8 Chapter 8 Gabriel and I returned after three days in Alaska . We were headin Temple to register our mating bond . At the entrance , I was shocked to see Ethan . He rushed toward me from the side and grabbed iny arm . " Sarah … you can't go in ! " Gabriel immediately stepped in front of me . " Let go of her ." Ethan stared at me desperately . " Five minutes … please , just give me five minutes ! " to the Moon Goddess I calmly pulled my hand away . Ethan's palm was suddenly empty , and he stumbled . Then , Ethan's knees hit the ground . He knelt heavily on the steps of the Moon Goddess Temple . " I know I was wrong … the ceremony , your appointments , Kira … everything was my fault ! " He fumbled in his pocket and pulled out a velvet box . Inside was the ring he had proposed with . " You said that as long as I came back , you'd always be there … " I looked down at the ring and smiled bitterly . " Ethan Thornfield , do you remember what you said on the day you proposed ? " Ethan froze . " I said … I would be good to you for the rest of my life … ' I looked him in the eyes . " But did you keep that promise ? " " What makes you think I have to give you chance after chance ? What makes you without you ? " Ethan's eyes grew red , and tears fell . " I was wrong . I was too confident … No , I was just an asshole ." I looked at him with cold eyes . " Ethan , some mistakes can't be fixed by kneeling ." I took Gabriel's hand . As we turned to leave , Ethan's mother blocked our path . think I can't live " Sarah , I know Ethan has been a fool , but you two have been together for so many years … He truly has you in his heart ." I met her gaze evenly . 20.11 14 # Chapter 8 " Auntie , do you really believe that if Kira called him right now , he wouldn't leave immediately ? " Ethan's mother froze and looked at her son . Ethan looked panicked . He opened his mouth but didn't know what to say . I shook my head gently . " Auntie , you've lived a long life . You know that's not what love is ." Ethan's mother let go of my arm , her head lowered in shame . Gabriel and I completed our registration . Ethan was still kneeling at the entrance to the temple . " Sarah … " I didn't want to see his pathetic performance anymore . I got in the car with Gabriel and left . The next day , Ethan posted on social media . " One last trip to Aurora Peak . A final goodbye . " He tagged me , but I didn't respond . Leo tried to reason with him . " You're going to the undeveloped area ? They just issued a blizzard warning , and you're still going ? " " Are you insane ? You almost died there last time ! " Ethan gave a bitter smile . " I have to take a gamble . If she still cares , she'll come … " Leo was stunned , not knowing what else to say . After all , this was his own doing . When the blizzard hit , Ethan was at the entrance to Aurora Peak . He waited , but I never appeared . Leo urged him , " Go back . She's not coming . " " Don't throw your life away for this . It's not worth it . " Ethan wouldn't give up . He contacted me one last time . " Sarah … are you really not going to care about me anymore ? " Hearing his pleading , choked voice , I responded coolly . " Ethan Thornfield , you're an adult . You're responsible for your own life ." " But you used to … " " I used to love you . Now , I don't . " Ethan was speechless , his hands shaking uncontrollably . I hung up , wanting nothing more to do with it . 2041 24 8 Chapter 8 Half an hour later , I received a video from him . He had gone into the mountains . The wind howled , and snow flew everywhere . Ethan's lips were purple from the cold , his voice trembling . " Sarah … look , this is where we took a picture last year … " In the video , he stumbled through deep snow , the camera shaking violently . A second video came through . " Remember ? You grabbed me right by this rock … when I almost slipped … " A sudden gust of wind nearly knocked him over , but he stubbornly righted himself and kept recording . " I know you hate me … but can you just … just say one word back to me ? " I watched them silently and set my phone aside . What difference would it make if I replied or not ? Could we ever go back to the way things were? He called me childish , but he was the one being a child . The blizzard intensified . Visibility dropped to less than fifteen feet . The mountain warning signs were buried in snow . Ethan smiled at the camera . " Sarah , look , I made it to the highest point we reached last time … " Suddenly , his foot slipped . Ethan cried out and fell . " Wait , this ice isn't right … " The ice cracked . The camera spun wildly , and the video cut off . The last message read , " Sending failed . No signal ." My heart leaped for a second , then went still . Gabriel's large hand rested on my shoulder . He looked at me gently . " … Should I notify the pack's rescue team ? " The phone had been quiet for a long time . He was probably in trouble . I thought for a moment . " No " Gabriel raised an eyebrow , confused . " I thought you might have a soft spot for him . " I shook my head . 2011 3/4 < 8 Chapter 8 " When I fell for him … he mind - linked Kira first to tell her he was safe . He waited half an hour before calling a rescue team . " " He has family and friends . It's not my place to call for help for him ." That evening , I got a message from Leo . " The rescue team found Ethan . His spine is severely damaged . " " Can you come see him ? He keeps calling your name ."