The Alpha and The Enforcer [TATE]

Chapter 11

Ellie's P.O.V 

After nearly an hour of scanning useless histories and half-faded maps, something finally caught my eye, a thick burgundy book, worn around the edges but with a golden spine and lettering that shimmered faintly in the light.

Stone Valley.

Not Mountain Stone Valley, like they call it now. The old name.

My pulse picked up.

I pulled it down and carried it over to a small table near the window. The light outside had already started to shift, casting soft amber across the page as I cracked the book open.

Inside were maps, old territory lines, and hand-written notes from long-dead Alphas. My fingers traced the edges of the ink like it might reveal something hidden beneath.

And it might. It had to.

Because I wasn't just trying to find a path out of this place. I was trying to find the version of myself that hadn't been broken. The girl I lost when Lucas said those words.

The girl I felt flicker back to life, just for a moment, when Jacob kissed me.

I swallowed hard and forced myself to focus.

This wasn't about Jacob. Not now.

This was about survival.

And it was just beginning.

It was just past 10 when I left the pack library. My muscles ache from sitting down in the same position for so long. Just as I reach for the front door to leave -

"Ellie?"

I turned.

Alpha Brian. Luna Audrey. 

And Jacob.

I bowed immediately. "Alpha. Luna. Jacob."

Alpha Brian's gaze was firm, but not harsh. "Where were you today? I didn't see you after morning training."

I opened my mouth, but Jacob beat me to it.

"She was training me."

My eyes snapped to him in surprise. My eyes conveyed the question I dared to ask aloud. 

"What the hell are you doing?"

Alpha Brian blinked in surprise. "You were what?"

Even Luna Aubrey raised a brow, glancing between the two of us.

Jacob didn't waver. "I asked her to help. I've been... off since returning. I'm not at full strength. My shifts are unstable, and they hurt a lot when I just came back. I haven't trained at all for the past three years, so I'm a bit overdue on my fighting skills. Ellie agreed to help me."

My heart thudded. I hadn't expected him to say all that.

Alpha Brian sighed, rubbing his temples. "And you couldn't come to me with this?"

"I didn't want to worry you, so I kept it from you. I've only now come to terms with the fact that lying to you won't do me any good. I just didn't want you to have to worry about me again," Jacob said honestly. "And I knew that if I did tell you, you would pick Ellie. She's one of the best fighters here."

Alpha Brian gave a tired chuckle. "You're not wrong."

Luna Audrey touched her son's arm gently. "Still, sweetheart, you talk to us. Especially about something like this."

"I will next time. Promise."

Then Alpha Brian's attention shifted back to me, his expression softening. "You've already got too much on your shoulders, Ellie. You should've said no."