Chapter 81

Ella POV

My father stood suddenly. “Alexander, I’d like to speak to you privately for a moment,” he said seriously.

I started to protest, but Alexander touched my hand softly. I looked at him questioningly, and he nodded slightly. Seeing that he felt comfortable going, I didn’t argue, though it made me uncomfortable.

I watched as Alexander stood and left the room with my father, leaving my mother and me alone. My mother turned and gripped my hand, her look of concern unmasked now that we were alone.

“Are you sure you’re all right?” she asked softly.

“Yes,” I replied. “Alexander took good care of me.”

“We’re going to find a way to make David pay for what he’s done,” she assured me.

I tried to smile, though I could feel it was strained. “I know… eventually we will,” I replied. “But I have a feeling it’s going to take a long time.”

My mother reached for her phone and unlocked it, then handed it to me. I glanced down to see she had pulled up a news website. An article had already been posted, filled with rumors about the incident at the hotel.

The report included accounts from people who had seen David fleeing, bloodied and shirtless. Others had seen me in distress, being dragged by a strange man, and later, being cradled by Alexander as we left.

I scrolled through the article, my eyes skimming over the words as my heart rate quickened. At the end, there was a statement from David.

“How has he commented on this already?” I muttered.

“He wanted to get ahead of the story, I suppose,” my mother replied. “It’s bold of him to make such a strong denial before he even knows what evidence there is against him.”

I scoffed as I read David’s words:

“I understand why people might jump to the conclusion that I was the one seen at the hotel with Ella. But it seems she simply has a type—that wasn’t me, just someone who looks similar. I suggest people stop prying into Ella’s private life and speculating about who she’s sneaking around with.”

The reporter had then asked David if he had any proof of his alibi.

“I was in my own packlands at an event,” he had responded. “There are plenty of people who saw me there, so it’s really pointless to make these accusations.”

“It’s outrageous,” my mother said, clearly angry. “He’s going to pay for everything he’s put you through, including what he’s done to your wolf. What makes him think he can get away with this?”

“He’s gotten away with it until now,” I pointed out.

“But not for much longer,” my mother insisted.

I hoped she was right.

Alexander POV

"I appreciate the difficult situation you found yourself in," Alpha Roman said as soon as the office door closed. "But I want you to look me in the eye and tell me that you did not take advantage of my daughter."

My jaw clenched as I fought back the urge to respond angrily. I reminded myself that he was only concerned for Ella, and that she had been through far too much recently. He must be at the end of his rope, trying so hard to protect her from a man who kept slipping through his grip.

“I ensured that Ella was safe. I would never do anything without her consent,” I replied as calmly as I could.

He sighed, his frustration evident. “I want to trust you,” he admitted, “but I find myself questioning my judgment in light of everything that’s happened.”

“I understand why you’d feel that way,” I said, feeling a twinge of sympathy for him. By all accounts, the Rowanwood pack was respectable, handling matters strictly by the book. Dealing with someone as vile as David Lake must have been especially challenging for them.

I was more accustomed to dealing with that kind of scum, which made me better equipped to protect Ella. Still, I had failed to keep her entirely out of David’s reach—a mistake I wouldn’t make so lightly again.

"I can't allow this madman to continue hurting my daughter," Alpha Roman said, pacing at the front of the room. I stayed near the door, too agitated to sit down. Maybe "agitated" wasn’t the right word—it was more an overwhelming need to act, even with nothing immediate to be done.

"How could he have taken her wolf?" he muttered, fury barely contained. "What kind of man would do that?"

"Ella is capable even without her wolf," I said firmly. "But now that we know what caused her wolf to go dormant, there may be something we can do to reverse it."

He stopped pacing and looked at me with interest. "Are you certain about that?"

I shook my head. "Not certain, no. I don't know exactly how he did it, but I think it’s too soon to give up hope completely."

"It's criminal," he said, his anger flaring again. "To deprive her of her wolf... if I could find any proof, I'd ensure he faced the highest charges possible."

"That's the least he deserves," I agreed, allowing my own anger toward David to surface. Alpha Roman turned to me, his gaze sharp as he studied my expression. After a pause, he crossed the room, placing a steady hand on my shoulder.

"I trust you with my daughter," he said, his voice low but firm. "Don’t make me regret that."

Then he stepped past me, leaving the room. I followed him back to the living room, where Ella and her mother were sitting close, intently focused on a phone screen.

“We’ll have to address the rumors,” Luna Rebecca was saying.

“I’m sure we’ll think of something to say,” Ella replied, looking resolute.

"I suggest involving your lawyers," I said, moving to sit beside Ella. “A public statement might show David we’re serious—and that he’s not off the hook.”

Ella looked at me, her expression thoughtful before she nodded. "Good idea. It’ll send the right message."

Alpha Roman turned on his heel, already moving. "I’ll speak to the lawyer now," he said, striding through the room with purpose.

Without a word of goodbye, Luna Rebecca rose to follow him, both of them swept up in their urgency. Their focus didn’t offend me; in fact, I shared it.

Ella turned to me, offering a slightly tense smile. “I hope that wasn’t too awkward,” she said.

“He only wanted to be sure I hadn’t taken advantage of your condition,” I replied.

Ella’s cheeks flushed, just as I’d expected. Even after everything, she was still endearingly shy whenever intimacy came up. Some things hadn’t changed.

“He’s just overprotective,” she said, almost apologetically.

“It was a fair question,” I replied, studying her.

Her brow furrowed slightly. “What do you mean?”

I paused before asking, “Did I take advantage of your condition?”

I saw the flicker of confusion in her eyes, and I couldn't deny the strange mix of emotions that twisted inside me.

Asking her that question felt like walking a tightrope. Part of me hoped she would reassure me, that she'd say I'd done nothing wrong—that I'd only helped her. But there was another part of me, darker and deeply unsettled, that needed to know if I'd crossed a line.

Ella looked at me intently, a strength in her eyes that I had only caught glimpses of before. My heart rate increased as I waited to hear her response. Something about the intensity of her stare made me feel exposed. It was intense, yet I found myself enjoying the sensation.

“Honestly?” she said, her voice steady despite the vulnerability hanging in the air. “I don’t think you did. You were there when I needed you, and I—” She hesitated, her gaze flickering away for a moment. “I wanted to be with you. It felt right.”