It was the last chore they'd asked of her and she couldn't say no. Unbuckling herself from the leather passenger seat in her uncles truck, the vehicle stopped in the parking lot of the feed store.
“Okay, let's do this and get back, I'm hungry.” Colten popped the door open and stepped out into the late afternoon sun, Ella following him into the old barn that had been converted into a large and busy feed store.
Colten walked for the swinging door and Ella trailed his heels, it's what she'd been doing the entire summer and if it wasn't Colten she was following, it was Abigail. She owed them, meaning she owed them the rest of the twenty-grand in tuition that she'd never have to pay it back in actual money.
As her departure got closer, Colten had gotten grumpier than normal but she had stayed on good terms with him so, as Abigail put it, ignore and smile. For the most part, it worked well.
He walked to the front counter as the woman there turned and smiled.
“Afternoon, Colten!”
Ella twitched, she'd now have to sit through ten minutes of the woman hitting on her uncle as he tried to get through what to load the back of the pick-up with. There was a reason Abigail always avoided going with him and she was the ultimate reason, however the woman had nothing on her aunt.
“Hi there.”
“How are you?” She leaned onto the counter.
“Doin' okay, I just need some feed...”
Ella looked across the store, “I'm gonna go look over there at the tack.”
Colten glanced at her and grunted, “Don't go far.”
She took off as soon as he approved her leaving and raced towards buckles, headstalls and all the flashy things Abigail loved on her horses. She looked over each item, her heart pinging in her chest with sadness. It might have been the first time she was thinking she'd miss home and as she turned to look at the front desk, she watched her uncle. Smiling and laughing as he had a conversation with the store owner and not the flirting cashier.
He looked for her and she started walking, before he could call her.
She joined his side as he said goodbye and they made their way out of the feed store. He pulled his gloves from his back pocket and she followed his action. Knowing she'd have to help load the feed bags, just like she had her entire life but how in Maine, she wouldn't have to lift one feed bag.
“Who's going to help you, when I go?” She blurted out.
Colten dropped the tail gate, “What?”
“Get feed?”
He looked to her, “Why?”
She didn't even know why she'd asked it and she didn't answer him, guessing Brant would help him or maybe Abigail would... or one of the other part-time ranch hands.
The skid was brought out with the bags and they both focused all their efforts on loading the bed of the truck with the thirty bags of feed.
Jumping out of the back, she got back in the passenger seat and stayed quiet, all the way home. Colten pulled the truck up in front of the house and that through her off.
“Aren't we unloading it?”
He shut off the engine and undid his seat belt, “I'm hungry, we'll do it later.”
She thought was weirder, Colten hated unfinished work but she slipped out of her seat and they made their way up the front steps.
Colten opened the front door before she could and as she stepped in from behind him, pulling off her boots, she was ambushed by the shouting of Surprise by many, many people.
She turned on one foot and stared at everyone in the decked out living room of fancy streamers and banners. Stunned was a light way to put what she felt.
Colten came beside her, “Your aunt's idea.”
Of course it had been and it made her start to cry. Abigail appeared from the large group of pack members and their human friends to hug her.
“What do you think, honey?”
“What is all this?” Ella sobbed.
“You're going away party!” Her aunt parted from her, “Do you like?”
“Yeah.” Ella looked around to everyone, crying still, “It's amazing. Thank you.” She almost felt like she didn't deserve it. As Abigail pulled her into the party, she spent her time being reminded of where she was going, how far she was going and how long it would take to come back.
The party continued, people grouping off, partying away and dispersing all over the home. Ella found herself with Trixie as it settled out, having a giggle-fest of a conversation but that was when Brant walked up.
“Hey, Ella.” He had said a total of ten words to her over the past month in a half, so she was in blatant shock with his random appearance in the moment.
“Hi.” Ella's giggle was zapped from her as she put on a straight face.
Brant glanced at Trixie, who was trying to turn away and reach for some chips.
“Do ya' think I could talk to you a minute?” Brant got the sentence out but it seemed to take him forever.
Ella wrinkled her nose, “Why's that, Brant? Don't you have some cows to brand?”
“We finished that last week.” He hadn't gotten her joke but she let it slide.
