Colton’s POV Ella met my eyes, and | knew | wouldn't have to say anything. She quickly rushed into my room and sealed the door behind her, turning off the light in the process.
That's my girl, | thought to myself.
She was just in ttoo because as soon as my bedroom door shut, the front door swung open and Alpha Jonathan cstorming into my faculty house.
“Were you talking to somebody in here?” He asked, looking around with a suspicious look in his eyes.
“No,” | said, furrowing my brows together. “Well, | mean yes. | was on the phone with my Beta, letting him know what was going on,” | lied. “I thought you were returning to your pack tonight?” “I am,” he said, eyeingcarefully. “I cby to grab sof the stuff | left in the guest room while | waited for them to fetch my daughter.” “I see,” | said, trying to remain as casual as possible. “Is there anything you'd liketo do for you?” He lookedover once more before turning away and stalking toward the guest room, which was dangerously close to my bedroom. He paused before entering the room, but I noticed he was staring at my bedroom door with a quizzical look.
My heart weighed heavily in my chest, and | thought for a second that he could smell Ella lurking behind the door. Or maybe hear her breathing. | could feel her nervousness and the fact that she was struggling to keep her breathing light and non-existent.
“Do you usually keep your bedroom door closed when you aren't inside of it?” He then asked, turning to me.
| raised my brows at his question; it was a strange question. | have been keeping my bedroom door closed a lot lately; especially since he’s been staying with me. So, | didn’t have to lie to answer him.
“Yes,” | said. “Usually.” I didn’t think he was going to believeat first, but then he turned back to the guest room and went inside. | let out a breath of air, wanting to lean against the wall to support my body but suddenly felt like it weighed a ton.
| could feel Ella’s relief as well. | wouldn't be careless and mindlink her while Alpha Jonathan was here. Opening a link between the two of us could make him sense her and that wasn’t a risk | was willing to take. Alphas could usually sense when a mindlink conversation was going on around them.
| heard the faint sounds of a phone ringing inside the guest room and then Alpha’s Jonathan's voice answering it.
Follow on NovᴇlEnglish.nᴇt“Yes?” He paused, | tuned in with my Alpha hearing and could hear Gamma Alex on the other end.
“I was told to bring your daughter to you, Alpha. Did you still wantto do that?” He asked.
“Yes. Bring her to my limo in the front parking lot. My driver will assist her once you get her there. | need to speak once more with one of the officers and the headmaster and then I'll be right there to bring her home.” “She wants to know when she will be returning to the school,” Alex said, and | could hear the nervousness in his tone while speaking to Alpha Jonathan.
Jonathan was very intimidating, so | couldn't blthe kid. But he was also not Alex’s Alpha, so he didn’t have much authority over him. There wasn’t much need for Alex to be too frightened; then again, Jonathan never cared about who was the Alpha of whom.
He always got what he wanted.
“Tell her we will discuss it once we are home,” Alpha Jonathan seethed through his teeth.
Then, he hung up without another word. Several long minutes later, Jonathan emerged from the room with a small bag.
“I'll be returning tomorrow. | won't be staying the night here for a while. But I'm helping in the investigation, so I'll be on campus quite a bit,” he said, walking toward the door. “We might need sextra assistance in the unforeseen future, so keep your phone on. I'm sure Prescott will be in touch.” “I'll be here,” | said, keeping my voice even.
He paused at the front door and looked atone last time. | stared back at him, unblinking.
“Was there something else?” | asked after a long stretch of silence.
Another heartbeat of silence and then he finally shook his head, turning back toward the door.
“No,” he said in a dark tone. “I'll be seeing you, Alpha.” He opened the door, stepped out into the cold air, and shut the door tightly behind him. I let out a long breath of air before rushing to the front door and locking it. Alpha Jonathan had a key to the house, but if he were to cback, I'd hear him trying to unlatch the door and hide Ella once again.
Once | was sure he was gone, | went to my bedroom door and quickly opened it. Flipping on the light, | saw Ella curled up on my bed. She still wore my T-shirt and had her dark hair pulled up into a messy bun. She sat on the top of my bed with her knees pressed against her chest and her eyes were filled with unshed tears.
It was obvious she was trying hard not to sob; her bottom lip was swollen from biting on it so hard.
“Hey,” | said softly, rushing toward her and sitting beside her. “Chere...” | opened my arms out for her, and she threw herself into my embrace, letting out her desperate sobs. Her entire body trembled and shook in my embrace, and | felt her tears soaking through the thin cotton shirt | wore.
| rubbed her spine gently with the palm of my hand, trying to provide her with skind of comfort and warmth.
“I can’t believe Merida is dead...” she whispered against me. “I can’t believe she’s gone...” “I know...” | whispered in return. “I'm so sorry you had to be here for this.” “She was such a sweet girl,” Ella whimpered. “She didn’t deserve to die. Especially brutally...” “I'm sure she didn’t suffer for long,” | told her, trying to keep my voice calm, but I don’t think my words were helping.
She peered up atand stared atthrough her glossy eyes; her lips trembling as she struggled to speak.
“She lost all her blood and was hit in the head until she died...” Ella said, her voice almost cold with distaste, but | saw the pure pain on her face, and it broke my heart into a million pieces. “How could she not have suffered?” Her last question cout barely audible as she broke off into another round of sobs.
| cupped her face in my hands and kept her head steady so | could look into her beautiful eyes.
“I know this situation is awful. But we are going to do everything in our power to make sure something like this doesn’t happen again. No other student is going to die like that again,” | assured her firmly.
Her sobs slowed and she sniffled.
“How can you be so sure?” She asked, swallowing hard. “We don’t even know who the killer is. They are still out there, Colton.” I nodded to her, understanding her worries and frustrations.
“I need you to trust me,” | said to her, dropping my voice to only a whisper. “Can you do that for me?” She didn’t even hesitate; she nodded right away which made my heart skip a beat entirely.
Follow on Novᴇl-Onlinᴇ.cᴏm“I trust you,” she whispered.
| used my thumbs to wipe away the tears that stained her pale cheeks.
“Good,” | said gently, watching as a small smile finally appeared on her lips.
Whether it was fake or not, it still appeased me. | leaned in and pressed my lips gently against her, tasting and concurring her sweet lips. Her lips formed perfectly against mine and she even opened her mouth slightly, grantingpermission to deepen the kiss and explore her mouth with my tongue.
| bit onto her bottom lip, sucking, and tugging on it gently. She moaned at the sensation, and | noticed a little color returning to her features. Her cheeks were glowing pink and her eyes filled with lust and desire. Her honeysuckle scent grew potent, and my mouth watered.
She pulled back for a moment so she could remove the shirt and | was pleased to see that she was completely naked under the shirt. She gavea coy smile as she leaned back on the bed, motioning forto cwith her.
| obliged immediately, crawling on top of her and taking control of her lips once again. She breathedin as | kissed her. She wrapped her arms around my neck and pulledcloser to her perfect body. | could tell she wantedto touch every inch of hers, just as I did.
I ran my fingers down the sides of her curvy waist, and she shuddered in delight at the sensation | brought her.
She threw her head back as | ran my lips delicately down the nape of her neck and across her shoulders.
Goosebumps formed on her arms and legs; | wanted to kiss every single one of them.
Continuing down the length of her body, down her torso, her juices ran down her inner thighs, begging forto lick it up and taste her sweetness.
“Oh, Colton,” she gasped, running her manicured nails through my hair and massaging my scalp. “I want you...
please...”