9. Ella

Chapter 9

Ella

" I accept."

Forgetting my place, I jerk my head toward Kellen, but when I meet those passionate gray eyes, I regret it instantly.

"I volunteer myself. I am happy to be the one to bite her into the pack."

Oh, God. This is so embarrassing. At once, I cover my face, and who would have thought I could ever be so coy?

I'm just not used to bold declarations of devotion. Kellen is pretty dramatic and intense, and I don't know how to handle it.

Most of the Alphas in my life have never been so dedicated. They have been cunts, basically, but Kellen is on a whole other level.

He's insane, passionate, and intense. It makes me uncomfortable.

But it also stirs something deep inside me too. Something long buried.

It's my Omega. Is she finally ready to come out of hibernation? It's been too long. She has never been shown comfort or compassion in her life. Just cruelty and disrespect.

I can handle their cruelty. It's familiar. But this isn't.

Brody holds up a hand. "Woah, don't get ahead of yourself, Kellen. Besides, that's up to Ella. When the time comes, she gets to pick."

Kellen remembers himself and now a rather adorable blush tinges his pale, freckled cheeks. "Of course.”

Alastor snorts, and Kellen snaps his head around, snapping his teeth. "Fuck you!"

The green-eyed Alpha doesn't stop though. He just drapes his arm across the couch behind me, and the gesture is almost possessive. "You forgot to use your inside voice, Kellen."

Of course. Their inside voices. They can speak via mind, and it still astonishes me that such a thing exists.

And they want to let me be a part of that bond one day. I couldn't even fathom it.

No. I couldn't. It's not my place. They are Brody's Alphas. Not mine.

I'm just a Rogue.

Theo so far hasn't spoken. He is silent and solemn in the corner, and his silence is more disturbing than his ire.

I can deal with ire. I've been dealing with angry Alphas my entire life. The quiet statue act is creeping me out.

I'm also not buying it either. Sooner or later, Theo will snap. He never liked me, and I bet this is killing him.

The only way he will get Brody back is if he reluctantly accepts me.

Brody turns to the silent Alpha. "So, got anything to say to that, Theo? Are you going to chastise me for not seeing to my own needs by putting Ella's first?"

Theo closes his eyes, and we all watch him quietly, wondering what he is going to say. I suck in a breath, dreading the worst.

He's going to reject the proposal. I just hope we all survive the fallout. If one Alpha leaves, it will break the whole pack.

Theo is pack lead after all.

I do not want to be the one to break this pack apart.

No, instead, I want to fix it with Brody.

Finally, Theo glances up, and his dark eyes go right through us. They never settle on anyone, and it appears he really has retreated.

And it's all my fault.

No, no… I have to stop thinking like that. Theo only has himself to blame. He chased me away, and I'm still not sure if I can entirely forgive him.

"I accept," Theo announces and a strange calm settles over the pack.

A huge weight leaves my shoulders. Thank God. Maybe the Alpha is capable of change.

Brody sighs. "Well, now that we've got that formality out of the way, it's time we went nest shopping."

Kellen is on his feet instantly. "I'm coming."

Brody looks at him pointedly. "Of course you are. This is a special day for Ella after all. Your new Omega. You should want to be a part of it."

Kellen nods his head eagerly. "I do. Let's go!"

He rushes to the door like a dog with its leash in its mouth, one eager for its daily walk, and I try to fight off the image of walking Kellen on a leash next.

Now isn’t the time, Ella.

No, that wasn’t Ella who had that lewd thought just now. That was my Omega.

Dumb, horny bitch. What is with her?

"Hold on," Alastor announces, and we all look at him.

Kellen trembles in anticipation, eager for that goddamn walk.

Brody stammers. "Wh-what is it? I'm pretty sure we have gone through everything. Unless I missed something…"

The Omega fusses, flipping through his notepad, and he’s cute when he gets flustered.

Alastor places a hand on Brody's shoulder to reassure him. "No, you covered everything, Brody. This is just my personal request. For Theo."

My heart thuds and I think I finally understand.

He told me back in my old moldy room in the underground. It was one of the conditions for my coming back.

It seemed like a good idea at the time, but now that the time has come, I worry about how it will play out.

Damn. It truly will be a clash of the titan’s scenario.

A clash of Pack Titan.

Alastor's eyes glow as they settle on the other Alpha, and there's no missing the dominating challenge.

"Theo, I challenge you for the position of pack lead. It's obvious that you are ill-fitted for the job, and so—"

"I accept."

