Chapter 14 Chapter 14
ZANE
I knew I had to apologize. Again. I kept messing up when it came to Ella. I couldn’t just let it be.
Last night, when I was walking back to the pack house, I saw her with Declan, his arm around her. That irritated me, but it made it worse when the guy kissed her.
My wolf wanted to rip the guy’s head off. She was so warm with Declan. It was a side of her I had never experienced. I just lost it.
But I shouldn’t have made a big deal about it, and now I had to find her and say sorry. Again. This whole change thing was harder than I thought it would be.
I walked down to breakfast and was disappointed to find only Sophie.
“No Ella this morning?” I asked nonchalantly.
“She’s feeling a little run down, so I let her head back home to rest after we made breakfast. She’ll be back for lunch though.”
I nodded and then made my way outside and down the hill. I knocked on the door, but she didn’t answer.
The door was unlocked, so I wandered in. I didn’t see her, so I made my way into one of the bedrooms.
Immediately, I was overwhelmed by her scent. It was all over the room, and I almost passed out from the sensation. I looked around and saw her cuddled up in the bed.
I walked up, wanting to wake her and get this apology over with, but she looked so peaceful. I took her in, my eyes going over every feature.
She was beautiful, I couldn’t deny it. In high school, she was pretty, but she had definitely grown into herself in the last two years while I was gone.
Her long brown hair fell in waves down her back, and her dark lashes seemed to brush her cheeks as they lay closed.
Her soft lips and warm cheeks made me want to kiss her, and her body was lean and shapely.
She had become a beautiful woman, and all I wanted was for her to look up at me with those bright hazel eyes with something more than anger in them.
I backed away, deciding I could wait until later; and made my way out of their little cabin and back up the hill.
I walked back into the pack house and up to my room. When I opened the door, I was suddenly hit with another scent. A familiar but unwanted one.
“Mariah, get out of here.” I rolled my eyes and made my way to the closet to change for training.
Mariah got up out of the bed, completely naked, and walked over to me.
“I miss you, baby. I know you miss me, stop this nonsense and come back to me.”
“Mariah, I don’t miss you. Please just leave.” I turned away, but she pulled my arm, making me swing backward into her. She rubbed her body against me, and I could smell her arousal.
I let out a breath, and my wolf growled, We are trying to be better for our mate. Don’t fall into her trap, Zane. What if she marks you?
My wolf was right, I couldn’t risk it. I pushed her off and looked at her sternly.
“Mariah, if I catch you in my room again without my permission, you will face the consequences of disobeying an alpha. Do you understand me?”
Mariah screamed and stomped back over to the bed where her clothes were.
“Zane, you want me. I can smell you. When you decide to stop fighting it, I can’t guarantee I’ll be there waiting!”
“Mariah, I won’t be coming back. I’m focusing on a deeper pull.”
Her eyes widened.
“Wait, you’re choosing that little omega over me?”
I walked out of the room without answering her, and I couldn’t help but chuckle as I heard her scream in frustration.
I walked into the kitchen after spending a few hours at the training grounds, shirtless, sweaty, and high off the endorphins.
I looked up to catch Ella’s gaze, and I smirked, knowing she was staring at me. She blinked her head clear and offered me a plate.
“How much sweet talking do I need to do to get another sandwich?” I joked.
“And to make up for last night?” I spoke quietly so the other pack members wouldn’t hear.
Ella rolled her eyes at me and dropped a second sandwich on my plate.
“Enjoy your lunch, Alpha.”
I knotted my brow before walking to the table. I wasn’t going to give up that easily. I kept an eye on her throughout lunch and finally found my chance to talk to her when she walked toward the pantry.
I jumped up from the table and followed her down the hall.
“I’m serious, Ella. I’m sorry for last night,” I said.
She jumped, my sudden speech giving her a bit of a scare.
Ella turned to me with a glare.
“Zane, I’m tired of doing this. You do something stupid. You apologize. You do something stupid. You apologize. I’m getting dizzy. Just let me be.”
Ella pushed past me and walked back to the kitchen.
I followed her in, neither of us knowing that we had an audience to our little tiff.