004_Fractured Alliances

Elora's POV

"Don't you talk to her like that!" Zeke yelled back at Laura.

He was defending her.

He was standing up for Charlotte?!

"Zeke?" The word left my lips before I could think. "What... What are you doing here? And with..."

My voice broke, fading away, replaced with the chill I felt running down my spine.

What the heck was he doing here? Didn't he say he wasn't in contact with her? And why was he fighting for her?

So many thoughts ran through my mind.

But Zeke looked shocked.

"Babe. What are you doing here?" He asked. "Shouldn't you be at the cemetery with Katelyn?"

A chuckle escaped my lips at his words. Now, that was definitely funny.

"Annie! I asked you to keep Elora away from here!" Laura snapped.

Zeke's eyes darted from me to Laura, confused. "Wait a minute! You know this bitch."

"That's it!" Laura growled, picking up a fork. "I'm going to use this and put a hole in your..."

"Calm down, Laura," I muttered, standing in between both of them as I held up my hands. "Please, let me handle this."

Thankfully, she listened.

I knew Laura was a wild wolf, but Zeke was a battle-experienced one.

He was a Beta just like me, and we had both fought side by side in a few battles.

She wasn't a match for him.

Then Zeke scoffed. "Don't tell me you work in this sh*t hole."

I didn't know what to say. I had been keeping my odd—omega—jobs from him.

Losing our child was one thing, but finding out that the reason why it happened was because I was overworking myself by doing jobs meant for Omegas was another.

He would never forgive me.

I took a few steps towards him, my voice lowering. "Can we talk about this privately?"

I touched his hand, but he slapped it away.

"Talk privately? No, Elora, I want to talk about this now!" His eyes and hands spread across the restaurant. "To think I would find you in such a filthy place—and working?! That's insane! I expected better from you."

With those words out of his lips, he walked away.

"Wait a minute, Zeke. I can explain," I pleaded. "Just please, give me a chance!"

But he didn't listen. Instead, he grabbed Charlotte's arm—more gently than he had ever held me—and pulled her alongside him as he strode off.

I stood, frozen in place and time, not knowing what to do.

I should be the one who was pissed. He made a promise to be there for me and our daughter, yet he was the one who was upset.

Things shouldn't have gone the way it was. It shouldn't have.

Laura tried to talk to me, but I waved her off. And the rest of the day went by like that—live it was waved off.

I returned home tired and hungry. Things were left the same—the house unclean—the pots empty. Just like always.

But Zeke was in. I knew because the door was left open.

I strolled towards my room, barely having enough energy to lift my legs.

I was about to walk into my room when I heard his room door open.

"Why are you back so late?" He asked.

But I didn't reply. I couldn't.

He held my hand the moment I tried to walk away, his grip on me tight.

"Don't walk out of me," He said. "I need an answer from you."

"I had to work," I said without looking at him.

He chuckled, letting go of my arm. "I don't know you anymore, Ellie. I don't even know what job you do anymore."

He was about to enter his room when my words made him stop.

"You would've if you had cared—at least for once—just like you did with that woman today."

Our gaze met as I turned. At first, he looked a little annoyed, then speechless.

"It wasn't planned," He said. "I had a busy day today and happened to bump into her at her workplace. That's all."

I scoffed. "Yeah, right."

He held my hand once more.

"You know I'm telling you the truth," He said, his tone softening. "Besides, there isn't any filthy physical relationship between us."

I didn't know what to say.

Suddenly, his arms wrapped around my waist, pulling me towards him. His lips found mine, locking them in something I have always longed for.

His grip around me tightened, turning me on.

I wanted to give in, to be lost in the arms of the man I had loved all my life. Then a glimpse of him holding onto the Omega—like she was the only thing that mattered—flashed before my eyes.

Without saying why, I pushed him away.

A mix of disappointment and anger etched into his features.

"To think it took all the guts in me to try to be with a fat ugly ogre like you, and yet, you're pushing me away?!" He was about to head into his room when he turned to me again. "Grow up, Elora! You are such a cheap and old-fashioned woman who can't even get herself a nice lingerie! You're not getting any younger, so you better start acting it. Got it?"

With those words out of his lips, he walked into his room, shutting it behind with a loud thud.

My legs buckled, but luckily I was close to my door. I held onto the handle, steadying myself.

I stayed there for a while before finally finding the strength to head down and prepare a meal for myself.

"Everything was going to be fine," I told myself, but the tears that streamed down my cheeks and rage in my heart betrayed the calmness in my voice.

I was sorry I was such a distasteful partner. I didn't mean to be this way. I didn't even know I was.

I wiped my tears, pretending everything was okay. It was going to get better. I had hope—that I could win him back.

He was yet to make love to her. That meant something.

He still loved me, and that was all that mattered.