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CHAPTER 369
~Ella's POV~
The silence that followed Zara's question was almost suffocating. Her sharp eyes flickered between Ares, Richard, and me, clearly assessing the situation.
She wasn't just my best friend; she was a Luna and a powerful alpha who could smell the tension.
"Someone better start talking," Zara said, crossing her arms.
Ares scoffed, shaking his head. "Oh, you're gonna love this one, Zara." He turned toward her, his signature smirk laced with sarcasm. "Apparently, Mr. Tall, Dark, and Brooding over here thinks Ella is his mate."
I flinched slightly at how bluntly he said it. Not because it wasn't true but because saying it out loud made it real.
Zara's eyes widened slightly, her gaze snapping to Richard. He was standing stiff, his jaw clenched, eyes locked onto me like I might disappear.
