Ella woke alone in the messy dark blankets of Braxton Hall's bed. Now with the daylight filtering in and actually having time, she looked around his room. The first thing she noticed; it was big and in a disarray. He obviously hadn't taken much time to put anything in order since his return home. On the opposite wall from the bed were two doors, both open, one revealing a closet and the other a bathroom and in between the two small rooms on the wall, was a large flatscreen television with a shelf under it that held four different gaming systems and a stock pile mix of video games and movies.
She inched off the bed toward the washroom when she heard a crunch of paper beside her and found a folded note on his pillow.
She picked it up between her fingers and opened it.
Morning Daniella,
I had to go out for a bit, something was found on one of the borders, should be back soon.
You can snoop around, no one will bite you.
-Braxton
She smiled and shook her head, deciding on a shower but as she scooted from the bed, she saw a corded phone sitting on a large base. It had numerous other buttons aside the obvious ones but she picked it up anyway. There was no dial tone and then she realized she had to select a line to call out of.
“Holy...” She hit one of the lines that wasn't beeping red and got a dial tone, “Sweet.” Then she waited, once she'd punched in the correct number to call home. It rung only once and Colten answered.
“Ella.”
“How'd you know that?” She asked.
“It said Maine on the call display.”
“Oh, yeah,” she chuckled uncomfortably. “Gotta love call display.”
“Something like that.” He grumbled, “You better be safe.”
“I'm fine. I'm on their territory.”
“Mm.” Colten didn't seem impressed, “I want you to know, leaving notes is not adequate enough to make us feel alright about you leaving in the middle of the night.”
“At least I wasn't going to a party.” She tried to humour him but it wasn't hitting the mark. “But I'm totally fine. Though, this pack is so weird.”
“What do you mean?”
“It's different.” She tried to explain, “They have gates and housing for all their members and Braxton's family lives in this big house on a hill side!”
“Some packs live in a compound, it's a way to uphold a pack's funding.”
“Yeah.” Ella glanced around her, “I haven't seen much though, I only got here last night.”
“Why didn't you call then?”
“It was late.” She said as quick as she could to hide the actual reason.
“I don't think that matters.”
“Well, if it makes you feel better, Braxton was mad at me too.” And she couldn't help but add in her head, For only a few short seconds.
“Good.” Colten sounded satisfied.
“He was all worried you were going to come kill him.”
“I wouldn't rule that out just yet.”
Ella smiled to herself. “Did you name the baby?”
“Er...” he trailed off, “It's still a work in progress.”
“That poor child.”
Colten paused.
“What?” She chuckled.
“So, you're not going to tell me...”
She stiffened at the tone change in his voice, “Tell you what?”
“I'm only going to let you stay there if you've mated him.”
Her cheeks went hot. “Why's that?”
“Because he's useless to protect you otherwise.”
“Wow,” she gulped, “that's reassuring.”
He waited again, “You might as well tell me, Ella and get it over with.”
“We are.”
She thought she heard him sigh, like what she'd said had broke his heart, and it made her feel like she was a little kid again. A little kid that had only ever had her aunt and uncle, but now she had Braxton and she had to remind herself of that.
“Okay.” Was all Colten said.
“I'll be okay with him.”
“I'm trying to remind myself of that.”
A meek smile broke her and it stopped her heart from breaking as much as she felt Colten's.
“Really, I'll be okay,” she assured him.
“Maine is a long ways away and I never thought you'd leave Texas.”
Her heart pinged, “So, you actually miss me?”
“I miss you as much as I miss your mother,” he admitted, “which is a heck of a lot.”
She sniffed as a few tears watered her eyes.
“And you're lucky Abigail had this baby, or she'd have nothing to distract herself with through all this.”
Ella smiled, “He's such a cute distraction.”
“A nameless distraction,” he said in a gruff voice. “And what's happened with Braxton's father?”
Ella quieted before speaking, “Nothing yet.”
“So, he's still missing?”
“Yeah.”
Colten made a grumbling sound, “This is why we wanted you to stay here, with us.”
“Braxton could hardly walk when I got here.”
“Well, he just needs to rest.”
“He's fixed now.” Ella said so fast she didn't think her uncle would hear her.
“He's fine now?”
“Technically...”
“What's the suppose to mean?”
“He's been fine since we-”
“Oh.” Colten said, “I'm sure you'll find a lot of interesting things out because you're both alpha blood.”
“That's going to make a difference?”
“It could and you might notice a more instinct drive towards each other.”
Ella winced, “Isn't that more information than you wanted to talk about?”
“I'm just warning you.” Colten cleared his throat, “I should probably go, Ella, but please call soon or if anything changes suddenly and don't do anything stupid, let him do it.”
