Chapter 28 Chapter 28
ELLA
“Go away, Ella!”
His words stung like a knife to the chest. Of all the things he could say, that was one of the worst. He didn’t want me here. He didn’t want me.
I ran out of the room and down the stairs. I could hear him call after me, but I didn’t listen. I turned from the staircase to make my way through the kitchen when I crashed into someone.
I looked up, tears filling my eyes, and met the worried gaze of Alpha Daniel.
“Ella!”
Daniel looked up and back at me. I sniffed, trying to keep back my tears.
“Come on, my girl.” He wrapped his arm around me and led me to the backyard.
We walked away from the house in silence until we came to a large fallen tree and Daniel sat down on it, looking out at the open fields. I sat next to him and tried to collect myself.
Daniel turned to me.
“Are you alright?”
I nodded, but the heaving of my shoulders gave away my real feelings. Daniel put his arm around my shoulder and gave me a comforting squeeze.
When I had finished having a good cry, I looked up at him and gave him a warm, grateful smile.
“Thank you for sitting with me.”
“Any time dear,” he smiled.
“Now are you going to tell me what’s going on?”
“I just… he…” I looked down, not knowing what to say.
Daniel rested a hand on mine.
“Ella, he’s my son, I know what an idiot he can be. You can talk to me.”
I looked back up at him with a small smile on my face. I missed having a father in my life, and for a moment my thoughts were taken to my dad and how he would comfort me in this situation.
“I made him angry. I didn’t mean to, I just said something I shouldn’t have, and it upset him. When I tried to talk to him again, he yelled at me, told me to go away.”
Daniel made a small scowl but continued listening.
“I shouldn’t have pushed him. But when he said that, I panicked. ‘Go away’ is just a step down from a rejection.”
Daniel looked at the evening sky, the light beginning to fade.
“I can see how that would have upset you. He was an idiot to let his frustration out on you in that way.”
I smiled.
“It wasn’t all his fault… He told me he needed a minute, but I pushed him, I wanted to explain.” I took in a ragged breath and the words caught in my throat: “I-I just didn’t—”
“Ella, it’s nobody’s fault. He was upset. You were upset. You both pushed and both said some things.” Daniel shrugged.
“I guess…” I looked out at the fields as the sky turned orange.
“Do you mind if I ask what you said to make him so upset in the first place?”
I grimaced.
“I asked him what we were doing. I told him I was nervous, that I had this sinking feeling he was going to change his mind about me again.”
Daniel’s eyes widened.
“You really think that?”
“When he rejected me the first time, I accepted it, but now it’s different. He’s different. But he’s still an alpha. At some point, he’s going to wake up and realize I’m just an omega. That I’m nothing.”
Daniel took my hand and clasped it between his two large hands.
“My dear, he loves you.”
I snapped my head up and looked at Daniel in shock.
“What did you say?”
Daniel laughed.
“You heard me. That boy is crazy about you.
“I don’t know about that.” I shrugged.
“Alpha?”
“Hmm?” He looked at me with his kind eyes.
“What if he does? What if we go back in there and he doesn’t want me…again?”
“Well, then I’ll smack him,” Daniel joked, making me giggle.
“But in all seriousness Ella, I don’t see that ever happening. You two are allowed to get upset at each other sometimes. Heaven knows Cara and I had our fair share of spats.”
I took a deep breath and stood.
“I guess we should go back and find out then.”
Daniel stood and took my arm with a wink.
“You think we’ve been gone long enough to make him sweat?”
I laughed.
“You’re horrible.”
“What kind of father would I be if I didn’t mess with him a little bit? Especially when he’s being a fool.”
We walked back to the house, and I turned to him before going inside, “Thank you, Alpha, for talking me off that ledge.”
“Anytime, my dear.” He patted my hand, and we walked inside.
“Ella!” Zane ran over, throwing his arms around me.
“Zane,” I replied softly.
He pulled away and cupped her face in his hands.
“Where were you?”
“We took a walk,” Daniel spoke as he made his way past us. Zane looked up at him and then back to me. I could see the sadness and the worry in his eyes.
“I’m sorry I lost control of myself. Forgive me?” Zane asked, almost begging.
I smiled.
“I’m sorry too. I shouldn’t have pushed you.”
Zane leaned his head down, touching his forehead to mine.
“I shouldn’t have said what I did. I don’t ever want you to go away.”