Chapter 76

Ella set her empty plate down and looked up just in time to see Oliver walking over. “How’d the chat go?” she asked with a soft smile. “Didn’t expect you back so fast—I was just about to grab a drink.” Oliver looked at her with a flicker of curiosity, something odd stirring in his chest. He found himself wondering—what did Ella really think of Nancy Torres? Without a word, he reached out, took both her hands, and led her onto the dance floor. The Maple Pack had cleared out a space for dancing, though it hadn’t officially started yet. There were barely any wolves around. Tension crept into Oliver’s chest as he pulled her closer. He leaned down, his voice low at her ear. "Did you run into Nancy Torres? She’s the—" “Alpha’s daughter. I know,” Ella cut in softly, her tone neutral. She pulled her hands away, brows furrowed. “Honestly, I’d rather not talk about it. Whatever it is.” Ella’s mind wandered, though she managed to stay composed. She knew Oliver was a catch, and she trusted his hea