Ella was at a loss for words, as she frowned, casting such a sad look his way. Her hand gestured toward him and then to herself, obviously referring to the tension between them.
"Come on. Let's call a truce. I'm sorry for being such an ass."
Wolf led Ella through the clubhouse, out the back door, to the patio. There was a bonfire roaring, with people gathered round, talking and laughing.
"Wolf, you don't understand. I really should go."
Ella attempted to pull free of his grasp, but he refused to let her loose. Wolf liked the invigorating sensation her touch incited.
"Come on, Ella, relax a little. Would it make you feel better if you watched me get my ass kicked? We were going to set up a little boxing match," Wolf coaxed.
"No, I think you got knocked in the head enough for one night."
"Nah, it's fine. There's not much to hurt up here anyway." Wolf knocked on his head, eliciting a smile from Ella. "Come on, hang out."
Ella relented and sat on a bench with a sigh.
"I'm sorry," she paused and nibbled her lip. "I think you misunderstood when you overheard me talking to my sister."
"I wasn't intentionally eavesdropping. I wanted to see if you wanted to grab a bite to eat and get a ride. But, I am deadly serious about you walking after dark."
Ella stared into the fire looking conflicted, her eyebrows drawn together. She opened her mouth several times to speak, then shook her head as if not knowing what to say.
"I know you wouldn't know it, considering my recent request, but I've always taken care of myself." Ella closed her eyes. "That sounds awful. My parents did their best to hold it together." Ella continued to stare at the flickering fire as she paused.
Wolf kept quiet as he sat next to Ella. He got the feeling she was trying to gather the courage to say something that was hard for her to admit out loud.
"Sabine started getting sick when we were five. She's been in hospitals more than she's been at home."
Wolf recalled seeing Ella's sister's name included on the lease. Although, best he could tell, the sister had never been to the apartment. If Sabine was in a hospital that would explain it.
No wonder Ella felt like she had to take care of herself. Her parents spent all their time taking care of an ill sibling, draining all their attention away from Ella. That was a rough way to grow up. At least with the pack, everyone was close knit. No child ever had to worry for affection.
"It must have been hard for you," Wolf said as he squeezed Ella's shoulder.
"We were in high school when dad died. And mom just couldn't cope." Ella paused, trapped in the memory, then looked at Wolf. "I don't begrudge my sister, I'd be lost without her. She's so strong. Sabine's the only one who really understands me." Ella shook her head.
Wolf now understood why Ella was able to shut herself off so efficiently. It wasn't because she had no emotions. It was because life taught her, her emotions didn't matter, when her sister's health took priority. Wolf looked into Ella's eyes, as she stared at the bonfire. The desolation in those hazel depths struck him hard. It was like a vise was constricting his chest.
"I admit I was shocked by what happened yesterday. I don't do well with that sort of attention. I didn't mean to imply … ," Ella paused awkwardly. "I just can't have relationships like normal people," she smiled sheepishly.
It was nice to know the cause of Ella's disparaging comment, but what she just said bothered him. Wolf wondered if Ella had a hard time connecting with people, because of her parent's neglect, or had something horrible happened while she was left alone? Ella looked incredibly uncomfortable seeing the guys in the trashed bathroom.
"Princess, did some guy do something he shouldn't have?" Wolf asked, his voice filled with concern and dread. His beast snarled at the mere suggestion Ella might have been abused.
"No! Nothing like that." Ella looked mortified. "But thank you for your concern."
"Thank god." Wolf shook his head, feeling relief.
"It's just that I'm weird, really weird." Ella looked down at her hands, turning them over as if she might find a discernible sign of this perceived difference.
"Like what? You don't look like you have webbed toes." Wolf glanced at her painted toe nails in the girly sandals. "And I certainly didn't feel a tail yesterday."
"It's nothing like that." Ella blushed as she swatted him.
"Normal is overrated," Wolf chuckled. "I know two chicks, girlfriends of my buddies, who make weird look real fucking normal."
Wolf thought about Iris, Cain's old lady, who could see the future and read minds. Then there was Marisol, who could light your ass up, literally, if you looked at her crossways. Compared to that, everything else was child's play.
Ella
Ella felt horrible that Wolf overheard her comment, and had taken offence. No wonder he'd been so cool toward her. Add that she was guarded with her emotions, and he obviously thought she was a big old B. She couldn't really explain to him the reason she was so odd, but Wolf seemed to accept what little she could tell him.
"Hell, no one here comes close to being normal. You're surrounded by a pack of animals," Wolf said loud enough for everyone to hear.
The bikers around the fire-pit grinned then started howling into the night. Wolf tipped up his head and called to the moon. He did a great job mimicking his namesake. Ella couldn't help the smile that spread across her face. Wolf was attempting to cheer her up, and it was working.
"See, a bunch of freaks, every last one of us." Wolf nudged her.
I can show you a freak.
Ella had no doubt that if Wolf knew the extent of her quirky nature, he truly would run howling into the night. She'd already nearly knocked his brains out, because she lost control in the kitchen.
"Thanks for the pep talk," Ella replied.
She appreciated Wolf making peace with her. Unfortunately, that didn't solve her problem. Even when the gorgeous man wasn't antagonizing her, she was still on the edge. Just being around him, had her stretched to the limit.
"Just be yourself. We're a bunch of badass rabid biker. There's nothing you can do that would shock us."
"Au contraire mon ami," Ella snorted.
"You speak French." Wolf looked at her with interest.
"Yes, my mother and father were from the old country."
"I bet you could say the most boring shit in that accent, and it would still sound erotic."
"Stop. There you go again being … being" Ella's cheeks heated.
"Being male. Yeah, I know. But it's too much fun watching your cheeks turn pink. I can't help myself. Seriously say something else."
"Wolf, je souhaite que je n'étais pas la façon dont je suis." Wolf, I wish I wasn't the way I am. "J'aimerais sentir vos lèvres pressées contre le mien." I would love to feel your lips pressed against mine.
Ella felt strange saying such things to Wolf, but she meant them. Wolf was a flirt for sure, but he was turning out to be more sweet and empathetic than she gave him credit for. His honey-brown eyes glowed in the fire light, as he hung on every word she spoke. It took everything in her, not to get lost in them.
"Holy hell, woman, that's hot. What did you say?" Wolf gave Ella a heated look, and she almost regretted giving in to his request, almost.
"That's for me to know, and you to wonder forever." Ella grinned evilly.
"You are an Ice Princess." Wolf clutched his chest as if he were mortally wounded. Ella laughed at his antics. "I bet I could force you to tell me."
Wolf reached out and tickled her ribs. Ella gasped. Not only was she terribly sensitive, but that it was Wolf teasing her, didn't help. Ella felt the rapid spiraling of her control, that she'd only just got a handle on again. Ella held on tight, directing things inward. The vibration starting in her core, worked its way outward, despite her best effort to repress it.
"Wolf, please," she half laughed, half cried out.
"Hey, Wolf, I thought we were going to throw down," one of the bikers she'd seen yesterday, hollered at Wolf, as he approached the picnic table.
Wolf ceased his torment, and Ella sighed in relief. The distraction had come just in time.
"Are you going to be fine if I put Vick in his place? Things might get a little bloody."
"I've spent a lot of time in hospitals. Blood stopped bothering me a long time ago," Ella replied as she took several calming breaths.