Chapter 199

Ella

After pulling apart from my hug with the housekeeper, I made my way through the throng of party guests and outside into the cool night air. Even though it was almost midnight, the party was still in full swing and would likely go on for a couple more hours at least. As I stepped into the garden, the sound of the music coming from inside wafted over everything and created a hazy, dreamlike world in combination with the sounds of the crickets and the distant city lights.

However, as I began wandering through the garden, the housekeeper’s wise words kept floating through my mind.

She had said that I should let my heart do the talking. But what did that mean exactly? What did my heart even want?

“I know you’ve fallen for Logan,” my wolf’s voice echoed in the back of my mind. “There’s no use in hiding it anymore, Ella.”

I let out a soft sigh. “Maybe you’re right,” I murmured under my breath as I picked up my skirt slightly while I walked. “Maybe I have fallen for him. But it doesn’t change—”

“Change what?” my wolf interrupted, her voice somewhat agitated. “The fact that he’s a mobster?”

“Yeah. Exactly,” I replied softly. But was that even really true? Was that what was truly holding me back?

“No,” my wolf said, sensing my thoughts. “It’s not just that. You know what it is, Ella. You’ve known all along; ever since you were a little girl.”

As my wolf spoke, tears came to my eyes. I blinked them away, stopping beside a small bird bath with a fountain trickling gently inside.

I knew what my wolf was referring to.

My mother. Not Moana, but my biological mother… The woman who had left me. The woman who had never loved me the way a mother should.

“It’s stupid,” I whispered with a wry chuckle, my reflection peering back up at me from the water’s rippling surface. “I don’t even remember her.”

“And yet, what she did to you scarred you,” Ema said softly. “Made you believe that you have to shut yourself off from love. That you have to protect yourself, because you never know when people might…”

“Leave,” I finished for her. One of my tears escaped and dripped down into the bird bath with a soft plop. I quickly wiped my cheek with the back of my hand, taking a deep breath as I turned away.

“But that was so long ago, Ella,” Ema assured me. “So many people love you. Your father, Moana… Logan.”

“You don’t know how Logan feels,” I said with a scoff. “Neither do I. He never would have done any of this if I hadn’t been the daughter of Edrick Morgan—if I hadn’t been a perfect tool to gain his father’s fortune. Let’s not forget that.”

Ema sighed. “I know. But people change, Ella. You can’t deny that he’s changed immensely since that first night.”

With a sigh of my own, I made my way to a secluded spot by the ornate hedge maze. Maybe Ema was right, but I didn’t know what to believe right now. All I could do was wait for Logan to meet me here, wait for him to finally tell me what this party was “really all about”.

And wait to find out what that sketchy man was meeting with him for.

But as time went on, Logan didn’t come. The clock ticked past midnight, and I saw no signs of him.

I leaned against the manicured shrubbery, crossing my arms, and tried not to let my disappointment show. Maybe he had forgotten our plan to meet outside. It made me a little sad, but I shouldn’t have expected too much. After all, we weren’t even officially together. Why should I be upset if he didn’t show up when he said he would?

Then, just as I was about to turn and leave, a pair of hands suddenly covered my eyes. My heart pounded, and instinct kicked in. It was just like the engagement party all over again, and next thing I knew Marina would be holding another knife to my neck.

I reacted without thinking, using the strength of my wolf to twist and fight back against my unseen assailant.

We ended up tumbling to the ground, with me on top, ready to defend myself from Marina or the unseen hitman or anyone. But then I heard a familiar, hearty laugh.

“Ella, you really pack a punch,” Logan said, his voice filled with amusement.

My eyes widened in surprise, and I hastily pushed myself away from him. “Logan? You scared the living daylights out of me!” I exclaimed, my heart still racing.

He chuckled as he sat up and brushed a few blades of grass from his suit. “I didn’t mean to scare you that much,” he admitted. “I just wanted to surprise you.”

I scowled at him and shook my head. “Surprise me? You nearly gave me a heart attack! I thought you were…”

As my voice trailed off, Logan’s eyes widened slightly. “I’m sorry, Ella,” he murmured, climbing to his feet and holding his hand out for me. “I guess it was thoughtless of me to do something like that after everything that’s been going on.

I sighed, my anger subsiding as quickly as it had flared up. “It’s alright. Sorry for overreacting,” I mumbled as I took his hand and he helped pull me to my feet. He was strong and lifted me like I was nothing, nearly causing me to stumble into him as I rose.

For a moment, neither of us spoke, our breaths mingling in the cool night air. His clear blue eyes seemed to reflect the color of the night sky as he looked down at me, and in that moment, I felt entranced.

But then I finally took a step back and dusted off my dress, shooting him with a stern look. “It’s just that after you disappeared with that creepy-looking man earlier, I’m not sure if I feel safe here anymore,” I said quietly.

Logan’s smile faded, replaced by a more serious expression. “I understand why you might be worried,” he said gently, “but I promise you’re safe here. No one can hurt you here.”

I hesitated for a moment before speaking. “I wish I could believe that the way you do.”

Logan’s gaze softened, and he reached out to brush a stray strand of hair out of my face. “You will soon, Ella,” he said. “I promise.”

There was another long silence between us. His touch sent a shiver down my spine, and I felt my cheeks warming as I stared up at him. But then, suddenly, he reached into his jacket pocket. A moment later, he pulled out a small box and held it out to me.

“What’s this?” I asked curiously, taking the box from his fingers.

“I told you that I’d show you what tonight was really all about, didn’t I?” he asked with a soft chuckle.

I furrowed my brow as I looked at the little box. “Logan, you keep spoiling me today,” I finally said as I lifted my gaze to meet his. “First the dress, then the jewelry, now this… If you’re just trying to butter me up to hide the fact that you’re up to some nefarious shit tonight—”

But Logan just laughed, cutting me off. “Just open it, Ella,” he said. “I promise you’ll understand everything in a minute.”