Page 4 of Ellie 3

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 isterrifying. 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 alistof 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—”

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