Page 15 of Big Bad Wolf: B.B.W

The night that Elodie ran into my house when she found out her father was sick, she was in such a panic.

The pro of circling yourself with friends who have mates was that they didn’t need an explanation when it came to things regarding your mate.

The pack came first, followed closely by your family.

If you had a mate or children, they came after the pack, then parents and siblings.

As soon as she shot upstairs, they all stood, said their goodbyes, then left.

The panic in my woman’s eyes while she threw things in a suitcase was almost debilitating.

I had to grab her arms to sit her down and make sense of what happened.

The pain in her voice when she told me was heartbreaking.

I didn’t expect her to break down from the guilt of not communicating with her parents more than she had.

As her man, it was my job to handle the things that were in my control.

She said she needed to book the first flight out.

That was something within my reach. I didn’t own a private jet, but I did have a contract with a company to charter private jets when I needed to.

My father and I recently discussed the purchase of one in the next year.

We were on a flight the next morning. I wanted her to calm down and get some rest before we left.

I had to let my dick calm her nerves on the way to Sedona in the sky.

This was the first time that I had ever seen her worry like she was.

She’d told me before that she felt an inadequacy when it came to the expectations of her parents.

She claimed that she’d disappointed them with decisions she’d made in her life.

Elodie never told me what those decisions were, but I had a hard time believing it based on her parents’ reaction to her.

They reacted to her the same way that my father did, and I remembered my mother’s reaction.

Her parents’ home was amazing. What set it off was the landscaping.

It was the type of landscaping that you knew increased the property value.

Before we left to go to the hospital, her mother took me to the backyard.

I stood there with my mouth wide open at how beautiful it was.

If I could envision how the Garden of Eden really looked, this would be an amazing representation of it.

They had a damn water stream in the backyard with fish in it.

I made up my mind that I would hire her company for the landscaping at my house. My house had a company that came out to take care of the lawn, but Mrs. Summerville’s type of care was different. I wanted my yard to be designed by a landscaping architect.

Barbeque was not something that I ate a lot of. It was such a hit or miss when it came to it much like Greek food. I’d had horrible barbeque that turned me off, so I ate Elodie’s mom’s food with caution. Thank God it was amazing.

Mr. Summerville was right when he said that Elodie was her mother’s twin but possessed his eyes. Her light brown eyes were alluring, but her beast’s eyes were hypnotizing. Her mother was a thick woman as well with beautiful toffee-colored skin.

The gifts that the gods gave the wolves never ceased to amaze me. This man could read damn minds. That shit was crazy as fuck. I wondered if he could read my mind now to know that I was about to punch whoever this doctor was dead in his shit if he didn’t stop looking at my mate like he was.

Mr. Summerville roared in laughter the best he could considering his condition. Everyone’s attention turned to him.

“Yes, son, I can. I completely understand if you do.”

Welp, that answers my question.

“Dyami Mato, how are you? Dr. Mato, I guess,” Elodie said flatly. She turned her hip toward me. “This is my mate, Orion.”

Alright, so he must have a beast too. Mate was a very specific language that was used mainly among pack members. Those in the tribe that were not in the pack rarely used the terminology.

Doc’s hairline lifted with his brow. Yeah, bitch, that’s me. I remembered vaguely Elodie and I talked about him. It wasn’t a long talk because I didn’t care. Her past relationships were not of interest to me since I was her present and future.

“Oh, your mate.” He extended his hand to me, but it was obvious that he would rather not. “My name is Dr. Dyami Mato. I’m a surgeon here.”

I guess he wanted to have a dick swinging contest.

I snickered when Mr. Summerville muttered, “ He does,” under his breath. Yeah, I liked Elodie’s father because he was with the shits. I accepted the good doctor’s hand.

“It’s nice to meet you. I’m Orion Leventis, owner of Leventis International Marketing Firm and Elodie’s mate.”

I needed him to remember that. It was crazy because I’ve had girlfriends in the past, but I’d never felt like I would kill behind them. Elodie was a different story. I would slaughter everyone for her without remorse or hesitation.

Mrs. Summerville, who had been quiet since we arrived, cleared her throat.

“Dr. Mato, do you have an update for us?” Her question was seeped with annoyance.

