Chapter 341 What Has To Be Done
Ella
Leonard’s face was a tapestry of smug delight, every wrinkle and crease accentuating his satisfaction.
“Well, well, Miss Ella. I must say, I’m delighted,” he drawled, leaning casually against the tall table behind him. “I look forward to the grand occasion of meeting my soon-to-be in-laws.”
Maintaining a poker face, I met his gaze with defiant determination. “And I am sure,” I said, my voice steady, “it’ll be a meeting to remember. And, of course, the formal engagement party will be… an event everyone will talk about for ages.”
Regaining my composure, I turned and made my way back through the maze of astonished guests. Whispers filled the air, punctuated by occasional bursts of laughter. Logan was in the. eye of this storm, a solitary figure surrounded by murmurs and sidelong glances.
Harry sidled up next to me, his smirk almost as wide as his father’s. “Quite the theatrical flair, Ella,” he remarked, lifting a glass of champagne to his lips. “This promises to be an eventful evening.”
A brief glance around confirmed his statement. Marina was a few paces away, sipping her drink with casual grace, Our eyes met, and she raised her glass slightly -a subtle nod of solidarity. I took a moment to appreciate her elegant gown, which sparkled under the light of the afternoon sun, her posture radiating confidence. I couldn’t help but wonder if she had seen this twist coming.
Logan, no longer able to play the detached observer, closed the distance between us in swift strides. He gripped my arm, guiding me away from the throng of the patio and towards a set of double doors that led to a quieter, dimly lit corridor inside the restaurant. The sound’s of the party became muted as the door clicked shut behind us.
“Ella,” Logan began, his voice a mix of disbelief and irritation. “What on Earth possessed you to do that?”
The corridor was lined with rich, dark wood paneling and thick maroon drapes that cushioned the windows. Every few steps, an ornate table held vases of fresh roses, their scent intoxicating. Under any other circumstance, it would’ve been romantic. Now, it felt like a battleground.
“I had to take control of the narrative,” I shot back, taking a deep breath to calm my racing heart. “Your father was cornering us. And, might I add, you weren’t exactly stepping up. No offense,”
He ran a hand through his already tousled hair, a gesture of frustration I had come to recognize in his mannerisms. “You think I wanted this? For everyone to see us like this? But you…you announcing it? Do you even realize the implications for your family?”
I folded my arms, mirroring his frustration. “Of course I do! But we’ll find a way out. We always do, don’t we?”
Logan’s expression softened, his shoulders slumping. “But it’s not just about us, Ella,” he said. “It’s about the entire pack. Politics, alliances, traditions-they’re all intertwined in decisions like this.”
I sighed, running a hand over my face. “I know, Logan. But we were backed into a corner. And I won’t be painted as the villain in Leonard and Harry’s twisted tale.”
Before he could respond, I took a step closer and smacked his chest. “And that,” I declared, “was for that impromptu kiss in front of everyone.” I could feel the heat in my cheeks, betraying my embarrassment.
He chuckled, a glint of mischief in his eyes. “Judging from your reaction, I’d say you rather enjoyed it.”
“In your dreams, Logan,” I retorted, but there was no heat in my words. He leaned in, his voice low, sending shivers down my spine. “Oh, Ella. You have no idea of the dreams I have.”
Gritting my teeth, I smacked him again, harder this time. He only laughed, the rich sound echoing through the corridor.
“Remember,” I whispered fiercely, “this mess is the doing of your family. You’d better have my back.”
Logan nodded understandingly. “Of course, Ella. I won’t let you deal with this on your own.”
With that, I smoothed down the front of my dress and grasped the handle to the patio, shooting one last glance at Logan before I left. “I need another drink. I swear, all of this nonsense is going to turn me into an alcoholic.”
As I walked over to the bar, the soft clinking of glasses provided a soothing backdrop to the conversations bubbling around the room. Leonard and Harry were nowhere to be found, which was a relief.
Ordering a gin and tonic, I watched as the bartender expertly combined the ingredients, ending with a twist of lemon. The cool glass felt good in my hand, a momentary distraction from the growing pressure of the night.
“Quite the announcement, Ella,” a sultry voice remarked from behind me.
I turned to find Marina, leaning casually against the bar, her red gown hugging her slender frame. Her lips, painted a matching shade, curved into a sly smile.
“Oh, Marina,” I began, taking a sip of my drink to buy a moment’s reprieve. “It’s not a party until you make your entrance.”
She laughed, a melodic and practiced sound. “You know me. Always looking for the right moment to steal the spotlight.” Her gaze traveled to my finger, upon which I wore no engagement ring, but she didn’t mention it. “And speaking of spotlights… this engagement party. I assume I’ll be on the guest list?”
I swallowed hard, the weight of the situation pressing on me. “Of course. Wouldn’t dream of having it without you,” I replied, attempting nonchalance.
Marina’s eyes gleamed with mischief. “If the engagement party even happens,” she said, her tone dripping with insinuation. “No ring, either?”
I met her gaze squarely, trying to decipher what lay behind those enigmatic eyes. “We… decided against a ring,” I lied. “And what’s that supposed to mean?”
Marina chuckled, her hand reaching out to squeeze my shoulder with an almost maternal affection. “Just teasing, darling. I’m sure it’ll be the event of the season. Though,” she added with a smirk, “it’s always hard to predict the future.”
I could only nod, the words stuck in my throat, as Marina sashayed away, leaving a trail of her signature jasmine perfume in her wake.
“She knows something is up,” my wolf’s voice murmured in the recesses of my mind. “Marina always seems to be one step ahead. I don’t get it.”
I sighed, rolling the cool glass between my fingers. “That she does,” I responded in agreement, looking into the amber depths of my drink. “Trust me, I don’t get it, either.”
“And what about Edrick?” my wolf probed further. “How do you plan to tell your parents?”
I took a deep breath, feeling the weight of the impending dilemma. “I don’t plan to. I’ll figure something out. A way to avoid all of this.”
My wolf, always the voice of reason, nudged me gently. “And what if you can’t?”
I downed the rest of my drink, the bitterness of the tonic matching my mood. “Then we find another way out. One that doesn’t involve sacrificing our happiness. There’s always a way out.”
“You mean like the other night?” my wolf urged, reminding me of the ‘out’ that Logan had given me-one which I had openly refused.
“That was… different,” I replied, glancing over my shoulder at Logan, who was chatting with someone I didn’t recognize in the corner.
“Mhm. Different.”
