The feeling of his hands all over her as he held himself above her frame, his hips moving, pushing, closing in on her as she panted and coaxed him on.
Ever since she'd spoken to him on the phone seven days prior, her vivid dream of mating Braxton Hall had haunted her.
Why the dream kept happening was a mystery to her but it made her wonder about her mate. Was he forced to suffer the same images of mating her as she was having of him?
She stood at the counters of the baby boutique off in her thoughts as Abigail happily went about a mini shopping spree. It all seemed so normal and usual, like life hadn't changed much since she'd been away, but her life had changed in so many ways..
Abigail put a few last items down to be rung through. “I think I'm done.”
Ella gave her a smile, “You think? Didn't you have a baby shower?”
“I just can't stop myself.” Abigail giggled, pulling out her credit card.
“We can help you with your bags.” The cashier offered.
“That would be great!” Her aunt paid, signed her autograph to the receipt and they were headed toward the truck within minutes.
Ella helped put the bags in the back of the cab as the woman helping them passed them to her. She looked up briefly out the windshield and saw someone who looked so familiar, she knew who it was right away.
“Brant!” She almost fell out of the truck, trying to get out in time to catch up with him. “I'll be right back!” She hollered at her aunt and jogged to catch him. “Brant!”
He turned toward her, “Ella?”
She stopped a few feet from him and smiled, “Hey.”
“Hi...” Brant looked her over, “I didn't know you were back.”
“I just got back.”
“Oh.” Was all he said.
“Yeah, so, you quit the ranch?” She asked.
Brant paused, glancing across the street and back to her, “Uh, yeah.”
“Why?” Ella breathed out the question.
Brant shrugged a shoulder, “Bigger and better things, you should get that.” But all his words had done was felt like salt in an open wound.
“I'm not going back to Maine.”
“Why's that?”
“Didn't work out.”
He gave her a nod, “Look, Ella, I got to go.”
“Maybe we can hang out soon and catch up?” She tried to halt him.
“See what I can do.” Brant went to leave.
“Hey, thanks for that necklace. It-it's really nice.”
“No worries.” His eyes only passed over her once more before walked across the street and left her in a daze of emotion. When he got to his truck, she noticed the girl standing by the hood and he greeted her with a kiss, her arms wrapping his neck and Ella didn't need to see anymore. She turned and walked back to the vehicle, her shoulders shaking from her new disappointment and frustration.
She thought it was a clear sign Brant was no longer her friend and she knew it was all her fault too. Getting into the passenger seat, Abigail happily munched a health bar.
“Do you want to go out for lunch?”
Ella shrugged.
“Everything alright?”
She didn't want to talk about it though, because if she did that, she would have had to address her almost feelings for Brant and that she wouldn't do.
“I'm sort of tired.”
“Let's head home then.” Abigail turned the key in the ignition and they were on their way home, where Ella could sulk alone.
#
She was curled on the couch with a large blanket wrapped around her legs, looking over her text messages, something she'd been avoiding most of the week, even when she'd heard the incoming alerts.
They were all from Braxton. The one thing she had to give her mate, he hadn't called since she'd told him not to and maybe it was his way of respecting her.
She paused her thumb over hitting send, remembering who she had as a mate. Maybe she was even lucky for it, Braxton was...
Her mind wandered and with it, her thumb hit the send button by accident and the message: I MISS YOU, glowed on her screen.
“No!” Her eyes went wide at the phone in front of her as the muffled voice of Colten's Beta came from the hall, the oak door hitting the log beams of the entryway as there was a scuffle of noise.
“Get inside!”
Ella shot out of the couch to investigate but as she stepped closer, she recognized the naked man in question and tensed.
“Braxton!” She exclaimed.
He spun toward her and would have lunged but Peter had already grabbed him by the neck, applying a pressure point that made him drop to his knees.
Ella stared at him as Colten and Abigail hurried down the stairs, well, as fast as Abigail could move that was.
Colten stepped down into the hall, “What's going on?”
“I found him, wandering the territory. I've been stalking him the past day!” Peter dug his grip into Braxton's shoulder making him yell.
“Ow!”
Ella put a hand over her mouth to stop her shocked gasp.
Colten eyed him closely, “Ella, who is this?”
