Chapter 23

Chapter 23
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Third-Person POV
Nolan watched his younger brother, Lance, react to Ellie’s appearance as she left his bedroom, still wearing her cartoonish pajamas.
Lance’s jaw slackened, his eyes wide. He couldn’t believe what he was seeing – Nolan and Ellie had slept together last night. But he knew his brother couldn’t stand her, so it didn’t make sense.
Just look at what she was wearing – she looked ridiculous in those baggy, shapeless pajamas. How could that have possibly worked on Nolan? he wondered.
“What are you wearing?” Lance asked, calling up the stairs. Ellie paused and gave him a questioning look.
Lance was used to seeing beautiful women in bikinis or fine gowns, aiming to impress. Seeing Ellie with her hair disheveled and that shapeless outfit just baffled him. Ellie just stared at him, a look of confusion and slight irritation on her face.
“You can’t possibly have seduced my brother in that outfit,” Lance added.
He waited for her to blush, for her eyes to well up with tears as he embarrassed her in front of Nolan. But instead, Ellie put her hands on her hips and cocked her head to the side, glaring down the stairs at him.
“It’s better than what you’re wearing. Don’t you even know how to put a suit on? Half the buttons are undone – you look like a call boy.”
A rush of embarrassment and anger flooded through Lance at her words. He looked at Nolan in disbelief.
“You let her talk like that?” he demanded. “Your homely little rogue wife – you let her talk to people like that?”
Nolan didn’t respond, other than to cock his eyebrow at Lance’s outburst, which only seemed to make Lance angrier. “You have no control over her, do you? You just let this useless little rogue walk all over you, do
whatever she wants!”
“You’re the one who’s slacking,” Ellie called down as she descended the stairs, a look of anger creasing her brow. “Nolan does everything around here, doesn’t he? You have absolutely no loyalty to your pack, so who the hell are you to judge how he runs his household? I mean, just look at the way you’re dressed looks good? You think you’re handsome?”
“How dare you talk to me like that!” Lance shot back.
“That’s enough,” Nolan said firmly, raising one hand. “Not another word from either of you.”
you think that
Lance turned his glare to Nolan. “Oh, look at the White Knight, swooping in to defend his wife,” he said sarcastically. “Don’t think that just because you’re acting noble now, I’ll forgive you.”
A dark look crossed Nolan’s face as Lance taunted him about the memory of their difficult past. Lance had never forgiven him for getting their parents killed.
It hadn’t been Nolan’s intention – he’d been rebellious, angry. He’d run away from home, and when their parents followed, they were ambushed by rogues. It wasn’t Nolan’s fault exactly, but he had still caused it, and Lance had never forgiven him.
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Chapter 23
+25 Bonus
Nolan didn’t think he ever would.
A tense moment of silence passed between the two of them. Ellie could sense that something important had just been said, although she had no memory of what it could be and not enough clues to piece it together. She simply stood there with her hands on her hips, looking between the two of them with frustration and confusion.
“Look, I’ll be at your stupid little celebration,” Lance said suddenly, changing the subject. “I’ll make sure it looks good in front of the other packs, but don’t think this changes anything between us.” With that, he turned around and stormed out of the house.
The air around Nolan was heavy. He was never good at dealing with his emotions, especially when it came to his family. He just stood there, uncertain of what to do or say, feeling Ellie’s eyes burning into him – couldn’t bring himself to look at her.
though he
Then she moved. He felt himself tense up as she approached. He didn’t want her pity, didn’t want her comfort. He opened his mouth to tell her off, but then Ellie just walked right past him to the table and grabbed a croissant.
Nolan watched her take a big bite of the flaky pastry, a confusing mix of emotions flooding through him settling on relief that she hadn’t said anything, hadn’t pried.
The Beta, who had been drawn in by the sounds of arguing, didn’t seem to understand that. He stepped forward, an angry expression on his face, and opened his mouth to berate Ellie – but Nolan stopped him with a sharp look.