Chapter 4 Special Treatment

Ella’s POV

Two hours later, I sat at the dining table, doing my best not to glance at Alpha Kane who sat right across from me.

The long table was set with more food than I had seen in months. Soft light from the chandelier made everything look warm and expensive.

Matthias sat at the head of the table, smiling like this was a normal family meal. My mother sat beside him, looking happier than she had in years.

Alpha Kane sat across from me, silent with a straight look. His younger brother, Elijah, lounged in his chair with a lazy smirk. Looking like trouble.

I kept my eyes on my plate. The awkwardness still hung between Alpha Kane and me like a living thing. Every time I accidentally met his gaze, the memory of his mouth on my neck flashed through my mind. From the tight line of his jaw, I knew he was remembering it too.

If I weren't the one involved, I would've found the look on his face pretty damn funny. I turned my attention back to Mom. Matthias and her were talking about something.

“I’ve been thinking,” he said, cutting into his meat. “It would change everything if a White Wolf ever appeared in our pack. They say one is born only once every few centuries. Imagine the strength that would bring us, even though we have strong warriors, the white wolf will be a plus.”

I kept my expression blank.

A White Wolf, Rare and Powerful, something out of legends.

I had grown up hearing the stories, but they had nothing to do with me. I was wolfless and I would never be anyone’s legend.

My mother glanced at me with a small, proud smile.

“Ella has always wanted to become a warrior,” she said. “She’s been training for years.”

I shot her a quick look. “Mom—”

“Is that so?” Matthias turned his attention to me, interested. “A warrior?”

“I’ve trained a little,” I said carefully. “Nothing formal.”

Matthias nodded slowly. “Fighting is important, but so is understanding how a pack actually runs. Politics, resources and alliances. If you’re going to live here, you should learn. You can start training with the new batch of trainee.”

I blinked. “S-sir?”

“Kane, She should join the current new set of trainers at the field, no need for screening,”

Alpha Kane and I glanced at each other.

I recalled the marks he'd left on Stella. Not that I knew him well, but he looked exactly like the kind of man who could sweet-talk twenty girls in a single night.

He stared at me blankly, then calmly looked away, as if he hadn't just mistaken me for someone else.

Asshole.

I quickly looked away before I puked up my dinner. He let out a vexed sigh and turned back to his dad, “Yes sir.”

“No, I would wait for the next batch of screening next year.”  I blurted out.

Alpha Kane and Elijah both stared at me in disbelief.

“You shouldn’t train just on your own, to grow as a defender you need professional training."

I grabbed my glass of water and used it to hide half of my face, “I’ll be fine, I made it far with just my strength.”

“Ella that doesn’t mean you can’t get help from others that would support your goal of becoming a warrior.” My mom spoke before Matthias could reply to me. 

Elijah scoffed. All eyes, mine included, turned to him. He stabbed his steak with his fork, the plate cracking under the force he used. He turned to me, his cold gray eyes sparking with anger.

“Now I get it,” he said, pointing a finger at my mom. “That’s why you’re here, huh? Gold digger.”

My jaw dropped.

“Wow,” he said, leaning back in his chair. “That didn’t take long and the ink on the marriage certificate is barely dry and she’s already trying to secure a position for her daughter. Classic gold-digger move.”

Mom smiled but said nothing.

Matthias narrowed his eyes, “Elijah, you will apologize immediately.”

Elijah turned his smirk on me. “And you, a wolf-less girl who wants to be a warrior? You’ll just end up as cannon fodder on the battlefield. If you even make it that far.”

“Mind your manners.” Alpha Kane frowned and spoke in a low voice.

I hadn't expected Alpha Kane to defend me. But I guessed he was just more particular about table manners than Matthias.

I set my fork down slowly, “I don’t need the Alpha family’s backing, I can achieve everything on my own. I always have. Everything you’ve said is true. I don't have a wolf, and yeah I might end up as cannon fodder. However, you're wrong about my mom being a gold digger. Matthias has shown me kindness, which I am grateful for. But I can stand without it.”

Matthias lifted a hand, ending the argument before it could grow, “That’s enough, Elijah. Ella is part of this family now. That is my decision. Return to your room, now.”

Elijah got to his feet, threw one last dirty look at me, and left.

Alpha Kane finally spoke, voice low and even.“She can learn and join the new set of trainers,” he said. “But she proves her worth. No special treatment, After a month if you don’t meet expectations you’re out.”

Matthias looked satisfied, “Agreed.”

I didn’t thank him. I simply nodded once, keeping my expression neutral. I would take the opportunity. I would learn everything I could without needing Alpha Kane to cut me any slack or give me special treatment.

My mother, clearly trying to change the subject, turned to me with a bright smile. “Don’t forget about the ball tomorrow, Ella. You have to attend.”

When the second ball tomorrow was mentioned, Alpha Kane suddenly looked up.

Shit. Did he suspect something?

“Why not? She is now a member of this family,” Matthias says, gesturing to one of the maids standing near the wall. The maid stepped forward carrying a long garment bag. “I took the liberty of having something prepared for you, Ella.”

He unzipped the bag and revealed a white dress.

It was beautiful. Simple but elegant, with soft fabric that looked like it would move like water.

The kind of dress that belonged to someone important.

“Try it on,” my mother urged, already standing. “Right now. Let’s see.”

I wanted to refuse. The last thing I needed was to put on a performance in front of this table. But both my mother and Matthias were watching me expectantly, and I could feel Alpha Kane’s gaze like a physical weight.

I took the dress and stepped into the adjoining sitting room just long enough to change. When I walked back out, the room went quiet.

The white fabric fit perfectly and it made my skin look warmer, my eyes darker. I felt exposed under the sudden attention.

Matthias complimented me on having Mom’s eyes. Mom’s face immediately lit up with a smile. She reached out, gently cupped his cheek, then planted a kiss on his cheek. Watching them, I smiled for the first time that night.

Alpha Kane’s reaction was small, but I caught it.

His fingers tightened slightly around his glass. His eyes moved over me once, slow and controlled, before he looked away and his jaw flexed.

For a male who prided himself on never showing anything, that tiny crack in his composure said more than words ever could.

I didn’t let myself feel anything about him. 

Dinner ended soon after. I folded the white dress carefully over my arm and excused myself back in my room, I hung the dress on the wardrobe door and stared at it.

I didn’t want to go to the ball tomorrow but pack rules required every unmated wolf to attend.

Those who had already found their mates were expected to continue appearing together. The thought of standing in that hall again, knowing Alpha Kane would be there, made my stomach twist.

And I couldn't wear the white dress Matthias had given me to the Mate Ball. If he saw his mate wearing it, he'd immediately figure out who I was.

But I already had a plan.

I pulled out my phone and typed a short message to the only person I trusted, my best friend Kelly. 

I need your help, she replied almost instantly with a string of question marks.

Confidence soared in my heart and I grinned.