“It's Braxton.” She breathed.
He looked up to her with his bangs flat against his forehead. His eyes bore into her as he let out a cough. “He beat me up.”
“I didn't beat you up!” Peter argued with him. “You're on Forenone territory!”
“Alright.” Colten lifted a hand toward his beta. “Just let up a bit, Pete.”
“Well, can't we kill him now?”
“What!” Braxton's eyes went wide as he looked over his shoulder to Peter but he couldn't see the Beta's mocking smirk.
Colten shook his head as Abigail appeared with a towel, Ella hadn't even noticed her leave.
“At least, give him this before you slaughter him.” Abigail joked with an outstretched towel and a sympathetic smile.
“Thank you.” Braxton took it but Colten grabbed her arm before she could get close and in between the hand off, pulled his mate back beside him.
Peter kept his fingers gripped into his shoulder. “What do we do with him?”
Ella kept her eyes on him, her heart had begun to pound the familiar erratic way that happened around him and her wolf, oh, her wolf was dancing in happiness.
“Daniella...” The way his voice rumbled in his chest made her awaken inside, something she hadn't felt since she'd left him.
Colten gave Ella a passing glance. “What do you want, Ella? Because I'm sure what I want to do with him is much different.”
“I-I don't know.” Her heart swelled the longer she stared at her mate on his knees. “Why did you come, Braxton?”
His face wore pain as he tried to get the words out. “I-I want you back.”
“Saying that type of thing, isn't going to get me on your side, boy.” Colten grunted and stepped toward him.
Braxton tensed, “She's my mate. I miss her.”
“You marked her without her consent!” Colten shouted at him and Ella stepped back.
Abigail had raised her hand to her husband's shoulder though to stop him from advancing on Braxton. “Shh, hun.”
Colten's jaw tensed with his displeasure. “If it was up to me, you'd be sent off Forenone – oh, wait, it is up to me.”
Braxton swallowed. “Can-can I just talk to Daniella for a few minutes?”
“No, you can't do that!”
“Colten.” Abigail still held her hand to him.
Her uncle let out a few tight breaths. “You're leaving in five minutes, so make it quick.”
“Yes, sir.” Braxton agreed.
Peter grabbed him by the back of his neck and hauled him to his feet, causing Braxton to yell in pain again. “What's wrong with you, kid!”
“His ribs.” Ella moved forward as he held the towel modestly in front of him, still cowering. “You're still hurt?”
“Maybe I shouldn't have shifted for five days straight.” Braxton smiled but it faded as soon as it came on.
“Coffee, anyone?” Abigail ushered Peter and Colten into the kitchen, even against their grumbling protests, leaving Ella face to face with her mate.
Braxton looked her up and down, the strain in his stare made her believe his pain was very real. He soon cupped her cheek and let out a sigh of reprieve. “It's so good to see you.”
She brought her hand to his and removed it gently. “What are you doing, Braxton... why did you come here? Especially this hurt still.”
He didn't speak but his eyes were a wander of emotion.
“Braxton?” She repeated to him as he fell back a step and she grabbed him by his shoulder to stop him from tumbling to the floors. “How much pain are you in?”
He winced, “Not that much.”
“You're lying.” She eyed him like he could have been dying.
“Well, the Beta, he tackled me pretty good--”
“Peter tackled you!” Ella hollered. If she'd been angry, afraid or surprised by Braxton's entrance it had all left her as her instinct to protect her mate raged.
He placed his hands on her slight waist, “Babe, calm down.”
She shivered off the feeling of liking his touch. “They can't expect you to just leave, you'll get worse. You need to recover...” And in an instant, she was pulling him down the hallway.
“Oh, Daniella...” He breathed, stopping her.
She swooped around.
“It's probably better if I go--”
“Are you afraid of my uncle?” She shot at him.
He hesitated. “No, but I don't want to piss him off... he looks pretty angry.”
“He'll get over it.” Ella said in a quick voice and went to swing around but Braxton stopped her again.
“His mate is pregnant. He won't let me stay in the same house.”
“What?” Ella stared at him. “No, that doesn’t matter.”
“What kind of Alpha would let a stranger stay around his pregnant Luna? Especially a male wolf.”
