PAMPERED

10:23 AM

[Liam’s POV]

Today was truly becoming a day that I thought would never come to an end. I honestly didn’t think that there could have bee anything more that could cloud my mind but, hell, there I was, sitting down in the nearest chair.

I waited for Arthur to open his mouth and tell me whatever the hell was standing at the forefront of his mind. I should have known something was bound to come up.

Whether he knew it or not, I watched the way Arthur reacted back at Ella’s house. I studied the way he interacted with Ella as well as her mother. I noticed the way he fell completely silent and paled several shades lighter when he saw Ella’s birthmark.

I supposed, in a way, it was good that he was willing to talk. Otherwise, I would have had to corner him and demand to know what his problem was.

“Alright, what is it?” I prompted.

Arthur appeared troubled and rather lost on how to start. A few seconds passed and his expression grew pinched with irritation. He bit back a sneer as though he was growing frustrated at himself.

“Fuck it,” he snarled. “I might as well just come out and say it. There is a very likely chance that our grandfather may have bee the reason why the Moon Wolf Tribe no longer exists.”

I glared at Arthur as though the bastard had somehow grown a second head on his shoulders. There was entirely too much to unravel from that one statement, I had no idea where to start.

“What the hell are you talking about?” I threw back at him harshly.

The only grandparents I ever knew were when I grew up, living with the Gravens. He, of all people, should have already known how little I knew about the Winslows and their distasteful history.

Arthur let out a sharp breath and raked his hand through his hair. “Years ago, Aaron’s father- our Grandfather–was the one who’s responsible for eradicating the very bloodline that Ella came from.” He let out another long breath, this time sounding far more defeated. “The man was an elitist psychopath who was too busy worrying about his status as head Alpha rather than take a moment to contemplate his actions.”

“Why would he want to go after the Moon Wolf Tribe?” I questioned. “What would he possibly have to gain from killing anyone?”

“Peace of mind,” he answered darkly. “Another thing I discovered amongst all this was that the Moon Wolves possessed this so- called ancient power that could be considerably threatening to other people. Our Grandfather was not willing to take any chances that could jeopardize his social standing.”

A low growl slipped from my chest. “Stop saying ‘our. As far as I’m concerned, whoever that prick was, he belonged to your family, Arthur. It has nothing to do with me,” I commented tightly.

“Yes, well…Technically, by blood, you are related to the same

“Don’t you remember what your lovely mother said earlier today? I will never be a Winslow,” I said firmly. I lifted myself out of the chair and leaned over the table. “So, the way I see it, this problem that you’ve discovered is completely on you. After all, you’re a real Winslow…And if what you told me is true, then you’re gonna have one hell of a time breaking the news to Ella.” Arthur’s features were pointed with a simmering anger. Of course, I was stunned by this news. But I refused to be roped into anything that had no immediate connection to me, especially when it came to Arthur’s screwed–up family.

Buzz. Buzz Buzz. Buzz.

I reached for my phone and saw that I had gotten a new message from Bonnie,

Bonnie: You need to come back to campus right now. That social media page that’s been capturing moments of you, Arthur, and Ella has just sent out a new post.

“Shit,” I muttered under my breath.

I made my way toward the door without so much as glancing back at Arthur.

178

10:23 AM

“Where the hell are you going?” he called after me.

“Back to the school,” I said. “Bonnie texted me–there’s been another picture posted on that stupid account.”

Of course, Arthur insisted on returning back to campus with me. Before I had a real chance to refuse his unwanted attendance, he dragged us both back the same way we had come in earlier. I could tell from the serious look on his face that there were a dozen thoughts rushing through his mind.

It almost made me feel sorry for him. Almost.

I, myself, was still trying to wrap my mind around the concept that Ella was both of our mates. Since when was something like this possible? He’d shown me the proof that such a phenomenon did, in fact, exist. However, I was not happy about the concept of sharing.

Ella was mine and mine alone.

ま

I’ve cared for her since the first time I ever met her. What makes Arthur think that he can come into Ella’s life and suddenly switch his entire personality around, thinking that he’s going to simply be accepted?

And then to hear about what the Winslows did to Ella’s lineage–knowing now that it was Aaron’s father who sent the order out to do away with any and all Moon Wolves was beyond anything I could comprehend.

I know that I said I wanted zero part in dealing with this issue, but part of me was somehow able to feel Arthur’s stricken worry about his struggling relationship with Ella.

If I were a real Winslow, I would find a way to ensure that Ella never trusted Arthur for the crimes and horrible acts his family has committed against her people, all to ensure that she would stay solely with me.

But I wasn’t. I refused to stoop to that level.

Right as I parked the car and took the keys out of the ignition, I turned to Arthur.

“I’m going to be very honest when I tell you this,” I started. “I’m not happy with the fact that Ella has two mates. I’m not even going to brush over the fact that one of them happens to be you–I’m admitting that it does not feel good to me.”

Arthur lowered his gaze. “Me neither.”

“There is a lot going on right now that needs to be dealt with,” I explained. “If I were you, I would hold off on telling Ella anything until we can gather more information and she has been properly eased into this new state of life.”

Arthur silently nodded his head. “Alright.”

“What I’m suggesting is that the two of us try to set aside our personal issues with each other and find a way to help Ella.”

“Are you suggesting a truce?”

I took a deep breath. “What I’m suggesting is that we try and give one another a chance. For her sake. Her wolf is obviously attached to her emotions and is not pleased whenever one of us snaps at the other.”

Arthur gave a curt nod. “Fine. But you have to at least allow me the chance to get to know her,” he said.

The very thought made my muscles twitch with irritation. Yeah, this was going to be harder than I imagined.

“Ella is capable of seeing through the bullshit around her. If you’re looking to get closer to her, then stop trying to pull all the strings that work in your favor. Understand? Start by being a decent person.”

With that, I got out of the car and began making my way toward the dorm.

All I could think about was Ella and how she must have been feeling about everything.

After dealing with this, I’m going to head back to her house.