Page 75 of Two Years Gone

Ella scowled.

“Mariah.”

I saw red.

“What do you mean, Mariah?”

“I took a run to the lake. I had just gotten out of the water and was sitting at the water’s edge when she came up behind me. She said some awful things…”

Ella trailed off, Mariah’s words echoing in her mind.

“She attacked you?” I questioned, trying to keep my fury at bay.

Ella nodded.

“She shifted and lunged at me. I’ve never been trained, I was always just working in the kitchen. I only knew what my dad had taught me about getting out of a fight.

“It didn’t work, she was more skilled than I was. She was stronger. She bit me and clawed at me and left me for dead.

“I tried to make it back to the pack house but I was so weak, so injured, I couldn’t go any farther and collapsed on the ground.”

Anger flashed through my eyes. I stood and rubbed my hands through my hair before throwing the pitcher of water at the wall. It made Ella flinch, and I turned back to her, taking her hand.

“I’m sorry. I just—I can’t believe this happened. You should have taken me with you.”

“Zane, stop. You and I both know we can’t just follow each other around all day.” Ella rolled her eyes at me sarcastically.

“I’d never get anything done,” I teased before placing a soft kiss on her lips.

Ella scrunched her nose.

“You should go home and shower. You look and smell horrible.”

I laughed for the first time in a week and smiled at her as I left to head back to the packhouse to do as my luna said.

Chapter 35

ELLA

When we entered the packhouse a few days later, all I could think about was going upstairs and sleeping in my bed.

That hospital bed was horrible, hard, and lumpy. I’d barely gotten any good sleep on it. My wounds were healed completely, and I was glad to be home.

I made my way to the stairs and was about to head up when my feet were swept out from under me, and I was in the strong, muscular arms of my mate.

“Zane, I am perfectly capable of walking!” I hollered as I rolled my eyes.

“Yes, but what fun would that be?” Zane teased as he took me upstairs.

I watched as he walked past my room and entered his.

“Hey, wait! What are you—”

I was interrupted when he dropped me on the bed.

“Zane! I’m not going to just—”

“Nope!” Zane held a hand to my mouth.