Chapter 20 Moore Has Been Abducted
Derek drove through the city streets, his mind spinning with the new information Alex had provided. According to his beta’s source, Ella was at the hospital. Relief washed over him at the thought of finally getting to see her after everything that had happened. But as quickly as it came, his relief was replaced by tension. He needed Ella’s cooperation now more than ever.
He couldn’t stop thinking about Alpha Kevin. Derek knew exactly what kind of man Kevin was—ruthless, manipulative, and someone who never played by the rules. He had no doubt that if Kevin discovered Ella was the healer he sought, it would end badly for her. Derek didn’t know what Kevin’s next move would be if he found out Doctor South was also his once-rejected mate. The thought of her being in danger gnawed at him, fueling his determination.
As Derek approached the hospital, he parked at the entrance and stepped out with purpose, striding toward the hospital building. He wasn’t sure how Ella would react when she saw him, but he desperately needed to speak with her. For her sake, he hoped she would listen.
The sterile hospital air hit him as he walked through the doors. Derek ignored the curious glances of passersby, his focus entirely on Ella’s office. His long strides took him quickly to her door, and to his surprise, it was open. He peered inside and saw her sitting behind her desk, engrossed in a file.
Ella’s soft brown hair framed her face, cascading down her shoulders in gentle waves. She wore a fitted, professional white blouse, paired with sleek black pants that accentuated her slender frame. Her brown eyes, usually sharp with focus, were now narrowed as she scanned the file intently, unaware of his presence. Her posture was poised and confident, her movements precise as she flipped through the pages.
Derek hesitated for a moment, taking in the sight of her. He admired her strength, her resilience, but now wasn’t the time to dwell on such thoughts. He needed to speak to her—now.
He knocked lightly on the door, breaking the silence in the room. Ella’s head snapped up, her eyes locking onto his. She didn’t seem surprised, just mildly annoyed as she slowly placed the file down and crossed her arms over her chest.
“What do you want, Alpha Derek?” she asked, her voice cold.
“May I come in?” he asked, trying to keep his tone neutral.
“Alpha Derek, as you can see, I’m busy,” she replied, her gaze never wavering from his.
Derek ignored her response and stepped inside the room, closing the door behind him. He walked closer to her desk, his movements deliberate, and stopped just short of invading her space.
“Ella, I’m sorry for losing control last night,” he said, his voice laced with sincerity.
She raised an eyebrow and tilted her head slightly, a mocking smile playing on her lips. “Apology accepted. Now leave.”
She picked up the file again, her eyes dropping back to its contents as if dismissing him entirely. Her indifference was like a slap to his pride, but Derek wasn’t deterred. He stepped closer to her desk, leaning forward slightly.
“Ella, I know you felt something last night,” he whispered, his breath warm against her cheek.
Ella turned to face him fully, her brown eyes sharp with a hint of sarcasm. “Are you here to reminisce about last night, Alpha Derek?” she asked, arching an eyebrow provocatively.
Her words cut through his focus, snapping him back to the real reason he had come. He straightened, trying to regain control of the situation.
“Well, I came to apologize…” he started, his voice firm but hesitant.
“And your apology has been accepted,” she interrupted, waving her hand dismissively. “Now, if you’ll excuse me, I have work to do.”
Derek clenched his jaw, realizing she wasn’t going to make this easy for him. “I’m not done, Ella,” he said, steeling himself for her resistance.
Ella looked up at him, her eyes narrowing as if daring him to continue. “Then what is it? What do you want from me now?” she asked, her tone icy.
Just as he opened his mouth to speak, Ella’s phone rang, cutting through the tension in the room. She picked it up quickly, her brow furrowing as she listened.
“Hello?” Her expression shifted to one of shock. “Moore has gone missing?” Her voice was strained with disbelief. She abruptly stood up, her chair scraping against the floor. “I... yes, I’ll be right there.” She hung up the phone and grabbed her jacket, heading toward the door without a second thought.
Derek stepped in her path, his hand catching her wrist before she could leave. “Hey, Ella, what’s going on?”
She jerked her hand free, her steps hurried as she made her way toward the exit. “It’s Kevin, that bastard! He took my husband,” she spat, her voice thick with anger.
“Slow down, Ella. I’ll get Moore. I will get your husband back,” Derek promised, following closely behind her.
“They abducted Moore,” she said, her voice trembling as she moved quickly. “They’re waiting for me. But I don’t understand… I already agreed to help them. Why would they—”
Derek’s gut twisted. He had kept vital information from her, and now it was coming back to haunt him. “I… I haven’t informed them about your intention to help,” he admitted, his voice low but steady.
Ella froze in her tracks, turning slowly to face him. Her eyes flashed with fury, her lips parting in disbelief. “What?” she whispered, her voice sharp.
Before he could explain, she lunged at him, grabbing the front of his coat. “You? How could you?” she shouted, her anger spilling over. “Do you see what your selfishness has done?”
“Ella, you have my word,” Derek said, his voice calming but firm. “I will bring Moore back.”
She scoffed, pushing him away. “I trusted you—twice. And both times, it did me no good. I’ll get my husband back myself.”
With that, she stormed past him, her resolve clear as she disappeared through the exit and into her car. Derek watched helplessly as she drove off, his heart sinking at her words.
“Tell her you wanted to protect her,” Leo whispered inside his mind.
“No,” Derek muttered under his breath. “It will kill her to remember how she was rejected. I must protect her.”
Without another thought, he rushed toward his car, his sole focus on catching up to Ella. There was no way he was going to let her face Kevin alone. Not this time. He’d protect her, no matter the cost.
He slammed the door of his car shut and sped after her, determination coursing through his veins.