Page 46 of Dark Sold Mate

Elle didn't respond. She simply sat there, exhausted. Silas watched her silently shut out the world.

“Meeting adjourned,” Rael said. “We will meet again after we've had time to process this information.”

Without saying more, Javi left. August lingered. “I'm okay,” Elle muttered, looking at him. “I just need to rest.”

August walked closer, kissed her forehead, said his goodbyes, and walked out after Javi.

Rael stayed back. “For what it's worth,” he said to Silas, “you did the right thing. Standing up for her.”

“Or did I just postpone the inevitable?”

“There's nothing inevitable about sacrificing Elle for this investigation,” Rael said firmly. “We'll find another way. We always do.”

He left, leaving Silas alone with Elle.

There was a long, silent moment. Then Elle spoke. “Thank you,” she said quietly. “For standing up for me.”

“Always,” Silas said. “I'll always stand up for you.”

Elle stared at him, and her brown eyes searched his face. “Why?”

“Because you're my mate. And because you have a right to be protected. Because—” Silas paused, not knowing how to properly express what he was feeling.

Since somewhere along the line, keeping Elle safe was no longer necessary because she was his mate. It was because of her—as a person. As the strong, loyal woman she had become. He wanted to see her smile rather than cry. He wanted to provide her with reasons to stay rather than run.

But he couldn't say that. Not when Elle still looked at him like he was her enemy.

“Just because,” Silas finished lamely.

Elle nodded. “I'm going to sleep.”

“Do you need anything?”

“No. I simply need some time to myself.”

Silas watched her as she went up to her room. The bond strained painfully, but he didn't follow her. She asked for space, and he would give her. Even though he desperately wanted to go after her.

Because that was what it meant to protect Elle now. Not only ensuring she was physically safe, but also not going beyond her boundaries. Listening to what she needed instead of what his wolf wanted.

It was harder than any battle Silas had ever fought.

But for Elle, he would keep fighting. For as long as it took.

Chapter 12 - Elle

“This is the new training facility.” August pointed at a big building on the east end of the pack land. The glass and steel exterior was an enormous contrast to the much older buildings, which Elle recalled as she was growing up. She narrowed her eyes under the afternoon sun, looking at the building that had not been there eight years before.

“We built it three years ago,” August went on, and took her through paved pathways that ran through the land. “Rael designed it. State-of-the-art equipment, separate zones dealing with various forms of combat training, even a medical wing to treat any injuries there.”

Elle nodded, still trying to make sense of everything. Everything was bigger now. More organized. They had new houses, new structures, and new wolves that she did not recognize on the streets.

“The Starville territory has grown a great deal,” she noted.

“Almost doubled in size since you left.” August visibly hesitated before continuing. “When Silas became Alpha after the death of his father, one of the first things he did was to enter into negotiations with the other packs to expand our lands. He said we needed space to develop and to build something better than what his father had created.”

Elle nodded wordlessly, enjoying the quiet time she was having with her brother. She hadn't felt so free since she came back. Just her and August, just like old times, walking and talking, with no mates, missions, or magic putting pressure on them.

August showed her various landmarks, like the schoolhouse where young shifters received an