CHAPTER 13: SELF DEFENSE

Ellie pushed himself off the doorframe, his brows knitting as he glanced around the room. Then he pointed at his own chest as if to ask, Me?

Rhea took a step closer, squinting as though trying to sharpen the picture in her head. The resemblance was uncanny — yes, he looked so much like her eldest brother Eddie. The same sharp jawline, the same easy confidence in his stance. The only difference was the hair; Eddie’s was dark while this man’s was blond. Still, it was close enough to twist her chest with something startlingly warm.

At least there was a familiar face here. She only prayed he wasn’t one of the Omega’s bullies.

Ares’ frown deepened as he watched her, his jaw tight. She was smiling at Ellie like he wasn’t even in the room. Forgotten. Ignored.

Rhea’s lips curved as she moved closer. "It’s good to see a familiar face," she said softly.

Ellie blinked, utterly thrown. Familiar face? What the hell was she talking about? He and Rhea had grown up in the same pack, spent years crossing paths. Apart from that, he was the one most often defending her when no one else would. Why was she acting like she’d never seen him before?

"Ok..." Ellie chuckled awkwardly, scratching the back of his neck. "What are you on about?"

Rhea stretched out her hand with an easy smile. "I’m Rhea. What’s your name?"

The room froze.

Eberhard and Seraphine both gawked, their mouths parting slightly. Nikki clutched tighter to Ares’ arm. Lyra and Lena stiffened, exchanging wide-eyed looks.

Of all people, Rhea knew Ellie. If there was anyone she was close to in this pack, anyone who had stood up for her, it was him. So what in the hell was going on?

"Ok..." Ellie said again, dragging the word out slowly as his hand lifted. He clasped hers, humoring her with an odd twist to his lips. "Hi, Rhea. I’m Ellie. The Alpha’s Beta."

Rhea’s grin widened. "Oh, you’re that guy! It’s so nice to meet you, Ellie."

She tilted her head, laughter threading her words. "Even your name sounds almost like my brother’s. Ellie... Eddie. Very funny." Relief shimmered in her eyes, softening her features. The thought that the Beta she had read about, the one who always tried to defend the weak Omega, looked so much like her beloved older brother made her chest ache in the best way.

"See?" Nikki hissed to the Alpha, her voice sharp and gleeful. "She’s lost it. Completely insane."

Ares’ eyes narrowed. He could clearly see it. Had she truly gone mad?

"Uhmm... what elder brother?" Ellie asked carefully as he released her hand, confusion twisting across his face. Everyone in the room knew Rhea was the only child of her late parents. So what brother was she talking about?

Rhea parted her lips to answer—

"Enough, Rhea!" Ares’ voice roared through the chamber, the walls seeming to vibrate with the force of it. His hands clenched at his sides, his gaze like fire. "What the hell has gotten into you? You don’t have a brother!" His words cracked like thunder, each syllable meant to snap her back to her senses.

"Oh, right," Rhea said airily, tilting her head as if it had just slipped her mind — a playful glint in her eyes. "I forgot this omega has no family. Anyway, it’s fine. From now on, Ellie is my brother. Right, Ellie?" She turned to him with a smile that was both casual and disarming.

Ellie flicked a glance at the Alpha, tension pulling at his jaw. Then he nodded awkwardly, lips twitching with a crooked half-smile. "Sure... if that’s what you want."

Ares’ eyes narrowed, his chest tight as he studied the girl before him. Was she feigning madness, or had she truly lost her mind? The thought scraped at him, unsettling in ways he hated to admit.

’She called him brother,’ his wolf snarled from deep within, its voice low and guttural. ’Look at the way she’s smiling at him. At another male. Our mate has no brother. Do something about this. ’

The image of her bright smile aimed at Ellie burned hotter than fire in his chest. His wolf recoiled, bristling, furious at the sight. ’Her smile belongs to us and us alone. Not him. Not any man.’

Ares clenched his fists, jaw ticking as the possessive rage clawed at him. He didn’t want this. Didn’t want to feel it. But the truth was undeniable, his wolf has refused to give up and detested the way she looked at his Beta, like she had found safety in him.

Ellie gave her a small, easy nod, as if humoring her, and Ares felt his wolf surge violently in protest. The possessiveness gnawed at his insides, demanding, stop them Ares.

’Shut up,’ Ares snapped inwardly, forcing the beast back down with sheer will. He shoved hard against the pull of his wolf, grinding his teeth. ’Shut up with your damn possessiveness already.’

His gaze cut to Rhea, his patience shredding. "Stop playing whatever game you think this is," he growled, his voice like a blade dragged over stone. "This ends now. You’re not getting away with what you did to Nikki and her father."

Rhea’s smile vanished, wiped clean in an instant. She had almost forgotten the foolish Alpha was still standing there, looming with his air of authority as if his word was law. Her eyes cut to him, sharp and unflinching.

"So let me get this straight," she said slowly, her tone edged with scorn. "I’m supposed to just take whatever nonsense they dish out to me and keep my head bowed? That’s it?"

Her voice rose, raw and biting. "I should have let them use the whip on me instead? "

Ares’ frown deepened, the vein in his temple ticking. "Watch your mouth, Rhea," he snapped, his voice low and full of authority. "You do not get to stand here and justify laying hands on your Alpha’s people. You think you can twist that into self-defense?"

Rhea let out a short, humorless laugh. Her eyes flashed. "If that is not self-defense, what is it called then?" she asked, voice steady but edged. "Do you expect me to just let them use me for their amusement? Is that what you would have wanted?"