Chapter 22 Chapter 22
ELLA
I leaned against the door to my room and exhaled. Today had been amazing. Zane had been amazing.
“No,” I shook my head and walked across the room. I still had my reservations. I hadn’t forgotten what he had done, how he had made me feel—even within the last week.
I could feel my wolf pacing as well. Maybe he really is changing. Maybe he…wants us, my wolf spoke cautiously.
I shook my head. He didn’t want me. He had proven that time and again.
Then why did he kiss us? Why did he hold us?
I stopped. I could feel the hope my wolf had, that maybe Zane had changed his mind and wanted to take back his rejection.
“Let’s not get our hopes up just yet,” I replied out loud as I made my way to the bathroom to shower and change.
I walked downstairs to the kitchen. Back to the grind, I thought to myself as I stepped in.
“Hey, babe! How was your little adventure?” my mom chimed.
“It was amazing, actually.” I smiled, my mind drifting to the lake. To his lips. I shook my head.
“So what needs to be done?”
My mother placed her hands on her hips and looked around the kitchen.
“Almost everything is done, it’s an easy lunch today. Why don’t you come sit with me, and we can talk about your morning?”
I smiled, knowing I wasn’t going to be able to get away with my short answer. My mom loved the details.
“He kissed you?” my mom exclaimed with a cheesy smile and wide eyes.
“Calm yourself, Mom,” I teased, my face blushing wildly.
“It’s not that big a deal.”
“So he’s changed?” my mom prodded.
I shrugged.
“I’m not really sure yet. I want to think he’s trying, but I—”
“You want to be sure before you let him in.” Sophie nodded knowingly.
“What happened two years ago just about killed me. I don’t know if I can open myself up to that again. What if I do and he rejects me all over again?”
I looked down in an attempt to keep the tears burning behind my eyes from falling.
“I mean, he’s only been back for two months. Can someone really change?”
My mom put a warm hand on my shoulder.
“People can always change if they want to. What if he loves you?”
I sighed. I knew I needed to think about this. Decide if I was willing to let him in. We stood up as we looked at the time and started serving up plates to the pack members that trickled in.
I watched for Zane. I knew it was ridiculous, but I looked forward to seeing him.
“Omega, I’m waiting.” I snapped my head up to see Mariah in front of me, her long manicured nails tapping the counter. I faked a smile and handed her a plate.
Mariah rolled her eyes.
“Little nothing,” she mumbled as she walked away.
I tried to act like I didn’t hear her. The words still stung no matter how many times they were said. I was surprised when Zane didn’t come in for lunch.
I grabbed a plate and walked upstairs, only to find the room empty.
“Hmm…” I mumbled as I closed the door and made my way back down. He didn’t make an appearance.
I looked up at the time, noting that dinner started in an hour, and I needed to finish these rolls. I continued kneading then looked up at the clock again. It was five o’clock.
I hadn’t seen him for almost the entire rest of the day. It worried me. Maybe he was regretting our morning together and had finally realized again that he didn’t actually want me.
He was probably avoiding me so that he wouldn’t have to deal with the little omega again.
Five thirty. Still nothing.
Five forty-five. I needed to get out of my head. I took the rolls out of the oven and wiped the hair away from my face.
I needed to take a minute, knowing if I continued down the rabbit hole, I would be a hot mess. I walked out to the hallway and leaned against the wall, closing my eyes and taking a deep breath.
He’s probably just been out training or something, my wolf tried to reassure me.
She had a point. Zane was an alpha; he couldn’t just spend all day with me.
I took one more deep breath and was about to step into the kitchen when a pair of hands reached from behind me and wrapped around my waist. I stiffened before realizing who it was.
“Hey.” Zane rested his head on my shoulder.
“Hey.” I exhaled the breath I realized I had been holding in.
“Where have you been all day?”
“Why? Did you miss me?” A smirk spread across Zane’s face.
I threw a light elbow into his ribs.
“No. I was enjoying the quiet.”
Zane gave a look of feigned hurt and then kissed my cheek.
“I was in meetings all day with my dad. Come with me, I have a surprise for you.”
I smiled and followed him upstairs. I gave him a curious look when he walked to my closet but when Zane opened the door, I let out a gasp.
I walked in, a bright smile beaming on my face. My closet was filled with clothes. Tops, bottoms, dresses, shoes, you name it.
“Zane? How did you…?”
He smirked.
“I have my ways. Do you like it?”
“Zane, you really shouldn’t have.” I turned to him, a little hesitant to accept such a big gift.
“I could tell today that you didn’t have much. I wanted to say sorry for being such a jerk in the past. Besides, you deserve to feel good.”
I jumped and threw my arms around his neck, hugging him tightly.
“Thank you, Zane.” He hugged me back tightly before we made our way downstairs.
Zane sat down at the island, and I could feel his eyes on me. Watching my body. I suddenly felt self-conscious.
“Want to watch a movie tonight?” My head perked up at Zane’s request.
“Depends on the movie. You’re not one of those blood and guts guys, are you?” I replied as I squished my nose at him.
Zane laughed.
“Depends on the movie. How about you pick, then?”
My mom let out a scoff from the other end of the island, and I smirked. This boy didn’t know what he was in for.
I spent the evening racking my brain on the most cringey, gooey, cheesy movie I could think of before settling on the perfect one.
Zane went up before me, probably to clean up his room. I finished cleaning up and then jogged upstairs to my room. I grabbed the movie and changed into some shorts and a comfy tee.
I opened the door to Zane’s room and walked in.
“Hey! So you’re in for a real…” I trailed off as the scene in front of me sank in.
Zane was sitting on the chair in his room, straddled by a very naked Mariah. She gave me an exaggerated look of fake shock before a smirk spread across her face.
I gritted my teeth.
“Seems like you’re busy.”
I walked coldly out of the room before running into my bedroom and slamming the door.
“I knew it. I knew it!” was all I said as I paced my room. My wolf whined, angry but sad at the same time.
It had all been too good to be true. The date, the clothes, he was just buying me so his father would make him alpha.
We had both hoped things were different. We had both begun to open up to the idea of letting our mate back in.