Chapter 179

Ella POV

I was so exhausted that I could barely get out of bed for the rest of the day.

Alexander made sure I ate and showered, but beyond that, he let me rest.

Most of the night passed in a haze—I drifted in and out of consciousness, the voice of my wolf a strange yet welcome presence in the back of my mind. It would take time to get used to her.

For most people, this was normal, something they probably didn’t even acknowledge. But for me, it was new—so new it might as well have been otherworldly.

My wolf liked Alexander.

Whenever he was near, a warm, contented feeling flooded through me, wrapping around me like a fuzzy blanket fresh from the dryer. It made me feel giddy, in a way I couldn’t quite explain.

I wanted him to stay.

But I didn’t ask.

I knew he had so much to deal with after everything that had happened. There were plans to make, pieces to put back together. And even though I ached to have him by my side, I let him go.

Still, I slept warm in his bed, my head nuzzled against the pillow that smelled of his body wash.

When I woke the next morning, Alexander was beside me.

My heart fluttered at the realization.

It felt so right to have him close.

It was over breakfast that I first began to suspect what this strange longing for Alexander to stay near might truly mean.

“I called the doctor,” Alexander said, setting a steaming cup of coffee in front of me. “She’ll be here in about half an hour.”

“Why?” I asked weakly, wrapping my hands around the warm mug.

“Just to check on you,” he explained, looking a little amused as he sat beside me. “After what happened yesterday, I think it’s best to make sure you didn’t overexert yourself.”

I sighed, taking a small sip of my coffee. “The shift took a lot out of me,” I admitted. “But I’m not sick or anything. I don’t think it’s necessary.”

His concern touched me deeply, and I found myself smiling into my cup, feeling a rush of heat creep up my cheeks. It was silly—Alexander and I had been living together for a while now, and it wasn’t as if this level of care was unexpected. He always erred on the side of caution.

So why did his concern make me feel so strange?

Just sitting next to him, hearing the low rumble of his voice, feeling the warmth of his presence—it made me feel intensely happy. Like this was exactly where I was meant to be.

As if my entire life had been leading to this moment, and now that I was here, I couldn’t imagine anything better.

It was so simple—just the two of us at the kitchen island, drinking coffee and eating toast—but the emotions inside me didn’t match the situation. They were too big, too overwhelming.

I wanted more of this feeling.

I wanted him to stay by my side forever.

The realization hit me like a splash of ice water.

It was insane.

I had already admitted to myself that I had feelings for Alexander, but this? This was borderline obsessive. It made no sense to feel so strongly, so suddenly. It wasn’t as if we’d kissed or shared some intimate moment. So why was my heart racing? Why was my face burning?

Unless…

My wolf.

The thought sent a shiver down my spine.

The only reason my wolf should react this way to anyone was if they were my fated mate.

No.

That couldn’t be it. It was too absurd. What were the odds that Alexander was the one I was destined to be with?

I refused to believe it.

I shoved the thought away, swallowing hard just as Alexander’s voice pulled me back.

“I’ll wait until after she checks you out to head down to work,” he said casually, completely unaware of the storm raging inside me.

“Thank you,” I said automatically. I kept my eyes down on my drink, but I could feel Alexander looking at me. I wondered if he could feel this too, but I knew that there was no way I could ask.

If he didn’t, I wasn’t sure how I would react.

Alexander POV

I stared at Ella, watching the pretty pink blush bloom on her cheeks as she looked down into her coffee, an odd but undeniably happy smile on her lips. For the hundredth time since yesterday afternoon, my wolf rumbled in the back of my mind, whispering a single word.

Mine.

I rolled my eyes and ignored him—again.

This revelation didn’t truly change anything. My feelings for Ella had already become something I couldn’t avoid. If anything, knowing she was my fated mate only simplified things.

This was why I couldn’t stay away from her.

Why I couldn’t resist her.

Why I felt so strongly about protecting her.

When the doctor arrived, Ella sat on the couch, answering her questions in a steady but soft voice. She was exhausted from yesterday’s shift, but I couldn’t help but smile at the memory of it.

David running, panic in his eyes.

Ella in her wolf form, nipping at his heels, determined, graceful, relentless.

It would be a cherished memory for me for a long time to come—I was sure of that.

When I saw her wolf form, when I realized what was happening, I had been almost overcome with an unexpected sense of pride. It was strange—misplaced, even.

I hadn’t done anything to help Ella achieve this. She had fought for it, day and night, pushing herself in every way possible to reclaim her wolf. And the moment she had done it, she hadn’t paused to process the moment—she had simply kept going.

Kept fighting.

I really loved that about her.

I watched in silence as the doctor checked her vitals, pausing every few seconds to type notes into her tablet.

“You seem to be in perfect health,” she said finally, standing with one hand on her hip, an amused twist to her lips. “Frankly, you’ve achieved this much faster than I thought possible.”

“That’s a good thing, isn’t it?” Ella asked, though she sounded a little nervous.

“It is,” the doctor confirmed. “You’re perfectly healthy. It’ll take some time to get used to having a wolf again after so long, that’s all. You may feel especially tired after a transformation, but that will be temporary.” She gave Ella a pointed look. “You’re certain you’re not experiencing any other side effects? Just exhaustion?”

“That’s it,” Ella said quickly. But she avoided the doctor’s eyes, and I couldn’t help but smile.

She had to be feeling the same attachment that I was, even if she wasn’t ready to acknowledge it.

She had too much else on her mind right now. This wasn’t the time to talk about fated mates or what it meant for us.

That conversation could wait.

“In that case,” the doctor said, “I’d advise you to take it easy, but there are no restrictions you need to follow at this time.”

“Thank you for coming on such short notice,” I said as she packed up her bag.

“Yes, thank you,” Ella echoed.

“It’s no trouble at all,” the doctor said. “I’m glad I could be of use to you, Alpha Black. If anything changes, please let me know.”

“We will,” I assured her.

I watched Ella as the doctor stepped out the front door. The moment it closed behind her, Ella sighed in relief.

She looked so tired—but also so happy.

It was strangely comforting to know that she felt safe here.

In my home. In our home.

She belonged here.

That was the thought I couldn’t shake.

Ella belonged with me.

“You’re staring,” Ella said suddenly.

I startled slightly, realizing that I had, in fact, been staring at her for some time.

“Is something wrong?” she asked, tilting her head.

I shook my head, feeling my own face heat slightly.

“Not a thing,” I replied.