Ella blinked, not sure what he meant. “That's-that not how it...”
“I'll leave.”
“But you're hurt.”
“And you care?” He smiled.
She stiffened at his sarcasm dripped question.
His expression softened. “I was so angry, I shifted and went for a run but then I decided, I could just run to Texas and find you. That's about as far as my plan developed. Once I actually tracked down Forenone territory, I realized I likely wasn't that elusive, especially with my scent. I must smell like a warning alarm to your pack's males. I wasn't really thinking, it's weird how much my wolf has been in control lately.”
“If you weren't so naturally smart,” she said, “I wouldn't put this past you, so I can believe you're judgement has been getting very clouded.”
“It's like a fog.” He admitted with a reluctant sigh, which made Colten right, he wouldn't be leaving her alone.
Their eyes anchored together, setting a fire between them that sent a shiver down her spine.
She looked down his chest to where he still held the towel limply in front of his waist. “You should wrap that around you.”
He glanced down to where her hand had reached to touch his waist. She heard him gulp and attempt to wrap his waist, whether or not she wanted the view, she got it, closer and better than before. Her eyes looked up and to the corner of the entry way.
“Sorry.”
“You didn't bring clothes, did you?”
“No...” Slowly he smiled in embarrassment, “I don't even have my wallet. It was all an afterthought.”
“Let's go talk to Colten--”
“What are you going to ask?” Braxton didn't move forward.
“If you can stay.”
“I don't think that's a good idea, Daniella. I came on his territory without permission.”
She didn't understand where all his hesitation was coming from. “They won't kill you.”
“Until I piss him off just enough.”
“Colten isn't ruthless.”
Braxton thought a moment, “At least, if I die, I'll die near you.”
Ella gave him an unimpressed stare. “Come on, Braxton.” She looped her arm around his waist and the contact of their bare skin burned.
He seemed too distracted with his pain to give their touch attention and once she got him limped into the kitchen, all turned to stare at them.
Ella hoped Braxton could hold his weight and she stepped back. “Braxton's really hurt.”
“Awe.” Peter smirked, sipping his coffee.
“Well,” Colten said, “I guess you should get home, shouldn't you?”
Braxton gave him a nod and Ella couldn't believe the way her mate was submitting against Peter and Colten. It almost seemed like a different person to her. Braxton was forward and smart, not lowly and cowardly.
“He can't shift.” Ella spoke up.
Colten's eyes moved to her, “What do you mean?”
“He's hurt bad, all thanks to Pete.”
Peter snorted. “I didn't hurt you and if I did, you're a pussy.”
Braxton stiffened. “I-I'm fine.”
“He already has a broken rib.” Ella shot and Peter just gave her a shrug.
“I really am okay--” Braxton tried to argue but Ella cut him off.
“Don't make him go.”
Colten's eyes narrowed and he stood, walking toward them. Ella felt her mate tense from her uncle's direct approach and he stepped back thereafter.
Colten looked him over and then spoke to Ella. “I need to talk to you.”
Ella followed him out of the kitchen toward the backdoor and when they stepped outside, she turned toward him. “He really is hurt-”
“I'm a little confused, Ella.” Colten said, “I thought you ran away from him.”
“I know, I did...”
“Look, I'm not into giving him a chance if this has to do with mating instincts.”
“He really is hurt!” Ella blurted out.
“You're defending him as if you like him.”
“I do like him.” She breathed.
Colten's brow furrowed but he said absolutely nothing, which Ella knew meant he was trying to figure her out.
“I always have liked him. We've just made this difficult, on both of us...”
“I'm into sympathizing tonight it would seem.” He grunted and walked past her back into the house.
Ella trailed his heels. “Thanks, Colten.”
“Yeah.” He walked into the kitchen and approached Braxton. “You can stay, but until I trust you, which I doubt will happen very soon, don't even think of mating my niece.”
“Uh--” Braxton paused.
“Do you understand?” Colten snapped.
“You're letting me stay in the house?”
Ella came to his side, “I told you.”
Braxton glanced at Abigail at the kitchen table. “Your luna...”
Colten's shoulders squared upon the topic, “What about her?”
“Uh, I'm not--” Braxton searched for the right words, “I'm not used to the hospitality, that's all. Thank you.”
