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She nodded and then gave an inch, saying that it was normal for people to interrupt when things were heated or they were excited. She just needed the consideration when there were issues.

And I was proud of her for saying that. I wished I could articulate my needs that well. It clearly had taken a lot for her to say that too.

Which was why I moved to sit next to her, sliding my arm around her and kissing her hair. “I’m on your side. Even when it’s on the side against me because I’m being a butthead.”

“Stupid butthead,” she mumbled… But didn’t push me away.

We talked a bit more and my wolf seemed settled that she believed me but wasn’t accepting things were okay. She said as much and that she needed some time to process after this was all blown way out of proportion.

“Can I ask why you didn’t tell me about Mandy?” I hedged, still needing to know that.

She gave me a tired look. “I only found out at the end of work the day before. I was going to tell you, but someone made me completely forget everything else and I didn’t think she’d be so stupidly bold to pull something the next morning .

Of course I would have told you if I’d known there was a clock on it.

I figured oops, we had fun instead and I’d tell you at lunch. ”

Fair enough. Yeah, that was more than fair.

“Is it a mess with your pack?” she asked as we cleaned up the containers and stored stuff in her fridge.

“My parents are trying to keep most of it from me because they’re worried I could feel guilty or still have lingering feelings for her,” I answered honestly.

“It’s really not like that. My feelings for her died hard a long time ago when I realized I was just an investment to her—a way to move up in the pack and her station. ”

“Yeah, everything changes when you realize you’re being used like that. Others can’t always understand that.”

I realized I needed to be honest with her when I was pushing for it as well.

“I overheard some of what happened today. The guards weren’t gossiping.

My hearing is just that good and they were warning a newbie that while the hospital gossips, never about your situation and how you help vampires like that. ”

“Because I was once in that situation,” she finished for me.

She sighed when I didn’t say anything and turned off the water before wiping her hands on the towel longer than needed.

“I was never mated but yes, my parents tried to force me into a few to benefit them. It’s way more complicated than that and I ask you leave it be. ”

“Of course. I just wanted—I didn’t want…

” I let out an even longer breath. “I don’t want lies between us.

Not telling each other things yet or—it gets my pup head tied up.

Keeping things from each other seems like secrets and lying but I get it.

Mandy was a mix because I needed to know too and it involved me. Your stuff is yours.”

“Yes, and I am sorry you found out like that.” She snorted.

“I’m sorry it blew up and hurt you but shit, it was the cleanest break to get the board out that I hadn’t seen coming.

So I almost want to thank the slutbag. I mean she can’t fuck with you again either since she’s going to lose her license and be in prison for a while. ”

Yeah, that was more than fair.

“I’m sorry you had to run from your family,” I told her after a moment. “Even with our messed up dynamic, I still had people to turn to and get help from. I’ve never completely been on my own and had to run. I cannot imagine how terrifying that was for you.”

She looked a bit too haunted as she stared off in the distance.

“Thank you, but I’m also glad it happened.

A lot of good things wouldn’t have come about in this world if I hadn’t experienced what I did.

” She cleared her throat and finished up around the kitchen.

“As someone you declared smarter than you, I have some advice if you’re open to it. ”

“Always,” I accepted. “From you? Always.”

She seemed to truly hear me that I meant it and relaxed.

“You said you had your mates who helped you and you truly trusted. Money man and an attorney—a few others. All successful and from big families in the pack.” She waited until I nodded.

“Form an LLC with them here and that is how you invest with your sister for this Miami project.

“She might be willing to fuck you over, but could she handle the pressure of other predominant families being upset with her in your parent’s pack?

” She smirked when I blinked at her. “Always hedge your bets, darling. I know people are judging us for the board mess, but it was a needed evil to get to this point. One we knew we could get out of. Do the same.”

“That’s perfect. Thanks, Ellie.”

“Of course.” She cleared her throat, and I took the hint.

“I should go,” I mumbled, wanting to stay more than anything.

She reached out and grabbed my forearm when I went to walk by, not looking up at me but focused on the counter. “I don’t know if this is okay to ask, but I’m going to anyways.”

“Please do,” I whispered, leaning into her.

“We’re not okay—I mean, I think we’re going to be okay. This seems like a smaller hiccup that I just need to feel you really mucked up and it’s not—I think we’re going to be okay. Just not yet.”

“I’m sorry I hurt you and fucked up.” I leaned in and kissed her hair, unsure of what else to do or what she was asking for.

She moved closer, so I took it as doing the right thing. “Please stay. Nothing funny or naughty. I just don’t want to be alone, and everything has been so—you made this so much harder on me by making me feel like discarded trash because I didn’t behave how you wanted.”

My heart hurt. It was like a kick to the groin to hear her say that. “I’m so sorry, love. I didn’t feel that at all. It was my stupid pup head.” I hugged her tightly and relief filled me when she snuggled closer. I could just about feel her exhaustion.

Which was why I wasn’t too surprised when I realized she’d fallen asleep against me.

I carried her to bed and got her all tucked in, making sure to dry her hair a bit even. I made sure everything was how it should be in the condo and it was all locked up before joining her. I simply held her and slept.

And it was exactly what I needed. It was perfect.

Fuck, I’d missed her. I’d been such a duffer to risk this and make such a fuss out of everything. She could be a doctor or an alien or—I didn’t care.

I just wanted her to be my Ellie.

She let me kiss her good morning, but that was it. She seemed hesitant and cut me a few looks as she walked me out.

And that made me nervous.

Very nervous.

