It took half the week for Ella to become completely annoyed by the way Aaron Williams followed her around campus by the end of it, she was fed up and happy it was the weekend.
Aaron was like a lost dog, but with purpose. She had also found out, by drilling it out of him, that he did not attend the University like Braxton and Cade, no he literally was Braxton's muse. He did everything her mate said and more, he almost waited on Braxton hand and foot too. Where Ella came from, Beta's weren't slaves, and she couldn't wrap her head around Aaron Williams' obsession with Braxton Hall.
Aaron pulled his black sedan into the drive of the house and undid the locks, allowing Ella to exit the vehicle as quick as she could.
She swung her backpack over her shoulder and jogged the stairs toward the front door. Aaron wasn't far behind so she left the door open for him, the sound of the television on in the front room and the smell of grilled cheese coming from the kitchen welcomed her back to the house.
She took off her boots and found her mate standing in the living room, remote in hand as him and Cade, the mellow male version of Cheri, stared in suspense at the game on.
“Oh, no, come on!” Cade yelled, throwing his hands to his blonde hair.
“You owe me fifty bucks!” Braxton laughed at him.
Cade grumbled, slumping into the leather couches.
Ella cleared her throat and Braxton turned.
“Hey, babe.”
She watched with a disapproving smirk as he limped over, “Fifty bucks?”
“Yeah, my team won. Where you want to go for dinner tonight?” He chuckled as he stopped in front of her and pecked her on the cheek.
Ella looked him over, “How's your ribs?”
He shrugged a shoulder as Cade walked by, saying a hello and heading into the kitchen.
“I think, I'm going to go do some homework upstairs.”
“Want help?” Braxton offered.
She thought of the math she was in for and that fact that she wanted to talk to him about Aaron and his body guarding, “Okay, but, no funny business.”
He smirked, “You're so cute.”
She adjusted the bag on her shoulder and left him for the stairs. Knowing he wouldn't be far behind but she did beat him, by a minute or so and it gave her enough time to set up her books.
He sat to the bed as he waited for her to get ready. “Physics? Chemistry?”
She stared at him as he got excited. “You're sucha nerd.”
He gave her a wink.
“I know how much you like your science, but no, straight up Math today, Braxton.”
“Mm.” He grabbed her textbook, once she'd flipped it open to her homework. “Oh, this is easy.”
She settled cross legged on his bed, “Can you pretend you're not super smart for once?”
“Alright,” he adjusted his answer, “this is really hard stuff. Can't help you.”
She reached out and snatched her textbook back, “Ha, ha.” Scrunching her nose, she studied the first question.
He leaned over her. “I know the answer,” he whispered in his most taunting voice.
“Shh.” She shoved him away, staring at the question for another thirty seconds. “I don't know what it even means!” she shrilled, dropping the book the bed. “Is this even legal math?”
He was smiling, “Luckily you have such a good tutor.”
She tapped her textbook. “Yeah, who hits on me every five seconds.”
“Ha.” He picked up her note book and started to explain the question to her. After a week of him helping her catch up on her missed work, she was actually thankful for his tutoring skills. Braxton was smart and there was no way around it, he was taking a full load of accelerated courses. Which meant, he was half way through University and would have an actual major in Marine Sciences by the end of it too.
Ella's head was hurting half way through the tenth question.
Braxton paused as he looked over her, lying on her back on the bed, staring at the ceiling.
“Daniella?”
She looked to him, squinting, “My head is numb.”
He sighed and put her textbook down, “I guess, we can finish later.”
Ella washed with relief, he was sort of like a train without a break most of the time. “So, Aaron...”
Braxton closed her books and put them to the floor, “What about him?”
“He's sort of overboard, and--”
“Overboard?” Braxton echoed, trying to place what she meant.
“Yeah, I mean, he's following me everywhere.”
“That's what he's suppose to do, Daniella.”
She rolled her eyes and flopped back into bed, “I know, but, I don't think I need him.”
Braxton fixed his eyes on her, not saying a word.
She lifted her hand and placed it atop of his on the bed, “Please?”
“Please, what?” He got grouchy, his voice said it all too.
“Maybe he can just drive me too and from school?”
“No, you're missing the point--”
“But that alpha hasn't shown back up!” She exclaimed, sitting up to face him, “And Aaron following me around everywhere is weird!”
“As soon as we let up, who knows what will happen.”
She sighed, her shoulders dropping in defeat, “Fine.”
He put his hand on her cheek, “Sorry, babe, just the way it has to go.”
Which brought her to her next topic. “Aaron seems like he's your bitch, doesn’t he want to do his own thing?”
