Chapter 15 Chapter 15
ELLA
I huffed in frustration as I kneaded the dough for the dinner rolls.
“What did that dough ever do to you?” my mom joked, giving me a nudge.
I rolled my eyes with a small smile.
“Just letting out a bit of frustration.” I punched the dough again and continued kneading.
“Want to talk about it?” My mom asked cautiously.
“Not really,” I mumbled. I stood up straight and let out a sigh before leaning on the counter.
“He just won’t leave me alone.”
“Who?” my mother prodded.
“Zane! He is kind, then cold, then kind, then cruel, then kind, then cold again. I’m getting dizzy. I don’t need this crap, Mom.” I let out another huff and began kneading again.
“Sounds like he still wants you.”
I snorted.
“Ha! He doesn’t want me. Nobody does.”
Sophie shook her head before resting her hands on my shoulders.
“Sweetheart, you are wanted. Maybe someday you’ll be blessed with a second-chance mate.”
She shrugged, and I smiled at the small bit of hope my mother had.
I finished kneading and then left it to rise. I wiped my hands on my apron and turned to start on something else when I was interrupted.
“Ella?”
I turned around and bowed my head.
“Alpha! What can I do for you?”
“Can you come to my office? I need a word with you.”
“Yes, sir.” I took off my apron and followed him down the hall, worried about what he needed.
When we entered his office, Zane was already there, sitting in a chair in front of the desk. He looked up at me, genuine surprise on his face.
“Please sit, Ella.” He motioned to the chair beside Zane. I sat down hesitantly and looked up at the alpha.
“What’s going on, dad?” Zane spoke up, curious about what he could possibly need both of us for.
Alpha Daniel sat in silence for a few moments before speaking.
“Ella, I’m requesting that you move into the pack house as soon as possible.”
We both looked at him in shock and at a loss for words.
Zane was the first to speak.
“Dad, what is this about?”
“In this situation, it’s Alpha to you,” Daniel replied, his voice stern.
Zane lowered his head.
“Yes, Alpha.”
I finally woke from my shock.
“Why?”
Alpha Daniel turned to me.
“Why what?”
“Why am I moving into the pack house?”
I searched his face as he paused. For a second, I had a feeling he didn’t have a reason.
“You will be taking over as head cook soon, and I want you in the pack house so that we can train you on the behind-the-scenes work your mother does. Head cook is more than just what you see.”
I lowered my head.
“If I promise to come in early, can I stay at home?”
Zane stood up.
“Yes, Ella, you can stay in your home. Dad, she doesn’t need to live here to—”
Alpha Daniel stood, radiating authority, and cut him off.
“I had hoped this could be done easily. Ella, you will move into the pack house as soon as possible. Tonight, if not tomorrow. Zane, do you wish to argue my wishes again?”
We both lowered our heads.
“No, Alpha,” Zane replied.
Daniel turned to me.
“And?”
“And I’ll move into the pack house as soon as possible,” I added.
Alpha Daniel sat back down in his seat.
“Thank you. You may leave now.”
We both stood and walked out of the alpha’s office.
I stopped in the hall; my face covered in panic. I didn’t want this at all. I began to hyperventilate.
I closed my eyes and was oddly calmed when Zane placed a hand on each shoulder.
“Ella?”
“I… I need a minute.” I ran out of the pack house, sprinting down the hill and into the woods. I hid behind a tree and stripped off my clothes, shifting quickly and running off to clear my mind.
I let my wolf take over as I tried to swallow what had just happened. I can’t do this. I can’t be near him!
I heard my wolf whine. She didn’t want this either. We had both been hurt by the rejection, and my wolf hated how Zane had acted since then. She didn’t like him acting as though he owned us.
I ran hard and fast through the forest and stopped as the sun began setting. I sat by a creek, and I could feel the worry of my wolf for me. I was falling apart.
It had taken me so long to put myself back together after he left. After he rejected me. I finally straightened myself back up and made my way back home.
I grabbed my clothes from behind the tree where I left them and after getting dressed, I made my way back to the pack house.
It was past dinner time, and I knew I would be busted for just leaving without saying anything. I walked in, a little dirty and looking like a hot mess. But I didn’t care, I knew Mom would be worried.
As I entered the kitchen, I was just about knocked over by my mom. She rushed me into a hug and squeezed, “Ella Marie Matthews, where on earth were you?”
I pulled back and gave a sheepish grin.
“Sorry, it was a bit of a day. I went and took a run without even thinking. I didn’t mean to worry you.”
Mom glared at me.
“Mhm. I’m not the only one you need to apologize to.”
She nodded over toward the dining room where I saw Zane stand and make his way over to me.
“He’s been sitting there brooding for hours.”
I let out a sigh as Zane spoke up.
“Ella, what the hell did you think you were doing just running off like that?”
I glared up at him.
“Don’t act like you were worried.”
Zane grabbed my arm and rushed out of the dining room into one of the empty pack offices.
“Ella, you know for a fact that I was worried. What possessed you to just run off into the woods like that?”
“I needed to clear my mind. I didn’t really think about it, I just ran.”
Zane shook his head and stepped closer, speaking in almost a whisper.
“Ella…”
I turned away.
“I, uh, need to go help clean up dinner. I already missed too much work.”
I rushed out of the room, not wanting to be any closer to him than I already was.