Chapter 3

I spent the whole night crying in my campus apartment. I couldn't face Ellis after what happened tonight. I was still hurting a lot. I finally managed to get some sleep, but the door soon opened, and I felt someone shaking me.

" What?" I groaned, opening my eyes. It was Lila, her expression solemn. She pulled me in her arms, and I held her tightly.

" Ellis chose her. He went right past me," I croaked, my chest tightening. My best friend pulled away from me and held my hand.

" He's an idiot," she said with venom.

We stayed there for a while, silently. My phone beeped, and I rushed to pick it up, hoping it was Ellis, but it wasn't.

The day went by slowly, and Ellis had not reached out to me yet. Each hour he didn't call, my heart bled.

Sleep eluded me, and Jace came to check on me the following day.

" Ellis is still confused," he said, and I shook my head, getting out of his embrace.

" There is nothing to be confused about," I went to the mini bar, got wine, and drank it.

" Is he with Charlotte?" I asked. He faced the floor, and I knew my suspicions were correct. Many questions ran through my mind. Did they sleep together? My inner Lycan was whimpering; she was hurt that Ellis didn't instantly reject his mate as we had planned.

" I can't believe he hasn't contacted me," I murmured.

The beta and Lila stared at me with sorry expressions on their faces, but I didn't want that. I ran a hand through my hair and gulped my wine.

" Play the piano for us, please. I love listening to you play," Jace said with a smile. He was trying to distract me from thoughts of Ellis, and I appreciated that. I touched the keyboard on my piano as I asked.

" What should I play?"

" My heart will go on," he said, sitting before me. I sat and played with them. I played for a long time, and it calmed me. My chest felt lighter, yet tears were building in my eyes, and I closed my eyes as I freely let them fall. I was crying for good now. My heart would never go on if he chose her over me. I needed Ellis; I needed him to keep his promise to me, HIS VOW. I stopped playing and stood up.

" I want to rest now," I breathed, wiping the tears off my face. Lilac was crying, too, and Jace held her closer. I couldn't stand the pain in my chest, so I rushed upstairs and threw myself on the bed. I curled on the bed, holding the plushie Ellis gave me tighter as my body shook.

I grabbed my phone, hoping to find a call or message from him, but there was nothing.

The next day, I woke up and took a long shower. I sat on my closet carpet, eyes on my phone. The door opened, and Lilac walked in.

" Darling, are you alright?" she asked.

"Fine, don't worry about me," I murmured, getting up and finding an outfit. I picked a short red dress. I eyed Lila. She was agitated.

" What is it?" I asked.

" Someone is here for you," she said quietly. I squinted my eyebrows. Who could it be? I followed her, and to my surprise, I found Ellis there. My heart is pounding against my chest, and I'm sure he could hear it. We held each other's gaze before I spoke, " I want coffee,"

I walked past him, and he audibly sighed and followed me out of my apartment building to his car. The car ride to the café was silent.

I didn't wait for him to open the door for me when we arrived at the Café.

The waiter smiled, already knowing what we were taking. We sat at our favorite table. After a long time, Ellis took my hand and asked, " How are you?"

" Do I look alright to you?" I retorted, annoyed. I took my hand back from him. He pressed his lips together.

" What happens now, Ellis?"

" I'll settle this. Give me some time, please," he said carefully. I didn't know what to say to him right now. The waiter served our beverages: black coffee for him and hot chocolate for me.

" You and I made a promise, Ellis. How can you easily forget that?"

" I know, babe. I love you so much. Nothing will ever change that," he said quickly, grasping my hands again.

" So you want us both?" I narrowed my gaze at him.

" No, my feelings are such a mess right now. My inner lycan wasn't expecting this at all and wanted to be close to her," his inner lycan, Lias, was strong and would survive the loss of their mate. Ellis needed to stop using Lias as an excuse.

" You want her. You were meant for each other," A tear rolled down my cheek when I spoke.

" I love you. You're my entire world," he said, sure of his words.

" Then reject her and keep your promise," I held his hand this time. " Ellis, I love you so much,"

" I tried to reject her, but her inner wolf is weak. She's not like us, baby. She might die from the rejection," he says desperately.

His phone rang, and I realized it was Charlotte calling him constantly.

" Did you fuck her?" I asked. He looked at me as if I had pierced his chest with a dagger.

" No!" he yelled. That relieved me, but my eyes turned fierce when I saw Charlotte enter our café.

" You're fucking kidding me, right?" I growled.