EllaSleep was as elusive as ever that night.I tossed and turned, the sheets twisting around me until I felt utterly restricted. First I was too hot, then too cold, then scared of the monsters under the bed. I found myself checking the lock on the door, opening and closing my blinds, and turning this way and that until I finally began to give up hope all together.I had never been one to sleep well in a hotel room. Ever since I was a little kid, I always preferred sleeping in my own bed. I recalled going to a handful of slumber parties, only to be calling my parents in the middle of the night, asking to come home.And that wasn’t all that lurked in the shadows, either. In the dark, my thoughts always seemed to circle around me like black specters. Tonight in particular, those thoughts revolved around Logan: our kiss earlier, our complicated feelings, and most of all, his meeting with my parents in the morning.I found no solace because of this, not even in the luxury of this swanky h
LoganThe drive to the restaurant the next morning was a tangled mess of tension and silence.Ella was visibly nervous, her hands darting to her hair every so often, running her fingers through the wavy strands as if that simple act could calm her racing heart. From where we sat in the back of our cab, I wanted to reach out and comfort her in some way.But after everything that had happened the night before, I was hesitant.“Don’t do it again,” she had said after I kissed her.It really wasn’t intentional. I wouldn’t have done it if it weren’t for the way that she looked so beautiful beneath the theme park lights, if it weren’t for the way that the powdered sugar stuck to her lips and made her look all the more sweet.My wolf had pulled me closer then, and I wasn’t able to resist. She had tasted just as sweet and delicious as she looked, and I could tell that she wanted to kiss me, too. But when we had pulled away, she was colder than ever.She was cold, too, on the balcony, even thou
EllaThe moment my dad said that line—about Logan ‘stealing away his little girl’—my cheeks felt like they were on fire. My dad always seemed like he knew exactly how to stir the pot, to bring that embarrassing dad humor into even the most nerve-wracking situations.And the worst part was, Logan thought that he was being completely serious. I could see it in Logan’s face; the way his eyes went ever so slightly wide. He was trying to hide it, but I could tell.“Dad, take it easy,” I chided, punching my father’s arm lightly. “Can you play nice for one day?”My father chuckled, the corners of his lips pulling up into that trademark smirk of his. “I’m just joking,” he teased, his eyes meeting Logan’s. “Really, I’m happy that my daughter has met her fated mate. Please, let’s sit.”We took our seats, and the tension began to dissipate, floating up into the air along with all of the other sights, smells, and sounds of the fancy restaurant.I still remembered when my father was a serious man.
EllaLogan took a deep breath, as if he were gathering the strength to lift a colossal weight.He glanced at me, his eyes carrying a quiet plea for understanding. There was nothing that I could do; we both knew that this moment was bound to come at one point or another, and in the most Edrick way possible, my father had decided that that moment would be right now.Something told me that my father already knew. In fact, I was almost certain of it. This was a test of Logan’s trustworthiness, his transparency about his life.Finally, after what felt like an eternity, Logan met my father’s stare. “My father,” he began, his voice low and filled with an unmistakable sense of gravity, “is a mafia boss in our city.”My mom’s hand instantly shot up to her chest as she gasped, a look of disbelief etched across her face. “You’re joking,” she said, a hint of a smile tugging at the corners of her lips. “Very funny, Logan.”But Logan just shook his head slowly without saying a word, his gaze firmly
EllaThe tension in the room was still palpable, and I felt like I was stuck at the center of it all, caught in between approval and disapproval from my loving parents.But what my dad did next shocked me—and all of us, really—to my core.My dad extended his hand across the table, palm up, eyes still locked onto Logan. Logan stared down at his outstretched hand, clearly trying to decide if this was genuine or some sort of trap.“Look,” my father said, seeming to sense Logan’s trepidation. “I’ve been in business long enough to know a good prospect when I see one, and you seem like a good young man with decent intentions. I’ll give you that.”Logan hesitated, eyeing my father’s hand like it was a loaded gun. “Thank you, sir,” he stammered, clearly caught off guard. But he reached out and grasped my father’s hand, sealing whatever unspoken contract was being made in that moment.I felt a lump form in my throat as their hands shook. Was this it? A tentative stamp of approval from my busin
Logan“Mom? Dad?” Ella called out as we stepped out of the elevator and into the brightly-lit foyer.Walking into Ella’s parents’ penthouse felt like stepping into a different world.Rather than the pure extravagant opulence that I had expected, I was instead met with understated elegance, creaking hardwood floors, and tall arched windows that allowed the sun to beam in. The furniture was chic yet comfortable, and the entire place smelled like fresh baked bread.However, despite the beautiful and comfortable decor, I felt anything but comfortable. This evening was like a high-stakes performance, and my mind was on edge for every little change in the atmosphere. This was my one chance to make this entire arrangement with Ella worth it.“Logan, let me introduce you to Selina, our housekeeper,” Moana said, gesturing toward a distinguished elderly woman standing nearby. She was leaning on a carved wooden cane, but there was a sort of understated dignity about her.Selina approached, exten
EllaI watched as my father pulled Logan away from the party… to play a game of chess.“Oh no,” Ema’s voice echoed in the back of my mind. “Not this again.”Her words made me wince. I was suddenly reminded of a boyfriend I’d had when I was younger; my father had pulled a similar stunt, using a game of chess as a gauge for the boy’s worthiness to be my boyfriend.Needless to say, we weren’t together after that. My boyfriend turned out to be a rather sore loser and stormed out angrily. I could still remember my father’s words: “See, Ella? Never waste your time on men who don’t know how to lose.”But this shouldn’t have bothered me in the same way. Theoretically, at least. Logan and I were not really in a relationship, nor would we ever be, as far as I was concerned.“I’m just worried about his business prospects,” I told Ema when I felt her teasing nature begin to work its way out in response to the racing of my heart. “That’s all.”“Mhm. Sure.”Turning my attention back to Clara and Da
EllaA thick wall of silence enveloped the room as Logan’s words floated through the air. His voice was stern and slightly raised, as though they had been working at some sort of argument for a while now.“I’ll keep her safe because I care about her more than anything, and that’s all that matters, Mr. Morgan.”My eyes widened, my heart pacing a marathon inside my chest. The resonance of his voice—a mixture of sincerity and frustration—latched onto me, sending my head spinning.“What’s happening?” I whispered to my mother, who was standing there, blocking the way.She shook her head. “Just men being men, honey,” she whispered back. “Just go back to Daisy’s room. They’ll get over it soon.”But I wasn’t about to be pushed away now like a child witnessing a parental fight. Especially not when my wolf was pulling me closer to him, urging my legs to steer into the room.“He does care for you,” my wolf murmured, a note of triumph in her tone. “I told you so, Ella. But you never listen.”Foll