Page 36

“Well, we’re just full of sunshine and glitter,” I joked after a few minutes of quiet eating where we both wallowed in darkness. I might have said more, but my phone rang from a number I didn’t know.

One from England.

“This is Ha-joon Clark,” I answered, worried who would have called me at this time. Was something wrong with my family? Were they giving me a heads-up someone was going to try and attack them?

No.

Not even close.

It was Mandy’s older brother calling from a different number than he used to have and that one I’d long since blocked.

After a couple of minutes, Ellie lost patience and grabbed the phone away from me.

“Listen here, you sorry sack of shit, your nutfuck sister killed two people because she was a shit doctor, and instead of admitting that and switching fields, she was selfish. She’s an entitled princess who has never faced consequences for her actions and I see you’re part of the problem. ”

“Who is this? Do you know who I am?” he demanded.

“You’re the murderer’s brother,” Ellie chuckled darkly. “I’m the woman who set the trap for your criminal sister after she tried to get me tossed out when she couldn’t force me to give her a position. If you call my lover again to harass him instead of accepting reality, I will come for you next.”

I watched as she hung up the call and blocked him before tossing my phone onto the table. “Feel better?”

“Yes, but I sort of want to smack you for not doing the same,” she grumbled.

“I was shocked. Some of what he said…”

“Yes, Mandy was clearly lying to her family that you were back together or whatever. Seriously, your parents need to give them a swift kick in the ass.” She had her phone in her hand before I could stop her.

Not that I would ever be stupid enough to stop her. She was on a mission.

“It could be cathartic,” she defended after sending whatever message she did that I was sure went to my mum. “Someone they can take their anger and frustration out on and do their job of protecting you for once.”

I stared at her for a full minute, shocked but not surprised that she did that—all of it. Shielded me like no one ever had. Any other relationship I’d ever had—I was the shield. I was the one who did things like she’d just done.

It was never even or a team like this.

“I love you, Ellie Reed,” I stated firmly, my heart full of everything good for her and seeing my future in front of me.

She flinched like she wasn’t ready for me to speak in the silence… Or maybe she’d been bracing to get yelled at. Either way, she blinked at her plate and glanced up at me with wide eyes.

But something beyond magical happened. Ellie Reed gave me that soft smile I’d only ever seen her give me and kids. “Me too. You.”

My breath caught in my chest. It wasn’t saying it back, but really it was. It was what she was capable of right then, and while I shouldn’t have pushed her when she cleared her throat and focused back on her food… I had to. “Yeah?”

“Have I ever lied to you?” she asked and cleared her throat yet again.

Then she snorted. “It would be more amazing if I didn’t and could hold out against your charm.

You’re like the gold standard of partners.

You make Prince Charming look like a damn slouch.

” She cleared her throat yet again and then winked at me. “I have good taste. I’m not an idiot.”

“No,” I chuckled. “No one could accuse you of that without any real brain.” I threw back my head and laughed before I was around the table and picking her up.

“Way to keep your cool, goof,” she mumbled even as she hugged me back. “You’re not mad?”

“I’m thrilled, my sweet kimchi,” I assured her quietly, running my nose along her cheek. “You say it however you’re comfortable. I feel it.” I gave her a smacking kiss before setting her back on her chair. “Does this mean I get to tattoo that you’re mine on your lush arse?”

She blinked at me for several beats. “You are so much fucking work. Really, you are.”

I just laughed and got her a new fork when I saw she’d dropped hers. I knelt next to her and held it out like it was something way more important than a fork.

“Thank you, kind sir,” she sighed as she took it. Then she gave me a quick kiss before mumbling not to let the food go cold when she’d worked so hard to make it for us.

I did as she asked and happily gobbled up everything she’d made like a complete glutton.

“You’re coming with me to the gala for Amanda’s Hope, right?” she checked, looking relieved when I nodded. “Good. I’m giving a speech now that it’s out that I’m the head of the nonprofit. I’m thinking of telling the story of Amanda—making it public.”

I froze in my next bite. “Obviously not the blood part?”

“No, not that part,” she confirmed. “I was also thinking of inviting your mom and sister. They could use a bit of good energy and the events for that charity are empowering.”

