Chapter 8

Ruby passed around the salad as the whole family sat around the dinner table in the corner of the living room. Ella and Lily sat across from each other as Piper sat next to Ella and Mia next to Lily.

"Dean, honey, pass the potatoes, please," Ruby said as she took a seat. "My back is killing me."

"I've been telling you to quit your job, but you won't listen," Dean grumbled. "What did those leeches do now?"

The girls passed the bowl of potatoes down from their father to their mother like an assembly line.

"I only have two more years left," Ruby shook her head. "If I stick it out I can get the monthly pension."

"We don't need their money," Dean stabbed his potato.

"Yes, we do," Ruby laughed. "The bank isn't going to take pancakes for their payment."

Dean didn't argue back. He knew his wife had a point. Still didn't mean he had to be happy about it.

"Mom, have you seen the prince around the palace?" Piper asked eagerly.

"Many times," Ruby smiled.

Ella kept her eyes on the plate as she felt both Mia and Lily's eyes on her.

"Isn't he so handsome?" Piper sighed. "I can't stop thinking about him on a white horse."

"Pip," Dean looked up from his food. "Eat your dinner and don't drool over mutts."

Ella's hands gripped tightly around her fork. Her irritation clouded her blue eyes as she looked up and found Lily grilling their dad through her lashes.

"Honey," Ruby said gently. "They have done nothing to us."

"That's the point, no?" Mia asked. "They have done absolutely nothing for us."

Suddenly, without begging ale to control herself, Ella gave a harsh laugh. Everyone at the table turned to her in confusion as she set her fork down and looked up at her sister.

"What's so funny?" Mia asked.

"All of it," Ella looked around. "You want the royal family to take care of you. Yet you sit around your dinner table and call them mutts and don't want anything to do with them. Pick a side."

"I don't need to pick a side," Mia narrowed her eyes. "They chose to rule us, I didn't vote them into office. I don't have to like them."

"For the sake of your child, maybe you should be less disrespectful to them," Ella shot back. "Leo has a 50% chance of carrying the shifting gene. What are you going to do then? Call him a mutt too?"

"Look at you," Mia shook her head with a ugly smile on her face. "The royal family's little lap dog."

Ruby and Dean looked at each other with worry. Piper's bounced back and forth like tennis balls and Lily tried her best to hide her mark with her hair.

"What won you over, Ell?" Mia raised a brow. "The flowers or the chocolates?"

Ella had the sudden urge to throw her dinner plate at her sister. Why did Mia have to be so vile?

"I don't know," Ella looked into her eyes. "Why don't you remind me what won you over?"

A gasp erupted in the room. Ella didn't know who it came from. Piper's hand flew to her mouth as her eyes bugged out of her skull in shock. Lily's mouth hung wide open as she stared at Ella in disbelief.

Mia snapped up from the table and opened her mouth to speak when Dean stopped her.

"That's enough," he said sternly.

Mia looked at him in anger before she looked at her mother. When no one said a word, she picked Leo up and stomped off to their room. The rest of the family sat around without touching their food as Mia's door slam shut.

"Take your plate and go to your room, Ella," Dean picked up his glass of wine.

"Dean, I-" Ruby tried to intervene but shut her mouth when her husband shook his head.

Ella took a deep breath as she stood up. She picked up her plate and quietly set off for her room. As she moved, she heard Lily's chair screech back.

"Lily," Ruby tried to stop her but the girl didn't listen. She followed Ella into her room and shut the door behind herself.

"What just happened?" Lily immediately asked as she put her plate down on the bed. "Holy shit! That was amazing."

Ella turned to her sister as her limbs started to shake. The adrenaline that pumped through her system was starting to show itself. Ella felt her heart shake as she gave a nervous laugh.

"Oh my god," she said, looking at Lily. "Mia is going to kill me in my sleep tonight."

"I'm pretty sure killing the future queen is treason or something."

"Oh she'll still do it."

"Maybe you should call your Prince Charming," Lily teased. "You know, so he can come and keep you safe tonight."

"Yeah, okay," Ella rolled her eyes. "Then I will definitely get murdered tonight."

