Page 64 of Dark Sold Mate

“Elle?” Sara breathed. “Elle Jones?”

“Hi, Sara,” Elle said awkwardly.

For a moment, Sara just stared. Her face then broke into the biggest smile Elle had ever seen, and she moved across the kitchen in three long strides and pulled Elle into a hug.

“Oh my God,” Sara squealed. “I'm so glad you're back! I didn't think Silas was serious when he called and said you guys got married.”

Elle froze up for a bit and slowly hugged her back. “I'm back,” Elle confirmed. “It's not like I had a choice.”

Sara broke off the hug and gave Elle a long look. “You look amazing. Different in a good way. You're so confident now.”

“I uh, guess?”

Sara's eyes sparkled with curiosity. “I bet you have stories. We have much to catch up on! Eight years is a long time.”

Silas showed up at the door. “Sara, leave Elle alone. Give her some space, okay?”

“Space?” Sara said. “No way. Elle and I are officially sisters. We need to bond.” She looked back at Elle with a sincere smile. “Unless you don't want to? I understand that this is all complicated. Silas explained some of it to me on the phone.”

Elle smiled nervously. Sara was so full of energy and warmth. “I'd like to catch up. It's been a while.”

“Perfect!” Sara clasped her hands. “We should go somewhere we can talk. Without my brother's eavesdropping. They have no sense of personal space.”

She glanced at Silas, who lifted up his hands in defense. “I'll leave you two.”

Sara grabbed Elle's hand, pulling her to the door. “Come on. I know just the place.”

They ended up at a cafe in the town square for pastries. Sara ordered coffee and treats for both of them.

“Okay,” Sara said, popping a sweet into her mouth. “Start from the beginning. What happened after you left?”

Elle hesitated. She had told August part of her story and bits and pieces to Silas. But Sara was asking for everything, and Elle didn't know where to begin.

“It was tough at first,” she said. “I had no money, no job, and nowhere to go.”

“I'm so sorry,” Sara said. “I wanted to come see if you were okay. My dad wouldn't let me. He said it would undermine the banishment if pack members stayed in touch with you.”

“I understand. You couldn't fight against the Alpha.”

“I should have tried harder, though.” Sara stretched her hand across the table and grabbed Elle's hand. “You survived. More than survived, going by what Silas told me. You built a life for yourself.”

“I did,” Elle said, smiling happily as she started talking about her time in the human world. Sara was a listener, asking questions and cheering Elle on.

It was nice to talk to someone who wasn't carrying guilt or mixed emotions. Sara was just present, supportive, and happy to see Elle alive and well.

“You're amazing,” Sara said, smiling softly when Elle finished her story. “Most people wouldn't have survived what you went through.”

Elle felt her cheeks heat up. “I just did what I had to do.”

“No, you did more than that. You became someone amazing.” Sara grinned. “I understand why Silas is so into you.”

Elle almost choked on her coffee. “What?”

“Please,” she scoffed. “I've known my brother my whole life, and I've never seen him look at anyone like he looks at you.” Sara leaned forward. “He's totally smitten.”

“He forced me into this bond and marriage,” Elle pointed out.

“I know, and that was wrong of him. Super wrong.” Sara turned serious. “Elle, I know Silas has been miserable since you left. He tried to hide it. I saw it. He was carrying a lot of guilt for what happened to you.”