“I guess so. Shoot.”
“Alone?” He asked after an awkward few glances.
“Fine. Come on.” Ella grabbed his wrist, tugging him down the near hall to the garage. She closed them inside and turned to him, “Now, you want to talk to me? After basically ignoring me the entire summer?”
“Look, Ella, it's...” Brant's words faded.
“What, Brant? Just say it.” She huffed, “You're totally annoying me. Like last week, I tacked up my horse to go ride with you and you like-”
“I'm just having a hard time with you leaving.” He admitted.
“Why though?” Ella questioned, “You were fine until-”
“Until Colten agreed to let you go and I don't agree with it. You'll be so far away from everyone, Ella. What if something happens?”
She smiled, “What's going to happen and why do you care so much? You're starting to sound like Colten.”
Brant started and stopped, but he couldn't get the words out.
“Jeez, Brant!” She exclaimed, “Just say it!”
Then he did the most unlikely thing for Brant to commit, he stepped into her space bubble and kissed her.
Her eyes went wide and after an awkward moment, he stepped back, not looking at her but cursing under his breath.
“Brant.” Ella stared at him, her mouth gaping as the garage door flew open and Trixie stumbled into the room.
“Something's wrong with Abi!” Trixie panted, like she'd ran to announce the news.
“What?” Ella stared at her, still trying to push Brant's kiss to the side as the new information registered in her.
“Yeah, she just passed out.”
“Why?” Ella didn't give her a chance to answer before she ran from the garage and she didn't need a memo that her aunt was now in the upstairs of the house. She scaled them quickly, running towards the master bedroom. She flung the door open to find Mia with Abigail on the bed, her aunt now conscious.
“Abi, are you okay?” Ella approached the bed.
Even if her aunt didn't look well, she still smiled, “Oh, I'm fine. I think, I just ate something weird. Maybe I should have checked the expiration dates on all that food I prepared. This is silly, though, I'm fine.” She went to get up but Mia stopped her.
“Just relax, Abi, can't have you fainting again.” Mia gave her a light smile, “All the food was amazing, it wasn't the food.”
Abigail sighed, “The chicken bites were sorta off... I followed that recipe, you know the one I showed you last time you guys came over?”
Mia nodded, “They were great. It's not the food.”
Ella wrinkled her nose, “So, what's wrong then?”
Colten walked into the room and over to the bed, “Abi, I called Cheyenne.”
“No, I'm fine, why did you do that?” Abigail argued, “Why are you acting so strange? It's probably a stomach flu.”
Colten grumbled something as he stood at the foot of the bed, looking over to Ella, “What are you doing in here?”
“I was just checking on Abi, cause Trixie said she fainted.”
Colten looked back to his wife as she continued to protest. Even if Abigail was insisting it was nothing, Colten's expression showed other wise and Ella was quick enough to catch on to it. Her uncle actually looked worried.
Abigail didn't like all the fussing over her though, “There's a party going on, this is really silly, Colten.”
“Stay in bed, Abigail.” His voice was deep and Ella knew it well, he wanted to be obeyed. Part of the perks she guessed with having an Alpha as an uncle, you knew the different moods of them well and what they all meant.
Colten didn't let Ella stay present much longer, before he shoed her to the door and told her to close it on her way out, that being about when the Cheyenne showed up. Or as Ella knew her, the only pack member with a nursing degree.
Ella didn't go far down in the hallway and Trixie stayed by her side, since Mia hadn't been kicked out the room.
“Ugh.” Trixie rolled her eyes, “You want to go get something to drink?”
“No.” Ella sat to the hardwood floors.
“I'm sure Abigail is fine, come on.”
“I dunno, Colten looked upset.”
“Colten over worries.” Trixie pointed out, “You shouldn't be surprised.”
Ella winced, “Something's not right.”
“Yesh, you totally are all alpha blooded.” Her friend made fun of her and slipped down beside her on the ground.
“He just looked really weird. Don't you think?”
Trixie shrugged, “Looked like Colten to me and he's had a few beers. He just doesn’t like that his luna face planted the floor.”
“Trixie.” Ella sneered, “Come on.”