"But just imagine Maksim fighting for your hand," Lily said with a dreamy sigh. "I mean Charlie is amazing but he's no prince."

Ella shook her arms out to calm her nerves as Lily talked. They sat down on her bed together as Lily moved her hair over and let her mark breath for a few seconds.

"Did it hurt?" Ella asked curiously looking at the curved shape pale scare on the girl's neck.

"Not really," Lily moved her food around on her plate. "It depends on your mate. Charlie told me if your mate is not genatl then it can hurt."

Ella's eyes lingered on the mark. She found her hand moving up to her neck as she brushed her finger over the smooth skin.

"Don't worry," Lily winked. "I'm sure Maksim will be super gentle."

Every time anyone mentioned his name, Ella's heart skipped a beat. She felt it grow twice its size and struggle to get out of her body. She was afraid one day it might grow too big for her body.

"Did you and Charlie...." Ella felt uncomfortable asking her 15 year old sister such a question. "You know.....did you guys....."

"No," Lily blushed. "We didn't ..... have sex."

"Oh," Ella nodded. "But I thought....when werewolves place their mark it was during......then."

"Not always," Lily pulled her legs up to the bed. "Did you and Maksim...."

"No!" Ella burst into laughter. "We haven't even kissed."

"What?" Lily said in shock. "Why the hell not? He's gorgeous."

"I don't know..." Ella pulled a pillow onto her lap.

Lily eyed her sister quietly for a few seconds. She picked up their plates and set it aside on the dresser. Ella moved over on the narrow bed as she made space for Lily. They laid back on the pillows and stared up at the plane ceiling.

"You want to know something?" Lily asked after a while.

"What's up?"

"When he marked me, I felt like a missing part of me was finally home," Lily said. "I cried. I could feel all of his emotions running through my heart as if they were mind. He was scared, nervous, worried, excited, happy.....but what really got me to forget the world was the love I sensed.

I want to make the greatest love stories ever told seem like child's play next to how much love I have for you.

Maksim's words played in Ella's mind. She felt her heart pick up it's beat as she thought about those brown eyes.

"I can feel him even now," Lily said. "I can just reach out and talk to him whenever I want."

"Is that the mind-link?" Ella looked over.

Lilly nodded, "Yeah....it's so strange. It feels like he's standing right next to me when he talks."

"Lily," a worry suddenly started to tickle Ella's mind. "What will happen to you now?"

"What do you mean?"

"I heard once someone is marked, it's impossible to stay away from each other for too long."

"That's why I'm leaving," Lily smiled.

"You were actually serious about that?"

"Of course," Lily said. "I'm not giving up Charlie."

Ella didn't know what to say. She knew as her older sister she should tell Lily to not doing anything stupid. But for some odd reason, Ella knew Lily was making the right call. Maybe if she was brave enough things would have been different between her and Maksim.

Maksim.

Ella's heart started to grow again. She felt her cheeks blush as the scent of sage and lime made her skin tingle.

Suddenly, Ella sat up. She looked around and sniffed the air.

"What are you doing?" Lily asked as she pushed up to her elbow.

"Maksim...." Ella said in confusion.

Lily watched as Ella climbed out of bed and looked around frantically.

"What's going on?" Lily asked.

"I think....I think he's here,"

"Who? Maksim?" Lily sat up.

"Yes,"

"Where?"

"I don't know," Ella turned in her spot sniffing the air. "Somewhere."

Suddenly, the two girls jumped as a pebble hit Ella's window.

"You have got to be kidding me!" Ella rushed over and pushed the glass up. She stuck her head out the fire escape and looked down into the darkness.

And there he was.

Maksim stood in the shadow of the two building. He waited until he spotted Ella to step out into the light.

"Are you crazy?" Ella hissed. "What are you doing?"

Maksim motioned with his hands to tell her to step back. Ella raised a brow in confusion.

"What?" She asked.

Maksim rolled his eyes. He dropped the pebbles he was holding and swung up onto the second floor fire escape. Ella gave a small squeal of surprise as she watched him move up the railings to the third floor. She jumped back as the prince kneeled outside of her window on the fire escape.

