Chapter 87 Torn between two men
The tension in the hallway grew thicker as Ella’s eyes darted nervously between Scottie and Dorian. Her heart raced when she heard the loud crashes and roars coming from the study.
“What is happening in there?” Ella asked, her voice trembling.
Scottie hesitated, glancing at Dorian, whose expression remained unreadable. Neither of them answered, which only made Ella more uneasy. Scottie shifted uneasily, her lips pressed into a thin line, while Dorian remained stoic, his expression unreadable.
Suddenly, Lila, her wolf, stirred restlessly in her mind. Mate! Mate! Mate! He’s here!
Ella froze, her chest tightening as she tried to calm her wolf. Her wolf’s excitement was almost overwhelming.
“What are you talking about, Lila? Who’s here?”
Before Lila could answer, a scent hit Ella like a thunderclap—strong, familiar, and intoxicating. It was a scent she could never forget.
Her breath hitched as the realization dawned on her. “Derek,” she whispered, her voice barely audible.
As if summoned by her recognition, the study doors burst open. Derek stormed out, his expression a mixture of relief and anger. Valen followed closely behind, his movements calm but his crimson eyes blazing with barely contained fury.
Derek’s gaze landed on Ella, and his entire demeanor shifted. The tension in his shoulders eased, and his eyes softened. Without hesitation, he crossed the space between them and pulled her into his arms.
“Ella,” he murmured, his voice filled with a mix of longing and relief.
Ella stood frozen in his embrace, her mind racing. She barely had time to process his presence before an earth-shattering growl filled the hallway, reverberating off the walls.
“Get your hands off my mate!” Valen growled, his voice dangerously low.
Scottie and Dorian immediately stepped forward, standing on either side of Valen as they tried to calm him down. But Valen’s aura darkened, his fists clenched, and his jaw tightened as if he were moments away from attacking.
The word “mate” hit Derek like a bolt of lightning. He froze, his arms still wrapped protectively around Ella, as he turned to face Valen. His voice was low, laced with disbelief.
“What did you just say?”
“You heard me, Derek,” Valen said coldly. “Keep your hands off her. I don’t appreciate anyone—especially someone who’s caused her pain—touching what belongs to me.”
Derek’s lips curled into a bitter smile. “Is this some kind of trick? Are you trying to keep her here with lies? If you know so much about me, as you claim, then you should know she’s fated to me.”
Valen stepped closer, his eyes glowing dangerously. “She was. But now, she’s mine to claim.”
Derek’s wolf, Leo, growled furiously within him. This vampire dares to lay claim to what’s ours?! Let me out! I’ll end him!
Derek clenched his fists, his nails digging into his palms as he fought for control. He couldn’t let Leo take over, not now, not in front of Ella.
Leo pushed harder against Derek’s restraint, desperate to take control. Seeing another man, especially a vampire, claim Ella as his mate was driving Leo to the brink.
Let me handle this, Derek growled internally, trying to regain control. He couldn’t let Leo take over, certainly not in this mood. Not in front of Ella.
Taking a deep breath, Derek forced his wolf back and turned his focus to Ella. “Ella,” he said, his voice gentler now. “He didn’t hurt you, did he? Don’t worry. I’m here to take you home.”
Before Ella could respond, Valen stepped forward, his aura crackling with power. “My mate is going nowhere with you.”
Derek’s composure cracked. “Enough with this ‘mate’ nonsense!” he roared, his eyes flashing red as Leo pushed closer to the surface.
Ella, who had been standing in stunned silence, finally snapped back to reality. The oppressive aura emanating from the two men was suffocating. She knew she had to act fast before things spiraled out of control. She can't afford to let Valen release that aura he had unleashed on her the first time they met.
“Derek,” she said sharply, cutting through the tension. “What are you doing here?”
Derek turned to her, his anger melting away as he met her gaze. “Ella…” he began, but her cold tone stopped him in his tracks.
Ella took a deep breath, meeting Derek's eyes, her voice steady. “As you can see, I’m fine. Do I look hurt? Do I look like a prisoner begging to be rescued? You’ve seen me. You can leave now, knowing that I’m okay.”
Valen smirked, his dark aura fading slightly as he watched Ella take control of the situation.
Derek was taken aback by her words. Leo stirred angrily within him.
“I’m not leaving without my mate,” Derek said firmly, his voice low and determined.
Ella’s expression darkened, her voice tinged with sadness. “Your mate?” she repeated softly. “Derek, you left me. You made it clear where I stood in your life.”
Derek’s jaw tightened. “Ella, our people miss you. Come home with me. I promise no one will ever hurt you again. Let's sort every misunderstanding between us.”
Valen’s heart clenched as he listened, but he stayed silent, waiting for Ella’s response.
Ella’s voice trembled as she spoke with barely restrained anger. “Miss me? If I remember correctly, my absence went unnoticed. If it weren’t for the mate bond pulling you here, you would have forgotten about me too.”
Her words hit Derek like a blow to the chest. He opened his mouth to respond, but Ella’s next question stopped him.
“How’s Moore?” she asked, her voice tinged with both hope and anxiety.
Derek frowned but answered, “He’s fine. A lot has happened since you left. Moore found his mate.”
Ella’s lips curved into a small smile, though her eyes glistened with unshed tears. “It’s good that he found someone who can care for him. At least something nice came out of all this.”
Derek clenched his jaw, frustrated that she was avoiding the topic of returning home with him. His anger shifted to Valen.
“What have you done to her? Did you hypnotize her?”
“Derek, stop it!” Ella shouted, her voice firm. “I’m here of my own free will. No one hypnotized me.”
“Then why?” Derek asked, his voice breaking.
Ella hesitated, searching for the right words, but Valen spoke first.
“Because,” Valen said, stepping closer and taking Ella’s hand in his, “she’s my mate.”
Derek growled, turning to Ella, desperate for an explanation. But when he looked at her, he saw no signs of fear or coercion.
“Ella,” he said quietly, his voice trembling. “What’s going on? Why does he keep calling you his mate? Is what he’s saying... true?”
Ella’s heart ached as she looked into Derek’s eyes. She took a deep breath, her voice barely above a whisper.
“Yes.”
Derek staggered back, her answer hitting him like a physical blow. His world tilted as Ella’s confirmation echoed in his mind.
Valen smirked triumphantly, his grip on Ella’s hand tightening.
Ella stood between the two men, torn and uncertain, as the tension threatened to shatter them all.