Confusion plastered his face. “Did you get high today?”
“I don't smoke weed.” She said factually.
He smirked, dropping his touch on her. “Aaron takes his duties very seriously.”
“It's just weird, how he does everything you say. It's like he's waiting for you to give him his next purpose in life.”
He chuckled, “He's a beta.”
She scoffed, “He's not your slave. It's weird.”
“He just likes to help.”
“If that's what you call his undying loyalty to you, sure.”
Braxton laughed, grabbing her cheeks and putting her down on the bed under him. “Don't make fun of my beta.”
“I said no funny business.”
“Didn't realize you wanted to do more math.” He teased her, kissing her cheek and neck.
She closed her eyes, being under Braxton Hall was becoming lethal. Not only was he starting to take over her dreams at night but in class she'd started to day-dream about him. More specifically his kiss on her, his bare chest, his sculpted arms, the way he smiled...
She moaned when he finally kissed her, letting his tongue move and dip against hers. Moving her hands along his shoulders, she pulled him closer, causing him to pull back in pain.
He planted his hands to the bed around her, wincing.
“This is why you're not healing.” Ella watched him, “Because you won't stay still.”
“I'm fine.” He grumbled, taking in a few deep breaths. “So, where do you want to go out for supper?”
“Braxton, I thought you were joking.” She shook her head at him, making him sit up, even through his pain, “We're not going out for dinner.”
“Okay.” He cringed form his still obvious pain. “Pizza delivery?”
“If that's what you want.” She put her hand on his shoulder, “Why aren't you getting better?”
“I really am,” he told her. “It just hurts when I move a certain way now.”
She watched him recover. “I should ban you from me.”
“Oh no, don't do that.” He leaned back into her, losing his strength and falling to his side on the bed.
She giggled, coming around him, “I should definitely ban you.”
His hand came to her waist and played with the hem of her shirt as her eyes stayed locked on him. His fingers moved up her body and the closer they got to her chest, the more her muscles tightened.
His hand then, very slowly, cupped over one of her breasts and she gasped, but she didn't move away. A part of her was curious and she told herself it wasn't wrong if her mate was responsible for fulfilling her curiosity.
There was a loud knocking at the door and Cade yelled from the other side.
“Game starts in ten minutes, I'm winning my fifty bucks back, Hall!”
Braxton's hand dropped from Ella and they stared at each other in silence.
She slowly moved off him, crawling to the end of the bed and pretending he hadn't just felt her up or worse, how she'd allowed it and wanted it.
Braxton sat up slowly, “Should we finish that homework?”
“No, later, my brain is fried. You can go watch the game, if you want.”
“You don't want to come?”
She gave him a sympathetic smile but declined the offer.
“I'll come get you for pizza.”
“I'll probably smell it.”
He nodded as he limped back out of his room and Ella flopped on his bed, closing her eyes and trying not to explore her thoughts on what else Braxton Hall might want to touch on her body.
#
They slipped into bed that evening, full of pizza and beer. Ella had finally started to feel like a college girl, or at least, she figured that was what one felt like.
She rummaged around, tucking one of Braxton's high-quality down filled pillows under her cheek.
He had settled beside her, grumbling and grunting but in a way, she'd become use to those noises from him.
Laying beside him the dark silence as the minutes ticked by, she finally couldn't stand it anymore and asked him, “Do you want to touch me again like earlier?”
Braxton shifted behind her on the bed, “What, babe?”
She turned to face him, not expecting his face as near as it was. Lowering her voice into a whisper, she repeated the question.
He stayed quiet as he worked an arm around her waist and brought her on top of him.
Ella tried not to smile but it didn't work, so she buried her face in his neck as his hands explored her. Sleeping in one of his shirts and a pair of her underwear, had become her night time attire.
Braxton's hands moved along her hips and waist, moving the fabric out of his way as he navigated along her tensing body.
“Are you curious?” He asked in a murmur.
She lifted her chin and kissed him.
His hands came up her sides and cusped beneath the curve of her breasts.
Dropping her pelvis against his, she felt his tented sweatpants between her legs. It made her pant and she bit her lip to stop herself from showing that much torrid desire.
His hands continued to advance on her and he took both her breast in his hands this time.
She collapsed, catching herself before she fell on him, as she whispered a sigh of reprieve. Skin on skin with Braxton was deadly, she couldn't imagine if he'd been free and clear of his pants, the situation might have become ferociously unstoppable.
He adjusted his grip on her and palmed gently against her bare chest, it made her rock against his hips. He groaned something about wanting her, though she couldn't entirely make it out.