"Hello, beautiful," Maksim smiled.

"Oh holy good god," Lily laughed from behind Ella. "How romantic!"

Maksim gave a bright smile as he waved to Lily. He turned to Ella and asked, "It's okay that she saw me right?"

"Now you ask?" Ella rolled her eyes. "After the damage is done?"

"You're mad," Maksim observed.

"Don't worry," Lily moved forward. "She's not mad at you. She's still worked up from defending you and fighting for your honor."

Maksim's eyes grew wide. Another bright smile pulled onto his lips as he looked at his mate.

"Defending and fighting for my honor?" He asked. "My dear Queen, you are already perfecting your role."

"No," Ella shook her head. "No, no. Lily, don't encourage him."

"Don't be shy," Maksim grinned.

"Max, why are you here?" Ella blocked the window as he tried to climb in.

"Let me in, Ell," Maksim frowned. "I'm freezing out here."

"It's August," Ella pointed out.

"Let him in," Lily pulled Ella back from the window. "That's the future king."

"That's right," Maksim chuckled as he climbed in. "Listen to your sister."

"Papa is going to kill us," Ella worried as she looked to her door.

"Don't worry," Lily began to move towards the door. "I'll keep them distracted until they go to sleep. Once I leave, lock the door."

"No," Ella shook her head.

"I'll do it," Maksim rolled his eyes. "Thank you, Lily."

"Of course, your grace," Lily giggled before she hurried out the room.

Maksim moved towards the door as Ella grabbed his arm.

"Max," she said.

"Give me a second princess," Maksim winked. "At least let me lock the door first."

Ella immediately dropped his arm as she felt herself blush. She chewed on her bottom lip as she watched the prince turn the lock and face her. Suddenly, Ella's room seemed much tinder than it really was. The fairy lights above her bed and around her windows nearly provided enough glow to light up the place. Ella hovered by the edge of her bed as Maksim took three slow steps towards her.

The air between them crackled. Ella heard her breath hitch in her throat. Maksim's eyes grew dark as he leaned down and looked into her baby blue gaze. She closed her eyes and melted against his touch as Maksim cupped her face.

"Why did you come here?" Ella asked, her voice a soft whisper.

Maksim suddenly became aware of how her eyes watched him, how her lips parted and how her cheeks flushed. He felt his wolf growl low in his chest as he remembered how soft her lips had left when they had kissed years back.

As if being pulled by a powerful magnet, Maksim leaned towards his mate slowly. Ella raised her hands and placed them around his wrists.

"Max," Ella dropped her gaze. "Stop."

Maksim immediately dropped his hands and took a step back. Ella left a shiver run down her spin as his hands left her skin. He still watched her with an unknown look in his eyes as the air around them grew thick.

"You still didn't answer my question," Ella said.

"I'm sorry," Maksim rubbed the back of his neck. "What was your question?"

"Why are you here?" Ella asked again. "I thought you said I could take my time to decide..... About us."

"Yes," Maksim nodded his head. "I came to return this."

Ella looked down at the pen he pulled out of his pocket.

"You left it in the car," Maksim said.

"You came all this way to return a pen?" Ella raised a brow.

"Yeah,"

"Max, that's not even my pen," Ella laughed as she shook her head. "Why are you really here?"

"Do you really have to ask why I am here?" Maksim took a step closer to her again. "Or do you like hearing me tell you how crazy I am about you?"

Ella found herself taking a step back as he stalked her like a dangerous predator. She knew her upbringing told her to run out of the room or tell him to leave, but the thrill running up her spin made her want to see where this led. Curiosity sure loved messing with the cats.

"I had to see you," Maksim said as he slowly backed Ella up against the wall.

"Why?" Ella looked at his lips.

"I was reading and it reminded me of you," Maksim raised his hands and placed them on either side of her head.

"What were you reading?"

"The Great Gatsby," Maksim smiled. "One of my parents' favorites."

"It's overrated," Ella said earning a shocked look from the prince.

"I beg your pardon, my Queen?" Maksim chuckled, taking a step back. "Overrated?"

