Chapter Twenty-Eight

Ellie

Five years ago, my grandfather revealed my true identity and whisked me away. But not everyone in the Blood River pack knew who I was, and I liked it that way. I didn’t want a bunch of people fussing over me.

Everyone thought Beta Alexander was my grandfather. They didn’t know that the Alpha King and his Luna were also my grandparents.

My reluctance to return to the pack-house wasn’t about my heritage. It was because my grandfather thought I needed to learn to socialize.

He said it was a crucial part of my training.

I didn’t get why. In the past, I wasn’t encouraged to socialize. In fact, when I was in the human sector, it was discouraged.

My time in Gabriel’s pack was short, and while I was trapped in Zagan’s dungeon, Sammy was my only company.

I missed Sammy. I had the chance to say goodbye, but I missed his funeral because of an incident with my wolf.

While I was in the mountains, I was too busy with my training and lessons to dwell on it.

Now, as we headed towards the pack-house and the town, all the memories from five years ago came rushing back, including the guilt.

It was silly to feel guilty about something out of my control. It wasn’t just Sammy’s death. It was also the resentment I felt towards Gabriel for leaving me, only to find out he hadn’t.

He had died trying to find me. So had either Jackson or Elijah. They didn’t know which. Maybe after five years, Clayton and Seth had found out, or maybe it was both?

Five years of study had helped me forget about the revenge that Nix and I wanted. But now, that need was coming back. It was more balanced, though.

Training and study had taught me a lot. Patience and planning were just a couple of things. We would get our revenge, but I was willing to wait for the right time.

When we got to the pack-house, there wasn’t a big welcoming committee, which I was thankful for.

Clayton came down the pack-house steps as the car stopped.

He hadn’t changed much in five years, unlike me. But he was a mature werewolf. After thirty, they didn’t change much. Even my grandfather looked young for his age.

I, on the other hand, had changed a lot. I’d grown taller and stronger as I hit puberty.

As I got out of the car, Clayton came over and hugged me. I hesitated for a moment before hugging him back.

I guess this was what Grandfather meant when he said I needed to learn more social skills.

“Look at you,” Clayton said, smiling, “little Ellie all grown up.”

I rolled my eyes. Even though I was once small, I never saw myself as little. Not after escaping Zagan’s dungeon.

“Any news?” I asked.

Now it was Clayton’s turn to roll his eyes.

“Let’s get you settled in first, then some of the pack are having a movie night. It’ll be good for you to meet them.”

I frowned. I would rather be alone, but I had a feeling that wasn’t going to happen.

“Do I have to? I’d rather study or train. Maybe I could watch a patrol,” I suggested.

“No!” Grandfather and Clayton said together.

They looked at each other and smiled.

I sighed in annoyance.

“I should’ve stayed in the mountain,” I grumbled.

Clayton laughed and put an arm around my shoulder.

“Come on, grumpy, let's get you settled.”

I recognized the apartment doors right away. It felt like just yesterday that we’d left here for the ceremony to join Clayton’s pack.

We stopped outside another door first, and Grandfather kissed me on the top of my head.

“Try to behave,” he whispered before Clayton led me down the hallway and up the stairs.

That’s when I realized that my Grandfather wasn’t staying, but I was.

“He’s not staying, is he?” I mumbled.

Clayton looked at me and smiled sympathetically.

“Just until you’re settled. Then he’ll go back to the mountain.”

I sighed and let out a breath.

Clayton stopped and put his hands on my shoulders.

“He’s not abandoning you, Ellie. He’s just giving you room to grow. Besides, there’s a war coming. He’s too old to fight. Werewolves don’t live forever!”

My heart skipped a beat.

“Is he... Is he going back to the mountains... to die?”

Clayton looked at me and smiled.

“Come on, let's go. I have a surprise for you.”

Clayton opened the apartment door and led me inside.

“We’re here,” he called out.

I grinned as Seth came out of the kitchen. He was wearing an apron stained red.

I sniffed the air, looking for the scent of blood, but it wasn’t there.

Seth looked at me and laughed.

“It’s tomato sauce.”

I smiled back. Then he opened his arms.

“Come here, little pup.”

I ran over to him and he wrapped his big arms around me in a hug. I didn’t hesitate to hug him back.

He was my only friend when I first got here. Clayton and Grandfather were different. They were like family. Seth had saved me when he found me in the cave.

“I missed you,” I whispered.

Seth chuckled and kissed the top of my head.

“I missed you too, little Ellie.”

He let go of the hug and gently pushed me away. He put a hand on my shoulder and the other gently held my chin, tilting my head up slightly.

“But not so little anymore I see,” he smirked.

I felt my face turn red.

“Why do you look like you’ve been attacked by tomatoes?” I asked, my eyes darting to his sauce-splattered apron.

He let out a sigh, crossing his arms over his chest.

“Last time I asked you what you wanted for dinner, you said lasagna, so...”

I couldn’t help but laugh.

“Took you long enough,” I teased, “I didn’t know lasagna took five years to make.”

He rolled his eyes at me.

“Twenty minutes until dinner,” he said, turning on his heel and heading back into the kitchen.

I stood there, my gaze lingering on the spot where he’d just been. Then I felt a hand on my shoulder.

Clayton. I’d almost forgotten he was there.

“He really did miss you, you know.”

I shrugged, trying to brush off the comment.

“Am I still in the same room?” I asked, attempting to change the subject.

Clayton nodded, removing his hand from my shoulder.

“There’s a change of clothes in your room. You might want to head into town tomorrow to get some more. Maybe one of the girls could go with you.”

I nodded, making my way towards my old room. I had just enough time for a quick shower and change before dinner.

I was looking forward to the meal, but not so much the movie night with the rest of the pack.

It all felt a bit strange. One moment I was in the mountains with my grandfather, learning and training. The next, I was here, being hugged and encouraged to have fun.

My grandfather, while I knew he loved me, wasn’t big on hugs or outward displays of affection. Especially as I got older. It was all about my education and training.

Fun wasn’t really part of his plan.

Was that why he wasn’t sticking around? Was he a loner, but didn’t want me to be the same? He’d insisted that coming back was part of my education.

I found myself feeling a bit lost.

After I’d showered and changed into clean clothes, I was relieved to find that Clayton hadn’t picked out a dress for me. Alpha King’s granddaughter or not, I was never going to be a dress kind of girl.

Clayton had found me some jeans and a shirt, which fit surprisingly well. There was also a comfortable pair of sneakers. A nice change from the combat boots I was used to.

My grandfather had clearly intended to raise me as a warrior.

When I walked out of the bedroom, Clayton was sitting on the couch, my grandfather next to him. They both smiled when they saw me.

“Good,” my grandfather said, “you look more like a teenager than a warrior now.”

I frowned, “I thought you wanted me to be a warrior?”

Clayton stood and walked over to me, placing a hand on my shoulder.

“He does...we all do. But we also want you to be a well-rounded individual. You need to know when to put the warrior away and let the person shine through.”

I nodded, my thoughts drifting to Seth. He was the Beta. A warrior. But he was also something more.

As I thought of him, he walked out of the kitchen, his tomato-stained apron replaced with dark jeans and a button-up shirt.

“Dinner is served,” he said, a smirk playing on his lips.

Clayton led me to another room I hadn’t been in before. A large dining table sat in the middle, set for four.

In the center was a steaming tray of lasagna.

I couldn’t help but smile as I was guided to my seat.

At least now I knew how to use a knife and fork. I even knew what went into lasagna. I had my grandfather to thank for that. Something I would always be grateful for.