The Alpha and The Enforcer [TATE] (STILL EDITING)

Chapter 16

"Alice," Ellie muttered. Her voice was tight. Cold.

The girl—Alice—smirked again, then turned and disappeared over the ridge.

My wolf growled low in my chest. The audacity. She shot at Ellie and didn't even have the decency to look sorry.

I took a step forward, ready to remind her who she was messing with when—

"My office. Five minutes."

My father's voice sliced through my mind via the pack link.

Perfect timing.

I sighed, irritated, and turned to Ellie. She was already looking at me.

Her eyes—usually hard and unreadable—were softer somehow. And then I saw it. The faintest touch of pink on her cheeks. A blush.

She blinked quickly and turned her head away, pretending to watch the trees.

And just like that, I was stuck.

Was she blushing because of the beach idea? The laugh? Me?

I wanted to ask her what she was thinking. If I was wrong. If I had imagined it. But the moment passed.

"I have to meet with my dad," I said, rubbing the back of my neck. "Shouldn't take long."

She gave a small nod without looking at me. "It's okay. Take your time. You know where to find me if you need me."

And with that, she walked off in the direction Alice had gone, toward the training grounds.

Because of course she did. Fighting was the one place where Ellie didn't have to explain herself. Where she didn't have to feel.

But damn... I hoped she let me in. Even if it was just for a day.

I pushed off the ground and met Alice eye-to-eye, my blood still pounding from the hit but my mind sharp and hungry. That smirk on her face was a challenge. Fine—let's dance.

She came at me like a storm—fast, wild punches and kicks flying like missiles. I dodged left, ducked under a wild haymaker, and countered with a quick jab to her ribs. Alice grunted but didn't back down. She swung low—aiming to sweep my legs out—but I jumped back and landed like a cat, light and sure.

"Not bad," she sneered, wiping blood from her split lip. "But you're slow."

That got under my skin.

I feinted a right hook, and when she moved to block, I caught her off guard with a sharp palm strike to the throat. Her eyes bulged, and she staggered backward gasping for air.

I pressed the advantage—spinning low, sweeping her legs out from under her. She hit the ground with a thud, but rolled expertly and sprung up like she hadn't missed a beat.

She lunged, claws out—no, wait, fists. I snapped my head back, narrowly avoiding a punch that grazed my cheek and stung like fire.

I grabbed her wrist, twisted hard, and sent her crashing shoulder-first into the brick wall with a crack that echoed across the yard.

She slumped against it, dazed for a second, but Alice's grin returned. "Cute," she hissed. "You're gonna have to do better."

I smirked back and launched myself at her, fists flying in a rapid-fire combo. I could feel each strike connect — ribs, jaw, side — and with every hit her defenses weakened. Her breathing got ragged, movements slower.

I caught a punch aimed for my head, and with a quick twist, I flipped her over my shoulder and onto the gravel with a heavy thump.

She groaned but pushed up, crawling back like a cornered animal.

That's when Jacob's voice thundered through the crowd, cutting through the tension like lightning.

"Enough!"

I took a deep breath, chest heaving, ready to go back at it.

But Jacob's steady gaze stopped me.

Alice looked just as surprised as I was, her cocky smirk fading into wary uncertainty.

Jacob took a step between us, his presence alone creating an invisible line neither dared cross.

"That's enough," he said, his voice calm but firm. "I'm not here to judge every little scrape, but if either of you want to make things worse, this ends now."

He gave Alice a pointed look. "You're lucky this time. Consider this your only warning."

Alice's eyes narrowed, but she gave a stiff nod.

Jacob then turned to me. "Ellie, same goes for you."

I clenched my jaw but nodded.

Without waiting for a reply, Jacob took a step back and raised his voice.

"Everyone, back to your business. This is over."

The crowd scattered instantly, respect flooding their faces when they saw me step forward. Alice looked up at Jacob, eyes wide with shock — and maybe a little fear.

As the dust settled, Alice shot me one last glare before stalking off.

Jacob caught my eye briefly, his look unreadable but... protective, maybe?

I turned away, heart still racing. Some battles are fought in silence, but this one... this one felt like the start of something different.

Happy Birthday, indeed.

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Izzy