CHAPTER THREE.

                       Ella

"Drive Lila," I whispered, leaning against the backrest. She said nothing, however, but pulled over by the roadside, and cast me a stare. I squirmed visibly. I knew that look.

"Are you fine, Ella? I wanted to wait till we get to the restaurant, but it's been a while since I've seen you. I just didn't expect us to meet in this manner..." Her voice cracked, and she trailed off.

Knowing how emotional Lila could be at times, I could tell she was holding back her tears. However, I didn't say a word. I couldn't. I was sure as hell if I did, she'd break down. And so, I held back my words and curled my hands into fists.

"What happened, Ella?" Lila asked again, wiping off the tear from her eyes. 

"Let's get to the restaurant." I turned my face away and insisted.

Silence reigned after I said those words. None of us ventured to speak. The air suddenly became suffocating, and I couldn't bear it. The tears spilled down fast before I could stop them.

"I'm sorry, for keeping you in the dark, Lila," I whisper and cried. 

Guilt-faced, Lila leaned over and patted my shoulders comfortingly. "I should be the one apologizing, Ella. As you said, let's get to the restaurant first." She gave my shoulder a last pat, before adjusting her position in the driver's seat and turning on the ignition.

 We soon pulled over, at the parking lot, beside a well-known German restaurant. 

"I bet you'd enjoy their dishes." Lilia winked, as she got down, and waltzed over to pull the door open for me.

In minutes, we were seated at an obscure corner, in the restaurant, digging into our schnitzel. There was a plate of sausage, to go along with it. A bottle of beer was also placed on the table. Typical German fashion.

Once the mood was set, Lila leaned in on the chair. "As I said in the car, I actually wasn't expecting to see you soon. I already made a mental note, to come over to your pack, if it boiled down to it. That being said, what actually happened? How is your father?"Lila asked. I felt her stare boring into me.

At the mention of my father, I stilled, and sweat drops began forming at the nape of my neck. I'd always deemed German dishes as unpleasant, but at that moment, they tasted completely bland.

I was sure my reaction didn't go unnoticed by my ever-observant friend. Lila had always been observant. I watched as she took a long swig of her drink, and placed her elbow on the white glass table while casting a quick glance at the restaurant.

It lived up to its name as the best there was. With brightly illuminating chandeliers hanging from the Roman-styled ceiling, the restaurant had a royal, and majestic aura to it. Matching its beauty were the wonderfully made dishes, served at the restaurant, by the best chefs there were.

"Do you want to talk about it now? I don't want to be...you know, insensitive." Lila whispered. Gone was the playful demeanor she had on earlier. In its place, was the most serious look she could muster. Pain also managed to find its place in her expression.

"There's no reason to delay it. I'd still get to tell you after all. I was literally disowned by my father...." And out poured out the story. Every single thing.

Once I was done narrating, Lila sat dumbstruck in one spot, not making the slightest attempt to blink. 

"That witch! I'm sorry, she's your stepmother, but how dare she?!" She finally exploded, forgetting the decorum required of our location.

She didn't seem to mind, even as other customers threw us curious stares. "She's a complete scumbag. That daughter of bitch!" She growled.

A tear slipped down my cheeks to my angst, and dismay. 

"To think he'd do something like that, to his own daughter. Doesn't he have filial empathy?" Lila sighed. Her earlier anger subsided a little, to allow her to speak a little more calmly.

"I don't care. I couldn't care less. He should be happy, without me at the pack. I had never belonged anyway." I shrugged.

"Why don't we dig in?" Lila asked. I could tell she was seeking an outlet to change the topic. I leaned in, to eat, when I felt her stare at me. Gulping nervously, I turned away. I couldn't let her know how pained I was. 

"You can actually let it out you know," Lila remarked after a while, rolling the pasta on her fork, and proceeding to wolf it.

"Let what out?" I asked, pretending to be confused.

"Whatever emotions you're trying to stow away. Let it out, rather than mask it." Lila suggested, locking gazes with me.

I finally dipped mine, without giving a response. Reverberating through my mind, were my father's clear words. 

I glanced back at Lila, to see her staring at me. I gulped nervously. I'd ask about her father later when she wasn't worked up.

....

We stood outside the restaurant, in front of Lila's car. We had been standing there for probably minutes now, trying to start up Lilian's car. It wasn't working.

"I'm sorry about this Ella. I'd call Vincenzo." Lila suggested, and my stomach curled, my heart skipping a beat. However, I  masked my emotions so quickly, it seemed like an illusion.

A few phone calls later, which didn't end well, and I alongside Lila was in a cab, heading for her father's home.