“Okay, okay but that's totally why he's weird. Trust me, my Dad's only a Beta...”
“Your dad's an Alpha.” Ella corrected Peter's official status with Oscuro.
“He's a better Beta.” Trixie finished, “And even he gets weird but Colten gets weirder. So yeah...”
Ella looked to her hand, flicking at her nails.
“What were you and Brant talking about in the garage?”
“Oh.” Ella gasped, she'd totally forgotten about Brant.
“Oh?” Trixie looked very interested suddenly, “What's that mean?”
“Brant kissed me.”
“What!” Trixie shouted.
Ella cupped her friend's mouth, “Trix, shhh.”
Her friend shrugged and whipped her hand away, “He actually kissed you?”
“Y-yeah.” Ella leaned back against the wall, “And then you came in.”
“Ha, well, if I'd know you guys were making out, I would have saved the Abigail fainting thing.” Trixie snorted.
“We weren't making out.”
“What were you doing?” Trixie prodded as the bedroom door opened and both girl's attention shifted to Mia creeping out into the hall.
“Ella?”
Ella jumped up as Trixie's mother walked to them.
“They're wondering if they can talk to you.”
“Oh.” Ella paused, “Okay.” It felt like she'd done something wrong but she'd had nothing to do with Abigail fainting so she was at a loss. Inside, she pushed the door slowly to the frame and waited.
Looking over, she thought she saw Abigail crying as her aunt wiped at each cheek with a kleenex.
“Ella, come here.” Colten called to her from where he sat next to Abigail on the bed.
She snapped to life at the tone of her uncle's off voice, a voice she didn't recognize, it was almost happy but ordinary and demanding at the same time.
Abigail looked up to her, she'd been right, her aunt was crying but why... she was still waiting.
“Why are you crying?” Ella finally asked and Colten stood as Cheyenne walked to their master bathroom, not letting on a thing. Desperate, Ella waited for something to be said to her.
Colten's straight face, no matter how hard he seemed to fight it, broke to a smile as the words left his mouth, “Abigail's pregnant.”
Ella's face fell, of all the things she had expected her uncle to say, that was not one of them. It was no wonder to her that Mia had held almost the exact same expression coming to get her in the hall.
“What?” She squeaked.
The middle-aged nurse was back in the picture, handing Abigail a glass of water, “We've come to the conclusion,” She looked to Ella, “That the bite you inflicted upon your aunt, completed her change.”
Ella tried to process, emotion filling her like she'd never felt before, “I – what?”
“It's likely because you're double blooded.” Cheyenne took the glass back from Abigail.
Ella's eyes were wider than wide and she stayed mute, as her aunt finally looked together enough to speak.
“Isn't that amazing, Ella?” Abigail bubbled, still crying.
Ella nodded, but her ability to speak had been stripped from her.
Colten was back at Abigail's side, laying a soft kiss on her cheek as her aunt wrapped her arms around her husband.
Ella had never felt so confused and happy at the same time. This was all Colten and Abigail had ever wanted. Ever. And somehow, in her fit of being a stupid girl, had been responsible for giving them it.
She swallowed, stepping back, “I'm gonna...”
“Oh!” Abigail exclaimed as their hug broke apart and she went to stand, but Colten didn't let her get far, “Let's give her the present, I'm sure we've already lost half the guests by now!”
“You stay in bed, I'll do it.” Colten assured his wife and stood, “Let's go, Ella.”
“Oh, you don't have to, you can give it to me... later.” Ella trailed off as Colten grabbed her shoulder and shoved her towards the door of the master bedroom.
“Really...” Ella breathed.
“Your aunt wants you to have it.” Colten walked with her out into the hall.
“Is Abi okay?” Ella asked as they walked down the stairs.
“Yeah, she'll be fine.” He assured her, “She's always had a good knack for fainting on me.”
Ella sighed, “You really don't have to give me the present right now, though.”
“Might as well get it out of the way.” Colten stopped at the bottom of the stairs and pulled a key on a brand new fob out of his pocket.
Ella held back her want to start jumping and screaming, “Are you serious?”
“Don't make me regret it.” He laid it out for her.