Sitting up away from his hands and onto his hardness, she didn't expect the instant rub between her legs and scooted off him.
That put them both back to reality.
“Daniella, I'm sorry...” he sighed, running a hand through his dark hair.
She lied down next to him, staying quiet, biting her lip, her finger nail, anything she could.
“Maybe the beer went to my head...”
She was still at a loss for words.
“Or maybe we're just playing with fire,” he concluded aloud.
She tucked herself into him, her cheek on his bare chest, like she had every night since she'd taken up basic residence with him.
Braxton put his arm around her and his fingertips drew up and down her side. Caressing, soft, and lulling her to sleep beside him.
#
Saturday morning came and Braxton was already awake, watching morning cartoons in his bed with her. She however, was just waking as he chuckled at something bugs bunny was doing.
She squinted one eye open, her cheek still on her mate's chest, “Are you serious?”
He glanced at her, “Ah, she wakes.”
“I've been at school all week, I'm tired. Turn that thing off.”
“No way, bugs bunny.” He raised his hand to her cheek and laid a kiss on her forehead. “How'd you sleep?”
She'd been warm, comfortable and much to her surprise, snuggling every night with Braxton was starting to become a comfort she liked.
“Fine.” That was all she wanted to give him on the matter. “Why?”
Braxton smirked, “No reason, other than you seemed to be having some nice dreams last night. Was I there?”
She frowned and picked her cheek off his chest, so her lips almost brushing against his. “What did I say?”
He chuckled and looked back to the television.
“Braxton?”
He kept his smirk as her embarrassment boiled.
Grabbing a pillow and acting fast, she smothered him.
He laughed, “Oh, this is so hot, Daniella.”
“Shut up!” She tried not to laugh as she held the pillow on his face.
His arms looped her waist and he pulled her across his lap, stimulating her into a fit of giggles.
“Ah!” She thrashed back, the pillow falling to the floor as he rolled on top of her and kissed her.
She moaned, settling under him as he adjusted his weight above her. His knee coming between her lean thighs, his hand finding a wrist of hers and pinning it to the bed. His mouth trailed from her lips to her neck as he bit slowly into his mark.
She curved against him, wrapping her fingers through his bed messed hair, holding him tight to her chest. Their wolves suffering and aching for one another.
His hand on her wrist slipped, digging into between her fingers, pinning her to the bed beneath him as he reached and did the same to her other hand.
Her breath lodged in her throat as he kept her captured, prisoned, showing her; she was his.
Her lips parted as her eyes fluttered to a shut state, moaning under him, gripping him with her knees and pulling him nearer. If she caused him any pain, he didn't show it.
He let her hands go, sitting up, pulling her pyjamas from her hips in a swift movement.
Ella stared at him, his eyes hungered, his focus sharp, precise – on her.
“Alpha.” The word escaped her shaky lips in yearning.
Braxton looked away from her bare thighs, his hands gripping her, “Daniella-”
Her throat swelled with emotion, “Mate me.”
He crawled over her again, kissing her, his hand reaching, adjusting her.
And just as their wolves got the better of the situation, the bedroom door shot open.
Braxton snapped his head up as Ella coward beneath him.
Aaron stood in the room, bringing his hand up to the side of his face as he looked away, out of respect. “Sorry.”
“Aaron, are you serious?” Braxton snugged the covers around his mate, “Get out.”
“Okay, yeah.” The man paused, “Except, I came to tell you, your mother is down stairs.”
That got Braxton's full attention. “What? Why is she here?”
Ella pushed her face to a pillow the longer the conversation continued.
“I'm not sure.” Aaron replied, still looking at the wall with his hand up.
“Okay, fine, now get out.” Braxton snapped and Aaron left swiftly and promptly, putting the door back to the frame. “I guess it's impossible for us to ever get one moment alone.”
Ella looked up at him and his disappointment, “It's probably for the best.”
He didn't move, didn't get off her and she raised her hands to his biceps to encourage some sort of motion.
“Our wolves make things blurry.” Ella said in a soft voice.
Braxton's eyes surged over his mate, still not speaking.
“We should get up.”
“Yeah.” Finally, after what seemed like eternity to Ella, Braxton got off her, walking across his room.
Ella found her duffle bag of clothes and shifted through it for a pair of jeans, “So, your mom is here?”
“Guess so.” Braxton shrugged, pulling a shirt over his head.
“Maybe, I should stay up here?”
He gave her a glance as he did up his jeans. “No, come meet her.”
Ella put on a fake smile, trying to hide her discontentment. “Okay.”