Which was how I forgot my parents were coming for their physicals.

And that I’d done something the night before that I needed to tell them about.

Shit. Shit… And double shit.

Luckily, I came across Dr. Carpenter on the way to go meet up with them. “I need a favor and it will help Ellie, so you’re not telling me no.”

“You’re getting a bit too bold there, kid, and it’s annoying me,” he grumbled but sighed. “The guy you mauled last night. I was just informed the Alpha of London is here for his physical. I assume you didn’t tell your parents.”

“No, I made up with Ellie and—” I sighed when he growled. “Not like that. I don’t even know if we’re good. She’s going through something and obviously is having trouble sleeping but—”

He grabbed my arm rougher than I would have expected and forced me to face him. “Her insomnia is back?”

I blinked at him. “I don’t know. She didn’t tell me. She fell asleep hugging me after we talked.” Hope filled me. “Is that the weird looks she was giving me this morning?”

He studied me a moment. “I might stop being annoyed with you if you can help her sleep and—did she have any nightmares? She normally has nightmares after a case like yesterday and when she has to save a vampire.”

I slowly shook my head. “She didn’t stir once. I was holding her. I would have woken—I woke when she got up before her alarm. That was it.”

“Fuck, fine, okay, you can have her if you aren’t an idiot. She hid from Fitz when she was upset. If she can turn to you—fine, let’s go help you so you can help her. We need her,” he grumbled and dragged me along.

What was in Ellie’s past that was seriously so bad?

I knew I wouldn’t get the answer, but of course it would worry me.

Dr. Carpenter was perfect and laid it on thick that of course such a respected Alpha would have a son who was a protector. That the guards were impressed how strong I was and how fast I’d handled the situation to keep everyone safe.

But Mum saw through the bluster and was focused on me. “Is that all that is wrong, Ha-joon?”

I dropped the act for a second and met her worried gaze.

“I didn’t think I was such a pup and knew all the ugliness in our world.

I thought this ugliness was in our past—that we’d evolved past treating women this way.

Not just the patient and her daughter, but hearing that man speak to Ms. Reed like—pulling a gun on her—it was hard to hold back. ”

Dr. Carpenter didn’t hide his shock before reaching over and rubbing my shoulder.

“You did good, kid. Really. I know Ellie would have handled it all on her own, but she shouldn’t always have to.

We should be a family who protects each other.

We’ll protect you next when they try to use it against you.

The guards already submitted everything to the police and—”

“I know it’s not standard, but I would like to be looped in,” Father said quietly. “He hasn’t even met with the Atlanta Alpha yet, only my mate. Things have been too busy for Ha-joon, and I don’t want this to negatively affect his life here when it is the life he has always wanted.”

“I won’t allow that, Alpha,” Dr. Carpenter promised.

“Your son is an amazing doctor and asset to this hospital. And I’m not one to give praise easily.

None of our department heads, but they all have praised him.

He jumps in and doesn’t have the ego any of us with his talent would.

Myself included. We protect ours, but I will ask Dr. James to speak with the Alpha. ”

“Thank you, truly,” Father accepted before giving me a sad look. “I’m sorry that your name hinders you again.”

“Da, it’s not like that,” I said quietly. “Thank you for not holding me back to fit the form of what most would want from an Alpha family member. That’s why I know I’m so loved. Really.”

Relief flashed in his eyes, but then he was back to being Alpha and smoothly handled Dr. Carpenter as well. He took a quick tour of my practice before we got started on their physicals. Mum was having hers with Dr. Tai—for obvious reasons—but Da was with me.

He made jokes about not sticking my finger in his ass like the humans had to do for prostate exams. My staff shared glances like they didn’t know if they could laugh or not but lightened up a bit when I chuckled.

My father tried hard to set people at ease so they didn’t get anxious being around Alphas.

Sometimes he just missed the mark.

Others wanted that fear or worry people had being around them but not my parents. They were Alphas who understood that pack was family, and while sometimes that meant tough love… It was all supposed to be founded in love.

I slipped some extra questions in the normal physical ones because I had suspected a few things with my father after the visit. Luck was on my side because his phone was going nonstop and I told him it was fine to answer texts while answering my questions.

Which was how I got him to slip up and admit what was really bugging him.

“My eldest isn’t remotely ready to take over the pack and he thinks he is and I don’t know how to handle it,” he muttered absently.

“Others want me to believe he is, but I’d be setting him up to fail.

They know things would be more lax under him and maybe…

” He blinked at his phone and slowly looked up at me with horror.

“Da, someone who loves you should know this, and I can help,” I said gently as I squatted down in front of him.

Tears burned in his eyes. “I’ve already failed you as a father. I always thought it was petty or a slip of madness when he was young. Seeing it so clearly with your visit when you hadn’t been home regularly was—we failed you as parents—I have and—”

I pulled him to stand and hugged him. “Da, ya did the best ya could. I never doubted that. This is them . They should have done better. He should have.”

“I didn’t raise him right. My da told me I wasn’t ready and kicked me out to find my way and I did. He raised me right so when I slipped, that would work. It won’t work with your brother and—”

“Grandpa didn’t lead a pack out in the open,” I argued. “Even he has said your job—our lives are that much harder now being the Alpha family. It’s easier for everyone else but us.”

And that was ridiculously apparent from the test results of my father’s physical. If he didn’t get a grip on his stress and health, he wasn’t going to be around as long as he should be.

So what I would do next wasn’t just for him, but our family.

Even if they didn’t deserve it from me.