Contract Marriage With Alpha Snow - Chapter 293

Chapter 293: Bestie’s Comfort Chapter 293: Bestie’s Comfort *************** CHAPTER 292 ~Ares’ POV~ My heart skipped a beat when she cut me off like that.

I did not understand it.

Something about Ella made me want to stay and protect her against what was going on and against my reputation, but how?

I had fucked up big time, and she was scared.  “I need time,” Ella whispered.

“No.

Scratch that.

I just got hurt due to lies, the last thing I want is to have another liar hovering around me.”  Her words stung.

“El, I am no liar.” She snapped her eyes at me.

I held out my palm in surrender.

“I never really lied to you.” “Then explain how your name is Ares and not Caleb.” “Because Caleb is my middle name, and yeah only a selected few know that.

So technically, I didn’t lie.”  Anger flared in her eyes.

“And the pack?

You think I forgot that too?”  I sighed, rubbing my hand over my face.

“That was€¦” “That was you hiding and trying to deceive me,” she concluded.  “Well yes, Ella.

I did okay.

I bloody did, but that’s not on you.

I just did not want you to run away when you knew who I was.” Her brows furrowed slightly.

“Run?” I swallowed.

“Yes, Alpha Ares and his reputation with women,” I muttered.  Ella scoffed, shaking her head.

“I should have known.

I was just another one of your conquests,” she concluded.  “Oh shit!”  Now she was getting it all wrong.

“Ella,” I advanced, but she took two steps backwards.

“Look, I did not mean that.” “But it is the truth, huh?”  The more I spoke, the bigger problems I entered into with her.

“El€¦” She shook her head, backing away further.

“Not now, Ca€¦ Ares.

I need to figure out what I’m feeling.

And right now, I can’t do that with you here.” Her words were like a punch to the gut, but I nodded.

“I understand,” I said quietly.

“No, you don’t.

Cause you’re still here, and you are distracting me.” With one last look, she turned and walked away, leaving me alone in the dark.

And I felt truly powerless for the first time in a long time.

“Fuck!” *************** ~Ella’s POV~ The cool night air brushed against my skin as I sat by the fountain in the garden, staring at the stars twinkling above.  The gentle sound of water cascading behind me did little to calm the storm brewing inside.

My thoughts were a tangled mess of frustration, hurt, and confusion.

Why did I let myself get pulled into this?

How did I not see the red flags with Ares?

Or Caleb-or whatever his name was.

I took a shaky breath, hugging my knees to my chest.

My heart felt raw, bruised by the whirlwind of emotions overtaking me in the past few days.  It wasn’t just Ares; it was everything-Styles ignoring me, the one-night stand I couldn’t shake from my mind, and the feeling that I was constantly being played.

The crunch of footsteps on the gravel behind me broke through my thoughts.

I didn’t need to turn around to know who it was.

Zara’s scent gave her away.

“Hey,” she said softly, her voice carrying her concern.

“What are you doing out here?” “Stargazing,” I replied quickly, my tone nonchalant as I wiped at my eyes, hoping she wouldn’t notice.

Zara wasn’t fooled.

She moved closer, sitting beside me on the edge of the fountain.

Her eyes scanned me briefly, and I could feel her assessing every inch of my expression.

“Ella,” she said firmly but gently, “I saw you fleeing from the celebration earlier.

Don’t tell me it was nothing.” I tried to muster a smile, but it faltered.

“It’s nothing, really.” “Ella,” Zara repeated, this time with a knowing look that made me squirm.

“You forget I know you.

Who hurt you?

Styles?” The mention of his name made my stomach twist.

I shook my head quickly, not wanting to open that can of worms.

“No, not Styles.” Her eyes softened, and she nudged my shoulder gently.

“Then who?” I hesitated, my fingers fiddling with the hem of my dress.

I debated lying to her, brushing it off, but the weight on my chest was too much.

Zara was the one person I could confide in, no matter how messy or humiliating the situation was.

“There was someone,” I finally admitted.

Zara didn’t interrupt, waiting for me to continue.

“It was a one-night stand.” I swallowed the lump in my throat.

“Yesterday night I met someone, and it just…

happened.” Her eyebrows rose slightly, but she didn’t judge.

She just nodded, urging me to go on.

“I was looking for you after I got sad thinking of Styles and then I got drunk.

At first, I thought it was just physical, you know?

A distraction, but he was impossible to forget,” I continued, my voice trembling slightly.

“But tonight, I found out he’s one of the triplet Alpha brothers.

Alpha Ares.” Zara’s lips parted in surprise.

“Wait-triplet Alphas?

As in the Iron Fang Pack?” I nodded miserably.

“Yeah.

And he didn’t tell me who he was.

I only found out when one of his brothers called him by his real name in front of me.

He let me believe he was someone else, Zara.

He lied to me.” Her expression darkened, and I could see the fire in her eyes.

“That asshole.” I let out a bitter laugh.

“Yeah, pretty much.” Zara reached out, placing a comforting hand on my shoulder.

“Ella, listen to me.

This guy-Ares, whatever he calls himself-isn’t worth your tears.

He lied, yes.

But that doesn’t mean you have to let him have this kind of power over you.” I nodded, though the ache in my chest didn’t ease.

“It’s not just him, Zara.

It’s everything.

Styles won’t return my calls or texts.

I feel like an idiot for even caring about him still.

And what have I got with lying guys?” Zara’s face twisted into a look of pure disdain.

“Styles is a douchebag.” Despite myself, I laughed-a small, unexpected sound that broke through the heaviness in my heart.

“You’re not wrong, but I love him.” She smirked, giving my shoulder a playful squeeze.

“No, I’m never wrong when it comes to douchebags.

Seriously, though, Ella, you must stop torturing yourself over him.

If he can’t see how amazing you are, that’s his loss, not yours.

I learnt the hard way from Ivan.” I sighed, leaning my head on Zara’s shoulder.

“Why do I always pick the wrong guys?” “You don’t pick them,” Zara said, nudging me gently.

“They’re just too stupid to see what’s right in front of them.

But that’s their problem, not yours.

You deserve someone who doesn’t lie, doesn’t ignore you, and knows how to treat you like the queen you are.” “Like Snow does with you?” I teased, a small smile tugging at my lips.

“Exactly,” Zara said sincerely.

“And trust me, if I ever find a Styles or Ares hovering around you again, I’ll personally kick their asses.” I laughed again, the sound more genuine this time.

Zara always had a way of pulling me out of my funk, no matter how deep I’d fallen into it.

“Thanks, Zara.” I sat up looking at her.

“Anytime,” she replied, her smile warm and reassuring.

“Now, what do you say we go back inside, grab another drink, and show these Alphas that we don’t need their lies or drama?” I hesitated for a moment before nodding.

“Yeah.

Let’s do that.”