Ella POV The next morning, I headed to the capitol for my first day of training with Alexander. I didn’t know exactly what to expect. When he’d introduced me to the trainers previously, I’d been a bit overwhelmed, and truth be told, I hadn’t been paying much attention. After my conversation with
Alexander POV The soft growl that escaped Ella's chest was so quiet it was audible only to me, but there was no mistaking it. My instincts flared, and I couldn’t help myself—I pulled her a little closer, feeling her warmth pressed against me. Without letting her go, I murmured, "It seems your wo
“Oh?” He raised an eyebrow, his expression challenging. “You think I’m trying to flatter you? What reason would I have for that?” I opened my mouth to respond but hesitated. What reason would Alexander have for trying to flatter me, unless… My cheeks warmed at the thought, and his smirk grew, that
Ella POV Message notification from Alexander Black. The words flashed across the top of my phone screen as I checked the time, but I forced myself to ignore them. Keeping busy was my best defense against wandering thoughts, and I was certainly making sure to stay occupied. I spent the previous
Alexander POV Ella always managed to surprise me in ways I didn’t expect. When we met at the gym, it wasn’t necessarily her strength or speed that caught me off guard—I’d expected her to have some athleticism. What surprised me was her enthusiasm. For someone who claimed she didn’t exercise regu
Ella POV Occupational therapy wasn’t exactly what I expected—though, in hindsight, that was probably my fault for doing no research before agreeing to it. The prospect of regaining my wolf had been so exciting that I didn’t even think to question how the process would work. Most of the appointme
"It's not that I don't trust your judgment," I said hesitantly. "I'm just... uneasy about all of this." “We can meet in person,” Alexander offered. “It might be easier to discuss our plans that way.” “I’d love to,” I replied, “but I promised my father I’d help him with some pack matters today.”
Ella POV The silence that followed was so pronounced it felt heavy. Alexander didn’t respond, and the seconds dragged on long enough that I glanced at my phone to make sure the call hadn’t dropped. "Alexander?" I said softly. "Did I say something wrong?" "No, not at all," he answered quickly,
Ella POV The image of Alexander's wedding photo from the original timeline flashed vividly in my mind. The beautiful woman standing beside him, her bright smile radiating joy, was the same woman standing before me now—Fiona. Fiona was talking, laughing, her voice warm and polite, just as it had
Ella POV The rest of the evening with Alexander was quiet. We were both tired from the long day, and each seemed lost in our own thoughts. The next morning wasn’t much different. Alexander, to my surprise, seemed more hungover than either of us had anticipated and decided to sleep in—a rarity fo
Ella POV The trip upstairs to the apartment was mostly silent. I couldn't speak for Alexander, but I was feeling strangely sober after what had just passed between us. I didn’t regret it exactly, but I knew it had been a mistake—a mistake I had insisted upon making. Alexander seemed composed, bu
Ella POV Alexander moved the moment the words left my mouth. His lips were on mine and his hand gripped my hips firmly. It was far from our first kiss, but it made my heart race and my skin tingle plesantly anyway. I wrapped my arms around his neck, returning the kiss eagerly. I hadn’t been ly
Alexander POV I stared at Ella. The look on her face was teasing, but her eyes told a different story. They were dark, intent—appraising. She wasn’t just joking. At least, I didn’t think so. Her confidence when she said I wouldn’t be able to tell the difference wasn’t misplaced. It unsettled me.
Why should I be embarrassed? Alexander was my husband. This was exactly the kind of behavior expected of newlyweds, wasn’t it? Drunk, giggling, and falling all over each other—even in public. I couldn’t have planned it better if I tried. But this wasn’t a stunt. This was genuine. We’d had a wonder
Ella POV Alexander and Derrick Lake stared at each other as our waiter returned to the table, bringing our desserts. That’s when Lily Lake spoke, breaking the tension. "Excuse me," she said, addressing the waiter. "If you don't mind, could you bring a bottle of nice dessert champagne?" "Ma’am?
Alexander placed his hand over mine on the table, his touch firm but reassuring. His warning look was unmistakable, and I steeled myself, realizing who was walking toward us. "Alpha Lake," Alexander greeted evenly as the man reached our table. "Good evening, Alpha Black," Derrick replied. "I hop
Ella POV Alexander’s mood was noticeably brighter than it had been all week. His team had won the race, and as we made our way toward the car, there was a lightness in his step and an irrepressible grin on his face. "I don’t think I’ve ever seen you this happy," I teased. "I can’t remember the