King (Shadowridge Guardians MC #11)

5. Ella

FIVE

ELLA

E lla stayed close to King as he led her through the compound, introducing her to one Guardian after another. The men were as intimidating up close as they were from a distance. Broad, tattooed, rough around the edges. But despite their slightly terrifying exteriors, every single one of them greeted her warmly, some with smiles, others with nods of approval.

“This is Kade,” King said, gesturing to a man with sharp eyes and shoulder length hair. His arms were heavily inked, and his cut had the word Enforcer stitched into the leather.

Kade grinned at her. “Welcome to the madhouse, sweetheart.”

Before she could reply, a woman, dressed head to toe in all black, appeared at his side, slipping her hand into his.

“This is Remi,” King added, gesturing toward her.

Ella smiled. “Hi, it’s nice to meet you.”

Remi’s eyes lit up. “It’s nice to meet you, too! I love your dress!”

Ella flushed slightly, glancing down at herself. She was surprised this woman, who had a gothic style, would like her pink dress. “Oh! Thank you.”

King kept guiding her through the crowd, introducing her to Storm, Doc, Steele, Faust, and a handful of others. Most of them had women by their sides. Women who, Ella realized, all had asimilar style as her. Soft fabrics, ruffles, bright colors. Cute rather than sexy.

She took in the scene around her, heart thumping as she noticed something else.

Off to the side, two women sat cross-legged on the pavement, completely engrossed in decorating the cement with pastel sidewalk chalk. Not far from them, another pair giggled as they climbed on a small playground structure, kicking their feet excitedly as they whooshed down the slide.

And then, a few yards away, one woman twirled in a fluffy tutu, blowing bubbles into the evening air.

Ella blinked, trying to make sense of it all. They were clearly adults.

Her mind whirled, trying to piece together what she was seeing. These women wereplaying, completely at ease, as if this were the most normal thing in the world.

A tiny thought wiggled into her mind, one she instantly dismissed as ridiculous.

Are they… Little?

She had read about it before. Littles, Caregivers,Daddy Doms. But that was fiction.

It wasn’t real. Right?

You’re being silly.

But she was Little, so why would it be silly for these other women to be as well?

As her eyes darted back to the couples she had met, she noticed another pattern. The way the men spoke to their women was soft but firm. The way the men’s hands rested on the small of their women’s backs, protective and steady. The way the women leaned into them, trusting, looking at them like they wanted them to lead.

Her gaze flicked to King, seeking reassurance. As if he could sense her uncertainty, he looked down at her and gave a small,gentlesmile.

Soon, the scent of grilled meat filled the air, and King lifted his chin toward the serving table.

“Let’s get you something to eat.”

Ella followed, still processing everything. As they reached the food, King grabbed a plate and looked at her expectantly.

“What do you want?”

Ella blinked up at him. “Oh, um… I can get it.”

King raised a brow. “I know you can. I’m asking what you want. ”

Her cheeks warmed as she hesitated. “Maybe… a burger?”

He chose a perfectly grilled patty and placed it on an open bun. “What else?”

“…Macaroni and cheese?”

A smirk. “Figured.” He scooped a generous portion onto her plate. “Anything else?”

She chewed her lip, sneaking a glance at the juice boxes off to the side.

King followed her gaze, then, without pausing, grabbed one and set it on her plate.

Ella stared at him, heart doing something strange.

It wasn’t just him.

Everywhere she looked, theothermen were doing the same. Fixing plates, pouring drinks, and making sure their women had what they wanted. And not in an overbearing way, in acaringway.

She swallowed as she reached for her plate. “Thank you.”

King’s smirk softened. “Anytime, dollface.”

Ella’s breath hitched, but before she could overthink it, she thought she heard something. Just a whispered word from nearby.

A woman, leaning into her man, murmuring something so soft that Ella barely caught it.

“Thank you, Daddy.”

Ella froze.

Had she misheard?

No. No way.

Her cheeks flamed as she quickly looked away, focusing on the food in her hands instead.

Her thoughts spun, trying to make sense of everything, but as she walked toward the tables with King, one question settled in her mind.

If the rest of the men here were Daddies, did that mean King was, too?

The warmth of the bonfire soothed Ella as she tucked her knees against her chest, watching the flames dance before her. The compound was quieter now, laughter and conversation mellowing as the evening stretched on. Most of the club members and their women were still chatting, some curled up in their men’s laps, others wrapped in thick blankets.

She shivered slightly as a cool breeze whispered across her skin.

“Here.”

Ella looked up as King draped a heavy blanket over her shoulders, his rough hands brushing against her arms for a second before he pulled away.

“Thank you,” she said, pulling the soft fabric around herself.

King didn’t respond, he just gave her a small nod before sitting beside her. They were slightly off to the side from the rest of the crowd, so it felt slightly intimate, but she didn’t hate it one bit.

He stretched his legs out and leaned back in his chair, his expression relaxed as he stared into the fire.

After a moment, his deep voice broke their silence. “So… tell me about New York.”

Ella blinked, caught off guard by the question. She glanced over at him, studying his sharp features.

