Chapter 20 Chapter 20
ELLA
I woke with the events of the night before playing in my head again like they had for hours after I had stumbled in shock and heat back to my room.
I got up, took an exceptionally long shower to calm myself down, and began to dress for the day when I saw Declan stir.
“What time is it?”
“Five thirty.”
Declan grunted and rolled back over. I chuckled at my friend before walking out of the room toward the kitchen.
I started a pot of coffee and turned around, resting myself on the counter and replaying what had happened in my mind.
I had yelled at him, challenged him, and was fully prepared for his wrath. I hadn’t expected him to kiss me, or to give in as much as I did. And I was angry at myself for it.
“Good morning.” Zane walked sleepily to the kitchen island before resting on a stool.
“Good morning.”
I filled two cups with coffee and set one across the counter in front of him.
“Thanks,” he mumbled, gripping the warm mug in his hands.
I took a sip from my cup, watching him squirm in silence for a few moments. His head still lowered, he spoke, “About yesterday… I’m sorry.”
My eyes widened. Did he actually just apologize?
“I can’t seem to do the right things when it comes to you.”
I inhaled sharply, surprised at his blunt comment.
“I don’t exactly make it easy,” I teased, hoping to lighten the tension. I saw Zane smirk and knew I had been forgiven.
I looked down at my watch.
“I should head downstairs.” I pushed off from the counter and headed toward the large doors of the alpha quarters.
“Ella?”
I turned around to face him.
“Hmm?”
“Spend the day with me?”
I was frozen, not knowing how to respond.
“I, uh… I have work.”
“I’ll take care of that, don’t worry.”
“I don’t know,” I replied. Even though that kiss last night had blown my mind, I was still hesitant to let him in.
“How about just this morning then?” Zane countered.
“Why?”
“Why, what?” he asked, giving me a sideways glance.
“Why do you want me to spend the morning with you? We aren’t exactly friends. Actually, we aren’t friends at all,” I said softly.
Zane shrugged.
“I have a lot to make up for. And maybe I want to become friends.”
I hesitated for a moment.
“That’s fine, I guess. Breakfast is slow anyway.”
“Great!” A huge smile spread across Zane’s face.
“Go back to your room and relax for a bit, I’ll go tell Sophie you’ll be out this morning.”
I gave him some side-eye, curious about what he had planned.
I decided to sit on the couch in the living room. Declan was still asleep in my room, and I didn’t want to wake him again. I picked up a book and began reading.
“What are you doing?” I heard Zane say from the doorway.
“It’s called reading a book. You should try it sometime,” I teased sarcastically.
“I mean why aren’t you back in bed?”
“Declan is still sleeping in there, I don’t want to wake him,” I replied with a shrug before looking back down at the book.
I heard a quiet growl and looked up to see Zane’s eyes darkening, his wolf fighting for control.
“That wolf slept with you in your bed, all night?”
“He’s my best friend. It’s not the first time we’ve fallen asleep watching a movie.”
He frowned.
“Ella, I’m not okay with that.”
I sighed.
“Well really, you don’t need to be okay with it, because it’s none of your business. And here I thought we were going to have a nice day. You know what, I think I’ll just go to work.”
I stood and made my way to the door when Zane grabbed my arm.
“No, I’m sorry.”
He shook his head, trying to gain back his control.
“Here, why don’t you come rest in my room?” Zane didn’t let go of my hand and I found myself being pulled into his room.
“Zane, I’m not going to—”
“Ella, just go lie down. I’m going to take a shower.”
I was hesitant but also tired. Zane took me to his bed, and I climbed in, squishing deep into the soft sheets. I fell asleep quickly, being lulled to sleep by the sound of the shower in the other room.
An hour later my eyes fluttered open, and I sat up on my elbows, taking in my surroundings.
My eyes wandered around the room until they rested on Zane sitting in a chair on the other side of the room, reading a book.
My stirring alerted him, and he looked up to meet my eyes.
“Nice nap?”
I nodded, rubbing the residual sleep from my eyes.
Zane slapped his thighs.
“Ready to go then?”
“Where are we going?”
“Not far. Grab your boots and a change of clothes just in case.”
I went to my room and grabbed a pair of old tennis shoes. I didn’t have any boots, so I figured this was the next best thing.
After putting them on, I grabbed a pair of running shorts and a T-shirt and met him in the hallway.
“Where are your boots?” He looked down at the clothing in my arms.
“I don’t have boots, but these old running shoes will work fine.”
Zane glared down for a moment before making a quiet grunt and led me downstairs and out of the pack house.
He made a sharp turn and I followed him to the edge of the forest.
“Uh, where are we going?”
Zane shook his head and grabbed the straps of his backpack.
“You do know the concept of a surprise, right?”
I gave him a sarcastic glare before following him into the woods. We walked down the path deeper into the forest for thirty minutes before I saw the trees thin.
“We’re here!”
A smile spread across my face as I saw the scene before me. My eyes widened as I stared out at the crystal-clear lake, the waters rippling with the hot sun shining down on them.
“Zane, this place is amazing.”
“It’s just the lake, Ella,” Zane chuckled as he took my hand and walked to the end of the dock.
“Well, I’ve never been here so it’s amazing to me,” I replied.
Zane looked at me confused, “What are you talking about? Of course you’ve been here before.”
“I think I’d know if I’ve been here, Zane,” I said as I rolled my eyes at him.
“Everyone has been here,” he replied as he pulled a picnic blanket from his backpack and laid it down at the end of the dock.
I sat down beside him.
“When you say everyone are you talking about everyone you know?”
Zane winced. He had forgotten I was an omega. And not only an omega but the target of several upper pack members’ torture. He rubbed his head.
“Yeahhhh, sorry.”
I smiled at him.
“It’s okay. I’m glad to be here now, though. It’s beautiful.” I looked out over the water, more relaxed than I had been in a long time.
Suddenly, I was snapped out of my daydream by a splash and a sprinkle of water coming down on me.
“Hey!” I yelled.
Zane popped up out of the water, wiping his face with a big smile.
“Come on in!”
I laughed and shook my head.
“I’m fine right here.”
“Oh, come on. When was the last time you let loose? Jump in.”
I sighed before standing and jumping into the water with a run. I made sure to splash him as much as possible.
“See? Nice, huh?”
I closed my eyes and floated on my back for a moment, the water calming me.