Page 13 of A Second Roar for Love

That evening, Reed stood on the porch of Ellie’s cottage, a bottle of wine in hand. He took a deep breath, trying to calm the nerves fluttering in his stomach. It was just dinner, he told himself. Just two old friends catching up.

But as Ellie opened the door, her smile soft and welcoming, Reed knew it was more than that. It had always been more than that with them.

Dinner was a quiet affair, the conversation flowing easily between bites of pasta and sips of wine. But as the meal drew to a close, Reed felt the weight of unspoken things hanging in the air.

Reed set his fork down, the soft clink against the ceramic plate echoing in the sudden stillness of the room. He looked across the table at Ellie, her hazel eyes shimmering in the glow of the candles. The air between them felt heavy, weighted with unspoken words and buried emotions.

“Ellie,” he began, his voice low and hesitant. “About what happened all those years ago...”

Ellie’s shoulders sagged, a weariness settling over her delicate features. She looked down at her plate, her fingers absently tracing the floral pattern of the china. “Reed, I...” Her voice trembled slightly, and she took a steadying breath. “I owe you an explanation. An apology.”

Reed remained silent, giving her the space to gather her thoughts. Ellie lifted her gaze, meeting his eyes with a mixture of sorrow and resolve.

“My parents, they... they were in trouble. Financial trouble.” She spoke softly, each word heavy with the weight of memory. “Their business was failing, and they were drowning in debt. They were desperate.”

Reed leaned forward, his brow furrowing with concern. “Ellie, why didn’t you tell me? I could have helped, I could have...”

Ellie shook her head, a sad smile tugging at the corners of her lips. “You know my parents, Reed. Their pride and stubbornness. They wouldn’t accept help, not even from you.”

She paused, her fingers now twisting the fabric of her napkin. “So they made a deal. An arranged marriage to a wealthy man who could save their business. A man I’d never met, never loved.”

Reed felt a tightness in his chest, a dull ache that had never quite healed. “The day you left, without a word... I thought...”

“I know,” Ellie whispered, her voice cracking. “I know what it must have seemed like. But Reed, I didn’t have a choice. My parents, they... they gave me no choice.”

A single tear escaped, trailing down her cheek. “I was so young, so scared. I thought I was doing the right thing, sacrificing my happiness for my family. But Reed, that marriage... it was cold, loveless. A gilded cage that I endured for years.”

Reed’s heart shattered, the pieces twisting in his chest. All this time, all these years of thinking she’d left because she didn’t love him, because he wasn’t enough...

“I never wanted to leave you,” Ellie said, her voice barely above a whisper. Tears shone in her eyes, catching the candlelight like tiny diamonds. “Leaving you was the hardest thing I’ve ever done. And for that, I’m so sorry.”

Reed couldn’t stand the distance between them any longer. He pushed his chair back, rounding the table in a few long strides. Kneeling beside her, he took her hands in his, his thumbs brushing over her knuckles.

“Ellie, I... I never stopped loving you. Never.” His voice was rough with emotion, his amber eyes intense as they locked with hers. “Every day, every minute, you were in my heart.”

Ellie’s breath hitched, her lip trembling. “Reed...”

He reached up, cupping her face with a gentleness that belied his strength. His thumb brushed away her tears, tracing the soft curve of her cheek.

“We’ve lost so much time,” he murmured, his forehead resting against hers. “But, Ellie, we have a chance now. A chance to start over, to build something new.”

Ellie leaned into his touch, her eyes fluttering closed. “I want that, Reed. More than anything. But with everything going on, the dangers we’re facing...”

Reed silenced her with a soft kiss, a gentle brush of his lips against hers. “We’ll face it together,” he whispered against her mouth. “Whatever comes, we’ll meet it side by side. I’m not letting you go again, Ellie. Never again.”

Ellie melted into him, her arms winding around his neck as she deepened the kiss. It was a kiss of promise, of forgiveness, of love reignited.

Reed’s phone rang, shattering the moment. He closed his eyes briefly, frustration tightening his jaw. “Mallory,” he answered gruffly.

The voice on the other end was tense, urgent. “Sheriff, we’ve got a situation at the edge of town. Magical disturbance, big one.”

“On my way.” Reed hung up, already rising from the table. “Ellie, I’m sorry, I have to...”

“I’m coming with you,” she said firmly, brooking no argument.

They raced to the outskirts of Whispering Pines, the night air whipping past them. As they approached the source of the disturbance, Reed felt it, the same oily, dark magic from before, but magnified tenfold.

In a clearing stood a figure cloaked in black, tendrils of inky magic swirling around him. In his hand, he clutched an artifact that pulsed with malevolent energy.

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