Her Best Friend’s Alpha Father

CHAPTER TWO - DAWN ESCAPE

Elara woke up to sunlight as it filtered through the curtains. She strained her eyes and the happenings of the previous night gradually returned, her wolf senses sharpening with regret. She fell back in dismay as she found Ronan was no longer in the bed. The crumpled sheets were warm where she had been lying alone.

She climbed over the bed side with her feet on the cold wooden floor. Her head throbbed slightly. Panic hit her first. What if Selene walked in? Suppose Ronan said something? She needed to leave. Now.

Elara silently picked her garments off the floor and got dressed. She did not even look at the mirror. She just wanted to disappear. Her fingers were trembling when she tied her shoes and she stepped down the stairs in the hope that she might get away without a fight.

Her senses of smell of cooking came to her even before she reached the bottom, her wolf nose picking up the pack scents. She froze.

Ronan was in the stove, flipping eggs, with an apron over his T-shirt. He looked up and saw her. His eyebrows shot up, his alpha gaze steady.

Good morning, he said, calmly.

Elara's throat went dry. She mumbled, "Morning."

He tilted his head. "You are up?”

She laughed in a nervous manner, and came nearer. "Yeah... something like that. Where is Selene?”

Ronan's gaze didn't leave her. "Elara, we need to talk. Selene is still in her room sleeping.”

Her chest tightened. "That's good.”

He laid aside the spatula and crossed his hands. “Do not run away from the talk.”

"I have to go," Elara said quickly. "I can't--look, just forget it. I'll be fine."

Ronan frowned. "Elara..."

"I said I'll be fine!" She could have sworn she was sharper than she wanted to be. She knew it, but she did not wish to talk about her drunken mistake, her inner wolf snarling in conflict. She moved toward the door.

Ronan did not attempt to prevent it, but he watched her each move with his eyes. “You do not need to do this on your own, you know.”

Elara hesitated, however, half a second, but the conscience and panic prevailed. "I can't stay. I need to go."

She got out of the door and into the early morning air, almost falling over the steps of the porch. The taxi ride back was like an eternity. She looked out the window, holding the edge of her seat, and everything last night, the kiss, the hands, the... everything was going over her mind, her wolf senses tingling with forbidden heat.

As she arrived at home she closed the door behind her and went straight to the bathroom, several minutes later she stepped out, went to the club where she had parked her car and got it, before heading back home, again.

Her phone buzzed. She picked it up and saw the name of Jax. She hesitated, then answered.

"Where have you been?!" Jax's voice was sharp.

"I... I was... busy," she said hastily, attempting to sound relaxed.

"I've been calling! You didn't answer anything. Do you know what today is?"

Elara's stomach sank. "Uh... Monday?"

"Really? Really, Elara?" His voice was incredulous. "It's my best friend's birthday. And she wanted you there, in particular. I cannot believe you forgot about her birthday. I expected better from you, Elara.”

Elara rolled her eyes, his voice irritating her. "I... yeah, I'll come. Don't worry about it. I'll be there."

There was a long pause. "Okay... see you soon. Make sure you look nice, and sexy. A lot of my friends would be there, I want them all to be jealous. I’ll come pick you up.”

She dropped the telephone and sighed. "Okay. Elara, you can do this. Just... play normal. Everything will be all right, everything will be all right,” she said to herself.

Jax arrived an hour later, his car outside her house. Elara sat in the passenger seat, making herself as relaxed as she could, and attempting to conceal the stiffness of her body.

“You look... tired,” Jax said, looking at her.

“Long night,” she said, still staring through the window. “I do not want to talk about it. Today is all about Kira, and not.” She said, curtly and luckily, Jax did not press.

The drive was quiet. Elara put her hands tightly together. Her stomach churned. And how would she go in front of a room full of people who probably knew she was getting cheated on? How many times have they laughed behind her back? What would happen should her plan fail? But she said to herself she had no choice, her wolf urging retaliation.

Upon arrival, the flat was packed. Laughter and music overflowed into the corridor. Elara's pulse quickened. She walked in after Jax, keeping her head low.

Jax introduced her to a few new faces, and after some time, he left her to go be with Kira.

“I need a drink.” Elara said to herself, walked to the make-shift bar and poured herself a glass of wine.

"Everyone! Can I have your attention?" she shouted, some minutes later. The room quieted.

“Evening everyone, we are here to celebrate somebody,” said Elara, her voice shaking a little. She made a smile, and glanced across the crowd. “But, there is something I need you all to know about the birthday girl.”

Some individuals laughed in a nervous manner. Jax frowned. "What are you talking about?"

Elara held up her hand. "I just want to say a big thank you to Kira. A very big thank you for your works especially the ones you do behind my back.”

The room went silent. Kira's face paled. She parted her lips, yet Elara was not done.

“I believe that it is essential that everybody here is aware of the truth. There is a price to pay and lying does not make anyone appear better.”

Individuals moved fidgetily. Jax leaned forward and whispered, “Elara, what are you… stop this right now, you are making a scene.”

But Elara went on and disregarded him. "Some things... can't stay hidden. And now I believe it is time we all should know our position. Oh, and Kira, good luck charming his mom so he leaves me and goes to you.”

Kira was furious, with flushed cheeks.

There was a murmur of voices, and the party was moving into anarchy. People were chattering at each other, some attempting to comfort Kira, others staring at Elara as though she were a hero or a villain, she did not know which.

Elara's phone buzzed again. She fished it out with shaking hands. The screen displayed the name of Selene.

Her heart stopped.

She replied, voice level, cautious, attempting to be normal.

"Hello?"

"We need to talk," Selene said. Her voice was indifferent, quiet, but there was something behind it, something Elara could not place a finger on.

Elara's stomach dropped. She couldn't move. She couldn't speak. She could only listen.

"Uh... okay," she whispered.