Page 61 of Brutal Alpha Beast
And honestly, it’s kind of working.
They’re so civil that some of them are almost actually making friends. How did I not notice this? I’d been so intent on avoidinghimthat I hadn’t realized all the real progress that’s been happening.
One day, I asked a young witch what she thought of Ellis. She told me she thought he was funny and that she hopes to marry a shifter like him one day when she’s older.
That shocked me.
Never did I think I’d hear those words coming from the mouth of one of my coven sisters.
On Thursday, after a witch/wolf meeting, just as the sun was setting, Ellis came by with pizza and beer. Everyone stayed, even as the sunset turned to night.
Then someone started playing music, and it became a party. More witches joined, more pack members, too.
I would have also joined, but I was still in shock. I wasn’t ready to face Ellis.
The other thing that was also messing with me was that, since our last argument, Ellis had given me the space I needed.
A good thing, yes, but it’s thrown me off kilter. Given me more time to think.
I haven’t heard from him, haven’t seen him, aside from when spying on him. I can’t fault present him, but I can’t just get over past him either. I realize my time is running out.
Can you meet me at the Coven?
I text Lacey.
An uneasy feeling settles in my stomach as I tap the back of my phone with my nails. I know that in order to get help, I’ve gotta come clean.
I’ve been dreading this day for ten years.
Everything inside me wants to run.
***
After I come clean, I believe that it’s the first time I've ever seen Penelope look shocked.
We’re sitting in a private room on cushions; Lacey has her hand over her mouth and reaches for me. Monroe looks pained, as if she always feels what I do, although she does look a little distracted today.
“Danielle,” Penelope says gravely. “If I had known that Ellis was the reason... I would have never.”
I nod. “I know, I know. You didn’t know. And maybe that was irresponsible on my part, but I just couldn’t bring myself to think about what happened, let alone talk about it with anyone else.”
“I understand,” Lacey says, stroking my hand. “Some scars bury themselves so deep.”
“Of course, I knew some details instinctively,” Monroe says. “But I didn’t know the extent of it. I’m sorry, Danielle.”
I take in a cooling breath. It feels good to talk about everything, easier than I thought.
“So, the sex,” Penelope says. I shudder a little, like an embarrassed teenager. Lacey and I exchange a look.
“Yes,” I say. “The sex is what undid some of it. He knows a little but not enough.”
Penelope nods. “There are always loopholes with spells. If you’ve shared an intimate moment with the subject of the spell before and share a moment again after, yes, it can puncture it. I should have checked with you, dear child. I am sorry.”
I shake my head. “It’s my fault. At first, he thought it was a plot against him by us, but he knows that it’s personal. It’s about me and him.”
“Well, what do you want to do?” Lacey asks me. “Do you want to come clean?”
A few days ago, I would have said no. But now my feelings have changed.
