Chapter 39

Adam.

The Moon Blood Pack was reluctant to accept Adam as their new Alpha. But they could not deny that he had killed their Alpha. The ones that came back from the battle had relayed the information and within minutes, the whole pack had known. Orion had led them to be vicious and cruel, thinking that the most robust pack in North America would be one that took no prisoners, felt no remorse, and lived by ‘kill or be killed.’

Adam worked with Ella and Preston to try and calm the pack to a peaceful one, but they resisted Adam’s strict rules as he tried to force them to change quickly. He grew frustrated. But one day, he asked Ella what she thought about their strategy.

“Because you are the Alpha, I followed your plan, hoping you were right. But I think the Moon Blood Pack will never truly be yours if you don’t put yourself in these wolves’ shoes. They’ve spent their whole lives this way.”

Her words caused him to stop. “I want you to go with Preston next time, without me, and try your own method. I have a feeling you’re just what these wolves need.”

“Are you sure?” Ella asked, her brows drawing together. “What makes you think they’ll listen to me?”

He shrugged. “I just got a feeling.”

Ella gulped.

“I promise you’ll do great. And with my Beta by your side, you’ll be completely safe.”

She nodded. “I’ll leave first thing tomorrow.”

Adam smiled. He knew if anyone could turn this pack around, it would be Ella.

Weeks passed, and slowly, the Moon Blood Pack turned away from their vicious ways and became more peaceful. Something Ella did spoke to these ferocious wolves. Adam just knew she’d be able to do the impossible.

Adam spent half the week in his own pack and the other half with the Moon Blood Pack as he and Ella worked together to lead them. Ella was his confidant and advisor in the merger. She helped him seamlessly combine the two packs until finally, they were one large pack. The territory of the Moon Rising Pack naturally expanded to encompass the land from the Moon Blood Pack.

Quarrels between pack members had become far and few between. Adam was surprised with how smoothly things had gone once he gave Ella a chance by his side. Over the weeks, Ella and Adam had unwittingly stepped into their natural roles as Alpha and Luna. Adam couldn’t bear thinking that Ella might not be by his side forever.

“Are you still going back home?” he asked one day. “Now that things have calmed down and the packs have merged, are you going to leave?”

Ella hadn’t thought about it with everything going on. She had just naturally stood by Adam’s side. “I don’t know,” she replied truthfully.

“Have I at least done enough to deserve your forgiveness? I know I was horrible to you all those years ago. I was blinded by my rage for Orion, and I’m so incredibly sorry for the way I hurt you.”

Ella took a deep breath. She looked down at her feet, searching for the answer within herself. Was she ready to forgive him? Ella sighed. She had no idea how she felt about everything.

“I’m sorry, Adam. I really don’t know. I need some time alone to think about it now that everything has calmed down.”

Adam nodded. “Okay. I won’t push you.”

***

Ella.

Days later, Adam’s questions still bounced around Ella’s head, causing her to reconsider her plan. She was already packed, should she still leave? Even if she stayed, how would things change? Had Clint been right that she didn’t belong here after abandoning her pack?

Ella felt drawn to Adam, and she didn’t feel the fear she had the day she came back - she felt happy and calm. With Cassius gone, Ella couldn’t distract herself from her heart’s true desires. Her wolf and her heart wanted to stay with Adam.

Before Ella could think further, her dad and the twins came into her room. “Let’s go!”

She lifted an eyebrow in confusion. “Where are we going?”

“Pack Square. The Alpha has commanded everyone there. It’s probably about the two packs coming together.”

“Why didn’t I hear about this?” she asked, standing up from her bed, absently putting her shoes on.

“You are right now,” Everett said with a shrug. He couldn’t help but let a sly smile slip before covering it up. He turned back out the door, leading the two children with him to the front door. Ella followed behind, grabbing the house key before heading out the door and locking it behind her.

How strange. Ella had caught a glimpse of a mischievous smile on her father’s face. She wondered what he was up to. Her thoughts made her slow down and before she knew it, both her arms were being pulled by Aaron and Emme. The two five-year-olds tugging with all their might to make her go faster.

“What’s the big hurry?” she asked with a laugh, stumbling over the curb as they crossed the street.

“C’mon!” was all they replied.

When they got to Pack Square, a giant crowd was standing in front of a stage with a podium, eagerly awaiting whatever announcement was to be made.

“Yeesh,” Ella commented under her breath, stopping at the back.

But the twins continued to pull her toward the front.

“Where are we going? We’re already here! We can hear just a well in the back as the front,” Ella protested as her twins made the people move to create a path for her.

She looked back to see her father blocking the way back.

“Come on, just keep going,” he urged with a smile.

As they neared the stage, Adam climbed up effortlessly. He held out a hand to her, asking her to join him. His smile melted her heart and before she knew it, they were standing in the middle of the stage in front of everyone.

Adam suddenly got down on one knee, holding out a velvet black box. Ella’s eyes widened as she realized what he was doing.

He opened the box and spoke, “Ella, I love you to the moon and back. I love you so much that I couldn’t bear it if you were to leave again. I promise to make you the happiest you could possibly be. I promise to stay by your side, if you will please have me - as both your Mate and your husband.”

He held up the open box, the plain golden band glinting in the rays of the sunset. Ella’s cheeks burned as blood tinged them pink. She looked from Adam to the box and as her eyes moved to the crowd, Adam took her hand, drawing her gaze back to his.

“Please, Ella. Don’t go,” he whispered. “Stay with me. Be my Luna - my Mate - like we were meant to five years ago.”

Ella hesitated. She wanted to say yes, but with all eyes on her, the words caught in her throat. Suddenly, Aaron and Emme ran up onto the stage, their tiny feet pattering on the wood, and they encircled their mother’s legs with their arms.

“Please let us stay!” they begged. “We know you love Daddy!”

“And he got you such a pretty ring,” Emme chimed in, looking back at the box.

Ella giggled and bent down to hug them. She let out a happy sigh and stared into their eyes.

“Of course, we can stay,” she whispered to them.

She stood back up and looked lovingly into Adam’s eyes, an enormous smile lighting up her face. She started to nod and threw her arms around him.

“Yes, I’ll stay! I love you too!”

Cheers broke out as Adam swept Ella off her feet and twirled her around, kissing her as he brought her back to the floor.