Chapter 81 Ella's POV
Ella heaved a sigh of relief as she stepped into the Manor, her body trembling slightly from the tension that clung to her. She was grateful, immensely so, that no one had seen her in her current state. Dirt clung to her skin, and her disheveled hair framed her face in messy strands. She was eager to retreat to her room unnoticed, clean herself up, and pretend none of it ever happened.
But fate wasn’t so kind.
The moment she set foot inside, her heart nearly stopped as she came face-to-face with Valen. He stood there, tall and imposing, his sharp eyes piercing through her. His presence was enough to make her freeze, but it was the anger simmering in his gaze that made her throat run dry.
“Where are you coming from?” His voice was low, steady, and dangerous.
Ella’s lips parted, but no words came. Of all the people to find her like this, it had to be him. He had been absent for so long, unreachable and elusive, and now, here he was, staring her down with an intensity that made her legs wobble.
Before she could summon an excuse or even process the situation, Valen was suddenly beside her. The speed at which he moved made her gasp—one moment he was across the room, and the next, he was close enough that she could feel the heat radiating from him.
“What—” she started, but the words died in her throat as he scooped her up into his arms as though she weighed nothing.
“Valen!” she yelped, her voice filled with shock and indignation.
“Valen! Put me down!” she shrieked, her embarrassment flaring to life.
She squirmed against him, her hands pushing at his chest, but it was like trying to move a wall. His hold was firm—unyielding, protective, and possessive all at once. The more she struggled, the tighter his grip became, his strength a stark reminder of the vast difference between them.
“Stop wriggling,” he commanded, his tone leaving no room for argument.
Ella wanted to scream at him, slap him, do something to regain control of the situation. But she couldn’t deny the way her traitorous body reacted to his closeness. His scent, rich and intoxicating, made her pulse quicken, and the feel of his arms around her sent warmth spreading through her chest.
By the time they reached her room, her frustration had boiled over. The moment he set her down, she stepped back, her fists clenched at her sides.
“What the hell is wrong with you?” she snapped, glaring up at him.
Valen didn’t answer. His eyes roamed over her, and she suddenly became hyper-aware of her appearance—or rather, her lack of clothing. Her hands flared up as she quickly crossed her arms over her chest to shield her exposed skin.
His eyes darkened, the intensity in them making her heart race. She could feel the weight of his stare, and it made her want to crawl under a rock.
“Turn around!” she demanded, her voice sharp and tinged with desperation.
For a moment, he didn’t move, and she thought he might refuse. Then, with a small, amused smirk that only infuriated her further, he turned his back to her.
Grabbing the nearest towel, she wrapped it around herself and bolted to the bathroom, slamming the door shut behind her. She leaned against it, her chest heaving as she tried to calm her racing heart.
“What is wrong with me?” she muttered to herself.
The feel of his arms around her lingered, sending an unwanted thrill through her. His touch had been firm yet careful and protective, as though she were something precious, and despite her anger, she couldn’t deny how safe she’d felt. It made her stomach flutter in a way she didn’t want to acknowledge.
“No,” she said firmly, shaking her head as if to dislodge the thoughts. “Focus, Ella. You're still mad at him”
Turning on the shower, she stepped under the stream of water, letting the warm water wash away the dirt and grime. But no matter how hard she tried, she couldn’t shake the image of Valen’s intense gaze or the feel of his arms.
Her wolf, Lila, stirred in the back of her mind, a faint purr of satisfaction echoing through their connection.
“Don’t start,” Ella warned her.
Lila’s voice was soft but teasing. “You can’t deny it felt good. His arms… his scent…”
“Shut up,” Ella muttered, scrubbing her skin harder.
But the truth was, Lila wasn’t wrong. There was something about Valen that drew her in, no matter how much she tried to resist.
She couldn’t ignore how her wolf, Lila, had stirred at his presence.
“Lila, you’re such a traitor,” Ella muttered under her breath.
Her wolf’s voice was soft but unapologetic in her mind. “It’s not my fault. It’s fate.”
Ella groaned, scrubbing at her skin as though she could rid herself of her wolf’s meddling. “Fate’s overrated,” she mumbled.
She turned off the shower and stood still, listening. The quietness of the room made her think he had left.
Good. She wasn’t ready to face him again.
Wrapping the towel tightly around her, she opened the door and stepped out.
And froze.
He was still there, leaning against the wall with an air of casual confidence that only made her irritation spike. His gaze met hers, and the intensity in his eyes made her breath hitch.
“What are you still doing here?” she blurted, her voice sharper than she intended.
He pushed off the wall and took a step toward her. Her instincts screamed at her to move, but she couldn’t. The way he looked at her, with a mix of frustration and something darker, rooted her to the spot.
“Don’t,” she said, her voice trembling slightly as he took another step closer.
He didn’t stop.
The closer he got, the harder it became for her to think. Her back hit the wall, and she gasped softly, her hands clutching the towel tighter around her.
Lila stirred again, practically vibrating with excitement. “Let him come closer!” her wolf urged.
“Shut up, Lila,” Ella hissed in her mind.
“Oh, come on, Ella,” Lila replied, her tone teasing. “You know you like him.”
Ella didn’t dignify that with a response.
Valen was now only inches away, his towering frame casting a shadow over her.
Lila stirred again, more awake now, more excited.
“Stop it, Lila,” Ella hissed in her mind.
But her wolf was fully awake, her voice purring with delight. “Our mate,” Lila said, her tone smug.
Ella's breath hitched as the realization hit her.
The Moon Goddess’s words echoed in her mind: “Lila’s recovery is tied to your mate bond with Valen.”
Ella’s eyes widened as memories flooded back—Lila waking up when they first came to Devil City, her wolf growing stronger every time she was near Valen.
Every time she was near Valen, Lila became stronger. It was why her wolf had woken up the first time they crossed paths and why she felt more vibrant with each interaction, no wonder she kept nudging her to get closer to Valen, why didn't she just tell directly.
“Lila, you’re unbelievable,” she muttered under her breath.
Her wolf laughed softly. “Fate, darling. Don’t fight it.”
Valen’s hand reached out, brushing a damp strand of hair from her face, pulling her attention back to him. His hand brushed slightly against her cheek . The simple touch sent a jolt through her, and she clenched her jaw, determined not to let him see how much he affected her.
Her mind screamed at her to push him away, to regain control. But her body… her body betrayed her.
“Valen…” she whispered, her voice barely audible.
He leaned closer, his breath warm against her skin. His eyes burned with an intensity that left her breathless.
“You’re mine,” he murmured, his voice low and possessive, more like a vow.
That was it.
Lila erupted with energy, her excitement breaking through the barriers Ella had tried so hard to maintain. Her wolf howled in her mind, wild and untamed.
And Ella? She was left staring up at Valen, her heart racing, her mind spinning, and her wolf demanding she claim what was hers.