The Alpha and The Enforcer [TATE]

Chapter 36

Ellie's P.O.V

It was quiet on the way to my house. Neither of us said a word, and if I'm being honest, I didn't mind. The silence gave me time to think. So much had happened in the past week, it was a wonder I hadn't collapsed under the weight of it all.

I found out I had a sister. A sister my parents never told me about.

I sought Miranda's help to get control over my wolf, who, right now, I still can't hear, but can feel. She also helped me come to the realization that I needed to stop holding myself back.

I told my parents I wanted to accept my mate's rejection, and, indirectly, I admitted that I want to start over with Jacob.

What a rush.

We passed some of the border guards posted for the night. Just in case Kyle tried anything, or if my sister turned out to be a trap. We also passed the familiar path that led to the waterfall Jacob and I used to train at. We hadn't trained in days.

I quickly mind-linked Alec to meet Jacob outside my house.

As we made a left turn into my neighborhood, the glow of streetlights cast soft shadows on the pavement. Most of the houses were lit. Families still up, windows warm with life.

Except for mine.

Dark. Still. Like no one had lived there for decades.

No surprise. I barely stayed there anymore.

I used to think moving out was the right thing. My mate had rejected me. I needed space. I didn't want guards Alpha Brian had quietly placed around me, though I knew they were there. I never said anything. Let them think they fooled me. I just wanted peace.

At first, the silence was comforting. Healing. But eventually, it turned into something else. The neighbors stopped checking in. I never apologized for snapping at them. Maybe I thought keeping people at a distance would keep me safe. It made sense until it didn't.

Because almost two years later, I let someone in.

Christian.

He wasn't my mate, but I tried. I craved something steady, something normal. Instead, he cheated on me at the same club where we'd promised to try. I should have known better. We weren't good together, but it still hurt because I wanted to try to make it work. He became the second man to let me down. Strike two.

So I built my walls higher.

And yet here I am, thinking about doing it all over again with Jacob. Does that make me stupid or brave?

I don't know yet.

We reached the driveway when I pulled my keys from my jacket pocket to unlock the door and stepped into the dark, stale air of my home. I flipped the light switch and kicked off my shoes, tossing my keys on the island counter in the hallway before entering the kitchen. Jacob followed behind but didn't say a word. He stopped at the threshold, watching me.

I grabbed a bottle of water from the fridge and leaned against the counter, taking a long drink.

"Are you going to stand there all night," I asked after a pause, "or are you going to say something?"

He didn't answer at first. Just looked at me. Like he was trying to figure something out. Like I was a puzzle he'd finally started to piece together.

"Jacob," I called out softly, and his eyes finally locked onto mine.

The light above the kitchen flickered once before settling into a soft glow. I leaned against the counter, water bottle in hand, the coolness of it grounding me. The silence between us hadn't been uncomfortable, but it hung thick in the air, like we were both waiting for something to break it.