Colten creased his brow and turned to walk back to the table. “Find him some clothing, Ella.”
“Yep.” Ella grabbed his arm and they walked out of the kitchen together, Braxton limping pathetically at her side.
“Slow down, babe...” He winced.
“You know, we have a nurse--”
“Oh god, no,” he grumbled, “I'll be fine.”
She opened the door into the laundry room and brought him in with her.
“You guys just stock extra clothes?”
Ella gave him a funny look as she shuffled through a folded bin of laundry. “My uncle's clothing.”
Braxton snorted, “Great, this isn't awkward, at all.”
Ella smirked, “You're the one that didn't bring clothing.”
“I wasn't thinking and now, I am regretting it majorly.”
“Here.” She held out one of the only cotton shirts she found.
He grabbed it and looked it over, “Ugh...”
“My uncle mostly wears plaid work shirts, you're lucky I even found that.”
Braxton pulled it on as quick as he could. “I'm still baffled he's letting me stay.”
“I just don't get why you thought you couldn't stay.”
“Because, my father hates outsiders. He'd never allow this. Ever.”
Ella found a pair of blue jeans and walked to him, “Sounds sorta ridiculous.”
Braxton took the jeans. “He's not into giving chances.”
Ella nodded, keeping quiet and realizing Crest perhaps was everything Forenone wasn't and maybe, that's why she didn't always understand Braxton Hall like she thought she should. “Colten is protective but he's also reasonable – most of the time.”
“Mmph.” Braxton tried to get his legs in the jeans.
“Here.” Ella offered help in the form of putting her hands to the waist and helping him step into them. “But I would--”
Braxton tripped into her and Ella grabbed his shoulders before he fell on her, his cheek brushing hers. Ella stood frozen, she could feel herself breaking, just like she had so much before around him. His low groaning was the product of moving away from her.
“I didn't think you'd want to see me.” He said gently in her ear.
“If you'd called, I would have said no.” She whispered back.
He took her cheeks between his ample hands, “I'd kiss you but I'm afraid your uncle will scalp me.”
She giggled and he smiled back but it hitched.
“I would kill me too though,” he said, “I hurt you.”
Ella took a few staggered breaths, “You-you should probably put on the jeans.”
He pulled back, nodding and getting the jeans over his hips this time.
Ella turned away, taking a few moments to get herself calm but that was all destroyed once Braxton's chest was against her back.
“I really should go.”
She spun towards him, “You have no idea how much I want to agree with you.”
He paused, his jaw angling from his confusion, “That really makes me feel awesome.”
“I'm sorry.” She breathed, “I just feel...”
“It's okay, you don't have to explain why you don't trust me. I get it. I do.” He said, “I could use a bed though... unless your uncle wants me to sleep on the floor. On second thought, I'll take whatever he offers.”
She grabbed his wrist and hauled him out of the laundry room. They walked back into the kitchen and found them still drinking coffee.
Peter and Colten focused on them as soon as they entered and Ella dropped her hold on him.
“Braxton needs a place to sleep.”
“Spare room upstairs at the far end of the hall.” Colten explained.
“Are you hungry, Braxton?” Abigail asked, making both Peter and Colten growl. “Oh, hush, he probably hasn't ate since... when did you last eat?”
“Well, I did eat a bunny two days ago.”
Ella's eyes widened, “Like a real bunny?”
“Yeah, it wasn't very big.” Braxton winced, almost like he was disgusted with himself.
“Take a seat, I'll heat up left overs.” Abigail stood and waddled her way to the fridge.
Ella took his arm and led him to the table.
“Gotta stop pulling on me, babe-” Braxton stopped his sentence short as Colten glared at him. “Sorry.”
Ella pushed him into a chair and he cringed, settling at the oak kitchen table.
“Thanks again, for letting me stay.” Braxton said stiffly.
Colten watched him closely as he leaned back in his chair. “Mm. That's my favourite shirt.”
Braxton opened his mouth but nothing came out and Ella knew what her uncle was doing to him.
“That's not funny, Colten.” She said in a low voice.
Colten raised an eyebrow and stood, “Isn't your pack wondering where you are? You're parents maybe?”
