Page 16 of Two Years Gone

Declan kept his gaze down.

“Declan Black.”

“Well, Declan Black, is she your mate?”

“Excuse me?” Declan looked up at him in confusion.

“If she is your mate, then take her. Otherwise, you have no claim to her, and your Alpha is demanding that you let us finish our conversation.”

I was furious.

“Alpha, I have nothing else to say.” I turned to Declan and took his hand.

“Take me home please.”

I could hear Zane growl as we walked away. But I wasn’t about to let my best friend get eaten alive.

Zane was an alpha, which meant he was stronger and faster. He could take Declan down in seconds, and I didn’t want to see that.

As we walked back to the house, I could feel my body shaking. I knew it was partly because of the fear I had of Declan almost becoming ground beef.

But part of it was because I had not only stood up to Zane, I had yelled at him. I didn’t know where that had come from, but it had felt good to finally let it out.

When we entered the house, I sat down on the couch, my head in my hands.

“What was that all about, Ella?” Declan asked, sitting beside me on the couch.

“I, uhm…” I struggled to find the words.

“Is he the one that hurt you?” he asked tenderly.

If only you knew, I thought to myself. I took a deep breath.

“Two years ago, Zane was my mate.”

He was kind to try to hide the shock on his face. He had moved to the pack after Zane had left, so he didn’t know anything about it.

I continued, “He rejected me that day. On my birthday, no less. He didn’t want me. He didn’t want an omega as his mate, as his luna.”

I lowered my head.

“I’m nothing,” I whispered.

“You are not nothing.” He smiled at me.

I smiled back before tossing my hair to the side.

“Anyway, he got back yesterday from his two years of alpha training. The two years were good for me. The mate pull we had is gone.

“At least, it is for me. He’s been mean and possessive since he got back. I think he still thinks I belong to him, even though he rejected me.”

“Did he say that?” Declan asked.

I nodded, and Declan squeezed my hand.

“Well... ice cream?”

I laughed, glad my friend was here.