Chapter 172

Alexander POV

I hadn’t expected Ella to still be awake when I returned to the apartment. I’d been gone less than an hour, but as upset as she’d been—and as late as it was—I figured she’d have given up waiting and gone to bed.

Instead, she was standing in the kitchen, leaning against the counter with wide, startled eyes fixed on the door as I walked in. I must have surprised her.

“Are you all right?” I asked, stepping toward her.

She nodded emphatically and shrugged one shoulder—a response so unconvincing it was almost comical. It was clear she was still upset, and I couldn’t blame her.

This situation was unnerving, to say the least.

To me, it seemed obvious the messages were coming from Dr. McIntyre. August’s quick search had turned up enough evidence to confirm it. That didn’t rule out a connection to David, but I was doubtful.

Ella, however, seemed convinced David was somehow involved.

I felt a pang of guilt as I remembered how I’d handled her emotions before leaving. It was natural for her to be frightened and upset, but instead of offering her comfort or understanding, I’d scolded her and rushed off.

I wasn’t proud of my behavior, but at the time, I’d been so focused on finding answers that I hadn’t considered what she actually needed from me.

I approached her slowly, choosing my words carefully.

“It’s almost certainly Dr. McIntyre,” I said finally.

“Of course,” she replied tightly. “You’re right, as usual.”

I bit back the retort that sprang to mind and instead asked, “How would you like to handle this?”

Her eyebrow arched as she studied me, as if trying to decipher my true intentions.

“Do you actually care how I want to handle it?” she asked. “Wouldn’t it be better just to go with whatever plan you and your people have come up with?”

“No,” I said firmly. “You’re the one she’s contacting. This is about you, and you should decide how we move forward.”

Ella stared at me for several seconds, weighing my words. Then she sighed, her shoulders sagging as she leaned heavily against the counter.

“I’m not sure,” she admitted. “I don’t know what the right thing to do is. This whole situation has me so off-kilter and frightened. I don’t mean to take it out on you—I’m just—”

“It’s a lot to handle,” I said gently. “I’m not offended.”

“You should be,” she said, her voice tinged with guilt. “I’m not being fair to you.”

“I’m not much better,” I admitted. “But we can talk about that later. Right now, this is a time-sensitive situation. We need to come up with a plan immediately.”

She nodded, chewing at her cheek as she thought.

“I want to confront her,” she said, her voice suddenly firm. “I’m not going to let her keep walking all over me and frightening me. I won’t let her think she has power over me.”

“Confronting her could escalate things,” I pointed out.

“Good,” Ella said, her expression fierce. “Then at least we can fight it out and get this over with.”

I couldn’t help but smile. I liked this fiery side of her. And honestly, I had to agree—it was exactly how I’d handle it.

“That’s what we’ll do then,” I agreed.

Ella stared at me for a moment, as if she couldn’t quite believe I had accepted her idea so readily.

“Are you going to do it?” I asked. “Or would you like me to make the call?”

“I’ll do it,” she said automatically, already reaching into her pocket for her phone.

I watched her closely as she pulled it out. Her fingers were steady—no trace of hesitation or trembling—as she opened the message and stared at the line of numbers. Whatever thoughts were racing through her mind, I could see her resolve hardening.

The fierce, determined expression I liked so much returned to her face as she hit the call button.

I waited impatiently, my eyes fixed on her hands. Seconds ticked by as she held the phone to her ear. Then she pulled it away and glared at the screen. It had rung out. No answer.

Ella’s annoyance was palpable. Without so much as a glance in my direction, she redialed.

I watched her carefully. The phone rang again. And again. Her frustration grew with every unanswered ring, her lips tightening into a thin line. When the call finally rang out for the second time, she practically threw the phone back onto the counter.

“Take a breath,” I said softly, stepping closer to her. “This is to be expected. She’s a coward—attacking you in secret and then running away in the night.”

Ella nodded slowly. “You’re right,” she said through gritted teeth. “It’s cowardly. But she’s very mistaken if she thinks she can hide from me.”

Determination lit her face like a flame. Without hesitation, she picked up the phone again, set it on the counter, and redialed—this time putting it on speaker.

“I’ll do this all night if that’s what it takes,” she said, her voice sharp and unwavering.

It was on the fifth attempt that the call was finally answered. A hesitant female voice came over the line, and I saw the recognition flash across Ella’s face the moment she heard it.

“The coordinates you sent,” Ella said, skipping any form of greeting. “Where will they lead me?”

“To me,” the woman responded.

“And where are you, Brianna?” Ella asked sharply, deliberately using the doctor’s first name to catch her off guard.

The tactic worked. There was a long pause, and when Brianna finally spoke, her voice lacked the confidence it had held a moment before.

“I’m in the Roguelands.”

“You realize how much this sounds like a trap, don’t you?” Ella pressed.

“Yes,” Brianna replied easily. “I know exactly what it sounds like. And I know that’s not going to stop you from coming.”

Ella’s jaw tightened. “What makes you so confident?”

“The fact that you called,” the doctor said simply.

There was a moment of silence before Ella’s stern expression softened. A faint, almost wry smile tugged at her lips.

“You’re either brave or a fool,” she said. “But you’re right—I’m not going to pass up this opportunity. I know you have information that will help me.”

“Not just you,” Brianna corrected. “I have information that will help the entire Southern Kingdom—if you know what to do with it.”

Ella’s eyes narrowed. “And why have you suddenly decided to share this information with me? You’ve poisoned me, stolen my wolf, and made my life hell for years. Why do all that just to turn around and offer help?”

“Because I’m not a fool,” Brianna said, her voice calm. “I know when I’ve lost. And I know when I’ve been fooled.”

Ella’s gaze sharpened. “Who fooled you?”

“I think you already know the answer to that,” the doctor replied, her tone bitter. “And I’m not going to let him get away with it.”

“So you’re using me to help you get revenge?”

“Do you have a problem with that?”

“Not at all.”

“So you’ll come, then?”

“I believe all the information I need is in the text,” Ella said curtly before pressing the red button to end the call.

I stared at her silently for a few moments as she set the phone down. Her eyes remained fixed on the counter, but then, as if suddenly remembering I was there, she glanced up and offered me an awkward smile.

“It’s late. We should get some sleep,” she said. “We have a lot to talk about tomorrow.”

I nodded in agreement but didn’t respond. I was too preoccupied with what I’d just witnessed. The way Ella had spoken—with such confidence and authority—it was like seeing a side of her I’d never known existed.

For the first time, I could picture her as a leader. Maybe, just maybe, Ella did have what it took to become a Luna after all.