Chapter 205

Ella

I was in the middle of descending the hiking trail, my thoughts still consumed by the conversation with Ema and the unresolved emotions surrounding Logan, when I heard a voice calling my name.

“Ella! Ella, wait up!”

I turned around, my heart skipping a beat as I spotted none other than Devon in the distance, waving and heading my way. My surprise was palpable as he drew closer, but his presence wasn’t unwelcome. It was nice to see a friend right now.

“Devon?” I exclaimed. “What are you doing here?”

He grinned as he approached, that familiar mischievous glint in his eyes. “I hike here all of the time,” he said with a shrug. “Seems like you do too, considering this is where we first met. You haven’t forgotten already, have you?”

I couldn’t help but smile at the memory. It felt like a lifetime ago when I had literally bumped into Devon on this very trail, right when I needed someone the most.

He had helped get rid of a group of guys who were bothering me by pretending to be my boyfriend. We had run into each other on multiple absurd occasions after that: the yacht, one of the parties I attended with Logan, and the farmer’s market. And now, this.

“Yeah, I guess this is where we first met,” I said. “Sorry, I’ve just been in a weird headspace today. I’m a little… spacey.”

Devon fell into step beside me as we continued walking down the trail together. It was clear that we were headed the same way, not that I minded. A little friendly company wasn’t entirely unwelcome right now.

“So,” he said after a few moments, “how’s your fiance doing?”

His question caught me off guard, and for a moment, I suddenly felt this inexplicable urge to gush about everything, to pour out my deepest thoughts to him.

It was a strange sensation, as though the dam holding back my emotions was about to burst. I didn’t understand why, but I found myself opening up a bit—no, more than a bit. It was as if the floodgates just… opened.

“It’s complicated,” I admitted, furrowing my brow as I looked ahead on the trail.

“Complicated how?” he asked, turning to look at me.

I swallowed. I knew I shouldn’t be telling him this, but it was impossible not to. Maybe it had been a long day. Maybe I needed to gush to someone who wasn’t my wolf. Either way, it was out of character for me, but I just couldn’t seem to stop myself.

“Logan and I, well, it’s not exactly what it seems,” I found myself saying. “We’re fated mates, and yes, we’re together, but it’s mostly for appearances. We’re not really... together, you know? And I’m not sure if I even want a real relationship with him. Although, maybe... I’ve begun to fall for him anyway.”

As the words spilled out of my mouth, I couldn’t help but feel a mix of relief and anxiety. Why had I just shared all of that with Devon? It was as if I had an overwhelming need to confide in him, but I wasn’t sure why.

But it was too late now. The truth had been spilled, and now all I could do was stare at Devon with wide eyes, hoping he wouldn’t judge me.

“I’m so sorry,” I said. “I didn’t mean to gush like that. I don’t know what came over me.”

Devon, however, didn’t seem surprised or judgmental. Instead, he smiled gently, a knowing look in his eyes. “I tend to do that to people,” he said with a chuckle. “Don’t worry about it.”

I let out a soft sigh of relief. “I know it sounds crazy,” I said. “But promise you won’t tell anyone?”

Devond nodded. “Of course. And… Ella,” he said softly, “you should follow your heart. If you’re not sure about Logan, then maybe it’s worth exploring what you truly want.”

I looked at him, my confusion evident on my face. “What do you mean?”

He paused for a moment before continuing. “I mean that you deserve to be in a relationship that makes you happy. If you decide that Logan isn’t the one for you, well…” He paused, stopping, and turned to look at me. “Then I’m here waiting for you.”

His words caught me off guard, and I couldn’t help but raise an eyebrow in surprise. “Wait, what? Devon, what are you saying?”

He chuckled lightly and shrugged. “I’m just saying that you’re a gorgeous and intelligent woman, Ella, and you deserve to be with a good guy who makes you happy.”

Before I could stop him, Devon was taking a step forward. His fingers brushed mine, and his voice dropped to a low, husky tone. “God, I can’t believe I’m saying this,” he said softly, so close he could kiss me.

“Devon, what are you…” I murmured, recoiling slightly. But he closed the distance between us, reaching out to tuck a strand of hair behind my ears. The sensation made me shudder, but not in a good way.

“I’ve liked you since the moment I first laid eyes on you, Ella,” he said. “I could treat you right. Better than that mobster.”

His confession left me speechless for a moment. I hadn’t expected this turn of events, and I wasn’t sure how to respond. Devon was sweet, but this had never crossed my mind. Sure, there had been a moment when I had felt a flutter of something when he asked for my number, but it never went further than that.

And besides, I knew how I felt now about Logan—or at least, I was pretty sure I knew. I couldn’t be getting involved with other guys. It wasn’t even on my mind in the slightest.

Finally, I gathered my thoughts and took another step back, putting some distance between us. This time, Devon didn’t follow.

“Devon, I appreciate your honesty, and I’m flattered,” I said, “but I’m just not interested in being more than friends. I’m sorry if I gave you the wrong impression at any point.”

Devon lowered his hand. His eyes flickered with something that I couldn’t quite read, and for a moment, I wasn’t sure how he was going to respond. But then, surprisingly, he nodded understandingly and flashed me a gentle smile.

“Of course,” he said. “I’m sorry if I made you uncomfortable.”

“N-No,” I stammered, feeling a bit relieved myself. “Thanks for understanding.”

We continued walking for a little bit longer, although the silence was somewhat uncomfortable now. Devon’s confession had taken me by surprise, but that wasn’t all that was getting to me; he had handled it with grace and had been understanding, after all.

No, this was something far different.

It wasn’t like me to spill my innermost thoughts so easily—so why, then, did I do it just now? Even my wolf was confused, moving around uncomfortably in the back of my mind. Somehow, we both felt oddly violated, as if something had touched the corners of our psyche and pulled the thread of consciousness out.

Was it the stress of everything getting to me that had caused that? Was it something in Devon’s open nature, something that made me feel safe enough to open up?

Or was it… something else?