Chapter 159

Ella POV

I sat at the kitchen island beside Alexander, absentmindedly poking at the food he’d placed before me. It smelled and looked delicious, but my appetite was nowhere to be found—a ridiculous reaction, really.

Alexander allowed me to stew in silence for a while before finally breaking the tension.

“What’s bothering you?” he asked, his tone calm but direct. “And don’t tell me it’s nothing. I’m not so dense that I can’t tell when you’re pissed off.”

His bluntness caught me off guard, and I stared at him for a moment, struggling to gather my thoughts. He was right—I couldn’t just sulk all day without explaining myself.

“Like I said earlier, I ran into Fiona at the gym,” I began with a slight shrug.

“And for some reason, that pissed you off?” he asked, his brow furrowing in genuine confusion.

“No, not exactly,” I replied quickly. “I’m not angry that I ran into her. It’s just…” I hesitated, searching for the right words. “The two of you are very close, aren’t you?”

“We are,” he confirmed without hesitation. “She’s one of my closest friends.”

“Why did you never mention her to me before?” I pressed, my tone quieter now.

“It hadn’t come up,” he said with a shrug. “It’s not like we’ve sat down and compared lists of our friends. It wasn’t relevant until you met her.”

I chewed at the inside of my cheek, mulling over his response. He had a point. Alexander wasn’t the type to volunteer personal details unless he thought they were necessary. He hadn’t mentioned his brother until we were heading to his pack lands, and he hadn’t brought up Christopher Slater until he was introducing us. This was just how he operated.

“Did something happen with Fiona today?” he asked, his brow creasing as he studied me. “Did she say something that upset you?”

I shook my head quickly. “It’s silly,” I admitted. “But I just got the impression that the two of you were… closer than I realized.” I chose my words carefully, not wanting to sound irrational.

“Closer?” Alexander repeated, and I saw the moment my implication clicked. His eyes widened slightly, and then an amused smile spread across his face.

“Fiona’s a childhood friend,” he said, his tone light. “Probably the closest thing to a sister I’ll ever have. She can be annoying, but if she said anything to give you an impression there was more between us, it was a mistake.”

I nodded, though I still couldn’t shake the unease in my chest.

Alexander chuckled softly, shaking his head in disbelief. “Fiona,” he muttered under his breath. “Do you seriously think I’d be interested in a woman like her?”

“Why wouldn’t you be?” I asked, genuinely curious. Fiona was beautiful, successful, and they clearly got along well. It wasn’t an unreasonable thought—or so I told myself.

“We’re too similar,” Alexander said simply. “What would be the point in pursuing anything with a woman like that? Someone as focused on her work as I am on mine. Our paths rarely cross anymore, and I’m not interested in attempting a long-distance relationship. Besides,” he added, his tone softening, “I’ve told you before—I’m not looking to be with anyone permanently.”

“I see,” I said quietly, turning my attention back to the food in front of me. “I apologize if my behavior earlier was childish.”

“Not childish exactly,” he replied thoughtfully. “But it’s surprising. I’m not sure I’ve ever seen you irritated like that.”

“Well, we’re living together now,” I said with a small shrug. “I suppose it’s bound to happen at some point.”

“Do you have plans for the rest of the day?” he asked, smoothly changing the subject.

I shook my head. “Nothing definitive. What about you?”

“I’ll be preparing for the Alpha Council meeting tomorrow,” he answered. “But that shouldn’t take too long… I think.”

“A quiet day in is just what I need,” I said, finally taking a bite of the food. It was delicious, as expected. Alexander was a surprisingly good cook.

I needed to mentally prepare for the council meeting. David would likely be there, along with his father. After my conversation with Alpha Derrick last night, I wasn’t sure how I felt about that.

And, on top of it all, this would be our first major social outing as a couple since the wedding. We needed to make a good impression, and I wanted to be fully rested and completely focused.

“I agree,” Alexander said, breaking into my thoughts. “Though August may come by to help with preparations for a short while.”

“Naturally,” I replied.

As expected, August came to the apartment shortly after lunch. I excused myself to the living room, scrolling aimlessly on my phone and reading a book to give them some privacy.

Alexander had invited me to review the documents with them—after all, I was the Luna of the Black Pack now—but it didn’t feel right.

Even if no one else knew, I was acutely aware that my position was temporary. It felt wrong to delve into the intimate details of the pack’s finances and future plans. August didn’t say anything, but I could tell he agreed and was quietly grateful for my decision to step away.

Later that evening, Alexander and I shared a quiet dinner, something he’d ordered from a local restaurant I hadn’t tried before. The food was incredible, but the conversation between us remained tinged with awkwardness.

I blamed it on being tired, though deep down, I knew better. I was still embarrassed by my reaction earlier and the intensity of the jealousy I’d felt toward Fiona.

I think Alexander could tell I was genuinely upset. He didn’t attempt to tease me or make any jokes about it, which was unusual for him. Maybe he understood how fragile I felt and was choosing to spare my feelings.

I was grateful for his restraint, but at the same time, I worried I’d offended him by even suggesting there might be something more to his friendship with Fiona.

That concern only grew as we prepared for bed. Ever since the wedding night, Alexander and I had been sharing the same bed. It was large enough for us to sleep side by side without touching, and while the arrangement felt strange at first, it made the most sense.

If one of us constantly slept on the couch, it would be uncomfortable and unsustainable long-term. Bringing in a secondary bed would raise suspicions we couldn’t afford. So, sharing the bed had become part of our routine.

Tonight, I climbed in first, settling on my side and facing Alexander’s half of the bed. I felt warm and comfortable, sure I would drift off quickly. But minutes passed, and I realized Alexander still hadn’t joined me.

I sat up, glancing toward the bathroom door. It was dark and empty. Confused, I slipped out of bed and padded to the doorway.

Peeking into the living room, I saw him sitting on the couch, a blanket draped over his lap and his phone in hand.

My heart sank.

Had I offended him that much? It was the only explanation that came to mind.

I wanted to apologize or ask him if something was wrong, but I wasn’t sure how to broach the subject. Instead, guilt gnawed at me as I retreated to the bedroom.

Sliding back into bed, I curled up as far to my side as I could, leaving plenty of space for him. I hoped he would come to bed soon, but as the minutes ticked by and I began to fall asleep, I knew that he wouldn’t.