“Oh my god!” She exclaimed and took the keys from him, “No – no, I promise! I swear to god you won't regret it!”
Colten winced, “This was suppose to be Abi's job.”
Ella began to bounce, “Is it here?”
Colten nodded to the front door, “Outside.”
She dashed to the door but stopped, turned and dashed back to him, hugging him, “Thank you!”
Colten gave her a pat on her back before she was out the door, followed by a few others.
She found Trixie, leaned up against the vehicle, giving it her best model pose to show off the brand new red sedan.
Ella screamed and ran at the car, both the girls ripping open doors to inspect and gush.
“Oh my gosh!” Ella panicked, “I freaking love them!”
“You are way too lucky!” Trixie sunk into the passenger seat, “It's all tricked out too!”
Ella giggled and sat back, her hands on the leather steering wheel, “This is taking me to Maine!”
Trixie laughed, “Please, take me with you!”
“I wish!” Ella smiled, “I wish...” She looked to the front of the vehicle, where Brant stood, hands in his pockets. She swallowed the lump building in her throat as he walked up the open driver's side door and stuck his head in.
“Looks like you're all ready to go, Daisy.”
“Y-yeah.” She stumbled on words as he handed over a small wrapped gift, “What's this?”
“Not much.” He patted the top of the car, letting her take it from him, “I'll see you around. Don't get into too much trouble.”
Before she could say thanks or maybe a hey we should talk, Brant was gone and Trixie had returned to her delusional squealing.
“Seriously, this is the nicest car ever!”
#
Ella looked over the nine taped and crammed full boxes. Almost seventeen years of life and she could shove it all into nine boxes and a duffle bag. This was it though, waiting through a long Texas summer had seemed to take forever and now, she was done.
“Maine.”
She made her way downstairs to find Abigail and Colten in the kitchen, more specifically, being a tad more intimate than she was used to. In all the years she could remember, her aunt and uncle were comfortable around each other but not this openly comfortable.
“Hi.” Ella offered as she stopped in the doorway.
Abigail pushed her husband back, “Hey, honey, are you all ready to go?”
“Mostly.” Ella smiled, “I got everything packed upstairs.”
“Okay, I'll make sure I send out the boxes tomorrow.” Abigail walked over to her, “But do you have enough clothes?”
“I'll be fine.” Ella assured her.
Colten grunted, “We wouldn't want you freezing in Maine.”
Ella smiled at him, “Very funny.”
Abigail put her hands to her shoulders, “That can happen, you need to wear layers.”
“I'm just going to Maine, not Alaska.”
Colten laughed, “Maybe you should have gone there instead, gave Chloe and Grayson a run for their money.”
“Sorry, still going to Maine.”
He shook his head in defeat, “You're so much like your mom, kid.”
It filled her with some sort of weird pride, she wanted to be like her mom, she loved her, even if all she had was photos of before. Before her father had gotten to her, before everything bad had happened to Savannah Turner.
She swallowed, smiling again, “I promise. I won't get into any trouble.”
“Ha.” Colten smiled, “You can't. I put a GPS tracker in the car.”
Ella blinked.
“Oh, Colten, stop.” Abigail turned back to her, “He's lying.”
“She's lying.” Her uncle returned the blame.
Ella shook her head at them, “You guys are weirdos. But-” She took a breath, “You'll be okay?”
“Will it make you stay if we say no?” Colten jumped on that.
Ella sighed but Abigail took her cheeks to reassure her.
“We're going to be fine. We've got a lot to keep us busy and not long to get ready for it.”
“I'll come at Christmas break.” Ella promised, “Meet the baby, I can't wait.”
Abigail's smile was infectious when anyone mentioned the baby, if her aunt was born to do one other thing than ride horses, it was to be a mom. She hugged her, tight too.
“Okay, you better go.” Abigail parted from her, “You have a long drive and we might start to cry.”
“I'm not going to cry.” Colten grunted, “But you're not allowed any of those energy drinks. If you're too tried, you just pull over...”
Abigail took Ella's hand and led her for the front door, her uncle trailing behind, going on about rules of the road.Even if she was leaving home, the happiness and excitement taking over let her know, this was a day she'd never forget.