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Ha-joon

I just didn’t want her to regret it or change her mind.

She didn’t seem to, but was clearly embarrassed by all of the whispers and attention. So, I did the right thing as her lover and got her out of there. She gave me a kiss in thanks and mumbled about hoping the flies around me got better so she didn’t get arrested for mauling one of them.

No, but I wanted to thank the annoying twats that they were useful in getting Ellie to open up to me. I was pleased with myself for being patient with them and not snapping at them to get fucking lives now that it all turned out well.

Or so I thought.

I decided to swing by Ellie’s office to see if she wanted to go out to lunch now that we could since I hadn’t heard from her all morning. I frowned when I was informed she was out and it might be for the rest of the day.

What now?

A million things rushed through my mind. Had she changed her mind? Had the whispers and drama gotten to her? Had people harassed her?

Instead, I asked the obvious question. “Is she okay?”

“I’m not at liberty to say,” her head admin muttered as she wrote something down.

“I was simply informed that Mrs. Reed was at your condo building and refused to leave until she had a meeting with Ms. Reed. She asked me to set something up away from all of the gossip.” She slid the paper across the desk to me. “Please make sure I don’t get fired.”

“You won’t,” I told her, hoping I wasn’t lying.

She nodded and took her hand off the paper and lowered her voice. “Ellie’s amazing. I’d never gossip, but I can see in your aura how much you truly care for her. I’m worried. I don’t know if she can take one more hit right now.” She swallowed loudly. “I don’t know how she’s handling it all.”

I didn’t either. I took the paper with a thank-you and was gone. I raced out of there and was glad that the place was close.

I acted like a git barging into the private dining room after seeing the sign pointing where it was and not even asking the staff. There could have been a few of them or—I was just worried.

Luckily, it was the right place, but Ellie wasn’t happy that I was trying to protect her. Even worse?

She was going to help the monster who had fucked Ellie and her actual mother over. I couldn’t even hide how fucked in the head that sounded, but I truly did my best never to judge and be neutral.

“I know, I know,” Ellie sighed. “It’s beyond complicated and—”

“I’m not asking for help, Ellie,” the woman whispered. “I may ask you move the very intimidating Alpha further from me since I have no experience being around shifters and his power is terrifying. He listened to you fast and—I would never doubt you but—”

“I would never hurt her,” I snapped but still took several steps away from the woman. If she wasn’t used to shifters, what I unleashed on her would have fucked with her system even from what I’d heard vampires say.

Ellie moved her hand to my arm but kept the woman’s gaze. “I was in an emotionally abusive relationship when I met Ha-joon. He was the one who helped me see that and I deserved better. Yes, he’s big and powerful and scary but never with me. Never like Kenneth.” She snorted. “He’s a pup with me.”

“I’m not a kid with you,” I grumbled. “I think I prefer the golden retriever thing more than feeling like a kid when I like you naked in my bed.”

“Fair. Very fair,” Ellie quickly agreed.

“I just tease you that you’re a pup.” She moved her hand down my arm to take my hand.

She took in a slow breath and then let it out.

“I won’t get pissed at whoever snuck you the information where I was so you could storm in here instead of just calling, and you’ll chill out and let me explain tonight, okay? ”

I leaned in and kissed her hair. “I will always back you and hear you out. You don’t need to make deals with me on that, my sweet kimchi. I just—you took—last week was…”

“Yeah,” she agreed before looking up at me. “She’s here now because her family finally released her. They’ve kept her captive in the hopes of reselling her after Kenneth lost the coven.”

I cursed in several combinations. Mostly because that was illegal for a list of reasons, and—Ellie could never ignore any of that.

I kissed her hair again and moved behind her, supporting her to do her thing. She squeezed my hand, and I took it in thanks that I was being a good partner. Maybe that she saw me as one?

Hell, I’d take a gold star I was so into Ellie.

“I won’t force you to do anything, and I’m sorry for slipping truth potion into your drink,” Ellie said to her stepmother. She nodded when I went tense. “I shouldn’t have done that and—”

“Stop apologizing to me,” the woman said as she slowly stood, shooting me a quick glance before focusing back on Ellie.

“I will do whatever you want. I didn’t come here for help but as I said, I knew you’d offer it.

More than that, you clearly want something from me.

