Chapter 21 #2
“Just a woman walking her lion,” Ellie joked as she joined us outside of the parking garage.
She’d been a bit pushy after Aurora made it clear she wanted space.
I knew it was worry for Aurora and—a lot had changed, especially after Ellie learned Aurora had lost her immortality to protect Ellie and Theresa.
Theresa was still too hesitant and—maybe she was respecting what Aurora asked for and needed. I wasn’t sure.
I couldn’t figure out my own shit, so I was the last person to start trying to decipher the emotional health of others.
Ellie wanted Aurora to go get checked out as well and some tests done. I was immediately on edge but told my lion to stuff it, especially with so many people around us. I would not embarrass Aurora or treat her like a child around others who made that mistake.
Aurora shot me a look and clearly noted my response.
She took a slow breath and then looked back at Ellie.
“I would feel uncomfortable being away from my mate right now given what he’s going through and allowing his care to become a circus to help teach your doctors.
I will make an appointment soon that he can attend with me as we support each other that way. ”
My lion was all over her, almost knocking her over as he tried to get her affection.
She chuckled and scratched his ear. “Yes, well, you’re going to tell the doctors what you think you discovered. Hopefully, they can help and make this easier on both of us.”
We need her. My lion was the one who even said it this time, so I was hopeful he really understood.
Ellie reluctantly accepted it but also gave me an impressed look like she hadn’t realized I was allowing things for Aurora’s sake like my care. “I would like to be included as a doctor on your assessments if it’s not too awkward given our dynamic.”
I swallowed a huff, but Aurora cleared her throat, waiting until I nodded.
“I hope you excuse yourself when he discusses certain post-mating items he should with his doctors and the magics,” she told Ellie firmly.
It was amusing when Ellie flushed and immediately nodded. It was clear that no matter what had happened, Ellie still saw Aurora in a mother role and cared for her that way.
Hopefully, one day they could mend that relationship. Or thrive in a new form of one.
Yeah, actually, I liked that idea better.
Everything went really well until Aurora was off to the side speaking to someone from the hospital. I snarled and practically barreled someone over to launch myself in front of her.
“He’s not being jealous,” the doctor said even as he backed away and dipped his head to me. “I sensed your worry and—”
“I’m not worried,” Aurora argued.
The doctor let out a slow breath and held her gaze.
“You were. No matter how small, that’s what we scent.
A lion scents minor changes in emotions that well.
It’s clear Creed hasn’t been able to, and some of the issues you’re facing are his lion is suddenly scenting, seeing, and experiencing life at ten times the level he was.
Can you imagine how overwhelming that is for him? ”
“No, but even as I lion, I doubt you can either,” she accepted after a moment. “And he realized something important when we arrived.” She turned to me. “You weren’t being jealous?” She gave me a soft smile when I shook my head. “You don’t know this doctor?”
People froze when the lion shook his head.
She simply looked back at the doctor. “And now you see the issue. Clearly, you’ve spoken with Creed the man, but the barrier between him and his lion was affected. That is what Creed realized.”
“Damnit. We should have guessed this,” Monroe grumbled. “But I’m not a shifter, so no matter how much I work with them, it’s a concept I cannot fully grasp just as you said.”
I shifted back even if people didn’t want that yet. I stayed kneeling before Aurora and touched her skirt. “I swear I wasn’t being a jealous ass. I felt your agitation spike, and I—my lion didn’t know him when this is already too much of a circus. I swear it. I think I get it better more that—”
“He doesn’t understand, and right now everything is so different that it’s all potential threats to him,” Ellie muttered.
“Please avert your eyes from my naked mate,” Aurora said with a cold tone.
“Right, sorry, doctor,” Ellie mumbled, sounding like a kid in trouble instead of one of the most powerful women in the world.
And I simply purred which amused Aurora. “Even I have limits.” She kissed my hair. “I’m glad we’ve worked out what’s been going on and now hopefully how to fix the situation better.”
Because we needed to. That much was clear in her tone.
“I don’t normally do this, but my mate is a vampire,” the doctor said quietly as he moved in closer. “I will ask if she’ll talk to you. I’m sure she will, but—interspecies mating can be difficult enough without the issues you’re facing.”
“I would like that, thank you,” Aurora accepted. “If you have any non-medical advice for my mate on what helps, he will listen.”
I wasn’t the only one who gave her an impressed look. But yes, I agreed as well.
It was exhausting to shift back to my lion and they had me do it a few more times, but… Everyone was impressed. Just that I could and my strength was growing so fast. I was a powerful Alpha lion and everyone had a lot to say about that.
And my lion and I simply huffed. Yeah, yeah, but people wanted Alphas to lead and I had no interest in that.
When I was about to drop and they wanted more from me, I sensed something I shouldn’t have.
I gave Ha-joon a look and then held up my phone before quickly texting him and Ellie.
She asked for a few minutes to set things up but would have two powerful warlocks on her payroll to cloak and tail me for what was needed.
And to get it all caught on film because unfortunately everyone dirty wasn’t stupid and many knew how to avoid cameras.
