Chapter 36
Chapter 36
Third Person POV
“Are you joking? You really think a line like that would work on me p>
Lance bristled visibly at her dismissive response. “You really think that was meant to be a line? Why would I be interested in a whiny, bitchy rogue like you p>
Rather than getting upset at the insult, Ellie just laughed, which caused Lance’s team, who had been watching the interaction, to laugh as well.
“Look, I’m just trying to be nice and invite you along since you did me a favor,” he muttered.
“I didn’t do you a favor,” Ellie shot back. The cold look in her eyes was enough to make Lance pause. She seemed almost offended by the idea that she would help him.
Lance knew that the two of them didn’t like each other, but it still gave him pause. Some of the heat faded from his words as he spoke.
“What, do you have something better to do today? What are you two doing out here anyway p>
He looked at Rae, who was standing beside Ellie and watching the exchange with a concerned expression, like she wasn’t sure if she should step in or not.
“That’s none of your business,” she responded, crossing her arms.
It caused another ripple of laughter through Lance’s team, who were moving closer to observe the argument, obviously finding it amusing.
The public humiliation reignited his anger. Lance was used to having people talk badly about him, but they at least usually had the decency to do it behind his back. Having Ellie stand here and disrespect him to his face was too much.
“Listen, you p>
“The race is over,” Ellie said, cutting him off. “So why dont you and your friends go find something better to do p>
“Why don’t you make me?” Lance growled, his irritation clear now. His hands clenched at his sides as he struggled to control his mounting anger.
“You’re causing a disturbance,” Ellie said calmly. She was completely unphased by his anger. Lance could see it in her eyes as she stared up at him steadily.
Why did that make his heart race She was his brother’s mate!
Was he angry or just intrigued by her weird behavior? He wasn’t sure and it only made him more frustrated.
Lance bit back the urge to argue, taking note of the fact tha several people were indeed staring at the exchange- not just his teammates.
The last thing he needed was for the rumor mill to start talling about him and his sister-in-law fighting, especially when things were already so tense between her and Nolan. Lance didn’t particularly care for either of them, but he didn’t want to be the subject of more drama.
“Go have your fun somewhere else,” Ellie said.
She turned and walked away with Rae. Lance stood there and watched her go, feeling shaken by her sharp demeanor. His friends were still laughing, but he didn’t pay them any attention, waving them off.
“Come on, let’s get going,” he said. “We’ve got better things to do than hang out with a rogue anyway p>
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Chapter 36
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He left with his friends, the interaction with Ellie apparently already forgotten by the group as they started joking about the race and looking forward to the party.
But Lance couldn’t stop thinking about her words. The way she’d dared to talk to him like that—what the hell gave her the right?
Something was going on with her. And as much as Lance wanted to pretend he didn’t care, it was starting to make him curious.
Nolan POV
I was sitting behind my desk, having just finished a phone call that had resulted in a headache, when one of the betas approached me. He had a concerned look on his face.
I raised an eyebrow at him, waiting for him to tell me what possible reason he had for interrupting me.
“Sir,” he started, apparently nervous, “Ellie has been seen at the racetrack.” “The racetrack?” I repeated, looking at him as though he’d lost his mind. “Yes p>
“And why is this information important enough that you feel the need to interrupt me?” I demanded, leaning back in my chair and looking at him expectantly.
“Well, it’s just… she became involved in the race. In a rather direct way. It seems that your brother was one of the racers,” he explained.
“Yes, I’m well aware he was racing today. Get to the point,” I said. I was getting increasingly annoyed by the beta talking around the issue. I had more important matters to worry about than how Ellie was spending her day.
“Well, the officials initially announced that someone else had won the race, but then Ellie was seen intervening- talking to them-and they changed their decision and awarded first place to Lance,” he said.
“Are you implying that she somehow swayed the judges?” asked, looking at him sharply. I couldn’t see any reason Ellie would try something like that.
“No, it appears they simply reviewed the tapes after she pointed out their mistake. Lance did legitimately win,” he explained.
“Then what is your point?” I snapped.
“I just thought you would want to know that Ellie had been spotted in public p>
behaving in a way that drew attention,” he stammered nervously.
“You can go now,” I said coldly.
The beta turned and quickly left the room, obviously uncomfortable.
I rubbed my temple, trying to ease the tension before it could worsen my headache.
I should’ve expected that when Ellie left this morning, it wouldn’t be the last I heard from her today.
She just seemed to be a magnet for attention lately, and it didn’t make any sense to me. She’d always blended into the background. She was meek, small, and quiet. And now, uddenly, it was like every time I turned my head, she was there, causing trouble in some way.
I wasn’t upset that she had helped Lance, but I was confused by it. Ellie hated Lance, she always had, so why would she go out of her way for him, of all people?
Was this some kind of game? Some new tactic she was using to get my attention? Could she be using my brother
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to get to me?
The thought made my blood boil. It was just too much. Her sual dramatics weren’t getting the result she wanted, so she went after my little brother?
No-even Ellie wouldn’t be that bold… would she?
She’d been behaving so strangely. It was like I hardly knew her anymore. So maybe she was getting desperate. Maybe she was trying something she never would’ve dared to do in the past.
Could Lance be in on it? He hated me, and had for a long time. But did he hate me enough to align himself with her?
I just couldn’t see the two of them working together on anything. Maybe I was overreacting, though. Even by the beta’s report, all Ellie had really done was ask the officials to reconsider their mistaken decision. Could I really blame her for that?
I sighed in frustration. This was just one more thing I was going to have to waste my time dealing with. If there was any backlash, I’d have to make a statement, try to mitigate the trouble.
Even when she was nowhere near me, Ellie was making my life more difficult. If I believed in the goddess, I would almost think this was some twisted fate.
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