Chapter 19

Amelia had a slight frown, her face serious—I could tell she was worried. I turned my head toward the sunlight outside and took a few steps aside. “Ella’s family background’s kind of complicated.” Thinking about what she went through—the neglect, the loneliness—my voice dropped. As an Alpha, I rarely lose control of my emotions, but now even my scent was giving away the chill in my heart. Amelia paused, eyes full of concern as she looked at me. “Henry adopted her, right? But she’s basically treated like she’s invisible over there.” “When we showed up, Mary didn’t even bother to acknowledge the invitation.” I looked back toward the banquet hall. Through the window, I could see Ella smiling, but even that felt tinged with sadness to me. Her beauty had always been obvious, but now I couldn’t separate it from her past. It made my chest tighten. “She’s had it rough there. Really rough.” I kept my explanation short. Honestly, I didn’t want to dig too deep into the details. Letting out a soft