“Colten!”
“Hopefully he's smart enough to not let you do anything anyway.”
“What am I now, shelved?”
“No, a potential luna. They better be taking that seriously.”
Ella sighed, she was sure they would be and Colten was right again, she would be the one to not uphold to that – if it came down to something dire.
She decided to change the subject. “I'll talk to you later. Say hi to Abi and don't worry too much.”
“Oh, I'll worry but nice try and make sure he doesn’t do anything dumb, newly mated alphas aren't that all there.”
She giggled, “Thanks for the warnings.”
“It's not funny, Ella.”
“Okay, I promise, I'll try to control his raging alpha hormones.”
Colten groaned, “That was a lot more information than I was talking about. Be careful.”
“Mmhmm. Talk to you soon.”
“You better.” He threatened, “Every day would be nice.”
“Mm... every four?”
“You're killing me, I'm going now.”
Ella could hear the baby crying in the background. “Bye, Colten.”
“Bye, my niece.”
She smiled and dropped the phone back the receiver, concluding that had gone over alot better than she ever thought it would have.
#
Ella ran her fingers through her still damp hair. She'd taken a shower and wasted a total of almost two hours in his room before being brave enough to venture out into the house. Which she fully knew would lead her to face the possibility of her new mother-in-law.
She stepped into the living room of white carpets and looked across it to the empty kitchen. It was silent around her and that made it easier, as she walked across the living area to the marble and granite kitchen.
“Jeez.”
“Good afternoon.”
Ella spun around to face a young woman in a white jumper, she almost looked like a house-keeper. “Hi.”
The woman, looking in her late twenties now that Ella had a chance to look at her waited for instruction. “Can I make you something to eat?”
“Uh.” Ella glanced around, “I'm okay.”
“Are you sure?” She arched her brow, “You should eat something.”
Ella wasn't sure of her tone, she almost sounded put-off by not being put to work. “I'm not all that hungry, thanks.”
She gave her a weary eye. “Excuse me then.”
Ella nodded as she walked past her and across the living room without a further word. “That was weird...” But before she could pick up an apple out of the fruit basket on the breakfast bar, there was a loud slam of the front door and a woman's voice, which she recognized right away.
“This better be it!”
Ella stepped forward and peered down the hall as Azalea walked in. His mother was as fresh looking as she'd been at campus, not even a tad puffy-faced or teary eyed. She did wear a sign of missing her husband.
The woman came into the room with her high-end leather boots and pencil skirt, stopping three feet from Ella. “Hello again.”
“Hi.” Ella looked past her as two men walked in behind Azalea, carrying a large fur-tree.
Azalea slipped her leather gloves off. “My son looked healed this morning, our pack thanks you.”
Ella went to speak but Azalea didn't let her, cutting her off to bark commands at the men, who brought the tree into the living area and placed it in the large christmas-tree stand in the corner. It was the first time Ella was noticing it there.
“Do you know when Braxton will be back?”
“Oh, I don't know that.” Azalea said to her, “I wouldn't hold my breath either.”
Ella swallowed back her disappointment. “He left a note saying they found something.”
Azalea continued to instruct and inspect the fresh fur as the men fought it on either side. “Some fresh tracks but nothing concrete.”
“Sounds like it could be something.”
Azalea looked to her, “I guess we'll see.”
“I--” Ella stammered, “I was sorry to hear about your husband.”
“Gale brought it on himself.” Azalea's voice held no remorse. “No! More to the left!”
Ella sighed accidentally loud enough to get his mothers attention and the woman looked back to her.
“We have our annual Christmas Eve party and I plan on it happening this year.”
Ella winced, it was like she didn't miss her mate but she must have... perhaps it was how she was dealing with it.
“Plus,” Azalea continued, “Everyone must meet our new Luna.”
“Oh.” Ella's eyes flashed up, “I'm... not...”
“The chances of Gale returning are slim, Miles was slaughtered and there's been no other signs of what has happened. Braxton is Alpha now.”
Ella choked on the instant bile that had accumulated in her throat.
“There, leave it there!” Azalea instructed, finally happy with the christmas tree placement.
#
Ella wandered the massive house for the rest of the afternoon. She hadn't tried to venture outside and didn't want to. She felt safe in what they called so loosely, Alpha House. As the sun began to set, she watched it from the front sitting room, that was when a black SUV pulled up and her heart thumped when Braxton stepped out. Azalea had been correct, he looked healed, strong, sure of himself and she had a hard time believing she'd been responsible for it.
He walked up the path toward the front door with Aaron at his side and another trailing them, talking on a cell phone.
The front door opened with that same jolting unlock, causing Ella to snap to her feet and she went to meet him in the hall.
