Chapter Twenty-Seven

Ellie

I was wiped out. Not even back-to-back night patrols or extra training could compare to this...this dress shopping.

Olivia was in her glory; I, on the other hand, despised every second of it.

“We need to find you some shoes,” Olivia declared as we left the dress shop, our arms heavy with bags.

I halted and almost stomped my foot. I’d had enough.

“No... No more shopping,” I grumbled. “I just want to go home. I need to find out what happened at the meeting with Jason.”

Olivia rolled her eyes.

The war was going to impact us all, but right now she seemed to think that shopping for my mating ceremony was more crucial.

“You can’t go to your own mating ceremony wearing boots,” she scoffed, looking down at my footwear with disdain.

I liked boots, especially these ones. They were comfy, and no one would see them under the dress anyway.

Now it was my turn to roll my eyes.

“No one will see what shoes I’m wearing anyway,” I shot back.

Olivia sighed and shook her head.

“Anyway, you can’t go home,” she stated.

I frowned, waiting for her to continue. She better have a good reason why I couldn’t.

Olivia smirked. The kind of smirk you give when you’ve won a small victory and you know it's going to annoy the other person.

“Your dad is letting Jason stay at his house, and Seth doesn’t want you anywhere near him. He doesn’t trust him.”

I glared at Olivia and crossed my arms over my chest.

“That’s ridiculous, and since when does Seth get to decide?” I huffed.

Olivia just looked at me and chuckled.

“Since he’s your mate and the Beta of this pack. If he thinks Jason is a threat, he’ll do whatever it takes to protect you.”

Olivia shrugged.

“Jason should be thankful that he didn’t get thrown in the cells.”

I sighed heavily and shook my head.

It made sense now. His reaction when we headed back to the car. His demands that I never put myself in danger. I chuckled inwardly.

He was going to have to get used to the fact that I liked to tread my own path.

This time, however, I would do as he asked. I didn’t want to cause a scene right before this ceremony.

I would have been quite happy without one, but it seemed important to Seth and to Clayton, so I guessed I would just roll with it.

“So where am I sleeping tonight?” I asked, grumpily.

Olivia grinned.

“At our house, of course. Then I can help you get ready in the morning.”

I narrowed my eyes.

“Well, I’m still not buying shoes, so we better head back to your place.”

Olivia sighed and her shoulders sagged. She knew better than to argue with me now. Not least because I was pissed that once again I wasn’t getting any say in the matter.

I had half a mind to just head back home. I still needed to find out what had happened at the meeting. I thought better of it though.

The last thing I wanted to do was start off my and Seth’s life together on a bad note, but he also had to realize that I wasn’t going to be some meek little pushover.

It wasn’t like I could even mind-link my dad, not without my wolf.

The fact that I could scent Seth today had given me some hope, but if my wolf was going to make a return, then she needed to hurry up about it.

***

By the time we arrived back at the house, I was like a bear with a sore head. I’d tuned out Olivia’s ramblings some time ago. I just nodded my head and hummed agreement at appropriate moments.

When we walked in, I just dumped the bags on the floor with a sigh.

Murdoch emerged from the kitchen and glanced between the bags and me, a smirk on his face. Olivia ran over to him, and he wrapped his arm around her.

“Successful shopping trip?” he asked, smiling.

“She’s going to look wonderful,” Olivia gushed.

I rolled my eyes and sighed.

“Where am I sleeping?”

Murdoch frowned but gestured towards a door.

“The guest room is in there...but I made dinner.”

He pouted slightly.

I’d never seen him like that. He was always the tough beta on the training field.

I shook my head.

“I’m sorry, I’m just not hungry.”

I turned and headed towards the bedroom. The last thing I felt like doing was sitting down and making small talk while Olivia gushed about the ceremony tomorrow.

I was tired and annoyed that Seth had ordered me away from my home, just because he didn’t like the look of Jason.

I’d barely reached the door when I heard Murdoch’s voice.

“I made your favorite…”

I turned around, and he grinned at me.

“Lasagna. I know you’re pissed with Seth, and likely with Livvie too…”

“Murdoch!” Olivia complained.