I nodded in agreement but then froze again. “Am I going to be one of the only men there?”

“No, but we can invite your whole family if you want to increase the testosterone,” she teased. “It will be mainly women, but—there are a lot of men who support what we do. Men who got out their sisters or helped their mothers when older.”

“I’ll invite my family if they can promise to behave.” I snorted. “They do well in public. We fake it well in the Clark family.”

“You are not the only ones who do that,” she comforted. “Whatever you feel is best. I know it’s last minute.” She let out a slow breath. “Theresa’s coming, and Aurora is basically running the show so…”

“You’re glad she’s jumping in and using what she knows to help others, but it’s still a lot of mental load for you,” I surmised.

“Yes. Yes , that’s what I’m feeling.” She reached for her wine. “Plus, everything with Renee—gods, what a mess. It—I’ve seen so much darkness that the idea of mating terrifies me. I don’t know if that will ever change.”

I swallowed loudly, hearing what she was trying to tell me. “I would never push you, but I do want that one day. You know that. I want pups too.”

“Soon?” she worried.

“No. I want to be at least double my age—having pups before people stop calling you pup can be dangerous for someone as powerful as I am. So far distant future.”

“But not mating will be difficult for your wolf,” she said, giving me a look not to deny it.

“He’s pretty chill compared to most Alpha’s.

Yes, he would mate you tomorrow and be done, but he cannot see you upset.

That would upset you. He understands that.

It’s more of balancing to make sure he knows we’re the only man—wolf in your life.

You should probably spoil him more. You’ve only met him once really and you were annoyed that he saved you. ”

She frowned. “We’ve long since dealt with—”

“ We have,” I corrected, gesturing between the two of us. “Have you said anything to my wolf?” I nodded when she frowned. “Shifters aren’t being dramatic when we say it’s like having another person in here, Ellie.”

She nodded. “Okay, then I’ve got some reading to do. I’ve mostly only been with warlocks, humans—”

“You’ve been with humans?” I asked, thinking most never went there before they were all shipped off.

She seemed shocked by my confusion. “That’s how most vampires got blood before we had modern abilities to bag it, Ha-joon.

I don’t know a single vampire my age that hasn’t had a list of human lovers.

I know we as a species try to glorify how we killed monsters for the better of society, but that’s not the only way we feed.

There wouldn’t be any assholes left if we did. ”

Yeah, that was more than fair.

My wolf lurched inside of me and I cleared my throat. “You did nothing wrong but—”

“Don’t bring up my past love life and be careful what we discuss while your wolf is unmated,” she surmised. “Did he hear me accept your love and respond? Can’t he sit with that for a while?”

“Does that work normally with animals even if he’s smarter than a natural one?” I countered, nodding when she sighed. “I know, I know, I’m so much damn work.”

“You are.”

“Yeah, and you’re easy,” I threw right back.

“Do you want me to be easy for you tonight?” she asked with a sexy smirk.

Yes. Yes, I did.

And she was. We had romantic naked time… After I cleaned up dinner and did the dishes.

The next morning, I set the present I’d gotten her on the table, hoping it went much better this time.

She saw it and was hesitant since I hadn’t sent her anything to approve.

“I can sneak into your closet just fine, Ellie,” I said quietly, deciding to give her a pass on this one.

“Right, of course. How silly of me,” she chuckled. She looked into the bag and did a double take. “How did you know?”

“Joyce,” I answered, deciding to be honest. I smiled as she took out the book that I’d gotten her from an author she liked. There was also a pretty pastel long wrap sweater in the style that she liked to wear at home when the weather was rainy… And whatever cold the South ever got.

She immediately tried it on and told me she loved it before giving me a kiss. Then she went over to the kitchen drawer and pulled out a small box that she handed me.

I smiled when I opened it and found it wasn’t just the Apple Watch band, but one for my bicep or ankle depending on what I was doing. There were also some protective covers and a bicep holder for my phone if my shorts didn’t have pockets. “This is perfect. I love it.”

“Good, good, if not, you can exchange it for whatever you want on Amazon,” she offered, smiling when I gave her another kiss.

Ellie really was always right. This was so much better than stockings and garters. This was calm and loving.

Though I did really want to see her in stockings and garters one day.

So sue me.