He stopped his sentence when he saw her and smiled.
“Hi, how was it?”
“Long.” Aaron answered for him, giving his eyes a roll. He never showed much defiance against his beta roll and Ella guessed it was as much as she would ever see.
Braxton stepped up in front of her as Aaron and the other, walked toward the back of the house to the kitchen and living room.
“So, you didn't find anything?” Ella asked.
The corner of his mouth tugging into a frown answered her question.
“That sucks...” She breathed.
He brought his hands to her waist and stepped in close to her. “I missed you though.”
She looked up at him as he leaned in to kiss her and she let his gentle lips meet hers.
She smiled against his mouth. “It's odd not seeing you limp around.”
“Well, I like not limping around, thank you.” His hands on her waist went under her shirt, “Let's go upstairs.”
“I think it's supper time.”
“Probably.” Braxton took her hand and led her down the hall toward the dinning area, which was a room that connected to many, including the kitchen.
Azalea was already sitting, along with Aaron and the two appeared to be having a small, quiet conversation that left Braxton's mother with a tight mouth.
Braxton held out the chair for Ella once they got to the table.
“You must be starving, Ella.” Azalea suddenly acknowledged her presence while picking up her glass of wine.
Ella went to speak but Braxton got to comment first as he sat at the end of the table next to his mate. “Why are you starving?”
“I was told she refused to eat all day.” Azalea said.
Ella hadn't realized she'd been getting spied on. “I wasn't too hungry.”
“If you are carrying a pup, it's unacceptable to not eat all day.”
“I-I'm not pregnant.” Ella could the pressure in Azalea's eyes though and it made her uncomfortable.
“Mother, not now.” Braxton's tone was of warning and it made Azalea back off immediately.
If her life was now going to be monitored by all the house staff and his mother, it suddenly made her wonder how her chances of survival would pan out in Crest.
A man walked in, breaking the tension, he was middle-aged and well groomed, Ella recognize him, pegging him as one of the men that had put her in a holding cell the night before.
“Jay, I didn't think you were coming.” Azalea smiled at him.
“I finished that paperwork early.” He walked over and kissed Azalea's cheek before sitting next to her.
Settling in the chair, he greeted Braxton and Aaron, his eyes finally falling on Ella. “My apologies for the mistake last night, miss.”
Ella stiffened and tried to think of what to say. “It's okay.”
Aaron grunted in annoyance. “Because locking the Luna in a cell is always okay.”
“It was a poor error.” Jay concluded.
Braxton didn't seem that interested in the conversation other than the initial apology, which Ella was sure had been instructed.
Jay went on talking to Azalea as dinner was served and Ella observed the soft eyes contact and slight touching as the two older individuals seemed to share something intimate between them.
Braxton was half way through his meal before Jay spoke to him about business.
“So, there was nothing found?”
Braxton put his fork to his plate. “Seems to be a common problem.”
Azalea sipped her wine before making her opinion known. “I don't know why you're bothering.”
Braxton's nostrils flare with his new agitation. “Because he's missing, mother.”
“I've told you to stop looking, it's been over a week and there's been nothing. The best thing would be to increase our border protection. You're spending too much time invested in the possibility of Gale's return.”
“Strengthening our territory would be the smarter choice here, Braxton.” Jay commented.
Braxton eyed him, “I'm sorry, Jay, but are you Alpha?”
Jay silenced with the rest of the table.
“Gale is still our Alpha.”
“Oh, Braxton.” Azalea rolled her eyes and drank more wine, “What has Gale ever done for you?”
“Doesn’t matter what he's done or not done for me, he could be alive still!”
Aaron sighed, eating more and keeping his mouth shut but Ella felt he agreed with Jay and Azalea.
“Would you give up on me, mother?”
“That's not a fair question.” Azalea snapped, “You're my son.”
Braxton's jaw clenched from the new upheaval. “This isn't just my decision, Crest wants to know what's happened to Gale and you know that.”
“They will follow you, Braxton.” Jay's final words made Braxton even more tense and Ella slid her foot to his under the table. Upon the contact, he relaxed and it made him look to her, with a even a small hint of his smirk. She saw then how much influence she had over him, how she could soften him and help him, wether he knew it or not, chalking it down to just another natural instinct of mates.
“The only reason I brought this up,” Azalea continued, “The Christmas Cocktail Party is a day away and I think you should seriously consider a formal announcement in front of Crest.”
Braxton sighed, “We're doing that party still?”
“Just because Gale screwed up and got killed, doesn’t mean we have to stop living, Braxton.” Azalea gave her eyes a rolled and drank more wine. Ella didn't see an ounce of remorse for Gale Hall in the woman and she wanted to know why.
