23. Ella

Chapter twenty-three

Ella

T heo is a raging mountain of testosterone as he blocks my view of Brody, and I can't help the sound that escapes my mouth.

I growl, getting down on my hands and knees as I prepare to attack.

He wouldn't be the first predator I took down today.

I took on a mountain lion and survived.

I can take him on, too.

My knife is lodged in the skull of the big cat, but I don't need it.

My teeth and claws are sufficient enough.

Kellen is shocked at the sight of my crouched position, ready to pounce, but Alastor is aroused.

His green eyes are alight with mischief as he gazes at the dead cat, then at me crouched and growling, and finally, he grins.

A psychotic grin.

Theo, on the other hand, is an impenetrable wall of steel. His muscles bulge, and his shirt nearly tears at the pecs.

I lick my lips when I spy all that muscle, and I look forward to sinking my teeth into every single one.

The air is electrically charged as neither of us moves, and it appears we are at a stalemate.

A slow smirk quirks the corners of my lips, and the Alpha takes it as a challenge.

He growls, stepping closer, and I lower to the ground.

Brody steps in front of us, and we back away at once.

I may be prepared to take on the Alpha, but not if Brody gets hurt.

So, I step back.

"Theo… it's fine," he says.

The Alpha bares his teeth with a snarl, and those obsidian eyes don't leave me. That low growl persists in his chest, and I give a little Omega growl of my own.

"Brody… get behind me… It's too dangerous…" the Alpha warns, never taking his gaze off me.

The Omega doesn't move an inch. "Theo, she won't attack."

He scoffs, "She killed a fucking cougar!"

Brody keeps his voice level. "She was protecting herself. The animal was going to kill her."

It was prowling in the bushes, ready to attack me, but I was prepared.

I am no one's prey.

Theo breathes heavily as he still never takes those incensed eyes off me.

He's just afraid.

Afraid that he will be next.

However, he has nothing to fear when it comes to Brody.

I wouldn't dream of hurting him. He is the only one who has shown me any kindness, and for that I am grateful.

"Theo," Brody warns, and the Alpha backs off at last, muttering a curse.

His head flips in my direction. I'm still crouched on all fours, and I'm more wild than the dead cat ever was before me.

The poor thing didn't stand a chance.

"Fucking Rogues…"

Brody glares at Theo's comment, and now he kneels on the ground at my level. I'm still crouched.

"Twenty-two… it's okay… He won't hurt you."

I gaze at his outstretched hand, then meet his soft brown eyes.

He's sincere and now I reach out a shaking hand, taking his palm in mine. That electrical current runs through my body, restarting my heart, and his brown eyes are all I can see now.

Even the stars in the sky dim in comparison.

He's mine. And I don't care who knows it.

I will fight all three of his Alphas if I have to.

No one will keep him away from me.

The Omega doesn't even let me walk as he scoops me up in his arms and carries me back to the house bridal style.

Theo huffs behind us. "Brody, your spikes."

"They're long gone now, Theo. Don't you worry about me."

The Alpha grumbles as he rushes to Brody's side.

However, I only have eyes for my Omega as I press my nose to his neck and breathe in his scent.

My heart pounds.

Better than the shirt, which I left in the bushes.

Oh, well.

"Brody, you can barely walk straight," Theo gripes.

"I said I am fine!"

His knees buckle next, and he drops to the ground. Yet he doesn't let go of me once, keeping his arms securely around my body.

I don't even meet the ground.

I'm concerned myself, and now I insist on walking.

But the Omega refuses. "No. I've got you, Twenty-two…"

"But you're in pain," I whisper.

He squeezes his eyes shut, sweat dripping from his pores. "I… I can carry you…"

He's determined to see this through. But I won't have him being in pain.

I can walk.

Yet his arms are like steel around me, and now his eyes snap open, meeting mine instantly.

"No. I've got you."

I don't speak, too stunned by the sheer passion in his voice.

He really means to carry me.

In the end, Alastor drops to the ground and carries us both back to the house, and we make it in no time.

Poor Kellen is still puzzled, and it's going to take him some time to come to terms with everything he has witnessed tonight.

Theo, however, is dead set on hating me, and trust me, the feeling is mutual.

One day, I will sink my teeth into his taut muscle.

Mark my word.

I bet he would taste nice.

"Where to?" Alastor asks.

"To my en suite," Brody replies.

The Alpha raises a brow. "As you wish, Omega."

Now the Alpha carries us to Brody's personal bathroom, and I'm confused.

My room is the other way.

And I am perfectly fine to walk on my own.

But I indulge the Omega a little longer.

His doting is nice.

Once we're inside his bathroom, he pushes Alastor out the door.

The Alpha chuckles. "What? I don't get to stay and watch?"

"No. This moment is all about Twenty-two."

Finally, he slams the door in Alastor's face, and now it's just the two of us.

Silence stretches in the bathroom for a few spells as Brody doubles over, catching his breath. Then he looks at me, and there's no missing the determination in his eyes.

He's at my side in an instant. "Are you hurt?"

I try to think. "I…"

"Where did the cougar get you?"

I'm not sure if it did. I was too pumped up with adrenaline to notice, but then I feel it.

The sharp cut on my left thigh.

I yelp next when Brody lifts me up onto the sink. He even pushes his expensive lotions and face creams aside, and I look at him in shock when several smash.

"Brody?"

He doesn't even give them a second glance as he yanks out a drawer and procures a first aid kit.

Now he dresses my wound.

That cat's claws really did cut deep.

I'm surprised I haven't bled out.

However, my actions finally catch up with me, and now I start to grow woozy from blood loss.

No…

"Hey, stay with me."

He grips my chin, directing my gaze to his eyes, and I lose myself in the soft fawn brown.

"I've got you now, Twenty-two. No longer do you have to fend for yourself."

My throat grows thick, and I have no idea what comes over me.

Yet, no tears come.

I learned a long time ago that crying was pointless.

Because no one will ever come.

The Omega strokes the side of my jaw, and I lean into the touch, closing my eyes. Then he gets to work on the wound, stitching me up, and he's so smart.

Where did he learn to do that?

I was only ever taught to cause wounds. Not mend them.

His hands are designed to heal while mine were designed to kill.

We truly do complete each other.

Once he's cleaned my wound, he lifts me from the sink and places me down into the tub.

This is my third wash today, and I truly am moving up in the world.

First in the downstairs shower, and then the second in the lake in the woods.

And now the third time in Brody's protective arms.

I know which one's my favorite…

He ensures the water never gets too hot as he grabs a loofah and scrubs me down.

Not once do his eyes linger as he treats every inch of my skin with the deepest respect, and that lump returns to my throat.

"I promise, Twenty-two… you won't have to fend for yourself anymore. I will protect you."

I look into his eyes, and he truly means what he says.

Something has come over him in the last twenty-four hours, and could it be his oncoming heat?

Who knows.

But I am going to soak up every moment.

"E-Ella…"

Brody freezes, and the loofah drips in his hand as he holds it above my arm. "What?"

I suck in a trembling breath, letting the steam from the bath and his scent clear my thoughts. "That's my name. At least… the one I gave myself."

Because I fancied myself a sweet little Cinderella.

Now that I gaze into Brody's eyes, just maybe… I can have that Cinderella dream.

It's more than a Rogue could hope for.

The smile that takes over his face next is indescribable, and then his eyes shine. "It's nice to finally meet you, Ella."

The name sounds so right on his lips, and I chose a good name in the end.

From now on, I am Ella.

Twenty-two has gone forever.