Page 9 of Two Years Gone

“Yes, Alpha.” I didn’t look up at him, knowing that the defiance in my eyes would betray my words.

He stood above me silently, almost like he was waiting for me to get up. I finally looked up to meet his eyes, and it looked as though he almost felt bad.

I wasn’t going to let him get inside my head. I stood and bowed slightly before turning to walk away.

“You really do look good though, Ella.”

His statement made me freeze, and I shook my head before walking away.

My arm was tender, and I knew there would be a bruise later. I made my way back to the kitchen, my mom giving me a reassuring look before we continued with our work.

I worked intensely, channeling my frustration.Who does he think he is, coming here and acting like that?I thought to myself. I could feel my wolf pacing, angry that he had hurt us like that.

A few hours later, my mom and I rushed back to the house to quickly shower and change into better clothes. Even though we weren’t allowed at the party, we still had to look presentable.

I chose to wear a pair of black skinny jeans with a loose, floral blouse. I threw on a pair of flats and tied my hair up into a messy bun.

Applying a bit of makeup to make myself a little less of a hot mess, I stepped out of my room and walked back to the pack house with my mom.

ZANE

As I stepped out of the car, I looked up at the pack house and smiled. I was finally home after two years. Soon, my fatherwould retire, and I would take over as Alpha. I felt ready.

As I stepped into the house, I smelled something I hadn’t in a long time: apple cider. I walked into the kitchen to see Ella; her face flushed from working in the heat.

She had stray hairs falling on her face and was smiling brightly at something someone had said. I felt a slight twinge, an unexpected vestige of the mate pull, but shrugged it off.

Two years should have been plenty of time for the mate pull to disappear completely. I had rejected her. I didn’t want that little omega as my luna. She was below me, and she was weak.

But as I watched her, for a moment I didn’t see the little omega from school. This girl was a woman. I shook my head and walked over to her.

“You look good.”

The disgust on her face as she realized who I was upset me. When I saw her in the hallway afterward, leaning against the wall, I wanted to take her right then and there.

Instead, I had frightened and threatened her.

I paced around my room, running my hands through my hair. I had rejected her. Why was I feeling like this? My thoughts were interrupted by a knock on the door.

“Come in.”

In walked Mariah. Just the beautiful distraction that I needed.

“Welcome home, baby.” She gave me a sweet smile and immediately dropped her dress on the floor.

I just about ran over to her, picking her up and throwing her on the bed. My lust and passion took over.

I plunged into her and rode her rough and hard, hoping to find the release I needed to get that omega off my mind.

Mariah left my room to get ready for the gala, and I took a long shower before getting dressed up in my tux.

“Not too shabby,” I muttered as I stopped in front of the mirror before heading downstairs to the party. I walked through the kitchen, and Ella caught my eye again.

Her dark hair was pulled up in a knot on her head, leaving her neck bare. My wolf moaned at the sight.

My wolf had been angry at me since the day I rejected her. But I couldn’t take that weak omega and make her a luna. She was nothing.

I made my way into the large ballroom, which was filled with high-ranking pack members and visiting alphas.