Chapter 107

Ella POV

Michael had just returned from a trip with friends to a neighboring pack’s land for some casual camping. From the way he spoke about it, the outing had been uneventful, making Diana’s exuberant welcome feel even more out of place.

Of course, I wouldn’t comment on it; the tension in the air was palpable enough, at least to me. Michael, however, seemed completely oblivious.

He kept trying to steer the conversation away from his mother’s hovering remarks, shifting his focus to Alexander instead.

Finally, one of the staff members entered the room to inform Diana that she had a phone call. She hesitated, clearly reluctant to leave, but eventually excused herself, leaving the three of us alone.

As soon as the door closed behind her, Michael turned to Alexander with a wide grin, his entire demeanor brightening. It was obvious that Michael admired his older brother deeply. The way he looked at Alexander, with a mix of respect and eagerness, tugged at something in my chest.

I didn’t have siblings myself, so I couldn’t fully understand their dynamic, but it was endearing to witness the bond between them, even if it seemed complicated.

“How long are you in town for?” Michael asked, leaning forward slightly.

“Just for the night,” Alexander replied, his tone casual. “Though I’ll be back again soon.”

“For wedding stuff?” Michael guessed.

“Yes,” Alexander said with a faint chuckle. “Wedding stuff.”

“Anything I can help with?” Michael offered, his enthusiasm unmistakable.

I expected Alexander to brush off the suggestion outright, but instead, he paused, looking genuinely thoughtful.

“I’m not sure off the top of my head,” he admitted. “But I’ll think about it if you’re serious.”

“Of course, I’m serious!” Michael said, his earnestness shining through. “It’s not every day my big brother gets married.”

“I should hope not,” I teased with a laugh.

Alexander smiled, his gaze softening as it met mine. “No,” he agreed, “I intend for it to only be the one time. It’s far too much work to go through it again.”

The warmth in his voice, coupled with the weight of his words, sent a gentle flutter through my chest. Michael’s grin widened, and I could see how much he cherished moments like this with his brother.

For a brief moment, the room felt lighter, the tension left behind by Diana’s presence fading into the background. It was just the three of us, sharing a simple, heartfelt exchange. It all felt so normal that I almost forgot that none of it was real.

“Now that I think of it, there are a few things I could use your help with,” Alexander said, his tone measured, “but it would mean you’d have to come to the capital.”

Michael’s face fell slightly. “Oh,” he said, his earlier excitement dimming.

“Is that a problem?” I asked, confused by his reaction.

“Not really,” Michael replied, but his voice lacked conviction. “It’s just… you’ve seen how my mother gets when I leave home.”

“She’s overbearing,” Alexander said plainly, his expression sharpening. “But you’re an adult, Michael, and you can make your own decisions. If you want to come to the capital, I can arrange for it.”

“Have you never been to the capital?” I asked, my confusion growing.

Michael shook his head slowly, and I blinked in surprise.

It was odd—more than odd, really. Michael was a high-ranking member of one of the most powerful packs in the kingdom, yet he’d never stepped foot in the capital city? That didn’t seem right.

I wanted to press further, to ask why, but a glance at Alexander’s carefully neutral expression stopped me. Whatever the reason, it was clearly not a topic they wanted to discuss, and I didn’t want to risk stirring up any tension.

Still, my mind churned. Perhaps Diana’s favoritism was part of the explanation. Maybe she was too protective to let her youngest son venture far from home.

Or perhaps it was a security concern. Having both of the pack’s highest-ranking men away at the same time could pose risks if something went wrong.

Whatever the case, Michael’s curiosity was obvious, and it struck me as unfair. He deserved the chance to explore the world beyond his pack’s borders.

“How old are you?” I asked, tilting my head slightly. Michael looked so young, but he had to be close to my age.

“Eighteen,” he answered, his tone shy, as if he expected me to judge him for it. “Why do you ask?”

“Just curious,” I said with a shrug, offering a small smile. “You look quite young.”

“I know,” he said with a grimace. “I hear it all the time.”

I laughed softly. “Don’t worry about it too much,” I said, my voice light. “It feels like a big deal now, but trust me—when you’re older and still look young, you’ll be grateful for it.”

“I doubt that,” Michael said with mock seriousness. “I’ll just look like an old man with the face of a child. It’ll be creepy.”

The absurdity of his comment caught me off guard, and I couldn’t help but laugh. To my surprise, Alexander joined in, a rare and genuine sound that made my heart flutter.

Michael beamed, clearly pleased with himself for drawing such a reaction from both of us. The warmth in the room was palpable now, and for the first time that evening, it felt like the walls around us were starting to come down.

"Sounds like I’m missing all the fun," Diana said as she walked back into the room. Alexander’s laughter faded almost immediately, and Michael shifted in his seat, turning to her with a smile.

“We’re just joking around,” he said.

“About what?” Diana asked, her gaze flickering between us.

“Wedding stuff,” Michael replied, his tone light. “I was just saying that maybe I could go to the capital sometime and help Alex with some of the planning.”

“In the capital?” Diana said, her expression souring. “Are you sure that’s what you want?”

“I mean, that’s where the wedding is going to be, isn’t it?” Michael asked, glancing at us curiously. I nodded, and he turned back to Diana. “So it’s the obvious place. How else would I be useful?”

“I don’t know if Alexander will accept your help,” Diana said coolly. “You know how he likes to handle everything on his own.”

“I would be honored to have his help,” Alexander corrected smoothly, “It’s very generous of him to offer to come and help with the work.”

“Well, we can discuss this another time,” Diana said dismissively as she picked up her discarded glass and took a sip. “Right now, it’s getting late, and everyone’s been traveling today, so I’m sure you’re all exhausted.”

“Is it late?” I asked in surprise, glancing at the time. I grimaced when I saw how right she was—it was late. At this rate, we wouldn’t make it back to the capital until the early hours of the morning.

“We should have left by now,” I commented, the weight of the evening settling over me.

“Left?” Diana repeated, her eyes widening slightly. “Well, surely you’ll be spending the night.”

“I wasn’t planning on that,” I said, glancing at Alexander for confirmation.

“Well, I’ve already had Alexander’s room made up for you,” Diana said, her tone insistent. “There’s really no need to rush off in the middle of the night like this. You should stay, get some sleep, and have breakfast in the morning. Then you can make the long journey home. I insist—it would be inhospitable of me to allow you to leave so late.”

I searched for a polite way to decline, but before I could say anything, Alexander spoke.

“Thank you,” he said simply, his voice calm and composed.

I turned to him, trying to hide the disbelief on my face. It seemed there was no way out of it now. With his acceptance, I had no choice but to spend the night.

In Alexander’s room.