almost dropped a tear from my eyes. I shook my head, holding his hand.

"Still, you shouldn't have done that. It could have killed you. There's so much life up ahead there, and you're wasting it on me-"

"You're worth saving, Natasha. Don't ever doubt your life," he mumbled, staring right through my eyes. I swallowed the intensity that was forming in my throat, blinking rapidly to stop my emotions from bursting.

I was glad his condition is stable now. According to Mr. Rodriguez, who performed the surgery, it didn't hit any vital organs in his body, so he could sleep it off and regain his energy. I was surprised since Harry took two bullets from Allen. He didn't have second thoughts about interfering to save us. All this time, I thought he would literally turn his back on us just like how others did when they found out about Ethan's true identity, but I was wrong about him.

I sat there, staring at Harry's eyes which were speaking millions of untold words to me, when someone coughed behind. I glanced from my shoulder and saw Ethan leaning against the wall. His arms were crossed, and the way he looked at me was alarming, telling me to leave five meters away from Harry. I chuckled but did what he told me to. Vigilance was so evident in his eyes he couldn't hide it.

Ethan took a step forward, and I gave him a way to talk with Harry, who was eyeing him from his bed. I could see how nervous he was and how the lump in his throat bobbed up and down. If only I could hold his hand and tell him that he doesn't need to worry since Ethan is a nice guy and he wouldn't hurt him after saving us.

Ethan took a chair and then dragged it onto his side of Harry. He spread his legs like a man, resting his elbows on his knee. Ethan didn't say anything as he stared at Harry, who was anticipating his words. I could feel the tension rising between these two. One with a curse and one who holds the title of the wealthiest man in the world makes him powerful too. I scoop closer to Ethan to wrap my arms around his shoulder. He glanced up at me, and I nodded, giving him the courage to go on.

"I wanted to say that…." Ethan averted his eyes, sighing heavily. I pinched his shoulder, motioning him that he needed to continue it. He must have the courage to speak to others about his gratitude for them.

"Thank you for saving my wife's life and keeping my identity safe." Ethan nodded, licking his lower lip. He looks tense, but I am proud he said it. I understand how it is hard for him to let out these types of words and emotions. I feel like a mom asking him to say sorry for a child he knocks out accidentally. I smiled, caressing his temple. He did great.

"You're welcome…." Harry said, smiling back at him. Ethan smirked, raising his hand to make a bump fist with him.

"I don't want to sound rude, but why? I mean, my wife told me that you already turned your back on her when she was captured." Ethan explained, which made Harry gaze at me, staring right into my soul. I shifted in my spot and noticed he was licking his lower lip before answering his question.

"I actually did something horrible to her, which made me realize why she was so scared to go out to get noticed by other people. That's why I decided to save her since she was the nicest person I had ever met in my life, and I saw how… seriously, she was holding on to you while you were in a coma. She always talks to and updates you on what happened in her life…I saw true love, and I don't want to waste that opportunity for the both of you."

Harry sat up straight, and we had to help him lean his back on the bed's headboard.

"Look, I am saying that both of you are so lucky to have found each other, and it's a waste if one of you gets caught. It's like, I am seeing a torn soul. The moment you woke up, man, Natasha's mood-lit up. Something inside her was filled; it was the first time I saw her genuinely looking so contented. It's like…she doesn't care about those around her. What she cares about are you and your safety." Harry smiled, then looked in the other direction.

I looked down at Ethan and realized that he was clenching his hands while listening to Harry's words. I tried to get his attention, but Ethan's eyes were glued on Harry.

"That's when I pledge myself that I need to protect this couple." I heard him let out a tremendous sigh before looking at us. He was smiling, but I could tell it was not his usual smile. I had been living under the same roof with Harry for weeks, and I know when he is beamish. I sat on the edge of his bed, taking his hand.

"Harry, you don't have to push yourself. We're glad that you're safe and alive. We're thankful for the help you did for us, but I couldn't bear to see you guys risking your lives again. I'm sorry, Harry, but your help will end here. I don't' want you to die out there for us." I rejected his offer politely, shaking my head. The service he provided was enough, but our lives were dangerous.

"Natasha is right, Harry." Ethan stood up, placing his hands inside his pockets.

"Even though you have come far to take a bullet for my wife. Still, it's risky to set your life in a line just for the two of us. We are the most wanted criminal out there. You heard Allen earlier, right? He would not stop until he had his hands on us. He told the Marshal about my identity, and there's no doubt that government and the forces out there will interfere and would seek to find out about this half-werewolf." Ethan shook his head, suddenly all stressed when he thought about the government.

He massages his temple and then paces back and forth in front of us.

"Do you think I didn't know about that?" Harry stated, which made us turn and look at him. Harry was smiling, and this time, something was behind his smile. Ethan stopped pacing, turning his full attention to Harry.

"After attaining the title as the richest self-made billionaire in the world, do you think I didn't gain enemies around the globe? I have been receiving death threats for the past years. However, thanks to my high security, not even a single enemy out there who sent me a death warning had ever laid a finger on me."

Harry then looks at me, giving me an assuring smile.

"I have a plan, and this plan might take a while since I need to prepare a lot of connections. But I want to ask you guys, are you willing to escape from this country and never return again?" Harry then dropped the bomb, making me look at Ethan, whose brows were furrowed, listening attentively to Harry's suggestion.

Ethan took a step forward.

"What do you mean?" he asked, eyeing me from the corner of his eyes.

Harry was silent for a moment, having his time to think about this plan of his. We remain in our positions, looking each other in the eye. Harry sighed in defeat and was about to open his mouth to speak when the television opened abruptly, making me jump in surprise. I realized this room was built for a patient like Allen. Hence, a television is necessary to ease boredom while regaining energy. At first, I thought that a lost ghost was lingering inside the room when I realized I was sitting on the remote control. I took it under my buttocks and was about to turn it off when we heard what's the news about.

I almost dropped the remote control when I noticed my face was pictured on the screen. Beside my picture was Ethan's. I blink numerous times, trying to process this. A woman was standing in front of the station we had just escaped from earlier.

"Behind me were lifeless bodies that's been mercilessly killed…" his voice faded when I saw how many lives Ethan had killed there. The claw marks were visible on the victim's chest, and blood was everywhere as if a massacre was performed there.

"Our lives are in great peril now that we saw and captured with our CCTV footage the werewolf who had been gone missing for months has returned to our city, going for the hunt again."

I shook my head, trying to turn off the television, when Ethan stopped me. I glanced at him and noticed his eyes were narrowed into slits, looking straight ahead at the TV. I followed his gaze, and my heart dropped when I saw the reporter was now talking with Allen, and behind him were hundreds of forces.

"I will capture that beast and seek justice for my fallen comrades who fought for this country. You can't hide from us wherever you are, Ethan and Natasha. Justice will be sentenced."