Page 26 of Two Years Gone

“Oh. I thought you weren’t being promoted because of me.”

Zane shook his head.

“Don’t worry about it. I’ve got things I need to work on before I can be alpha.”

I looked up at him and attempted a warm smile before pulling some wisps of hair away from my face and turning toward the kitchen.

“Well, I have work to do, so..”

“I don’t want to keep you. I just didn’t want you to worry.”

“Thank you,” I replied, surprised at how levelheaded and cool he had been. He had never treated me this way.

Maybe things were changing, but he hadn’t addressed the mate situation. Obviously, he still didn’t want me.

Chapter 13

ELLA

I sat in thought at the kitchen island, taking a break from my work before cleaning up dinner.

“So tonight, I’m thinking we watch some violent movies and binge on cookies.”

I looked up to see Declan. He hopped up on the counter and faced me.

I smiled, still thinking about what Zane had said and how he had treated me.

“Earth to Ella?” Declan knocked on my head, and I snapped my face up.

“Hmm?”

Declan laughed.

“Where’d you go?”

“Oh, I’m just tired.”

“Has Zane been giving you any more trouble since you put him in his place?” Declan teased.

“Nope. He even apologized.”

Declan gave an exaggerated gasp.

“My, my! You garnered an apology from the mighty alpha himself?”

I shoved him and laughed.

“Stop it, he might hear you!”

“So about tonight?” Declan asked.

“Maybe tomorrow. All that extra work today left me exhausted. And I still have to help clean up,” I said as I ran a hand through my hair.

Declan gave me a wink.

“Alright, just cookies then?” He pulled a box of chocolate chip cookies out from behind his back.

“You are literally the best person ever,” I sighed as I took a bite of a cookie.