I couldn’t help but crack a smile. He wasn’t wrong, but just because Seth had pissed me off, I realized there was no need to be rude.

They were both my friends. Even though Olivia had tortured me with shopping, I knew she only wanted what was best for me, and for me to have a special day tomorrow.

I walked back over to where he was standing.

“Ok...you got me,” I conceded.

I never could turn down lasagna.

It was good. Better than I expected.

“So do you do all the cooking?” I asked him.

Murdoch chuckled, and cast a glance at Olivia.

“She can't even boil an egg.”

I put a hand over my mouth to suppress a laugh. Olivia looked at Murdoch and pouted.

“But I still love her,” he added, gently touching her face.

Olivia blushed.

I couldn’t help but smile. I wondered if in a few months time that would be me and Seth.

“Is it because you’re mates?” I asked, curiously.

Murdoch shook his head.

“It probably was at first, but now...it's different,” he hesitated.

“Seth’s just being protective, you know. If I thought Livvie was in danger, I’d be the same way.”

I let out a sigh.

“Jason wouldn’t hurt me, Murdoch. He saved my life, remember? If he hadn’t found me, I might’ve bled out.”

Murdoch nodded, but his eyes narrowed.

“That was before, Ellie. Before everything went to hell. Joel’s probably commanded every pack member to kill you on sight.

“I’m guessing he gave the command when Jason was out of range. Maybe when they crossed into Zagan’s territory.”

I swallowed hard.

That meant I was a walking target. Any member of the crescent moon pack would try to kill me. They wouldn’t have a choice.

“If Joel knows Jason’s here, he’ll mind-link him the command. Jason won’t be able to resist.”

Murdoch’s face softened.

“But don’t worry. When Joel dies, his Alpha command dies with him.”

His voice faded, and I saw a flicker of panic cross his face.

I narrowed my eyes.

“What do you mean, ‘when he dies’? What aren’t you telling me, Murdoch?” I demanded.

Murdoch just shook his head.

I stood up so fast the chair I’d been sitting on toppled over. It hit me then. They were planning to kill Joel.

The only way to do that without starting a war was for someone to challenge him. They wouldn’t let Jason do it, or they wouldn’t have stopped him earlier today.

“Someone’s going to challenge him, right? Who? You? Seth?”

Murdoch just stared at me, shaking his head.

I covered my mouth with my hand, shaking my head. I blinked back tears. I’d almost lost him once; I couldn’t lose him again.

“No! It's my dad, isn’t it? He’s going to challenge Joel?”

I ran for the door. I couldn’t let this happen. They weren’t going to tell me either, not until it was too late.

Somehow, Murdoch beat me to the door.

“He didn’t want you to know. Not until after your mating ceremony.”

I shook my head.

“Move, Murdoch. I need to see him.”

Murdoch stood his ground, shaking his head.

“You can’t, Ellie. Seth’s orders are that you’re not allowed near Jason. Not until this is over.”

I narrowed my eyes. I didn’t give a damn about Seth’s orders. I had to see my dad.

If I still had Nix, I would’ve used our Alpha command to make Murdoch let me pass. But I didn’t, so I had to do the only other thing I could.

“Don’t make me fight you, Murdoch,” I warned, my teeth gritted. “Move.”

I clenched my fists.

Murdoch stared at me, shaking his head.

“You don’t want to do this, Ellie. I don’t want to hurt you, but I have my orders.”

He took a defensive stance, one I’d seen on the training field many times.

I took my own stance, ready to attack. I wasn’t backing down. Not this time.

But before either of us could make a move, we heard Olivia whimper.

“P...Please don’t. I think my water just broke…”

Murdoch moved away from the door and rushed to Olivia’s side. I looked from Olivia to the door, torn. Olivia was my best friend, despite everything.

“Please, Ellie,” she pleaded. “I need you…”

I closed my eyes and sighed, then turned away from the door and walked over to her.

“Murdoch, go get the car. I’ll stay with Olivia.”

I put my arm around her as Murdoch headed for the door. When he reached it, he looked back at me.

“Thank you,” he whispered.

I just nodded.

Olivia needed me right now; my dad would have to wait until tomorrow.