Chapter 8 - Elle
Elle woke up to sunshine from the cabin's windows and the smell of coffee.
Silas brought her here last night. To this remote building on the eastern side of the pack land.
She had planned to hate it here as well.
She hoped that the cabin was going to be like another prison cell with different walls.
But when they arrived last night, Elle found herself relaxing in spite of her will to remain angry. It was a small but comfortable cabin, with big windows and an expanse of trees around them. There were no pack members nearby. She was able to breathe fully without feeling suffocated.
Silas had given her the bedroom and claimed the couch downstairs. He prepared dinner and left her alone.
And this morning he was making coffee.
Elle sat up in the bed and ran her hand through her hair, while yawning.
Yesterday was hell. The questions about her abduction had brought back all the memories she never completely forgot anyway.
The cages. The handlers. The auction stage.
She ended up crying in the guest room for a couple of minutes.
Then Silas had suggested bringing her here, and Elle agreed. Not because she forgave him or anything. But it because it meant something. She just wasn't sure what yet.
She got out of bed and went down the stairs. Silas was standing by the kitchen counter, pouring coffee into two mugs. He had changed into a pair of dark blue jeans that hugged his muscular thighs and a plain black t-shirt that clung tightly to his muscles in a way Elle couldn't ignore.
He looked up when she entered. “Morning.”
“Morning,” Elle said warily.
“Coffee?” He held out one of the mugs.
She contemplated saying no, but the coffee smelled so good, and she badly needed caffeine. So, she took the mug. “Thanks.”
Silas nodded wordlessly and leaned against the counter, staring at her over the rim of the mug.
“I want to go back,” Elle announced, taking a huge gulp of the coffee.
Silas arched his brow. “Back to the main house?”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
“Because I've been thinking.” She wrapped both of her hands around the warm mug. “About the questions asked yesterday.”
Silas set down his coffee. “Elle, you don't have to.”
“I would like to help. I want to help. But on my terms.”
She had all night to think of this, to sort out her feelings. She hated what she did yesterday—reliving her trauma, and she certainly didn't like the smug look on Javi's face when she agreed to answer some questions.
But she also hated the idea of other women experiencing the same thing as she did. She resented the fact that the traffickers continued to exist and destroy lives.
“What terms?” Silas asked carefully.
“I'll share what I remember. I will try to help, but I will do it at my own pace.” Elle met his eyes. “No coercing me when I don’t know something. No dragging me to places to evoke my memories. No, treating me like a tool then tossing me aside when I'm no longer useful.”
“I would never.”
She shrugged. “Your brother was going to do just that yesterday. Push until I cracked.”
“Javi was out of line.”
“Maybe. But he was doing what he felt was necessary to the pack. And you let him.” Elle set down her mug. “If I help out, I must be certain that you will protect me. Not only from the traffickers, but from your own people. Your flesh and blood.”
“I will,” Silas said without the slightest hesitation. “I promise, Elle. You help how and when you choose. That's it.”
Elle examined his face, looking for something off. But the only thing she could see in those green eyes was sincerity.
“Okay,” she said finally. “Then let's go back.”
***
They returned to the main compound using the truck belonging to Silas. The silence during the drive back was less tense than usual, even though Elle pressed herself against the door.
When they pulled up to Silas’ house, Elle spotted August's bike first, then Rael and Javi's cars parked in front.
Good. She wanted to get this out of the way.
Elle jumped out of the truck before Silas could open her door. She entered the house, eager to get it all over with.
The three men were seated in the living room. They turned as soon as Elle walked in.
“Elle,” August said, standing. “Are you okay?”
“I'm fine.” Elle remained at the entrance, Silas now behind her. “I want to talk to all of you.”
Rael and Javi exchanged glances. “Of course. What's on your mind?”
“I want to help you with the investigation. I will tell you what I remember about my kidnapping and the auction. But I have conditions.”
Javi leaned forward. “What kind of conditions?”
