Ella's Retribution

Chapter 9

Ella’s POV

My dad had just stormed out of the room and I was about to get up and go talk to him when Korbin stood up. “Let me talk to him,” he said and walked in the same direction that my dad went.

“Mom, what is wrong with him? I am an adult.”

“I know that. It’s just that he’s protective of you. The things I went through before his father was killed were horrible. We don’t want anything bad to happen to you.”

“Mom, you can’t be serious. He’s my mate. He wouldn’t hurt me.”

“And his father was my first mate, and he hurt me, so yes, it can.”

“Well, you can’t stop me. I’m an adult.” I said, shouting at her.

“I know that and we won’t, but it’s not an easy thing for your father. It’s going to be a battle until he realizes that you are safe.”

“If he was going to hurt me, he would have already. He has had plenty of chances. He could have kidnapped me when we went to dinner.”

“I know that. Just give your father some time and go easy on him. He’s just worried about you. It has nothing to do with you. It’s because of who his father is and what he did to me.”

“He isn’t his father. His father didn’t raise him. Hell, he has never even met him. He is a good person,” I told her, starting to cry. Everything that I was afraid of was happening. I won’t let my parents stop me from leaving, but I do want them to be ok with it.

My mom came over and hugged me and then we sat on the couch together waiting for Korbin and my dad to come back. I could hear them talking loudly but couldn’t understand them.

“Why don’t you come help me prep dinner?” My mom asked, standing up.

I followed her and we couldn’t hear them anymore and I think that was her plan.

“Why don’t you peel the potatoes for me?”

I grabbed everything I needed to peel them and chop them up for mashed potatoes, and my mom got busy with the meat that she was cooking. I didn’t even look at what it was. I was too busy thinking about everything that my dad and Korbin were fighting about. I just hoped that this wouldn’t ruin any relationship that they would have.

“Who is all going to be here tonight?”

“I’m not sure yet. Your dad and I and Liam. Will you and Korbin be joining us? I will also link Cooper and Lydia.”

I kept peeling the potatoes and then got them ready to be boiled for mashed potatoes and before I knew it, everything for dinner was prepped and my dad and Korbin weren’t back yet. It had to be an hour and now I was really getting worried.

“Mom, they should be back by now. Something is wrong?”

“Nothing is wrong. I promise they are just talking about things.”

“How do you know?”

“Because your dad may be overprotective, but he isn’t an asshole. He just wants Korbin to know what will happen if you get hurt. This is harder for him than you could ever imagine.”

I was about ready to say something to my mom when both of them walked into the kitchen.

“Ella, go pack your things and let your mother and I talk.”

I got up and grabbed Korbin’s hand and led him back to my bedroom.

“I am so sorry about my dad. Please tell me he wasn’t an asshole to you?”

“No, beautiful he wasn’t. He is just being protective of you. I get it.”

“You were gone forever.”

“I know. I let him know our plans. How we plan on stopping on our way home and all the things we are going to see. We talked about the security of my pack. Other things that he wants to know to make sure you stay safe.”

“He is unreal.”

“Really it’s fine. Trust me, if I had a daughter as beautiful as you, I would be the same way or worse. Now let’s get you packed up.”

We spent the next few hours packing up my stuff and Korbin went through pictures he found. He was laughing at some childhood photos when my mom linked me, saying dinner was ready.

“My mom has dinner ready. Would you like to stay and eat?”

“That would be nice.”

The rest of my time went by fast. I tried to spend time with each of my family members. My mom was amazing and helped me get everything ready. My brothers were hit or miss. I get it they had busy lives but my dad he was a little clingy. Every day, he would wake up, come to my room and make me come down for breakfast, and then he wanted to do something during the day. He was driving me nuts, but I am glad that I got to spend that much time with them. This wasn’t like college, and I was only four hours away. I was now going to be across the country. My parents were supposed to come out in a month to visit.

My mom had to convince him to wait that long. He wanted to come sooner, but she finally told him that we were young and in love and needed time alone. It worked, thank goodness.

It was now three forty-five am, and I was waiting for Korbin to show up. We were supposed to leave at four this morning. He went and traded his rental in for a bigger one. He had a car and gotten an SUV to easily accommodate everything I packed. There wasn’t that much, but he insisted we would need it.

