Thanks EC Brenway for your review! And Aphass for the story follow!

EC - pierce inviting himself to the Chelly party seems to be his move! Good catch on Hetty - a werewolf or just an 80 year old woman with super hearing? Could be either, you never know in this world! Yes, Chloe running into angry, scary werewolf Elly might not end up to well for Chloe as Elly would be far too out of control to recognize her mate! Chloe with the fluffy, warm, cuddly werewolf Elly would end up much better for her me thinks!

The Chemistry In Darkness

Chapter Thirty-One

Friday 29th November 2024

"So, how you feeling after your first class?" Chloe asked as she and Elly walked out of the salon, having gotten their hair trimmed after their martial arts class.

"I didn't know I could hurt in so many places," Elly groaned, even though she knew any pain she did feel was momentary but she was still surprised her reflexes weren't quick enough to keep up with Chloe, "I thought you only taking part of the class cause you're still taking it easy after the accident was meant to be a good thing. Hetty is way stronger than I ever took her for. No wonder it didn't take her much to teach Pierce a lesson."

"Are you sure you want to come back for more?" Chloe wondered, "Martial arts isn't for everyone."

Wherever you are, Chlo, I will always want to come back for more…

"There is no way I'm giving up just because my first class involved me…tripped up on my ass and falling over rather than being able to defend myself from the 'attacks' you set up for us to role play. I just need more practice. You're not getting rid of me anytime soon," Elly resolved, "When do I get to wear one of those cool martial arts outfits you and everyone else was wearing? Can I train with you next week sometime at your place on days I get someone to mind Aster for me?"

Or getting rid of me ever y'know cause we're meant to be together…except you don't know that, Chlo, cause you're married and that's probably too much pressure to explain how your my mate, what that means…and that I'm a werewolf…

"I'm glad. I suppose we can get you kitted out next week. Everyone who starts off with their first couple classes or comes in for their own workouts wears casual gym clothes, you weren't out of place at all. You really enjoyed learning martial arts to want to even do extra training with me at home," Chloe replied with a smile at the idea of spending more time with Elly.

I want this…to spend as much time with Elly as I can. Why is that? Is it about spending time with an old friend…? Or is seeing Elly in the tight gym clothes she was wearing during the class and being close to her risking my feelings for Elly returning? I can't want them to…right…? That's far too complicated for my life to deal with. I just have to keep things platonic…it's not like Elly has feelings for me so the risk of mine returning would be for naught…

"I really did enjoy it, Chlo. I want to keep doing it with you," Elly replied coyly.

So subtle…not…

"Now, I should order us an Uber to get home," Chloe changed the subject, confused if Elly's comment meant what a small part of her wanted it to.

As Chloe went to grab her phone from her handbag, she saw the two bottles of sports drink and pulled them out instead, "Oops, sorry, bit late but we were meant to have these during the class. Do you want one to freshen up after your lively first martial arts class and lovely hair trim Raul gave you on the house to lure you back as a long-time customer?"

Elly held out her hand for the bottle, grateful for the whisker of a second that Chloe's fingers grazed against hers, "I really didn't need the free hair trim on top of the free martial arts class but you're very kind getting your friends to offer them anyway. I'll happily pay next week. Or is there a proper gym membership I can sign up for?"

"You can sign up for a monthly membership. You really are keen to learn, aren't you?" Chloe was surprised, as she took a sip of her own sports drink.

"I've got good taste in the way I want to rebuild my life here," Elly shrugged before taking a sip of the liquid.

Elly reviled at the taste of the sports drink immediately, trying not to but unable to stop herself, spitting the liquid onto the side of the pathway they were walking along, "Jeez, Chlo, what is this stuff? I'm sorry but you have bad taste if this stuff is what you drink all the time after your workout."

Chloe shrugged, continuing to swig at her bottle, "I guess we have different taste buds. I like it, it's raspberry flavour."

"That is not raspberry," Elly spluttered out, "Where did you find this stuff?"

"Our chef buys them for us…well me, really. Pierce prefers a couple of the other flavours. My go to is always raspberry. I dunno where Rene gets them from. Can't say I've ever seen this brand sold anywhere before but he always picks up a carton of them for us in our shopping. Why don't we stop by the convenience store on the corner to get you another different kind of sports drink before I order this Uber?" Chloe suggested.

Before Elly could agree, distracted by putting the lid of the bottle back on, Chloe looked up suddenly, "Pierce! What are you doing here?"

Ugh, Pierce. Here we go again! Every time I think I'm getting closer to my mate…this twat shows up and reminds me that Chloe is his…for now… It's just a pity he doesn't know that.

Pierce strolled up to the pair, "Looking for you, Chloe."

"You could've called me. How did you know where I was?" Chloe continued questioning.

Pierce nearly stumbled over his words, his annoyance at Chloe being with Elly distracting him, "Well…I…I was do our banking for the week…going over our statements…I saw your Uber account debited. I know you have your hair appointments out here a couple times a week. I thought we agreed that you were going to skip today's appointment so you could continue to rest up after your car accident Elly's car caused."

Don't take the bait, Pierce just wants to pick a fight with me about my car so he can blame me for Chloe's accident again. Just try not to engage with Pierce as much as you can…concentrate on anything else…Chloe's smile looking at me when she realizes we belong together…getting rid of this vile tasting drink…okay back to Chloe…the feeling of having Chloe in my arms one day…

Chloe blushed as she eyed Elly, "I did promise that this morning…I lied to Elly and told her we'd discussed that I was capable of going out for my appointment. And look, see, I brought Elly with me so I knew I'd be okay as Elly would keep an eye on me. Plus, check out the adorable trim Raul gave Elly. Her hair looks fantastic, don't you agree, Pierce?"

