Chapter 15 ~ The First Tear Fell

Ella’s POV ~

The pounding on my door.. was demanding and loud. I stood to go see who it was.. only to hear glass breaking in the kitchen. Ahh! The front door is the distraction for the breach at the back.

I grabbed a handgun out of the drawer in the bureau.. and opened my link to Matthew… telling him where I was and I needed him. He responded with a ‘hang tight’ and I’m just grateful I got through.

I run across the living room.. darting up the stairs. Sprinting through my room, I grab my bow and two knives and slip out my window onto the flat lanai roof..

Lying on my belly, I listen intently. The one from the front was walking around to the back door now. He asked backdoor guy if he found me. Front door guy was told “No. but found something good to eat.” Fucker is eating my dinner. He’s going to die for that alone!

Blake links me.. asking my situation. I tell him 🐺 Only two in visual. Both in the kitchen. I am on the roof.. outside. Armed and waiting.

I heard them start ransacking my house.. and I got pissed. I jumped from the roof.. and landed in the backyard. I yelled “Hey!” And the front door guy ran out the back door. I threw my knife straight into his chest.

When back door guy realized his buddy was down.. he locked himself inside my house. Inside! My fucking house! At first, I just stood there. What the hell? How’s this fool going to break into my house, then barricade his ass inside, like he owns the place!?

I was just climbing up the oak tree when Matthew and company broke the wood line. Rolling my eyes, I said “Back door guy locked himself in my house when I killed front door guy. Be right back.”

I climbed through my bedroom window and Abalone said 🐺 This seems to be a pattern. We jump off the roof.. we get locked out.. we climb a tree. I think we need to get out more. Rolling my eyes, I try not to chuckle at her snarkiness.

I crept down the stairs and spot the guy pacing between the kitchen and living room.. mumbling “it’s just one girl. It’s an easy take. They said she’s just a kid. She killed Bobby.. just killed him.. They aren’t offering enough money for this shit.”

I pulled my gun and chambered a round.. asking “Who’s they, big guy?” Pointing the gun at his head.. I said “This is shaping up to be a really bad day for you. Now walk your ass out that kitchen door!”

He started slowly walking.. keeping an eye on me.. I told him “Don’t. Just fucking don’t. I already killed front door guy. I won’t hesitate to blow your head off. You stand a better chance with the wolves out there.”

He stepped out on the porch and Maverick grabbed him.. tying him up. Matthew ran over to me, checking for injuries. I said “I’m fine. Not even a scratch. I know how to take care of myself. I’ve never had to worry about anyone else.”

I walked back inside.. leaving him to watch me with a confused look on his face. He told Maverick and his dad to take the guy to the cells. Then, he came inside the house.

I had slugged my glass of wine back, and poured another. I asked “Did you want a glass of wine.. or maybe something stronger?” He shook his head and quietly said “I know you’re upset with me. And I’m sorry.. I am truly so very sorry.”

I cocked my head at him.. looking at him “Why, Matthew? Why are you sorry?” He stammered “Thing is.. I’m not sure. I know I was drunk.. and I know I was mad. Not at you. I wasn’t mad at you, Ella.. I swear. But, I’m not sure of what I said.”

I nodded.. finished my second glass of wine.. and started cleaning up the dishes. I said “A drunk man’s words are a sober man’s thoughts. In vino veritas. In Wine there is truth. Apologize when you remember what you said.”

He said “I have been wracking my brain all day. I can honestly say I didn’t mean it.” I laughed and told him “No. you can not. You can’t honestly say anything, if you can’t remember. You hurt me, Matthew. You may not have meant to, but you did. In your anger, you came for me.. with the one sure fire way to cut me deep.”

He sighed and whispered “I really am so very sorry. You are the last person in the world I would ever deliberately hurt. I didn’t mean it. I promise you. I didn’t. I will remember. And I will apologize.. and mean it.”

I nodded.. then I said “I need a little while. I will get over it.. but I want you to take a couple days.. to think about how you see me. Your true opinion of me. Possibly reevaluate your feelings.. about me.. and about the mate bond. You have to be all in.. or this… between us.. this.. won’t work. You have to accept everything about me.. warts and all.”

He started to say “I do. Baby.. I accept you.. in all ways.” I was shaking my head “Matthew. You have some fears.. I get it. I do. I would probably have my doubts about me, too. I am going to stay here tonight. We can talk tomorrow.”

He protested and tried saying I wasn’t safe.. I told him to put some patrol on the house, then. I wasn’t changing my mind.

He quietly said “I will have Cal get his team over here. I will rest easier if your Gamma is with you. I really am sorry, Ella. I will fix this. If it takes every day for the rest of my life.. I will earn your forgiveness.”

I walked over to him and wrapped my arms around him. He hugged me close and whispered “Please don’t give up on me, baby. I can’t survive losing you.” I replied “You aren’t going to lose me.. I just think you jumped the gun a little bit with this mate business. You don’t seem quite ready for it, yet.. I think you are trying to force it, before you’re ready… because you feel it is expected of you.”

He immediately responded “I’m not. I swear I’m not. I am not rushing it. I love you, Ella. Of that there is no doubt.” I smiled and said “Is it because you love me.. or because the bond tells you that you’re supposed to? Because, I can honestly say I love you. I fell in love with you, without the benefit of the bond. I guess I’m the lucky one, here.”

He opened his mouth to say something.. then he closed it.. and leaned down.. kissing me. He whispered against my lips “I do love you. I will prove it.” I nodded.. and watched him leap off the porch.. shifting into Frost.

He ran for the wood line.. and I watched him run out of sight. I heard a sorrowful howl.. and the first tear fell.