Marked by the Moon—Rejected by my Alpha mate

CHAPTER 13: The Proposal

[Elena's POV]

My pulse quickened.

I didn't need to think twice to know who sent the letter. Nicholas Hale, my handsome stalker. What hat does he want now?

“You should go.” Lia muttered.

“Of course you would say I should go.” I rolled my eyes at her, and she huffed. I looked outside the window to see if there was any trace of someone lurking in the shadows just in case Mr. N followed us back home today, but there was nothing; everything seemed okay.

I heaved a breath and closed my window shut and threw the note into my drawer, then headed for the bathroom.

I had showered for thirty minutes straight; the warm water felt so good on my skin I didn't feel like getting out. My head felt a lot lighter now, at least now I could think straight and feel the slight sting in my palm from where the glass had pierced.

It should be fine before dawn.

I quickly changed into my nightgown and headed for the door. I need to speak with Ambrose.

The sound of my footsteps echoed through the hallway as I found my way to his room. Soon I was standing in front of his door.

I didn't bother knocking; I just pushed the door open. My eyes went wide at the sight in front of me.

Ambrose had a girl on top of him, riding him, heads thrown back in ecstasy, while he had his hands on her ass urging her to go faster.

“What the actual f**k is going on here?!”

Ambrose's head snapped up so fast I heard his neck c***k.

“ELENA—”

“Nope.” I was already backing out.

The girl scrambled off him with a shriek, grabbing the bedsheet and pulling it around herself in one chaotic motion. She looked from me to Ambrose, then back to me, her face cycling through approximately seven emotions in three seconds.

“Get out.” Ambrose said. It took me a second to realize he was talking to her, not me.

She didn't need to be told twice. She snatched her dress off the floor, shot me one mortified glance—for ruining her fun, I guess—and disappeared through the door so fast I felt the breeze.

Such a b***h.

Ambrose sat up, the sheets pooled around his waist, running both hands down his face slowly. The silence between us was spectacular.

“So.” I said, drawing the word from my mouth.

“Don't.”

“Nah, don't shut me up.”

“Elena I swear—”

“Who was she?”

“Nobody.”

“Oh, well, she did look like nobody.” I sneered. I didn't like that he f****d around with those low-class bitches; like, get a girlfriend or something. Gosh!!!

“Close the door," he said.

I did. Then leaned against it, arms crossed.

He reached for the glass of water on his bedside table, took a long, slow sip, set it down. Buying time. I knew that move—I invented that move.

“You want to talk about it?” I asked.

“Talk about what.”

“Ambrose.”

He looked at me then, really looked. And I saw it—the thing he'd been covering all night with the champagne and the women and that bored expression he wore like an armor.

Sophia.

I didn't say her name. Neither did he. Some things don't need to be said out loud between twins.

“I'm fine,” he said finally.

“I know.” I replied.

We both knew he wasn't, but we both let it go anyway. I wasn't in the mood to press further, though.

“So why are you here at this time of the night?”

“We need to talk, and it's important.”

“So important it can't wait until tomorrow,” he muttered, rubbing the back of his neck.

“Yes.” I replied, and he sighed in defeat.

I left the door and sat across from him on the bed. “We can't sit around and watch our family fall apart in one cruel moment,” I paused, letting my words sink in, then continued, “We need to act fast.”

Ambrose’s gaze darkened slightly. “Got any plan in mind?”“Not yet, but soon.”

“Hey, look at me,” he said, reaching out and tilting my chin up. I shifted my gaze to meet his. “This is our revenge; we are in this together, okay?”I nodded, and he took my hand in his and squeezed it tight. “Now go to bed and get some sleep.”

~~~~~~~

The sky hadn't made up its mind yet when I arrived at the east border—caught somewhere between night and morning, the heavy grey color made the whole world feel like it was holding its breath. The air was damp and cold, so cold I might shiver if I hadn't worn a coat.

The bushes were eerily quiet, not a single sound was heard, no birds chirping, no cricket noise. Nothing. Just silence. And I came alone as he instructed.

I tucked my arms into my coat pockets, pacing back and forth. Damn! Keeping a lady waiting isn't nice.

“Hey.” A deep, magnetic voice sounded behind me, making me pause.

He's here.

I turned slowly to face him. I caught my breath, my lips parting slightly. He dressed simply but sharply—plain black pants, tight black shirt open to the fourth button revealing his hard chest muscles and tattoos—I was already in love with them, a dark grey coat to top it all, and his hair was ruffled like he hadn't bothered to use a mirror, making him as sexy as f**k.

He cleared his throat, and I came back to earth, blinking hard. “What took you so long?” I managed to say.

“Got us coffee.” He shoved the paper cup into my hands before I could protest, “Have a sip.”

“I…. Um—”

“Shhh” He placed his finger on my lips, closing the distance between us. “Just drink it.”

I nodded and lifted the cup to my lips with fumbling hands. “Mmm,” a moan escaped my lips the moment my tongue tasted the hot liquid.

The corner of his mouth lifted slowly in satisfaction. “Good girl.”

He stepped back, taking a long sip from his coffee. I let out a quick breath. What was that? I can't keep responding to him like that; it has to stop. But then some part of me wants this. So badly too.

“The coffee here tastes great.” He turned to face me, breaking me out of my thoughts.

“Yeah.” I replied, straightening my back and adjusting my stance, “Roseville stores sold one of the best coffees you could find.”

“Why aren't you drinking your coffee?” he asked, nodding at the untouched cup in my hands.

“I didn't come all the way here for that,” I replied, my voice going stiff. “What do you want?”

“Straight to the point, I like that.” he chuckled. “Remember that night we first met in this same forest?”

I nodded. How could I possibly forget.

“Well, I heard your voice, hurt and raging, swearing an oath of revenge on Lucan and your cunt of a best friend to the moon goddess.” he continued.

“So.”

“Your pack's most sacred relic—the Umbral—was stolen the same night.”

My blood went cold. “How did you know that?”

He didn't respond, just continued, “Your father losing his position at the Lunar Council was all orchestrated, do you know that?”

Okay, this is getting really creepy. How did he know so much?

“I suspected it, but there's no evidence to confirm yet.” I replied, studying his face carefully for any sign of how he knew this”

“And somewhere in between all this mess is Blackstone Pack, especially the Backwoods—every thread points towards them.”

“Yes, and what has that got to do with you?”

“Good question,” he smirked. “It's quite unfortunate I have history with the Blackstone pack; I'm here to do some digging.”

“So you're no Lycan agent.” I said, crossing my arms.

“I am, but certainly not here to relegate a city of werewolves that seems to be doing just fine.”

I smiled at that.

“I know you want revenge, and I want that too, plus we have a common enemy.”

I raised my brows at him. Nah, it can't be what I'm thinking.

“Let's join forces.”