“I work at my own pace. If I need to stop, we stop. And you don't take me anywhere in an attempt to jog my memory. I'm a person, not a tool. Treat me like one or find another way of procuring your information.”
Rael nodded slowly. “Those are more than reasonable.”
“Reasonable?” Javi frowned. “We are trying to save our pack's reputation. We need answers, not—”
“We need Elle's cooperation,” Rael cut in. “Your conditions are fair. We accept them.”
August smiled slightly. “Good.”
Some of the tension within her melted away. “Then I'm willing to help. Ask me whatever, but respect my boundaries.”
“We will,” Rael assured her.
Javi did not look happy, though he nodded reluctantly. “Fine.”
“Anything more you want to talk about?” Rael asked.
Elle shook her head. She had said what she needed to say.
“Then we shall get in touch. Thank you, Elle.”
Elle didn't respond. She just walked away from the house without paying attention to Silas behind her.
She needed space and air. She wanted to be left alone with her thoughts and with no one watching or expecting anything from her.
Elle walked through the pack's territory with no clear destination in mind. The sun was out in full force, and for a moment, she imagined she was back in the human world, walking through the streets, leading an ordinary life.
Then she felt it. That pull in her chest. That pain that Silas told her about.
The mate bond tugged painfully, wanting her to go back to him. Elle grit her teeth and continued walking. She didn't want to go back and prove Silas right.
But the pain increased with each step. Her chest felt tight, and it was getting difficult to breathe. It was like an invisible string pulling her back to Silas.
“Damn it,” Elle muttered.
She hated that he'd been right. She hated yearning for the company of a man she hated.
Elle had to continue walking. She would endure this suffering. She would show that she did not need him.
“Well, well. Look who crawled back.”
Elle froze. She knew that voice.
Three women came out of a building. Even though eight years had passed, Elle still recognized them. Madison—a flawless blonde with a cruel smile. She had two friends, Joan and Lauren, who currently flanked her on both sides. Elle's former bullies.
“Madison,” Elle said flatly.
“Elle Jones.” Madison's lip twisted in disgust. “Or shall I say now, Elle Weston? Because you have somehow managed to entrap our Alpha into mating with you.”
Elle stared at her head on. The old Elle would have cowered, apologized for existing, and fled before they could harm her.
But Elle wasn't that girl anymore.
“I did not entrap anybody,” Elle said coldly.
“No?” Joan laughed. “Then how do you explain it? You're a human. A pitiable, feeble human who was not able to shift. And somehow you got Silas Weston, our Alpha, to bond with you?”
“Must have used some kind of magic,” Lauren snickered. “Or maybe you just manipulated him. Played on his guilt about how we treated you before.”
Elle scoffed in surprise. They thought she used magic on Silas. They thought she wanted this? “Trust me, you don't know what you're talking about.”
“We know you were banished,” Madison walked closer, her wolf rising to the surface. “We know you left in disgrace. And now you're back, stamped with the Alpha's mark, acting like us.”
“I don't want to be here.”
“Then why are you?” Madison's voice dripped with false sweetness. “Why not leave if you hate it so much? Unless...” Her smile widened. “You are too pathetic to survive on your own. Did the human world swallow you and spit you back out? Was that the reason you crawled back, deceiving our Alpha?”
Something in Elle snapped.
It took eight years to rebuild herself and not take bullshit from anybody. She was not going to allow these women, who had made her life a nightmare, to treat her like the former Elle.
“I survived fine. Better than fine, actually. I got a job, lived in an apartment, and had friends who really liked me. I was happy.” She took a step closer.
“Maybe more than I can say of you. What have you accomplished within the last eight years? And you keep trailing along after Madison like a good little lapdog?”
The last statement was directed at Joan and Lauren, who flushed in embarrassment.
Madison's eyes narrowed. “You've got a lot of nerve speaking to us that way.”
“It was you who came to harass me. I was just minding my own business.”