“Yes, ma’am. I do.” Dr. Mato’s smile was wide.

“We got your latest test results back, and everything looks good. The surgery was successful with taking care of the blockage that affected your heart. Since Miss Elodie has graced us with her presence, I think I’ll go ahead and get your discharge papers together for release today.

Now, that will come with instruction for your care and seeing your primary care physician.

I’m sure these lovely women will take good care of you. ”

Mr. Summerville smiled. “Yes, they will. They, plus my son-in-law, will make sure that I am squared away.”

That’s what the hell I’m talking about, Mr. Summerville. Be with the shits.

It was weird but refreshing that my woman’s father could read my mind. I didn’t have the gift to telepathically speak with wolves, but his gift somehow made me feel included. He winked at me to let me know that he had my back.

Dyami looked uncomfortable as hell. Elodie turned into me, then wrapped her arms around my waist.

“That is amazing news, and yes, we will take good care of my dad. Thank you, Dr. Mato.”

He showcased a goofy ass smile. “Elodie, you don’t have to be so formal. I think our history is deeper than that,” this bitch boy boldly said.

When he reached his hand out to touch her, my hand gripped his wrist.

“Nah, homeboy, this ain’t that.”

I had to pull out my AAVE on his ass because what?

“I know you heard both myself and Elodie say that I was her mate. My pops clearly indicated that I was his son-in-law. What makes you feel safe enough to touch her?”

Yeah, he was Pops.

His jaw tightened. He wanted to say something, but Mrs. Summerville spoke before he could respond.

“Dyami, please get my husband’s discharge papers prepared so we can leave. I would like to get him comfortable before I start dinner.”

Dinner! There was a ton of lunch left over, and she was still going to cook dinner? Dyami nodded before he pivoted on his heel, pulled the door open hard, and stormed out.

“That was unprofessional,” I quipped.

Elodie’s mother helped her father sit up. He laughed when he was in the position that he wanted to be in.

“Very unprofessional, but considering who he claimed is the one that got away is back with a mate, it’s understandable,” her father said.

Elodie’s body pulled away from mine, but I wasn’t ready to let her go. She gazed at me for a second before she tightened her hold on me again.

“Daddy, how am I the one who got away when, what was her name, Kai, was pregnant with his child when I left for college? You have got to be kidding me.”

Her mother tittered. “What does one have to do with the other? Men always want what they can’t have or are about to lose.

” She side eyed her husband. “I remember a certain man who almost lost me because he was too busy smiling in Odina Walker’s face.

He fell in line really fast when I decided to go to the movies with Derrick Ronald. ”

My father rolled his eyes. “I told you, Mary. She asked me to get something off of her dress. You know that I only had eyes for you back then and now.”

I laughed because Mrs. Summerville looked at him like she knew better.

When Elodie covered her ears, I laughed harder.

Her parents must have been mind speaking and forgot to exclude her from the conversation.

My baby’s face was torn up. Elodie told them that we were going to step out so he could get dressed.

She grabbed my arm and tried to drag me out of the room.

When we were outside of the room, I leaned against the wall before I pulled her into me. I ducked my head down so she could reach my lips.

“I love you, Elodie. You got these men in Sedona about to get their asses whupped.”

She giggled. “I don’t have anything. I haven’t thought about that man since I left to go to college. Trust me. Another man has my mind, heart, and body.”

I smacked her ass. Every time I did that, her cheeks turned a light shade of pink.

“I fucking better.”

We turned to the sound of someone clearing their voice. This fucka. Dyami looked like he was 100 percent Native American.

“It looks like you two have a loving relationship.”

“How is Kai? What did you guys end up having?” Elodie asked him with a turned-up lip. I wasn’t sure if she asked to be petty or if she was in her feelings.

He shifted on his feet, then put the folder that was in his hands behind his back.

“Um, Kai and I had a little girl. I assume she is fine. She moved out of state, and we co-parent my daughter. I haven’t been blessed to find my mate since the one that I thought was mine left without notice.”

My back lifted off the wall, but Elodie didn’t let go of my waist. She knew what it was.

“Dyami, that’s the second time. You’re in the best place for medical assistance or the morgue, which I’m sure is downstairs.”