Fucks sake, Chlo, I really wanted to simply not engage with Pierce and now you're throwing me at him to hate me even more for spending time with you.

"Hardly noticeable," Pierce grumped, "Chloe, you should've stayed at home, you promised me."

"Pierce, Chloe was perfectly fine," Elly intervened, wishing he had any clue just how fine Chloe was that she co-ran a martial arts class without needing to take a break but she also knew Chloe seemed to have reasons for wanting to keep her training a secret from her husband, "I'd never let anything happen to Chloe…and if it did, I'd have called you. C'mon, Pierce, lighten up, it was just a hair appointment. Chloe's healthy as can be…aside from her horrid taste in sport drinks."

"You gonna tease me about that every time we go…get our hair cut and I bring sport drinks from home rather than shell out for new ones whilst here?" Chloe blushed, then realized she needed to cover up the reason they had sport drinks when they were only supposed to be at the salon getting their hair done.

Elly wanted to lean over and kiss Chloe's cheek for how adorable she was to nearly mess up the reason why they were out and about away from Ramsay Street together, when Chloe had kept the secret of her martial arts training for two years. But then Elly had found out that day, Pierce couldn't possibly do the same within hours of Chloe's secret being busted?

Elly wanted to keep Chloe's secret as long as possible, as she knew if she did, then she was going to be able to find a way to spend as much time alone with her mate. She wanted to learn from Chloe and hoped the time spent together would lead Chloe to realize they needed to be together.

And as much as Elly wanted to show Chloe affection, doing so in front of Chloe's husband would never go down well so Elly resisted.

"Only 'til you get better taste in your sports drink," Elly teased back.

"Right, are you done here and can I take my wife home?" Pierce interrupted their rambling, annoyed at Elly spending time with his wife, unable to ignore feeling threatened by the woman.

Chloe frowned at her husband, "And just leave Elly to get her own way back home to the same street we all live on? I don't think so. Elly and I will get an Uber home like we were just about to. You go back to the office; I'll text you when I get home to let you know I'm perfectly fine and don't need any more rest after the car accident. I'll see you when you get home later tonight. Which before I forget to mention it…I want to start going to my brothers for dinner on Friday evenings with the rest of the family."

Pierce sighed in exhaustion, annoyed Chloe dismissed his concerns for her health and wouldn't part from Elly, "Chloe, I'm not up for that tonight."

"I'm not asking you to be, Pierce. I know you don't like plans sprung on you and that we have dinner prepared at home for us tonight. I meant as of next Friday, I want the two of us to go to dinner with my family and friends to spend some time with them once a week like we always should've been. I feel like I don't spend enough time with them…and Hendrix said he might be there some Fridays. When he isn't visiting Harlow or Harlow visiting him. He's making an effort to…sit in a room with you and not…try to punch you or yell at you…it's progress," Chloe pushed.

Pierce eyed Elly suspiciously, feeling like her influence was all over Chloe for his wife's decision and he wondered if it was Elly being there herself at those dinners that was encouraging Chloe to want to spend even more time with her, "We'll talk it over at dinner tonight."

Elly watched as Chloe smiled in elation at Pierce's response, like he had already agreed to what she wanted when he hadn't even come close.

Is Pierce that controlling of Chloe's life that a subtle hint that he might give her something she should already have, has her so excited? I don't know how to approach Chloe about Pierce's controlling nature. If I say something to her, she might defend her husband, turn on me…I need to approach this the right way…

Twenty minutes later, Elly had walked Chloe back inside her house after the Uber had dropped them back to Ramsay Street. Pierce had reluctantly left them to return home on their own as he went back to the hotel to continue working for the rest of the afternoon. Elly saw the temptation in Pierce's eyes to blow off his work in favour of trying to limit the time Chloe was with her, wondering if Pierce had picked up on the vibe that Elly was a threat to his marriage.

I am a threat cause I know Chloe's my mate and once Chloe starts to accept that bond we share…he's got no hope.

As Elly stood at the front door, on the porch, Chloe turned back to her, standing just inside the entryway. Elly smiled at the way Chloe stared at her, wishing she could just lean forward and capture Chloe's lips with her own.

I can't…Chloe's married; she needs to make the first move.

"Thanks for keeping my secret from Pierce," Chloe whispered.

Elly shrugged, "No problem, I know if we both keep this secret that I get to learn martial arts with you…and I really want to do that," Elly then paused as she chewed on her lip, "Chlo…was that weird to you that Pierce tracked you down from your Uber charge and rushed over to find you?"

Chloe blinked several times, "Pierce was worried about me, I did lie to him and told him I'd stay at home today so he would go off to work. It has only been a few days since the car accident. I was pretty exhausted during the class and I was glad Hetty was there to help me."

Elly reached out her hand, taking Chloe's hand in her own, the feeling between their skin electric to both of them, but Chloe didn't know the reason why.

Elly stared deep into Chloe's eyes, "Chloe…I think it's more than that. Pierce is controlling you…everything he does and says…you deserve better than Pierce…you deserve…"

Me-

Elly's thoughts stopped there as Chloe released her hand from Elly's grip and opened her mouth gently in response as Chloe stepped back and shut the front door in her face.

That was not the right way to approach Chloe over Pierce's controlling nature…

Next time - Elly's having a bad day. Really all Elly's having is a normal day. And a normal day for Elly is abnormal - what's brought on Elly's normal abnormal bad day?