Alastor's eyes stop glowing and now they resume their ordinary green. He blinks rapidly, tipping his ear in Theo's direction. "Come again?"

Theo heaves a breath and looks Alastor directly in the eyes. "I don't want the position anymore. You're right. I am ill-fitted for the job. If I was fit to be pack lead, then my Omega wouldn't be mad at me. His first heat would have been a blissful affair, and we would both be satisfied. Not only that, but… so would Ella…"

His dark eyes fall on me, and I hold his gaze for a few moments. But soon those black holes suck me in, and I finally glance away.

Alastor is taken aback. I bet he wasn't expecting that response, and he almost seems a little disappointed that there won't be a fight.

Theo just concedes so easily, and he really isn't himself. He has always been so sure of himself, acting as if he owns every room he enters, but now he is quiet and reflective.

What happened to the smug prick I met that day in Gryphon's office? The same one who barred me from Brody's nest.

In my mind's eye, I can still see him with his arms crossed over his chest, that warning look burning in his coal-black eyes.

A part of me still isn't buying it. Surely, he wants to hold on to his position for as long as possible.

Alastor shakes his head then rolls his shoulders, readying his stance. "Well, come on. Hand it over."

Theo looks at Alastor with a bored expression on his face, and is it really something he can just pass over?

I would have thought they had to fight, too.

"All right," Theo sighs, matching Alastor’s stance.

I look at Brody. He just shrugs at me.

This is Alpha politics, after all, something beyond the breadth of our knowledge.

Kellen interrupts. "Hey, what about me? I… I could be pack lead too!"

Theo and Alastor turn his way. I guess this is what happens with dominant Alphas. They're always fighting for precedence.

Alastor’s grin widens, and then his eyes glow once again. It seems he's about to get the fight he wanted after all.

"Oh, yeah? You want to fight for it, Kellen?"

Kellen flexes his muscles, squeezing his fists, and now a low growl rumbles in his chest.

Brody brings me closer to him, wrapping his arms around me. That's when Kellen's eyes fall on me, and now he slumps his shoulders, admitting defeat.

"No… I am unworthy of the title."

Alastor actually looks disappointed yet again, and now he rolls his eyes, focusing on Theo again.

He waves his hand. "Hurry up. Let's just get this disappointing affair over with."

If it's a fight he wants, then I'm willing to have it out with him. He knows that I will have him on his ass in seconds.

Are we ready for round two?

Theo matches Alastor's stance again, and now he never takes his burning gaze off the other Alpha.

I'm not sure what is about to transpire, but it must have something to do with their bond.

Brody is just as fascinated as I am. Alastor flinches, and it appears Theo is transferring his energy through the bond.

Or his position as pack lead.

So, they don't always have to fight it out. Alphas can actually hand over their titles willingly.

The world would be a much less violent place if they all agreed to such an exchange so easily.

Theo grinds his teeth as he finishes the transfer, and the moment it's over, he falls back, using the wall for support.

Alastor doubles over, gripping his head, and it takes him a moment to adjust to the transfer.

Once he finds his equilibrium, he rises, and there's no missing the domineering glow in his eyes.

It's kind of hot.

Fuck. Maybe we should be worried about giving an Alpha like Alastor too much power. At least Theo had a little more restraint.

There's no telling what Alastor will do.

Yet, his first order as pack lead takes me by surprise. "Theo, you will join us for a shopping spree. It's time we all welcomed Ella into the pack.”

Theo has no choice but to accept, and it shouldn't be this way. He should want to come. He shouldn't have to be forced.

Brody interrupts, "But only if it's what he wants."

Alastor nods. "True, but I'm still going to boss him around regardless."

A twisted smirk curves his lips and what have we done?

We've created a monster.

Theo meets his new pack lead's creepy, glowing eyes and sighs, "Fine. I will go. Only because I want to. I want to make things right again."

He gazes at me. Now that he is no longer pack lead, his gaze doesn't feel as intense. But his black eyes are still endless. True voids.

There’s something else there that I can't quite read, and could my eyes be deceiving me? Does Theo truly want to make it up to me?

Sure, he wants to become the Alpha Brody deserves, but does he want to prove he can be the Alpha that I deserve too?

Only time will tell.

Brody releases an exasperated sigh. "Come on. Let's go already. I want to spoil my Omega."

My heart pounds in excitement. I am about to be spoiled, and I have to pinch myself to see if I’m dreaming.

I don't get the chance. Kellen ushers us to the door, and I guess we're going shopping. I wouldn't even know where to begin.

Thank God I have Brody.

He knows exactly what an Omega wants.