“I need to handle something real quick,” I told Aurora with a kiss to her cheek once I was mostly dressed. “Please, please, stay with your security glued to you.”
She searched my eyes for too long. “You can’t tell me what’s going on, can you?”
“I don’t think it smart, but know I’m not doing anything that would disappoint you.”
Something soft instantly filled her eyes. “I never doubt that, Creed. I’ll do as you asked.”
I thanked her and glanced at her two guards, giving them a look that made it clear I would eat them if they messed up. Or probably just annoyed them even more but whatever.
I headed off and felt him moving in, hoping Ellie had everything set up and ready when I spun on him. “I know you think you’re moving up that Daddy trusted you enough to send you on an errand, but just so we’re clear, the message is for me that I don’t matter enough to get anyone else.”
Rage—pure and blinding rage—blossomed all over Connor Edwards’s face.
This fool is too easy. It was hard not to chuckle, especially since the third son of the NYC Alpha was so desperate for love from his family it was ridiculous. It honestly should have made us close given I’d wanted the same, but he’d always kicked me like that would help him.
It hadn’t. It just made him seem weaker.
“You made a mistake sticking your head back out instead of living like the dead,” he bit out as he adjusted his neck.
“Father’s willing to overlook it since you could…
” His eyes went wide as he moved closer but then took a step back.
“What did you do, Creed? What the fuck is wrong with you? You let them test on you or—”
“So you didn’t know,” I muttered, studying him closely. The confusion coming off of him mixed with being freaked out was unreal. “Really not in the loop, are you, Connor?”
“Don’t look down on me, asshole,” he growled. “You were the fool in the end, not me.”
Shit. He’d gotten better at pushing the right buttons which could be a problem with my lion. “Yeah, but the fact I was taken down for making you fuckers look bad because you’re all fucking incompetent idiots is a stupid move, and I never thought your dad was stupid. My. Mistake.”
“You’ll regret saying that about Dad,” he snapped.
“No, no, I won’t,” I chuckled darkly. “But get out your message. Handle your errand like a good, obedient, little boy and then race home for your pathetic pat on the head.”
“Be careful you don’t bite off more than you can chew no matter who you’re mated to and allies you think will back you up,” he warned but then smirked.
“You don’t have a great track record picking the right people to trust, Creed.
So at least salvage the life you could have back if you play your cards right. ”
I snarled and took three steps towards him, chuckling when he jumped away and cowered.
“You’re terrified of me and you should be so don’t play tough.
And I would rather die a thousand times than ever align myself with anyone in that fucking family again.
I felt that way before I learned your dad bound my lion magically. ”
Connor had no idea. He looked at me like I’d grown another head for another minute but then shook it. “You’re so full of shit and—”
“I’m not,” I told him firmly. “I’m not, Connor.
The powerful magics here sensed it. Your dad or uncle—someone was worried about how strong my lion could become because they bound my lion as a child.
They didn’t care if it would kill me in the end.
They did that to a child to control and use me.
So fuck off. Tell me your message and then fuck off. Seriously.”
He swallowed loudly, understanding he was going to have to bring back bad news to his dad.
I was crying inside for him.
He seemed to reach deep for any and all gumption. “Don’t make us have to threaten your mate, Creed. She’s a pretty vampire who’s had it rough already.”
I barely reminded my lion not to kill him before the punch landed. He was out instantly and I swallowed a sigh. That wasn’t going to help the situation.
And neither was the kick to his ribs that shattered several.
Fuck.
I let out a heavy breath and looked up. I couldn’t even yell at my lion for that one.
And Ellie said the same when she joined me. “Look, Aurora would rightfully smack me for what I’m about to suggest, but we both know this could be a problem if not handled well.”
“I know,” I sighed. “But clearly my temper will be shorter than normal for a while. Awesome.” I let my upset—at Connor and myself—clear and then sighed. “I know what to do. I know what—I know how to escalate this to make it blow fast so they’re stupid and we can catch them.”
Squatting down, I felt Connor’s pockets and snagged his phone. I snorted when his passcode was still his birthday.
Idiot.
I took a picture of him, making sure to get a second zooming in on his busted, bleeding face. Then I attached the photos to a text to his dad, uncles, and siblings.
“‘If you ever threaten my mate again, I won’t stop at teaching Connor he’s a fool.
You cut me loose and now I’m out. Fuck off unless you want me to start talking.
Oh, and I unbound my lion from the magic you put on a child, you sick fucks.
People would love to hear about that. Do not test me,’” Ellie read over my shoulder.
“You were suggesting like that?” I checked.
“Something milder actually so we could maybe get more out of them,” she drawled when I hit send. She held her hands up in surrender when I turned on her. “But I get it. You won’t risk Aurora and what you can have for a new life.”
“No, not ever. Always remember that,” I warned her, not caring that darkness filled her eyes as well.
Just to make my point, I shattered Connor’s knees and ankles while she watched. She might be scary too, but… We recognized our own.
And she should never doubt that keeping me as a friend was better for her.