Rejection

Chapter 29 - Oh boy

---Kyle's POV---

Poor Ellie kept giving me sideways glances at each possible moment. She didn't know what had put me in my foul mood, nor did I want to subject the kid to it.

So I had put on my best smile but I guessed I looked more like a grumpy bear with a tooth ache. All thanks to Max.

The fucking bastard was going to ruin what little progress I had made with Ellie if I couldn't calm down. But each time I closed my eyes, I could see him burned on the inside of my eyelids.

Just standing there, smiling and in awe. As if he had rediscovered me after everything that had happened between us.

Fuck that bastard and everything he stands for.

My wolf snarled in agreement before I took a few deep breaths to try and relax. Getting all worked up wouldn't get me anywhere but further away from our goal.

A thought made my eyes snap open before I let out a chuckled huff. I could call Drake as soon as I went to the packhouse. Without a doubt, the alpha would be most curious as to why this pack was meddling in the affairs of another pack.

This pack could quite easily protest that we were doing the same thing, but they had asked us to come here. And I never asked them to get in contact with my ex-mate and let him know where I was.

I would've been happy if I had never laid eyes on the bastard ever again.

An annoyed huff escaped me before I felt tiny paws against my leg. Looking down, Ellie was pawing gently at my leg, silently begging for attention. Eyes wide and ears splayed out demurely, her pup was showing clear signs of submission.

"Aw, pup. I'm sorry, I'm not angry at you." I reassured guiltily, hurrying to crouch down and hug the little pup to my chest. She let out a happy whine before lapping at my cheek.

Slowly, my heartrate lowered to a regular pulse as I took deep calming breaths, gently petting Ellie. Her little wolf loved the attention, drooping in my arms and panting happily.

I smiled, shaking my head at the goofy pup that managed to partially distract me. "I'm sorry, Ellie." Her ears perked at her name, a low whine vibrating in her throat as she looked up at me.

"it wasn't my intent to take my anger with me from work. You see, I had bumped into my..."I swallowed painfully, struggling to continue, "former mate."

The pup's ears instantly flattened against her skull. Even though she was far too young to have a mate, her wolf knew what mates were. Mates were the forever kind of relationship.

Or at least, they should be. Like her parents, standing side by side as equals and facing the world head on without a trace of fear. Because you could rely on each other.

"Max and I...We don't have a good history." I started calmly, unconsciously cupping her soft ear and gently petting Ellie's fur as a distraction.

"Some things happened between us, a horrible misunderstanding on his part... but, it showed me who he truly was."

The little pup turned around in my lap, tiny paws resting on my chest as she lapped at my cheek. It was only when I sniveled, that I realized I had been silently crying.

Curse that bastard for coming back.

Instead of letting the anger overtake me, I slowly explained as much as possible as I could. The pup had a right to know why I was this upset and if I wanted her to trust me and open up towards me, it was only right that I returned the favor.