The Surreptitious Mr. Wolfe

Part 13- Proposition

Please read the author's note at the bottom. Thanks guys!

PART 13- PROPOSITION

"Victor, what are you—" Her shriek was cut short when she felt her head being brought closer to his solid chest. Her arms were anaesthetized from all feeling, laying limp at her sides, as she felt his warm upper body swiftly be in motion with the rhythm of her rapid breaths.

"I came to see you, five months without seeing you- it was pure pandemonium. Oh, and a social let me in. " He says, attempting to rest his chin on the top her head. He tenderly moves her away from his chest and crouches down to her level.

"Seems as if you've grown, Ella, I have no need to bend too far down anymore." He says with a chuckle, her large, brown eyes still wide-shot in disbelief. "Happy birthday, princess Ella." He wishes and clasps her face. Her heart aches as he lightly and unhurriedly brings her forward, her breath hitches and she fearfully moves a strand of hair from her face.

Jace's bracelet makes a tinkling noise at the nervous movement of her hand and Victor immediately spots it.

"That's a, um, beautiful bracelet you got there, Ella." He says, smiling to put a facade over the malice quaking inside- he had a good idea who presented her with it and it didn't make him too happy. "Who gave it to you?" He asks and slowly let's go of her face, her cheeks now cooling down from the all the excitement.

"Jace gave it to me today." She replied, not feeling too comfortable by the direction this conversation was going. Victor clenched his jaw.

"What is his deal, Ella?" Victor slowly asks, allowing each word to be drowned in a pool of irritation before being uttered.

"H-He, um, he asked me to be his g-girlfriend. He then put the bracelet on my—" She falters.

"He did what!" Victor roars, pacing towards the bed and back to her.

"I d-don't see what the problem is, Victor. It's a birthday gift." She nervously defends.

"Listen Ella, it's not just the gift. He asked you to be his and claimed you by putting a bracelet on your wrist." Victor says, heatedly seating himself down on her chair. "Are you even wearing my locket?" He says, his voice slowly dying down.

She doesn't say anything and removes the locket from under her shirt.

"I haven't taken it off since this morning." She softly says, he looks up at her in disbelief. "I d-don't think I ever will, either." She softly trails off.

"I'm so sorry, Ella. I don't know why, but when I hear his name, I see flames, especially when it's got something to do with you. I just- Ella I- I don't, what I'm trying to say is, I—"He runs his fingers through his hair and meets Ella's gaze. He notices her trepidation and gets up from the chair. He walks towards her and crouches down.

"I want to shield you, in any way I can. You're so untainted and inimitable, I don't want anyone to ruin you for m—"He halts his words.

"For m?" She asks in bafflement.

"I, um—"He stammers, chafing his fingers through his hair, luckily, an ecstatic Mrs. Valour opens the door.