“Yeah, maybe my mom.” Braxton agreed with a nod, “But she sort of made me upset, so I haven't spoken to her since Daniella left and my dad – yeah, he probably doesn’t care too much.”
Colten glanced over his shoulder as he went into the fridge and took out the milk, “Why's that?”
Braxton hesitated, “Oh, my – well, my father has a lot of pack business to deal with, he doesn’t worry too much about me at University.”
“Aren't you their only son?”
Ella now wished she hadn't told her aunt and uncle maybe so much about Braxton, it looked to be throwing her mate in a loop because of it.
Braxton looked to her and then back away, “Yeah, I am.”
“I see.” Colten grumbled, making himself another coffee as the microwave dinged with ready food for Braxton.
Abigail pulled it out and brought it to him, holding her side with her other hand.
“You okay, Abi?” Ella asked her, noticing the shortness of her aunt's step.
Abigail smiled as she put the plate in front of Braxton, “I'm perfect.”
Colten was already staring at her and Ella guessed he had been her whole slow walk through the kitchen.
Abigail went to step back but lost her strength and tripped forward. Braxton moved so fast, Ella hardly registered what was happening as he caught her aunt before she fell to the ground.
Ella stared at them as he attempted to keep hold of her but Colten promptly took his mate from him, lifting her off the ground and leaving the kitchen with her. “Peter!”
Peter got up and left right away on Colten's command.
Braxton grunted, planting a hand to the table and holding his weight.
Ella watched his staggered breathing. “Nice catch, Brax.”
He wiped the back his hand on his mouth as he tried to breath.
“Jeez, you're really hurt.” She said under her breath.
Braxton sat slowly and looked to Ella, “You should go see if she's okay.”
“What about you?”
He paused and picked up the fork on his plate, “I'm fine.”
“I really think you're hurt and you're just not saying anything.”
“I'm weak.” He explained, “I'm weak because I've been shifted for five days and running half way across the country with a slightly broken rib.”
She watched him as he started to eat, “You caught her.”
“She was going to fall.” He grumbled, “When's she due?”
“I'm not really sure, it must be soon though.”
“She smells pretty strong.”
Ella wrinkled her nose, “I hate it when alpha's point out smells.”
His vainglorious smirk lit up his face, “But I'm not an alpha.”
“You're going to be.”
“Not if I don't have a mate.” He pointed out.
Ella stood, “I'm going to see Abi.”
“I won't be going anywhere.” He assured her and she left, walking toward the stairs to find Peter jogging down them.
“Is everything alright?”
Peter gave his head a shake as he found Colten's truck keys on the mail table, “I'm going to get the nurse.”
“What's wrong?”
“Well, based on the fact that I have many many children, I'm guessing she's in labour.”
“Oh!” Ella's eyes went wide.
“Yep!” Peter smiled with excitement, “First Turner-baby!”
Ella sucked in a breath as he walked toward the front door.
“I'll be back quick!”
Ella watched him leave, the door slamming and sending her thoughts into a dark place. She was suppose to be happy, she had to be happy. Turning, she walked back into the kitchen and stopped near the table.
Braxton looked up to her, “Everything alright?”
She nodded, “They think she's in labour.”
He scooped up more food and shoved it in his mouth. “That's good.” He mumbled, “They must be excited.”
She sat next to him at the table, “Yeah...”
Braxton watched her as he chewed, “Why do you look upset?”
“I'm not.” She shook her head.
“Really?” He questioned, “You look weird. You feel weird.”
“I feel weird?” She echoed.
“Spidy-senses.” Braxton joked, “So, yeah, you feel weird to me.”
“Thanks, Braxton.” She hissed in a low voice.
“Just tell me.” He ate more, waiting for an explanation.
“I don't know... it's all just hitting me. It was always just been me with them.”
“Ah.” Braxton swallowed the food in his mouth, “I get it. Would be like if my parents had a new baby...”
“Something like that.” Ella said softly, “It actually just feels like... maybe they won't need me anymore.”
He paused, leaning forward and taking her hand on the table top, “But I'll always need you, Daniella.”
Ella looked to him, their eyes meeting, fusing together and then she felt what Braxton Hall must have been feeling about their relationship since the beginning; a deep riotous bond that came before anyone else.