“What's there to formally announce?” Braxton questioned the table.
“You as Alpha.” Azalea made clear for him, “And your Luna.”
Braxton sighed and that's when Aaron got in his two cents. “The board is already wavering, Braxton, they want an official Alpha. Even if we recover Gale, you would continue to stay appointed Alpha.”
“Thank you for that, Aaron.” Braxton shot him a glare through slitted eyes.
Ella wanted to reach out and touch him, it made her antsy to watch him upset and that was a brand new feeling for her.
“Your father is done, you need to accept it.” Azalea said the final word before Braxton got up and walked out of the room, not finishing his meal by even half.
Ella twisted in her chair to watch him and as she went to follow Azalea slapped her hand to the table.
“Eat, Ella, don't worry about him.”
Ella turned toward her, “I am worried, excuse me.” She got up and left the now silent dinning room in search for her mate.
Finding him was easy as she wasn't too far behind him, and caught up to him before he entered his room.
“Braxton.”
He paused and opened the door for her, letting her in ahead of him but as soon as he shut it, she stepped up to him.
“Are you okay?”
He sighed and then stepped into her, cupping her cheek and kissing her.
She broke their mouths apart. “Braxton.”
Dropping his forehead against hers, he let out a slow exhale, finding comfort in being so close to her.
“Why does your mother not like her mate?”
The corner of Braxton's mouth quirked upon her question. “I really don't want to talk about this right now, Daniella.”
“Well, I do, because she just doesn’t seem that upset--”
“I'm sure she's upset... somewhere.” He grumbled, parting from her and walking toward his bed.
Ella turned with him, finding the comment weird. “It is her mate, Braxton and that Jay guy seems to have more of her attention.”
“I don't want to talk about Jay either.”
That made Ella believe Braxton didn't like the man that much, but rightly so, he flirted and eyed his mother constantly. “What's going on, Braxton?”
He let out a slow exhale, “Fine, technically my father and her aren’t exactly soul mates.”
Ella watched him as he stood before her in restless presentment. “What do you mean they aren't soul mates?”
He sat to the edge of his bed and looked up to her. “I said that as more of a pun.”
Ella tilted her head. “What are you talking about?”
“My father and mother aren't actual mates.” He rubbed at the loose bangs that had fallen across his forehead. “Gale had met his mate by age seventeen but there was a raid on Crest and my father went to fight, she was killed during the attack.” He continued but Ella could tell he didn't like repeating these intimate details of his parents. “So my father did the logical thing at twenty-five, when he had to take Alpha and chose a Luna.”
Ella began to dread the ending of his story, she'd never heard of such a thing before.
“My mother was selected from a group of women that were complied from other packs, females without mates out of alpha blood. Azalea gets a privileged life in exchange for me and that's why I have no siblings and that's why my mother hardly cares that Gale is missing.”
Ella let out a squeak of surprise. “That's horrible.”
“What's more horrible is I didn't find it all out till I was eighteen. They just never bothered to tell me, until we all got in a fight one day and I demanded to know why they didn't sleep in the same room, let alone the same bed. It doesn’t bother me too much now though.” He shrugged, “Azalea loves me, she's like a typical mother I would assume and Gale, well, he's provided Crest with another Alpha. That's all that matters and I feel Crest deserves to know exactly what's happened to Gale for closure purposes. It seems only fair, I wish my mother would understand that.”
Ella's heart pinged, she honestly felt bad for him. “Why didn't you say anything sooner?”
“What's it matter?” Braxton said, his face stern and unemotional. “Everyone has their own messed up family, Daniella.”
All Ella could think about was Colten and Abigail and while Braxton was sitting there with two parents that never loved each other – she had been surrounded by love and yet, she'd still let her past and her parents bother her. Braxton Hall was much stronger than her and it really put her life in perspective.
“Is that why your mom took so much offence to me not mating you right away?”
He shrugged, “I guess she's a bit envious of mates, never had her own. She just wants for me what she didn't have herself, or that's my best prediction. And as far as Gale,” He sighed, his shoulders dropping. “I understand his pain, now that I have you, losing a mate would make someone as cold and removed, as it's made him. So, now I know why he's always been the way he's been.”
She saw so much good in him, so much strength, Colten had nothing to worry about when it came to Braxton Hall. Ella sat down next to him and he tucked his face into the crook of her neck so he could kiss her softly.
“I'm sorry, Braxton.”
“For?”
She turned and cupped his face so he had to look at her. “For judging you, before I knew anything about you.”
He raised his hand to her waist and pulled her closer. “It all worked out for us and that's all I care about. Now, let's stop talking about depressing things.”
She touched her lips to his and whispered, “Anything you want.”
“I want you.”