Page 39 of Ellie 3

“He’s taken off the mask fully like what he said about Ellie’s sister,” Da whispered, his voice sounding hollow. “The things your brother said in response… I think you’re right and something is truly broken in him.”

“It’s not your fault, Da,” I said gently, shaking my head when he chuckled darkly. “Please, just hear me on this.” I waited until he nodded. “It’s an underdeveloped brain, basically. That part of him didn’t grow right. It’s not your fault. It’s not Mum’s fault. It justhappens. Just like I got your eyes instead of hers or Ha-yun is so much taller than our sisters.”

“I will try to hear you, but I still deserve your hate when I didn’t handle this sooner.”

Yes, he did, which was why I didn’t disagree or let him off the hook. Something he noticed.

“But you’re wrong about why I’m jealous of you, Hugo,” he said quietly, shyly almost, which I’d never seen from my da before. He sighed when I simply stared at him. “Yes, you’re different because you’re two wolves. You’re more powerful—so what?” He nodded when I raised an eyebrow and kept eating. “I’m more powerful as Alpha too.

“I’ve been labeled as different for treating your mother as my partner, not just a pretty trophy like how most Asian Alpha Mates are. Or mating with a different type of wolf—one from Asia no less.” He let out a huff and put his hands on his hips. “Now I just sound like I’m bragging that I’m not a git.”

I snorted. He really kind of did, but I understood what he meant.

“It’s how you popped out that always made me jealous, my boy,” he said gently. “You’ve always known who you are. You—no matter what people said about your shift, it never bothered you. You knew it meant you were powerful and you just had toget on the same page as your wolf. You knew you’d be here one day changing the world.

“It’s yourconfidencethat I was—amjealous of. I doubt myself and who I am so often that maybe I need my head shrunk.” He snorted. “Definitely do. But you popped out knowing you are Ha-joon Fucking Clark and your approval was the only one you ever needed. You knew you were special and better than so many.”

I almost didn’t say anything and simply accepted the praise… But it wasn’t that simple. “That’s not what was really happening, Da.” I stared at my food and blinked back tears. “I had to. I had to look to myself because I wasn’t supported. My siblings sneered at me or ignored me. You and Mum were always focused on so much else.”

“Yes, and we have failed you but—”

“It wasn’t confidence, Da. It was armor to not get hurt anymore,” I said as I gathered my wrappers. “It was how I survived to get out of that house and have my own life instead of staying the hated youngest—the black sheep no one cared about. So I’m sorry I made you feel inferior or jealous, but I’ve seen the way your siblings support and love you. I would have given anything for that.”

I had to walk away. We probably needed to talk more, but I was needed for work, and that was more important than old issues that wouldn’t ever be solved.

And I really didn’t have the energy to rip bandages off old wounds.

It took another two days of almost constantly working to handle the disaster. The last numbers I heard were over a hundred died and they expected more. People were rioting that the government wasn’t taking it more seriously, but honestly I barely heard any of it. All I cared about was getting home and really crashing.

Especially since I’d be working Saturdays for the next few weeks to make up for all the appointments I’d had to reschedule. It was ridiculous that ASH handled everything for a disaster on another continent and it was just expected of us.

Expected ofEllie.

I’d showered before we headed home, not even driving ourselves because neither of us felt safe behind the wheel. I thanked the officer who gave us a ride and got the shower ready for her while she ordered us food.

It was honestly comforting and nice to work together when something horrible like this happened. We were both wrecked but on the same page, so it didn’t feel so overwhelming.

Or so I thought.

She wouldn’t get into bed when it was time, both of us clean and fed. She looked anywhere but at me. “I’m going to sleep on the couch.”

“Why the bloody fuck are you sleeping on the couch in your own condo?” I demanded more harshly than I should have. I sat up and let out a growl, noting her shock. “Sorry. I’m wrecked but was just thinking how nice this is and we’re in sync…” I swallowed another growl when she flinched. “Ellie, talk to me. What is going on?”

“I just need some space,” she whispered, looking ready to collapse.

“Fine, then I’ll sleep on the blasted couch if you won’t even care enough to tell me why,” I snapped when I realized that was really all she was going to say. I grabbed the pillow and went to leave since there was an extra blanket in the living room.

“Did you forget what we were doing when we got the call three days ago?” she asked, her voice tight but so weak.

I let out a slow breath, facing the door so I wasn’t looking at her and it was easier to keep myself in check. “No, and we still have to speak with Theresa more. But I thought it was on pauseand you trusted me enough to know I’m always on your damn side.”

“I did—we did pause, but it came back to me in the shower,” she whispered, sounding lost. “I don’t like how it played out. I think I’m valid, but I didn’t want to blow it up when we’re both beyond exhausted. Saying I needed a breath seemed…”

“You’re not wrong,” I accepted after a moment. “But we’re in a cycle of pushing each other away when anything happens. We said we were done with that. Sleeping on the couch is—it’s too much for this, Ellie. Especially when I felt closer to you coming home after something so horrible. We lost so many, but we did our best, and I got to come home and hold you.”

“I wanted that too, but I feel…”

I turned and hurt when I saw tears running down her cheeks. She was in such worse shape than I was because she was always all over the hospital and handling too much. Three days of surgeries and helping patients without enough sleep was rough and horrible, but Ellie went through way more.

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