More answers and yes, we need to talk more. Tell me what you want.”

Ellie was quiet, and I realized her mind wasn’t keeping up with all of this as fast as I’d thought or she had acted.

I kissed her hair. “How about the guest room at my condo? I stay with you mostly anyways and that way we know she’s safe in the building.”

“Do you mind?” Ellie asked softly. “I wanted to be—”

Stronger. That was what she was about to say, but I turned her and hugged her to me, kissing her hair yet again and then her cheek.

“You’ve got enough people to save and fires to put out, Superwoman.

Mum set up my guestroom, so it’s great. I’ll handle it and get back to work.

Are you okay to drive back to the hospital? ”

“Yes, of course.” She gave me a soft kiss. “Thank you, Ha-joon.” She stepped away and opened her mouth but then closed it, seeming at a loss again.

I went over to the woman and extended my hand. “I’m Dr. Ha-joon Clark, youngest son of Alpha Clark of the London wolves, one of ASH’s Shifter Health and Wellness attendings.”

She studied me a moment. “And my stepdaughter’s lover. Long-time?”

“That’s for her to answer however she wants or if she wants to at all when you’ve been estranged,” I said after a few moments, giving Ellie time to answer first.

“As you wish, Dr. Clark.” She extended her hand to me.

“Aurora Reed, formerly Aurora Graves, though it was made abundantly clear to me that I’m not allowed to take that name again even if I’m able to detangle myself from Kenneth.

I’m sorry for putting you out, and I thank you for making this easier on Ellie if she’s going to insist on helping me. ”

I was honestly impressed that the woman was clearly terrified of me but was going with the flow to not upset Ellie.

What the fuck had really happened and was going on?

Seriously? This wasn’t the evil stepmother I’d built in my head.

I made sure Ellie settled everything with the restaurant, was stable in her SUV, and on her way before getting Aurora situated. I glanced at her when she let out a chuckle.

“Sorry.”

“I just didn’t understand what’s amusing,” I muttered, focusing back on the road.

“I’ve just barely been anywhere in my hundreds of years.

Either my family’s castle or my mate’s. The trip between them was the longest time I spent in the world and it was with armed guards and no freedom.

In carriages on weeks-long journeys. Now I’ve been tossed out and on a separate continent and it’s funny that I started at her condo—”

“And you’re going right back,” I muttered. “I get it.”

“My mind is a terrifying place, and I’m in as much of reeling shock at Kenneth’s arrest and someone finally holding him accountable as Ellie must be.

” She snorted. “Maybe more so.” She studied me.

“Would Ellie be happy if I helped the investigations? I don’t know of how much help I could be, and most is probably not current, but I do know how my husband thinks. ”

“You’ll have to ask her,” I said firmly, not about to stick my nose in such matters.

“Yes, of course. I was asking for your opinion, Dr. Clark, not your permission for Ellie,” she whispered and looked back out the window.

“I was asking if you thought it would hurt her to stir things up more than help her. I can leave it all be or try to—I didn’t come here to hurt Ellie.

There were things she needed to know. Truths she needed if she could ever leave the past… ”

“Yeah, not sure it’s something she can ever fully leave behind her,” I said, trying my best to keep the sarcasm out of my tone but clearly some of it leaked in.

“Heal from it as best as possible then,” Aurora corrected.

“Even if some of the answers won’t give her much help.

At least they are answers instead of… I never thought it would be this long until I saw her again.

I never—this wasn’t the plan. I thought I would get them free and follow after a decade. ”

She sniffled and wiped under her eyes, mumbling that it was for the best given how Ellie had thrived… And that she deserved no less for her sins.

Yeah, okay, so definitely not the evil stepmom I’d been picturing.

She was like a curious kid as we went through the drive-thru but also overwhelmed at the idea of ordering for herself. I picked several things, a few that worked for now warm and other options she could have cold from the fridge later.

Aurora promised to stay in the condo and seemed amused when I checked she knew how to work the TV and whatnot. Yeah, okay, that might be overkill to have asked but… The drive-thru was normal too.

Not if you were locked up in a castle. Got it. Castle prisoners still got TVs.

How the fuck would I know that?

“Every time I blink things get weirder,” I grumbled as I got back in my vehicle and headed for the hospital.