“What do you want to know?” she asked softly.

King turned his head, his dark eyes steady. “Why did you leave? I mean, Shadowridge is a different world than New York. It must be a big change.”

Ella inhaled slowly, hesitating. She wasn’t sure how much to tell him about her life. Part of her felt like she shouldn’t talk about how fortunate she’d been, but another part wanted to share everything with King.

Just be honest. Be yourself.

“I grew up in a world of…more,” she finally explained. “More money, more expectations, more pressure to be someone I never really felt I was.” She looked down, picking at the blanket. “My parents are the type who care about appearances. Who you know, where you went to school, how much money you made. I always felt like I was playing a part, and I hated it.”

King didn’t interrupt. He justlistened.

Ella exhaled. “I always wanted something simpler. A town where people actuallyknoweach other and treat each other with kindness and help each other when needed. Where life isn’t about how much is in your bank account. My parents were born and bred to take after their parents in that respect, but they’ve always encouraged me to live how I want to, so they didn’t put up too much of a fuss about me moving away. Anyway, I guess that’s why I chose Shadowridge.”

She glanced up at him, expecting some sort of judgment—maybe even amusement. But there was none. If anything, she almost thought she saw pride in his gaze.

“That why you took the job with the mayor?” King asked.

She shrugged. “It felt like the best way to actuallybelonghere. To be part of the community and give something back.”

King gave a small hum of approval, and the sound made a warmth settle in her chest.

For the first time in as long as Ella could remember, she felt like someonesawher.

“What about your parents?” She tilted her head toward him.

King leaned back, resting an arm over his knee. “Still in town. Been together since they were teenagers. They’re great people. I don’t talk to them as much as I’d like because my schedule is hectic but when we talk and see each other, we’re close.”

Ella smiled softly. “That’s really nice.”

He nodded. “They’re good people. Always supported me, even when I was a little shit growing up.”

She giggled. “I can’t picture you being a little shit.”

King smirked, shooting her a sideways glance. “That’s because you didn’t know me back then.”

Ella shook her head, smiling to herself.

But before she could respond, a soft voice nearby caught her attention.

“Thank you, Daddy.”

Her breath hitched.

Ella’s gaze flicked toward the group, her stomach twisting as she realizedwhat she’d heard.

It wasn’t the first time tonight. She’d heard it earlier and thought maybe she was imagining things. But now… now, she wassure.

Her fingers tightened around the edge of the blanket.

King shifted beside her. “Something on your mind, princess?”

Ella swallowed, glancing up at him. His expression was unreadable, but there was somethingknowing in the way he looked at her, something that made her cheeks burn.

Finally, she forced herself to speak, her voice barely above a whisper. “Why do they… call them that?”

King didn’t answer right away. Instead, he let the question hang in the air, watching her closely. Then, slowly, he smiled.

“I’m pretty sure you already know the answer to that, dollface.”

Ella’s entire face flamed.

She looked away quickly, her heart racing.

Oh my God.

King chuckled, low and deep, but he didn’t say anything. He let her sit with it, let her process.

For a long while, they sat in comfortable silence, the fire crackling in front of them. Ella hadn’t realized how tired she was until her body started sinking into the warmth of the blanket.

She must have drifted because the next thing she knew, King’s deep voice was calling her name.

“Ella.”

She blinked, lifting her head slightly. Only a few people remained outside, most of them men standing by the fire while sharing beers.

King was watching her, his smirk now replaced with something softer. “You’re half asleep. You can crash at my place. I’ll take the couch.”

Ella straightened slightly, shaking her head. “No, no, I’m fine. I can drive.”

King didn’t look convinced. He sighed, then reached into his pocket, pulling out his phone.

“Fine. But take my number.” He handed her his phone, watching as she typed in her number before sending herself a message. When she handed it back, he met her eyes, serious now. “Text me the moment you get home. Don’t make me come and look for you because I won’t be happy about it when I do.”

Ella’s stomach flipped.

She nodded, tucking her phone away. “I will.”

King exhaled, clearly not thrilled but letting it go.

As they reached her car, a quiet awkwardness settled between them, heavy in the cool night air.

Ella turned to him, unsure what to say. “I had a really nice time tonight.”

King didn’t reply right away. He stared at her for a long moment, something unreadable in his eyes.

Then, before she could react, he reached out, his large hand curling gently around the back of her neck.

Ella inhaled sharply, her pulse hammering as he pulled her in—not for a kiss, but a hug .

Asolid, warm, grounding hug.

His scent wrapped around her, smoky and masculine, and she melted into it, gripping the front of his shirt without thinking.

He held her for a second longer than necessary before pulling back, his thumb brushing against the side of her neck before dropping away completely.

“Drive safe, dollface.”

Ella barely managed a nod before sliding into her car, her hands shaking as she held the steering wheel.

As she pulled out of the lot, her mind raced with everything that had happened. The people, the atmosphere, the Daddy comments…

But most of all, she couldn’t stop thinking about how King had held her.

And the way shehadn’twanted to let go.