Chapter 30 Chapter 30
ELLA
After straightening myself out, I made my way to the kitchen, cheeks still flushed from our encounter.
Zane walked in after me, smiling like a fool. I checked the hallway. If anyone saw us, they would know exactly what had happened.
Zane sensed my tension and walked over to me. I gasped as he wrapped his arms around me, dipping me low and enveloping my lips in a deep kiss.
A chorus of whistles rang out from all the single males in the dining hall that caught sight of us.
Zane brought us upright again, and I could feel my cheeks blush even more.
I looked up to see my mom smiling at me, and I smiled back, our unspoken words telling just how happy we both were.
“I have some business I need to take care of this morning with my dad. I’ll probably be gone for a few hours.”
I shrugged.
“That’s okay, I need to do some things anyway.”
I really didn’t, I just needed space. Some time to clear my head. Things had really started moving forward fast with Zane, and I needed to make a choice.
I needed to decide if I was really going to let him in, to let him be my mate again. I didn’t even know how to do that.
I didn’t have the mate pull, all the feelings I had for him were genuine. How did I get it back? Could you even take back a mate?
I was lost in thought when Alpha Daniel walked in.
“Alpha?” I looked up at him, hoping he could offer some answers.
“Good morning, Ella.” He gave a warm smile.
“Do you have a minute? I know you have a busy day of meetings with Zane.”
“Of course, I always have time for you,” Alpha Daniel winked, moving us toward his office. Daniel sat down in a chair and motioned for me to sit beside him.
“What can I do for you, Ella?”
“I was just, well…” I was suddenly nervous.
“How do you take back a mate?”
I could see the alpha’s face light up with joy and hope that things between Zane and I had worked.
“Well, I think it depends on each case. It’s not usually heard of for rejected mates to take it back.”
My expression dropped. I knew it was too late.
“But in your case…”
I perked up, hoping he had an answer for me.
“I may have looked it up.” He smiled sheepishly, making me laugh.
“Since his wolf is still technically mated, it’s just you that needs to take back your acceptance of his rejection. Your wolf needs to want to take back the rejection as well.”
“And that would work?”
Daniel shrugged.
“I don’t see why it wouldn’t.”
“Thank you, Alpha,” I smiled, getting up from my seat.
“I’m glad that things worked out. He’s a better person because of you.”
I made my way upstairs. Since it was my day off, I was going to enjoy it as much as I could. I grabbed a book and my sunglasses and made my way outside.
I found a shady spot under a tree and let myself relax for a while, looking up only once when Declan whistled at me from across the field. I waved with a smile before looking back down.
I was interrupted when a shadow stood above me. I looked up, rolling my eyes when I saw who it was.
“Hello, Mariah.”
Mariah huffed.
“Omega,” she spat, her words dripping with venom.
“Do you mind?” I snapped, frustrated I had to still deal with this girl after all these years.
“Oh, so now that you’re screwing the alpha, you think you can talk above your status?”
“Well, I’m pretty sure that’s none of your business.” I widened my eyes sarcastically before turning my attention back to my book.
“And last I checked, it wasn’t my status that’s in question. When is your interview again?”
She glared at me darkly.
“If I get demoted because of you, you’ll be sorry.” She began to walk away before turning back to me with a smug look.
“He’ll get tired of you. He always gets tired of his whores and then comes back to me. Every time. You are nothing, Omega, remember that!” she hissed before turning and walking away.
I could feel the tears welling in my eyes. I shook my head and whispered, “No.” I was done being humiliated and abused by that girl.
“No more tears,” I said as I wiped at my eyes and walked to the packhouse.
It was a long day. I hadn’t realized just how much I would miss seeing Zane throughout the day.
I decided to take a nap in the afternoon and was awakened by a strong pair of arms wrapping themselves around me. I smiled and leaned into him.
“I missed you,” Zane whispered as he nuzzled my neck.
“I missed you too.” I smiled, enjoying the warmth of his body near mine. We slept for a little while, waking just before dinner.
“Are you ready?” I asked my wolf. My wolf purred with excitement, and I smiled before rolling over and looking into Zane’s eyes.
I bit my lip, still nervous and unsure how he would respond.
“Zane?”
Zane smiled at me, nodding for me to continue. I took a deep breath and cupped his face in my hands.
“I, Ella Matthews, do not accept your rejection.”
A shockwave sparked through my whole body and centered in my chest. I could feel the warmth rising within me, a pull that I recognized began to form inside.
Suddenly, I could feel him, my senses heightened by his closeness. I could smell his wonderful, intoxicating scent of cinnamon and pine.
I had taken it back, and I was terrified, knowing there was no going back. I had just given him all the power.