Chapter 3: Promises

Ellie

"Hear me out, Ellie!" Michael protested as Ellie walked away from him, not for the first time. She was on her way to check on one of the older members of the pack, a widow named Helen who had always been a bit like a grandmother to her. Since Helen hadn't been feeling well recently, Ellie had asked the pack healer, Margaret, to look in on her, but Ellie wanted to see how she was doing herself.

"Not now, Dad," Ellie said, wishing that her father would just give it up. For the last three days, all he'd been talking about was this tournament he wanted to put on for her, to help her find a husband.

"Ellie, it'll be perfect! You want to marry for strength, right? Not for love?"

"Yes, Dad," she said, not turning to look at him. She knew what he wanted for her, that he would have preferred for her to meet her "fated mate," the man selected for her by the Moon Goddess herself, but Ellie didn't even believe such a thing was possible, not anymore anyway.

"This is a great way to do it! We'll strengthen our alliances with all of the packs nearby, and in the end, we'll have two pack leaders who are both physically strong and capable of leading our packs. It's the perfect solution!"

Her father was breathing a little heavy as he spoke and tried to keep up with her at the same time, another reminder that he was not the spring chicken he once was. Ellie finally turned to look at him and noticed how deeply set the crow's feet were around his eyes. He was only in his early fifties, but time and grief had paid their toll on him. He needed to retire.

Still, committing to a tournament that would end with her marrying the winner was a huge decision, one not to be taken lightly, and Ellie just wasn't sure she was there yet. "I'll think about it," she said--again.

Michael growled. "That's what you've been saying!"

"And you haven't given me any time to think about it!" she reminded him. Helen's cabin was just ahead of them. She hoped he wouldn't keep arguing with her as she made her way inside.

"Listen, I'm going to go back to the office and draw up some plans. You'll see--it'll be perfect. We'll invite all of the single Alphas in the area, all six of them. All of them are strong, fierce leaders. Most of them are probably pretty good lookin' too." He winked, and Ellie shook her head. "Doesn't hurt does it?"

"I guess not," she said, feeling her cheeks turn a little pink at admitting this to her father.

"You'll see, Ellie. When I'm done, you'll know this is exactly what we need to do, all right?"

"Fine," Ellie said, reluctantly. What she did know was that she wouldn't have the heart to tell her dad no after he went to so much trouble. "Go draw it up, and I'll come and look at it when I'm done checking on Helen."

Michael's face lit up like a kid who knew he was getting the perfect present on Christmas. "Will do!" he exclaimed and then turned and headed back to the office with a zing in his step that hadn't been there before. Ellie shook her head and then knocked on Helen's door before she opened it slightly and stuck her head in. "Helen? Are you home? It's Ellie."

"Yes, dear! I'm in here!" the woman called in a frail voice.

Knowing she was likely in bed, Ellie went in and headed toward the bedroom. She saw the older woman lying there, propped up on a stack of pillows, a worn tissue in her hand. Her white hair framed her pale face, and she looked weaker than she had the last time Ellie had checked on her, a few days earlier.

"How are you?" Ellie asked, sitting down in a chair next to the bed.

"Oh, fair to middlin'," Helen said with a smile. "How are you, dear? Busy as ever?" She gave a gentle chuckle. She always teased Ellie about being busy but still having time for everyone.

"Never too busy for you. Can I get you anything?"

"No, thank you, honey. Margaret just came to check on me a bit ago, so I've got everything I need. It is so nice to see your pretty face, though. How have you been?"

"Good," Ellie said with a nod. That wasn't exactly true. There were always concerns on her mind, what with her leading the entire pack and all. And of course, there was her father's scheme. But none of that seemed worth mentioning at the moment. "I am worried about you, though."

"Don't be, darling." She reached over and patted Ellie's hand. "I'll be just fine. And if I'm not, well, it's about time I moved on and was reunited with my Howard." A fond smile overcame Helen's face as she turned her head to look at the photo on the nightstand of her as a beautiful bride standing next to a man in a suit who was obviously her husband. Ellie had never met him as he'd died before she was born, but she had heard the stories and knew he was a fine man. The love between the two of them was evident, both in the photo and in the way Helen spoke of him.

"Listen, dear, there's something I want you to promise me." She tilted her head closer to Ellie as she spoke, letting Ellie know this was important.

Still, Ellie heard the tone in her voice and tried to play it off. "Oh, Helen, you'll be fine! You'll be back in your garden in no time!"

Helen shook her head, her smile never fading. "Listen, young lady. You might be the Alpha and the Luna of this pack, but I want you to know something. Don't let your responsibility toward others crowd out what you need for yourself. You can have both! You can have a wonderful, loving man and still be a good leader for this pack. Just like your parents. Don't settle, honey. Don't put your needs on hold. You deserve happiness. You are a good person, a wonderful person, and I know that the Moon Goddess has someone perfect for you just waiting out there." Helen patted Ellie's hand again but then began to cough so hard, it concerned Ellie. She reached for the glass of water on the nightstand and helped Helen take a drink.

The woman she held so dear had spoken directly to her heart. If Ellie was honest with herself, she had always wanted a love like the one her parents shared, like the love between Helen and Howard. She was just afraid. Afraid that, because of the curse, she'd never find it. Or that… maybe she didn't deserve it.

But if her father and Helen were right, and there was someone out there waiting for her, maybe now was the time to start looking for him. Maybe it wasn't a coincidence that her father's scheme had gone hand in hand with the timing of Helen's speech. "All right, Helen," Ellie said, as soon as her friend had settled down from her coughing spell. "I promise you. I will give love a chance."

Helen smiled and patted her hand one more time. "Good, good, dear. Now, I know, if I go, I can do it with a smile on my face."

Ellie leaned down and kissed her wrinkled cheek. "You're not going anywhere, Helen." Yet, she knew, it wouldn't be long now. She just hoped Helen would live long enough for her to see that Ellie had been listening, long enough for Ellie to find the man Helen had described--if he really was out there.

And if he could win her father's tournament.