CHAPTER 41: JUST TO WATCH OVER HER

"Did you just defend her?" Ellie leaned forward, incredulous. "Like...did you just agree she did something good?"

"I’m just stating facts," Ares said, a little too quickly.

"Facts," Ellie echoed, smirking. "You mean the kind of facts that make you blush when she calls you darling?"

Ares cut him a glare. "Watch it, Beta."

Ellie lifted his hands in mock surrender, chuckling. "Hey, just saying, Alpha. You looked like a boy who’s never been complimented before."

"Enough," Ares said sharply, though there was no real bite in his voice. He leaned forward, elbows resting on his knees, tone quieter now. "She’s... unpredictable. That alone makes her dangerous."

Ellie tilted his head. "So we’re back to fault-finding now?"

Ares frowned. "What’s that supposed to mean?"

"It means," Ellie said, shrugging, "you’re trying too hard not to admit she might actually be want you need in a mate."

Ares’s jaw twitched. He didn’t like where this conversation was heading, and Ellie knew it. Ares exhaled through his nose and leaned back on the couch, the leather sighing beneath his weight. One arm draped over the backrest, the other over his stomach, as if holding himself together. His eyes slipped shut, breathing evenly, choosing silence over argument.

Ellie took it as a sign the discussion was over. He leaned back in his chair, studying Ares quietly. Sometimes he wondered what really went on in that man’s head.

"Do you really think she’s telling the truth?" Ares suddenly asked, just when Ellie thought he might’ve fallen asleep.

"Who, Rhea?"

"Yes." His voice was low, almost thoughtful. "Something about her story doesn’t add up. I don’t know why, I...I feel like she’s not telling the whole truth."

Ellie huffed. "You just admitted something’s changed in her. Nobody gains that kind of strength overnight. And the way she handled Eberhard and Nikki before all these, proves it. She’s a different person now, besides, what would she gain by lying?"

"That means she actually died," Ares murmured.

Ellie raised a brow, studying him quietly, wondering if that note in his voice was concern. "You almost sound like you care," he said quietly.

Ares didn’t answer. His chest rose and fell slowly. Finally, he muttered, almost to himself, "What am I going to do with her?"

"I don’t know," Ellie said. "Maybe ignore her like you used to. After all, you both have rejected each other. You don’t have to do anything with her."

Ares didn’t like the sound of that. Why do I keep feeling sad at the thought of not having anything to do with her anymore? he thought, frowning slightly.

"And besides, she’s now my sister," Ellie continued casually. "Alpha or friend, I won’t let you mess with my sister."

"You’re still going with that?" Ares asked, one eye opening to look at him.

"She made it official in front of you. Don’t tell me you’ve forgotten." Ellie leaned back, looking smug. "She even has my keys. Imagine having a goddess chosen as your sibling."

"Your keys?" Ares’s eyes flashed open fully. "What will she be doing with that?"

"What else will she be doing with it if not to have access to my quarters?" Ellie said easily. "She’ll be staying with her brother from now on. You don’t expect me to let my sister stay in that disgusting place she used to sleep?"

"That’s not right," Ares said, sitting up straighter.

"What’s not right?" Ellie asked, confusion furrowing his brows.

"You need to arrange a room for her. There are still empty rooms inside the pack house. Clean up one for her."

"I don’t think that’s necessary," Ellie said, shrugging. "And it’s a hassle. Just let her stay with me."

"No!" Ares snapped before he could stop himself. The word came out harsher than he intended. He coughed, embarrassed, and muttered, "Sorry." Then, quieter but firm, "Just do as I say."

Ellie blinked, taken aback by the sharpness in Ares’s tone. He arched a brow, slowly sitting up straighter, studying the Alpha with an amused glint. "Since when did you start to care that much about her living arrangements?" he said lightly.

Ares shot him a warning look. "I don’t care. It’s about... protocol. She’s still part of this pack, which means she should be treated like it. That’s all."

"That’s why I’m asking, since when did you start treating her as part of the pack?" Ellie asked, voice edged with disbelief. "Didn’t you used to watch her suffer? And who says brother and sister can’t share a quarter? Others are doing it, why not us?"

"That’s because you’re not really her brother," Ares said through clenched teeth. "She just said it to stir up trouble."

Ellie’s brows lifted, his mouth twitching. "Is that jealousy I’m sensing right now?"

"Why would I be jealous?" Ares asked, eyes narrowing.

"Well, because I’m a man, and she used to be your mate," Ellie said, obviously enjoying this new side of Ares.

"Ellie." Ares’s voice dropped a note lower.

"Alright, alright." Ellie chuckled. "I’ll have the cleaning omegas prep one of the rooms. But you’re really starting to sound like someone trying hard not to sound jealous."

Ares exhaled sharply, rubbing a hand over his face. "You talk too damn much."

"Maybe," Ellie said, pushing himself to his feet, "but I’m not the one snapping at the mention of an ex-mate staying in my quarters." He grinned and stretched lazily before heading toward the door.

"Ellie," Ares called after him.

Ellie turned.

"Make sure the room’s near the west wing," Ares said without thinking.

"The west wing?" Ellie repeated, smirking. "That’s your wing."

Ares looked up at him, eyes cool but his jaw tightening slightly. "And? Someone has to watch her closely."

"And you’re the perfect man for that?" Ellie laughed quietly to himself, shaking his head.

"What do you mean by that?" Ares asked with a glare.

"Nothing. Absolutely nothing, Alpha. I got this. Okay?" He opened the door and walked out, still grinning.

The door clicked shut behind Ellie, and silence rolled back into the room like a heavy tide.

Ares leaned back against the couch, head tipping against the cushion as he dragged a slow breath through his nose. The quiet wasn’t peaceful, it was the kind that pressed against his skull, making every thought louder than it should be.

What the hell was wrong with me?

He scrubbed both hands over his face, fingers digging into his temples as if pressure alone could clear his head. His pulse was still too fast, his chest still tight. Jealousy, that was ridiculous. He wasn’t jealous. He just... didn’t want chaos under his pack. That was all.

Right?

Ares sat forward, elbows on his knees, staring at the floor like it held answers. The thought of her staying with Ellie gnawed at him, sharp and stupid. He could already picture her in that idiot’s quarters, smiling, talking too much, maybe even laughing. The image twisted something deep in his gut.

He clenched his fists.

No. I’m not jealous. I only wanted her nearby so I can keep an eye on her — make sure she wasn’t stirring trouble or getting anybody hurt again. That was the sensible thing to do. The responsible thing to do.

Why does it feel anything but?

He leaned back again, eyes on the ceiling, jaw set tight. "It’s just to watch over her," he muttered under his breath, like saying it out loud would make it true.