"Yes," Ella said.

"Please," Maksim laughed again. "Elaborate."

"Gatsby was an idiot for wasting all that time and energy to go after Daisy when she was so shallow and vain. I mean what did he expect, she didn't even wait for him to come back from the war."

"Would you wait for me?"

Ella blinked in surprise. She tried to step around the boy and walk away but Maksim's hands stopped her. He held her wrist and gently tugged her back.

Ella felt her whole body tingle as Maksim came to stand behind her. She left his breath tickle her neck as he pushed her hair aside.

"Be my Daisy," Maksim whispered into her ear. "I'll be your Gatsby and wait for you forever and ever."

Ella timidly turned around in his arms to face him. She looked up into his brown eyes and leaned in closer.

"I can't be your Daisy," she said.

"Why not?"

"Because she was never Gatsby's to begin with," Ella frowned.

Maksim raised his to touch her face, but suddenly Ruby's voice called from the outside.

"Ella," She knocked. "Can I come in?"

"Ah..." Ella looked around in a panic.

"Tell her you're changing," Maksim whispered.

"Mom, I'm changing. Give me a second."

Maksim moved out the window as Ella's eyes bounced back and forth. She felt her heart beat wildly as her throat ran dry. She was about to pull her curtains back when Maksim suddenly pulled her closer and placed a kiss upon her cheek.

"I might be falling in love with you," he whispered to her before he disappeared out the window.

Ella was left breathless as she reached up and placed a hand over the spot where he had kissed her. She could have stood there forever thinking about his words if Ruby hadn't knocked on the door again.

"Ella? You okay?"

"Y-yes," Ella shook her head. "Just a second."

She rushed over and unlocked the door. Ruby stared at her in confusion as she looked her up and down.

"You're wearing the same outfit," She said.

"I....I....I changed my mind so I just....put this back on."

Ruby narrowed her eyes in suspicion but decided not to push, "Do you want dessert?"

"No, thank you," Ella shook her head.

"Okay."

That night, Ella paced around her floor aimlessly. Her mind was a wild zoo of thoughts and worries as she tried to make sense of what was happening. She tugged at her hair as she thought about what Maksim had said. Was he really falling in love with her?

But just as Ella's heart would start to blossom, dark rain clouds would descend down with thunder. Her dad would never accept Maksim. They would freak out. And not to mention the situation got even more complicated now with Lily in the mix.

Sleep was hard to come by that night. Ella tossed and turned as she thought about Maksim and her family. Her eyes begged for sleep but her mind wanted to run marathons. Finally, after hours of trying Ella found herself sink into a light slumber.

However, only moments later, loud voices from the living room woke her up. Ella jumped up and ran outside as she heard Lily crying and her father shouting. Ella's heart twisted with fear as she ran down the hall and into the living room.

Lily struggled in Mia's arms as she tried to reach for the door. Her eyes red and puffy from crying. Dean blocked the door as Ruby tried to calm Lily.

"No! You don't understand!" Lily begged. "I have to go! He's hurt!

Ella's heart sank even farther into her stomach.

"I won't say it again Lily!" Dean hollered. "You are not leaving this house."

"He is my mate!" Lily yelled making Dean angrier.

"What's going on?" Ella asked in shock.

Mia looked over her shoulder, "Lily woke up screaming and wants to leave to go see some wolf."

"He's hurt!"

"LILY!" Dean yelled. "Enough!"

"Please," Lily begged her mom who held her along with Mia. "Mom, please. He's hurt. I have to go see him."

Suddenly, as Ella moved closer to her sister she saw her dad look down at his daughter curiously. Ella followed his eyes to Lily's mark on her neck.

No, no, no, no, no....

Ella jumped forward and tried to cover Lily into a hug. But Dean pulled her back. He held Ella back with one arm as he lifted Lily's hair with the other.

As Ruby and Mia looked down, they all gasped.

Ella watched the horrifying looks on everyone's eyes as Dean began to shake with anger.

"What have you done?" He screamed at the girl crying in her mother's arms.  

I'm sorry for the late update. Work and life has been complicated. 

What do you think?