Chapter 99

Alexander POV

The soft growl that escaped Ella's chest was so quiet it was audible only to me, but there was no mistaking it. My instincts flared, and I couldn’t help myself—I pulled her a little closer, feeling her warmth pressed against me.

Without letting her go, I murmured, "It seems your wolf might be awakening already."

At my words, a wide, disbelieving grin spread across her face. "That's true," she whispered, her eyes bright with wonder.

Her excitement was contagious, and I couldn’t help returning her smile. Slowly, I loosened my hold, the tension between us melting away as her excitement took over. When she finally stepped out of my arms, the cold air rushed in, and I felt an odd emptiness without her near.

I couldn’t stop smiling as I watched Ella take in this new part of herself. I could only imagine the loneliness and fear she must have endured all this time without her wolf—a part of her soul stolen and locked away.

My hatred for David grew every day, fueled by the sight of Ella’s happiness now. It struck me just how isolated she must have felt because of him—everything he had taken from her. Whatever pieces I could help her reclaim, I would.

"This is actually going to work," Ella said, her voice alive with excitement. "I can really recover."

"Of course you can," I said, my tone steady, hoping to reassure her. "Keep putting in the effort, and you’ll have your wolf back before you know it."

"Then let’s get to it!" She hopped back onto the treadmill without hesitation, increasing the speed with a determined glint in her eyes.

I watched her run for a moment, admiring her steady form and realizing that Ella was far stronger than she appeared at first glance. I’d learned enough by now to know she wasn’t someone to underestimate.

With a smile, I stepped back onto my treadmill to join her, running at her side.

David, I thought, had made a powerful enemy in betraying Ella. And as I took my place beside her, I realized that I had gained a more valuable ally than I could have ever expected when I’d agreed to help her see this through.

Ella POV

Weight training with Alexander turned out to be far more fun than I’d expected. Trevor, the broad-shouldered trainer with a booming voice, cheered me on as I pushed myself to lift the heaviest weights possible.

He took notes of the heaviest weights I could manage while Alexander watched, his expression unreadable. I couldn’t tell if he was impressed or simply lost in thought.

I forced myself not to focus too much on him, though I was having a hard time shaking the memory of being in his arms. I scolded myself as I concentrated on the weights.

It was only natural to be drawn to Alexander—most people were. But I knew better than to let my emotions get the best of me. That night meant nothing, I reminded myself.

Alexander had been helping me through the effects of David’s poison, nothing more. He’d made it clear he wasn’t interested in a relationship, and I didn’t want one either—not now, and maybe never again.

And yet, no matter how many times I told myself that, my feelings for him slipped through the cracks. I trusted him, and that trust made it harder to ignore the way my heart raced every time he was near.

“Maybe your challenge wasn’t so foolhardy after all,” Alexander remarked, watching me bench press the weight Trevor had just loaded.

My arms trembled slightly under the weight, and I focused on steadying my breathing. But I couldn’t resist glancing over at Alexander, who was standing nearby with that familiar smirk on his face.

“Are you teasing me?” I asked as I racked the weight and took a moment to rest while Trevor adjusted the load.

“Only a little,” he admitted. “But I truly am impressed with your strength. I thought you said you didn’t work out much?”

“I don’t,” I replied, rolling my eyes. “It’s not that much weight. Your flattery is appreciated, but unnecessary.”

“Oh?” He raised an eyebrow, his expression challenging. “You think I’m trying to flatter you? What reason would I have for that?”

I opened my mouth to respond but hesitated. What reason would Alexander have for trying to flatter me, unless… My cheeks warmed at the thought, and his smirk grew, that infuriatingly charming look he knew was both maddening and magnetic.

“You play too much,” I muttered, redirecting my attention to the weights.

Alexander didn’t respond, but I could still feel his gaze fixed on me, unwavering through the rest of our session. Maybe that was why I pushed myself a little too hard, unwilling to let him see me falter.

I didn’t let it show when we said our goodbyes, but as soon as I settled into the car to head back to my own territory, exhaustion hit me like a wave. We were barely out of the capital when I drifted into a deep sleep, the memory of Alexander’s lingering gaze the last thing on my mind.

The heat of Alexander's touch lingered around me, and I could almost feel the warmth of his arms around me again. His mischievous eyes were right there, drawing me in, and I shivered as I imagined him pulling me close against his chest.

I could almost feel the strength in his arms, their muscles flexing as he held me, but despite the power in his embrace, his touch was always gentle, tender.

I pushed myself up on my toes, leaning in to kiss him, but just as quickly as the moment had come, the cold air washed over me. He stepped away, and I found myself standing in a completely different space.

I blinked, disoriented, and realized that we weren’t in the gym anymore. Instead, I was sitting across from him at a desk, a stack of papers in front of us, and a pen in his hand, which he was now offering to me.

"What’s going on?" I asked, my voice thick with confusion. My mind was foggy, unsure of how we’d gone from the intensity of that moment to this sterile, professional setting.

Alexander looked at me, his expression unreadable. He tilted his head to the side, as if considering how to explain the shift. “The business relationship between us is far more stable than any romantic relationship could ever be,” he said in a calm, matter-of-fact tone.

The words hit me like a cold splash of water. I felt a strange mix of relief and disappointment. My mind raced to process what he meant—why had I imagined something different just seconds ago? Was I reading too much into the moments between us? Was it all just my mind playing tricks?

I woke with a start, still in the back of the car. It had all been a dream, of course. But even so, the words Alexander spoke in my dream felt undeniable. There was no stable future for us if we pursued a relationship.

We couldn’t be together. Physical attraction was only part of what made a relationship work, and I couldn’t ignore the reality of the situation.

Alexander had been very clear: he had no intention of settling down with me, or with anyone else.

A bitter taste rose in my mouth as I turned to look out the window, the passing scenery a blur.

It was too much for me to train with Alexander. The chemistry between us, the pull I felt every time he was near, made it impossible to stay professional. I couldn’t trust myself. The temptation to blur the lines was too strong.

Tomorrow, I would let him know. I would tell him that, while I appreciated his willingness to help, I’d be training alone from now on. It was the only way to keep my feelings in check, to avoid falling deeper into something I couldn’t have.

I had to limit my time with him where I could. It was the only way to protect my heart.