“You mean minding your business in our territory.”
“In your Alpha's territory,” Elle smirked, enjoying the splotches of red creeping up Madison's neck. “And since I'm bonded to him, this is my territory, too.”
“You don't belong here,” Madison sneered. “You never did. You are just a human who puts on a costume.”
“Maybe. But I am not a bully who peaked a couple of years back and has nothing better to do.”
Jessica gasped. Lauren's mouth fell open. And Madison looked like Elle slapped her.
“You little—” Madison raised her hand, her fingers changing into claws.
Elle stepped back, her heart pounding hard against her ribs. She'd pushed too far. She allowed her anger to get the upper hand, and now she was going to suffer as a result.
But before Madison could hit her, someone appeared between them and grabbed her wrist.
Silas. His presence made all three women instantly lower their eyes.
“What the hell do you think you're doing?” His voice was deadly quiet.
“Alpha, I—” Madison's voice shook. “She was disrespecting us.”
“She was defending herself.” Silas dropped her wrist. “I heard everything. You started it, and she just defended herself.”
“We were just—”
“Bullying her. Like you did eight years ago.” Silas's voice hardened. “Did you think I didn't know? Did you think I didn't see the way you treated her?”
Madison's face went pale. “Alpha.”
“There is something that I would like to make very clear.” Silas’ voice commanded absolute obedience. “Elle is my mate. My wife. Your Luna, whether you like it or not. And if anyone disrespects her, they shall answer to me.”
They shuddered at his authority. “Do you understand?” Silas demanded.
“Yes, Alpha,” they chorused.
“Good. Now get out of my sight.”
Madison, Joan, and Lauren virtually ran away with their tails between their legs.
Silas turned to Elle. “Are you alright?”
“I didn't need you to do that.”
“She was about to attack you.”
“I was handling it.”
“She's a shifter, Elle. She would have hurt you.”
“So? That does not mean that you can fly in and act as a hero.” Elle crossed her arms. “I told them off. I stood my ground. And then you came and made it seem like I needed your protection.”
“You did need my protection,” his voice tinged with annoyance. “You're human. They're shifters. The power imbalance—”
“Is something I have been handling my whole life!” Elle yelled. “I know I'm weaker than them. I know that I would never stand a chance in physical combat. But, it does not mean that I am helpless or you should fight my battles.”
“I'm your mate. Protecting you is my job.”
“I didn't ask for a mate! I didn't ask for protection! I didn't ask for any of this!” She cried as she felt tears in her eyes. Elle felt angry, frustrated, and disgusted with her lack of powers. “You continue to make choices for me, and now you are taking away my power to defend myself as well?”
Silas's expression softened. “That's not what I'm trying to do.”
“You told them not to mess with your “wife.” You put it plainly that I am under your protection. Which only makes me look more pathetic in their eyes. The woman who needs the great, powerful Alpha to protect her.”
“I was trying to help.”
“Well, you didn't.” Elle walked past him, heading back. “You just made things worse.”
Silas followed her. “Elle, wait.”
“No. I'm done talking. I am fed up with you coming in whenever I have a problem. I am sick and tired of you treating me like I am a piece of glass. Like, I am fragile.”
“I don't think you're fragile.”
Elle whirled around. “Then stop acting like I am! Stop making decisions for me. Stop catering to me.” She sighed loudly. “Just stop.”
“My wolf couldn't just let me watch.”
“Then learn,” Elle said. “Because I can't live like this. I cannot be with a person who believes that I should be rescued every time. Next time, let me try to handle it first.”
“Okay.”
“Okay?”
“I'll try.”
“Thank you,” she said quietly.
They walked back home in silence. The ache Elle felt had disappeared due to Silas’ presence.
It was replaced by a weird, sweet sensation.
She didn't like it, but she was too powerless to stop it.
So she would have to make it bearable, like starting with setting boundaries. It wasn't much. But it was a start.