"I can bet my teeth that he's not as busy as he claimed." Lila fumed, and seeing the indignant look on her face, I couldn't resist laughing.

"Maybe he doesn't want to come." I volunteered. 

"What father leaves their child, out stranded, alongside her friend? My father is definitely an exception." Lila harrumphed.

However, I couldn't register my friend's words. My mind was filled with thoughts about a particular Alpha. The one who had made me stay away from Germany and avoided visiting Lila for quite some time. The one who had made me daydream a countless number of times.

That was right. He was none other than Vincenzo Amato, Lila's father, and the Alpha of the Silver Moon's pack.

For years, I had hidden my secret crush on my friend's father, afraid it'd strain the relationship between us.  I had hidden it for so long and had been confident I gained control of it.

However, as the cab drove closer and closer to the mansion where Lila lived with her father, I couldn't help but become nervous. I could feel the butterflies playing games in my lower belly.

On second thought, I adjusted my position and cleared my throat. From the phone call earlier on, he wouldn't probably be home. 

I'd have sometime to myself before he'd return.

"We're here, miss." The cab driver announced, breaking through my thoughts, and making me look up. I glanced through the window, and I could swear I felt Wolfie jump.  It was dark, but I could see the modern and black giant gates. I exhaled slowly. We'd arrived.

Lila led me through the gates. As we walked, I couldn't help but admire the scenery. If I'd thought my pack was beautiful, then the sight that was currently greeting me at that moment was... breathtaking.

It had that serene and soothing aura, surrounding it, that I couldn't help but take a deep breath. The view hadn't changed so much since the last time I had been there.

Lila made short work of leading me into the mansion and making me comfortable.

"Relax, Ella." She glanced back at me and winked.

"I'm relaxed," I replied with a chuckle.

An hour later, as we both sat eating popcorn, which Lila had made by herself, and watching a movie, I finally relaxed.

"And when would your dad return?" I asked, as casually as I could, making sure my nervousness couldn't be detected from my voice.

"I don't know. I'm annoyed and upset at him. What are you going to do about the mating stuff?" Lila threw back a question of her own.

"I don't know. I wouldn't be going back. Besides, they had plans to chase me out beforehand, so it hurts no one." I shrugged. I sat still, my mind formulating a way to ask her about her dad, without seeming eager.

"Your stepmother should be lucky she isn't in Germany." Lila hissed.

An amused look crossed my face. "Or what'd happen?" I chuckled lightheartedly.

"It wouldn't be a big deal, to make sure she gets beaten to a pulp," Lila replied, and I finally let out the laughter I'd been holding back.

"You, my friend, is a keeper," I said in between bouts of laughter.

'Told you all you needed was a touch of Lila's magic.' Wolfie whispered triumphantly.

'I never refuted that.' I argued.

'Spare me that, young lady.' Wolfie made a great show of yawning. 'Well, seeing your improved mood, I guess I should sleep now. I have no one to comfort me, and my owner doesn't want to shift.' Wolfie said dejectedly.

'Try another line, I'm not falling for that.' I giggled inwardly.

'Of course. Well, don't disturb my peaceful sleep.' my wolf warned, and with that, she went completely silent.

"I'd like to retire for the night, Ella," Lila said, with a yawn.

I nodded. I could of course pull an all-nighter, as I definitely wasn't feeling sleepy.

"Go ahead. I'm good." I smiled at my yawning friend.

"Sure about that?" Lila asked with uncertainty.

"What am I? Five?" I retorted.

"Whatever, whatever. Goodnight, bestie." Lila bent, and gave me a quick peck on the cheeks, before taking the flight of steps that led to her room, upstairs.

I couldn't tell how long I sat up for. I couldn't tell either how many bowls of popcorn I wolfed down, sitting up there. Lila had made enough. Excess, that was.

When I heard footsteps from the stairs, I assumed it was Lila. "Bestie, you aren't going..." The words however stuck in my throat, when I turned and saw who was approaching.

I locked gazes with the very person I  wasn't expecting to see at that moment. The person I definitely wasn't ready to see. Heat crept up my neck, and I felt my peaches tingle. Gulping down nervously, my gaze landed on his bare chest, and I felt my cheeks turning crimson. 

Standing there, with a towel over his neck, his hair wet, nude down to the waist, Vincenzo looked every inch the hot Alpha he was.

I  could tell he was surprised to see me as well, judging from the look in his eyes.

I hurriedly got up and struggled to form a coherent speech. I didn't get to it, however, as he beat me to it.

"Ella, is it?" His gruff voice sounded, making my heart almost freeze.