“Ellie!” My mother’s voice broke off our mini staring contest, and I backed away.“Just stop. Please,” I whispered before walking into the house.Knowing him, he wouldn’t listen, but I hoped it counted for something. The weekend only got started, and I was already drained.As I stepped into the grand foyer, my mother's voice cut through the air, shattering the tense silence between Chase and me. "Ellie, darling!" She floated towards me, her eyes sparkling with a warmth that made my heart skip a beat. But I couldn't shake off the unease that had settled in the pit of my stomach since I woke up.“Look at this beauty,” my mother gushed as I walked through the large doors."Hey, Mom," I replied, forcing a smile onto my lips. My gaze drifted past her, taking in the opulent chandeliers, vibrant artwork, and polished dark wood floors that seemed to gleam in the soft light. For a moment, my anger and anxiety faded into the air as I took in the beauty in front of me.As I stepped inside, I w
As I followed my mother up the stairs, my mind reeled with the revelation. Jealousy? Towards Chase? It couldn't be, but the loud slamming of my heart, told me it just might be.I pushed the thought aside, focusing on the task at hand - getting through this weekend without losing my mind.“Mom, why did you have to invite them?” I asked with a tired sigh, my voice laced with frustration.“Because it would strengthen the partnership bond between Daniel and the Malcolms. Besides, you and Jaden seem distant,” she shrugged without looking back at me.I scowled. “For the thousandth time mom, I don’t feel anything for Jaden anymore….”“Why?” She cut me off, and turned to me with a piercing gaze. “You were both always together.”“Things change,” I said flatly, not wanting to go into any details.“Things like what? Feelings? Do you like someone else, Ellie?” She asked sternly, placing her hands on her hips.My heart stopped for a moment, but I quickly regained myself. “I’m not having this conv
As Chase's hand wrapped around mine, I felt a jolt of electricity run through my body as he pulled me closer to his chest. It was as if the entire world had come to a standstill, leaving only the two of us, suspended in time."Chase, I..." I started to say, but he cut me off with a gentle squeeze of my hand."Don't, Elodie. Just let me be here for you, okay?" His voice was low and soothing, and I felt my defenses crumbling beneath his gaze.I nodded, feeling a lump form in my throat. No one had ever looked at me the way Chase did, with such kindness and understanding.We sat there in silence for a moment, hands entwined, as the darkness outside seemed to press in around us. I felt like I was drowning in his eyes, and yet, I couldn't look away.Suddenly, I spoke up, my voice barely above a whisper. "Chase, can I ask you something?"He nodded, my heart racing with anticipation.I looked down at my intertwined fingers, trying to piece my thoughts together."Do you feel it too?" I asked,
Chase’s povI watched that bitch insult her, and like the asshole I was, I stayed back in silence.I saw her eyes move towards me, silently pleading with me not to let her go, but I didn’t. Not because I couldn’t, but because I didn’t want to complicate things further.They were already complicated as hell, and I barely even understood my own self.My wolf and I were at odds. We disagreed all the time now because he wanted something more with Elodie. Heck, he wanted to mark her.But I couldn’t let that happen.That would be too selfish of me.I couldn’t pull her out of her quiet life to a life she knew nothing about. So I watched her leave.I sighed and ran my fingers through my hair, heated pizza forgotten, and that was when I realized I was being watched like a hawk by this bitch.She watched me with an intensity that made my skin crawl, and sauntered over, her hips swaying in an exaggerated motion.I scowled, and tried to walk away from her, but she stood in front of me, blocking
Chase’s pov“Where is it? Where the fuck is it?!” I growled as I searched the room calmly when all I wanted to do was tear everything my fingers touched apart.My insides were burning with rage and fury. I was angry at being unable to find the godamn key even though I’d been in the human world for three months. I was angry at whoever was the mastermind of the happenings in my world. I was angry at my wolf for pacing incessantly in my mind. I was angry at Elodie for stirring those feelings inside of me, and most especially, I was angry at myself for feeling the way I felt about her.“Fuck!” I growled when I came up empty in the bathroom cabinets in Daniel’s room.There was no key anywhere. I’d searched everywhere. All the rooms in his house, his cars, his office, and even this freaking beach house.There was no key!I had to go back home. Laila must have been playing a trick on me.I stormed back into my room, slamming the door behind me. I couldn't shake off the feeling of emptiness t
“Ellie!” I rolled my eyes when I heard his voice calling out to me.I quickened my pace, and wrapped my arms around my body to shield myself from the biting cold.“Ellie, wait!” Jaden’s voice cut through the chill. “What are you doing out here? It’s so cold,” he said, running to catch my pace.I rolled my eyes again, not breaking my stride.“Leave me alone, Jaden,” I said in a bored tone, my breath forming a white cloud in front of me.“Wait,” he called, and held my elbow.“What?!” I snapped, my anger simmering just below the surface.He was taken aback by my outburst, and his eyes narrowed in slits as he stared at me.“Have….have you been crying?” He asked, his head tilted to the side.“None of your business,” I growled, my eyes flashing with warning.Jaden’s face fell, but he didn’t back off. “You have been crying. What’s wrong with you?” He pressed, his voice growing softer.My defense rose and I lashed out. “Because seeing you makes me want to gouge my eyes out with a fork, and my
The rest of the weekend passed in a blur, and I breezed through activities. Not really. I had been cooped up in my room most of the time, because that seemed to be the only way to ward Jaden off.The kiss I’d initiated had sent a very wrong message, and I paid the price, so staying locked in my room was the best way to avoid him.It wasn’t even a vacation anymore because at that point I might as well have been in some rat hole, because it didn’t make any difference.Growing up, I’d always wished to go on vacations, and Hawaii was at the top of that bucket list, but after my father’s death, the money he left for us was used to survive. Me on food, and my mother on crack.And now, I’d been giving an opportunity to live my dream, and I let it slip through my fingers, and no matter how much I tried to convince myself I was staying locked in in my room to avoid Jaden, I knew the real reason.Chase.I had thought having him on this trip would be a disaster, but his absence was more of a di
Chapter 44Chase’s povI glared at Alex, who plopped down on my couch, tossing an empty beer can on the floor. "This place is shit," he said, his voice grating on my nerves.“If you can’t make it better, don’t make it worse,” I growled at him, not looking up from my laptop.Alex snorted. "You need to get out more, man. This place is suffocating you."I shot him a warning look, but he just chuckled and grabbed another beer from the fridge.I had a shit ton of work to do, and I’d been cooped up in my position for hours on end. The only thoughts that had ravaged my mind in the last 72 hours was work, and Elodie.No matter how hard I tried to get her out of my thoughts, it seemed impossible. She lingered, haunting my thoughts like a ghost.She plagued my dreams and waking thoughts, yet I couldn’t shake her off.I’d convinced myself again and again that it was best to let her go. That would make her life less complicated. Seeing her with that kid struck a deep nerve, I wasn’t going to lie,