Page 15 of Two Years Gone

“Who did that?”

I took my arm and hid it behind my back.

“It’s nothing. Don’t worry about it. We should head back in, we both have work to do.”

Declan gave me a worried look before throwing his arm over my shoulder.

“What do you think they’d do if we just quit?” he joked.

I couldn’t help but chuckle.

“They’d starve.”

We both laughed as we walked back into the kitchen. Zane was there, and of course he started staring at me again. I shook my head and continued with my work.

My mom came in a while later, holding some bags in her arms. She smiled, saying hello to the kitchen staff and to Declan.

I wiped my hands on my apron.

“Mom, I’m all done, I’m going to head back to the house and do some laundry before lunch prep.”

“Sure, hun. I’ll be down in a bit, I’ve got a few things to do as well.”

I made my way down the hill and was once again ambushed by Zane.

“We really need to stop meeting like this, Alpha,” I huffed as I yanked my arm away from him.

“Who is that wolf you keep flirting with?”

I took a step back.

“I’m pretty sure you lost the right to ever have an opinion on that when you rejected me,” I snapped.

He grabbed my arm again, and I gasped at his tight grip.

“You are mine.”

“No!” I yelled at him.

“You didn’t want me!Yourejectedme. You don’t get to take that back!”

“I’m Alpha, I can do what I want!” He crushed his lips to mine, and I bit him hard, drawing a bit of blood. He recoiled, then came at me again.

“You are not my mate, Zane Davis!” I screamed at him.

Suddenly, Declan was by my side.

“Ella, are you okay?” I looked up at him, and he wiped a tear from my face. I hadn’t even noticed I was crying. I was so grateful he was there.

Declan turned to Zane, who growled and advanced on us.

Declan lowered his head in submission.

“Alpha, I do not wish to challenge you. But Ella is my friend, and she is upset.”

Zane straightened himself.

“What is your name?”