#
Ella held back from entering the living room, for that's where Braxton Hall's mother stood. She greeted her son with open arms and enveloped him in an affectionate hug.
“How are you?” Braxton managed to say as his mother squeezed a bit too tight on his hurt ribs.
She cupped his cheeks as they spoke to one another. Ella now getting a good look at the woman responsible for the creation of her mate. Elegant, was a light word to describe his mother but Ella was unsure if she could compare to her aunt, whom she was all of a sudden missing.
Braxton gave her a wincing smile.
“So, it's true.” His mother's tone derailed from the happiness it had held moments before.
“What?” Braxton asked.
“That you're hurt.”
“Not totally hurt.” Braxton assured her, looking over his shoulder to Ella, who was still standing just outside the room.
“How did this happen, Braxton?”
“It's a long story.” He grumbled, looking back to his mother with an antsy step.
The woman finally looked over her son's shoulder to Ella.
Braxton cleared his throat. “But I'm fine--”
“Who's this?” His mother cut him off.
Ella became the strain of nerves as she stepped into the room under Braxton's watchful eyes. “Hi.” It had been the most pathetic and horrible squeak of a greeting if one was ever heard.
Braxton put on his charming smile as he limped over to his mate, still trying to hide the fact he was maybe in more pain than he'd started with that day.
“Mom, this is Daniella Turner.”
His mother took a resistant step towards them. “Hello.”
Braxton's hand grazed Ella's lower back. “My mate.” His fingers on her gripped. “Daniella, this is my mother, Azalea Hall.”
His mother's startled expression made Ella even more anxious.
The woman flashed a wicked smile. “Excuse me, what?”
Braxton gave his mother a direct nod. “My mate.”
She held up her long fingered hand and moved toward them, “No, I've heard you.” She inspected Ella with her dark umber eyes, the same one's Braxton possessed.
“Nice to meet you.” Ella managed, “And, it's... it's Ella.”
Braxton let out a testy grunt.
Azalea stopped in front of Ella, “Ella?”
“Just Ella,” she breathed, hoping the air between them would settle.
His mother's brow furrowed as she took another sweeping glance at her son. “Why have you not mated?” Azalea questioned with no filter.
Ella's eyes went wide, slipping into the two inches of space beside Braxton, wishing she could hide.
He hesitated in answering, “We – we're just taking it slow.”
Azalea arched her brow and smiled. “Slow?”
“Y-yeah.” Ella added. “I'm just not ready.”
She laughed. “You have got to be kidding, Braxton!”
His shoulders dropped as he waited for his mother to stop laughing at them.
Ella hated to think of what he was thinking, maybe his thoughts were just as conclusive as his mother's.
“What's wrong with my son?” Azalea demanded suddenly.
Ella opened her mouth to speak but Braxton cut in.
“Mom, can you just not?”
“If she can't answer the question--”
“Maybe it's me, mother.” Braxton snapped in a coarse whisper.
Azalea smiled at him, “It is not you and why are you hurt, and why did you not call us?”
Braxton winced. “It's not a big deal.”
His mother's eyes narrowed to slits. “Braxton, I know you broke your ribs.”
“I'm pretty sure at this point, it's just one.”
Ella nodded, putting a hand on his chest, “Just one.”
“Uh-huh.” Azalea sneered, lifting a finger at her son, “Can I talk to you alone?”
Braxton shifted toward Ella. “Do you mind?”
“Not at all.” Ella stepped back and looked to Azalea, “Nice to meet you. I have a lot of homework to deal with so...” Not thinking the rest of her sentence important, she left the room and made her way to the stairs, but the sudden louder voices of him and his mother, made her stop.
“Mom, how could you do that in front of her?”
“What? In front of your mate. That girl won't measure up to Crest, you and I both know that, Braxton.”
“She's my mate, she'll do fine.”
Azalea let out another laugh. “I came here concerned about my son, and I find out he's got a mate, that won't mate him. How do you not find this severely insulting?”
“I'm just doing what she wants, mom.”
“You're an alpha.” She snapped in an unforgiving tone. “I would expect this sort of behaviour from a regular member, this though, is just ridiculous and why are you ribs broke!”
“I got in a fight.”
“Why!”
“I just did.”
“Braxton, if you need help, if this has something to do with this girl, you need to tell me now.”
“No, I'm fine, mom.”
“Why don't I believe you?” They fell silent and then Azalea spoke, this time in a much softer tone. “You're expected to be great, Braxton and this little girl, should be rejected. End of story.”
Ella's eyes welled, she didn't want to listen anymore, if fact, she couldn't because she knew what she had to do and where she truly belonged; and that wasn't with Braxton Hall.