Chapter 4
Adam watched Ella go. He stared at the door, wishing she would come back. His wolf howled inside, his mate so close, and yet so far. He wished to whisk her off her feet and give her the life she deserved, the life he should have given her five years ago.
He let out a sad sigh and turned away from his front door, even though his wolf urged him to follow her. Adam knew Ella needed boundaries; he had really hurt her all those years ago. Somehow, she had lasted as a lone wolf all these years and still looked as amazing as she had before.
Adam sniffed the air, clinging to the lingering scent of her before it left once again. Her scent was so intoxicating, it stirred up feelings deep inside him he had tried to suppress for years. He closed his eyes, breathing the aroma in deeply. He let it fill him up, reminding him how his life used to be.
***
When he had first met Ella all those years ago, he had teased her for her timidness. Little did he know she was fiercer than she let on. Being an Alpha’s son, he had always been so confident, took what he wanted, and received special privileges. He didn’t see how anyone could be so shy and timid with such a great beast inside them. Back then he didn’t know better.
Ella had been so different from all the other girls his age, always fawning over him. She treated him like any other person; Ella didn’t care about titles. That was the first thing Adam fell in love with — everyone was on equal ground with Ella. She didn’t always show it, but when Adam got to know her better, he realized she wasn’t timid but cautious and brave.
Once they became friends, Ella had no problem telling him what she truly thought. She never let him get away with bullshit excuses. Adam smiled as he remembered the first time Ella caught him using his dad’s name to get special treatment. She had glared at him, lifting one eyebrow. He knew what that look meant: You think you’re better than me? Than everyone else?
He had tried to talk his way out of her glowering, but she wouldn’t have it. That day, he ended up getting everyone there the same special treatment. Only then did Ella relent, letting a smile grow on her freckled face.
***
Adam’s memory faded and he snapped back to the present as a sharp pang emanated from his wound. Adam gasped in a sudden sharp breath at the pain and instinctively moved his hand to cover the gashes.
If Ella didn’t let him reclaim her, he would die alone with no one to rule the Moon Rising Pack.
Adam grimaced as another stabbing pain came, sending him to his knees, breathing hard. He stood back up with a grunt and headed to his room to grab the medicine the pack physician had given him. It was only a temporary remedy though. Without his mate, he would never get better.
After taking the medicine, Adam knew he couldn’t sit around. He couldn’t follow Ella, but he could still go for a run to clear his mind. He stripped as he walked purposely toward the back door facing the woods.
As his foot stepped across the threshold, he shifted seamlessly, sleek black hair sprouting from every part of his body, his face elongating into a snout, and he fell onto all fours. His powerful hind legs pushed off and he was running through the woods, the trees passing him in a blur.
Nothing gave him relief like the wind rushing though his fur, his wolf roaming free through the beautiful woods near the back of his house. He breathed in the fresh, crisp air as he continued forward, careful not to push himself too hard.
***
As Ella returned back home, she couldn’t keep her thoughts from turning back to Adam. Seeing him again sparked something in her she thought she had abandoned long ago — hope for a life with him.
Ella shook her head. I can’t let these thoughts cloud my mind again. Not after the way he spoke to me. Not after what he did. Ella wanted to believe he had truly changed. She wanted to believe they could be happy together. But there was a thick callous around her heart that kept her from accepting the possible truth.
She arrived back at her father’s house. As she stepped through the door, Aaron and Emme ran to her, hugging her legs. She crouched down to gather them into her arms for a hug. She closed her eyes, breathing in their scents, calming her instantly. She kissed them each on top of their heads before standing up again.
“How’d it go?” her father asked, getting up from the floor.
“We can talk about it later,” Ella responded, brushing him off until the kids were in bed, when she would be able to talk freely about the subject.
Ella turned back to her children, putting on a happy face.
“What did you all do while Mommy was gone?”
Their little eyes lit up as they recounted their many adventures with their grandfather. As they described their day down to each minuscule detail, Ella’s father began to prepare supper. Ella listened while setting the table with plates and silverware. Her smile got bigger with each passing story. Ella was so happy they got off to a great start with their grandpa. She wished they had been able to know him before now, but she couldn’t change the past.
A few hours later, Aaron and Emme were put to bed in one of the guest rooms. Ella and her father sat down in the living room, neither one wanting to speak first. They sat in silence for a few minutes before Ella’s dad broke the stillness.
“What happened with Adam? Will you be able to heal him?”
Ella let out a heavy sigh. “It's complicated.”
“Then un complicate it.”
“How do I do that? In order to heal him, I have to let him reclaim me. I have to open myself up to him again…” Ella trailed off just thinking about it.
Her father placed a hand on her leg reassuringly. “Do you have to open up to him though? You could let him mark you and still go your separate ways once he’s completely healed.”
Ella rolled her eyes. “That’s what he said. But it’s not that simple. You know what the mating bond feels like. I don’t know if I can trust myself to stay away.”
Ella’s dad nodded understandingly. “I know it’s a hard decision for you. I won’t push you either way. Just do what your heart thinks is right.”
Ella smiled slightly. “Thanks, Dad.”
She placed her hand over his. They sat there for a while in silence.
“You know, you can’t hide them here forever. Sooner or later, the rest of the pack will know about Aaron and Emme,” her father commented, regretfully puncturing the peaceful bubble.