I stood at the window watching for him and it felt like I stood there forever waiting for him. I tried to get him to stay last night, but he said that he wanted me to spend that time with my family. I was grateful and also a little hurt that he didn’t want to spend it with them as well. He will be a part of my family now.

Finally, I saw his headlights coming towards the house and that’s when the nerves set in. I hadn’t been nervous until this very moment.

“Snow, are you ready to leave?” I linked her. She hadn’t said anything to me in the last twenty-four hours.

I waited and waited and she never replied back. I could feel her, so I knew she was still there, but she wouldn’t answer me. Nothing new.

I went to the door and opened it as he came up the walkway. He had a big smile on his face and was dressed for comfort. Grey sweats and a tight t-shirt. It was an amazing look for him.

“I like the gray sweatpants. You will have to wear those more often,” I told him. He just chuckled and kissed my cheek.

“You ready to hit the road?”

“Yes,” I told him, trying to sound confident.

I pulled him to the kitchen where my parents were sitting. “We are ready to take off,” I told them as tears formed in my eyes. My mom jumped up and wrapped her arms around me.

“Don’t cry. We will see you in a month and I am sure that you won’t miss us. You are going to have so much fun. Just don’t forget to call us once in a while.”

“I won’t, mom.” I told her, hugging her tighter. Once she released me, my dad stepped in and hugged me as well.

“I have a cooler of snacks and drinks for you guys,” my mom said, coming over to us with a little cooler in her hands.

We made it out to the car before another round of hugs took place and my dad shook Korbin’s hand and my mom hugged him goodbye. I finally managed to get inside the car, and so did Korbin.

I waved to my parents as we backed down the driveway until I couldn’t see them anymore. Korbin remained quiet for the next hour. Things felt a little awkward at the moment. I wasn’t sure why.

“I got you a coffee,” he finally said right before he picked his up and drank from it. I grabbed the other cup and started drinking mine. I loved my coffee.

I managed to get about half my coffee down before I was hit with sleepiness. I yawned several times before Korbin started laughing.

“Lay your seat back and sleep, princess. There’s a pillow and blanket in the back seat you can grab and use.”

“Thanks,” I told him, grabbing them and laying my seat back and going right to sleep.

When I woke up, the sun was way up, and I had no clue where we were.

“How long was I asleep?” I asked Korbin as I stretched out and sat up.

“Well, it’s one in the afternoon, so for quiet some time.”

“I am so sorry. I don’t know what happened. I never sleep like that.”

“You must have tired. It’s perfectly ok. There is some water there for you,” he told me as he grabbed his water bottle and took a drink.

“Thanks, but I know my mom packed me a soda in the cooler. I need some more caffeine,” I told him, leaning into the back.

“No, you really need some water.”

“I will later.” I told him, grabbing my soda and sandwich.

I sat back in the seat and ate and drank while Korbin had a little bit of a scowl on his face. If he was going to be like this all the time we would have to talk about it because he wasn’t going to control what I ate and drank. Once I finally finished eating, I turned to Korbin, “I can drive if you want. I am sure that you are ready for a break.”

“No, I will drive.”

“Have I done something wrong? Are you upset because I fell asleep and slept so long?”

“No. Sorry, I must just be tired, is all. It was an early morning.”

“I really am happy to drive.”

He reached over and turned up the music. I wasn’t sure what had gotten into him. This was really not like the Korbin I had gotten to know. Maybe he was just tired or maybe he was nervous about bringing me to his pack. I never thought about that. I had to meet his parents now and crap, what if he had a girlfriend? I never thought about that, but I think he would have mentioned something to me about that as well.

I watched the scenery go by, thinking about his life in the pack. He never did tell me a lot about them. Finally, the curiosity won out, and I turned to Korbin.

“Do you have a girlfriend in the pack?” I just blurted out.

“Excuse me?”

“Is that what is wrong? You have a girlfriend there? Is that what is bothering you?”

“No, I don’t have a girlfriend in the pack. I won’t lie and tell you I haven’t had girlfriends, but haven’t had one for over a year.”

“It’s OK if you did. I mean, as long as you broke it off with her.”

“I don’t have one. Don’t worry,” he said, grabbing my hand and kissing the back of it. He seemed to relax a little bit and continued to drive.