Page 75 of Ellie 3

“Do you need more?” I worried.

“Soon,” she mumbled, rubbing her face against my hand when I touched her. “Sorry, Ha-joon. I’m really sorry. I’ll take security from now on.”

“So you were the target? Dr. Carpenter was worried and said we should come with Ha-joon,” Mum asked, her tone confused and tired.

“I was the target,” Ellie confirmed. “He was a vampire—his family is loaded and connected. I personally rescued his wife about twenty years ago and he lost everything.”

Her throat sounded rough, and I was about to ask about getting something to drink when a nurse came in with options for her. I thanked her and fretted over Ellie which she ate up, asking that I shower the blood off of her once Alan stopped being mean.

“Whatever you want, Ellie,” I whispered.

“A burger. The biggest burger and burger friends and fries,” she said with a happy sigh. “I always want that after I’m hurt like this.” She seemed to see Mum and realize she and my family were there.

Oh yeah, she got the good potions and drugs.

“Right, yes, asshole lost everything because he not only beat and raped his wife in front of his friends for fun, but she is super smart and took his family company from failing to thriving.” She focused on Mum. “In London. You probably know—”

“I recognized him after you handled him,” she confirmed. “We’ll make it clear with his family—thank you for the warning.”

Ellie seemed relieved. “Good, good. I’m sorry. I should have thought ahead about that aspect of announcing I was the founder of Amanda’s Hope. Coming out as being with Ha-joon and having you attend—I didn’t think it through. There’s going to be miles-long lines of angry vamps and old money families who now have a target. Fuckers.”

“We’ll figure it out and—no more pushing me out of the way and handling it all on your own like that, Ellie,” I whispered, tears in my voice. “I’m more durable than you and—”

“You’re not, pup,” she sighed. “You’re not and I’m sorry that I can’t promise—it’s instinct. I’ve been in too many battles and fights. It’s just—when I saw the rage and death in his aura, I reacted that—”

I hadn’t realized what she’d been about to say at first and reacted too late. I dropped the drink in my hand and moved my hand over her mouth… But was too late.

My wolf instantly alerted me of a problem, and I turned to face my family.

“Oh wow, you might have another damn psychopath,” Ellie whispered. “Why is she so fucking jealous and giddy?”

Byeol. She was seeing something in Byeol’s aura. It was the bad my wolf instantly smelled and warned me of.

“I will kill you to protect my mate,” I warned, my tone cold and deadly. I nodded when she pressed her lips together. “In a heartbeat,Sister. I love her, and I don’t even remotely respect you or think you contribute anything to the world, our pack, or this family.”

“You are such—” Byeol started to say.

“So set your phone on the bed before I stop holding back my wolf,” I instructed. I didn’t even cut a glance at my brothers when I felt their aggression go up. “Don’t. Don’t be stupid.”

“Everyone put your phones on the bed and start acting like family or leave our house, pack—all of it!” Mum yelled. She stared at each of my siblings in turn. “Sheimmediatelywarned us of a possible—possible—threat because she is a good woman and you are giddy to have something against her? Who are you? You are no child of mine if that’s how you behave.”

The others immediately did it and Byeol finally did then with a huff. She shot me a disgusted look. “I wasn’t going to text a reporter or post it to social media from her damn hospital room. I just liked that perfect Ha-joon wouldn’t have Mum and Da adoring his mate now that they know—”

“We knew she was special,” Da cut in, nodding when Byeol couldn’t hide her shock. “I knew before any of you were ever born. I met Ellie before your mother when I was sent off by your grandda. I knew she was a vampire who could do magic and was a git who tried to force her back to the pack like that would be some prize to impress my da.

“It was a stupid, misguided, andhorribleidea out of desperation and foolishness that I have regretted for hundreds of years. I scared her trying to tail her and figure out what she was—I knew.” He shot Ellie a look and then met my gaze. “I figured out a lot.”

Shit. He knew Ellie was the head of ASH. He put it together.

Okay, well, another problem for another day.

I pulled out my phone and called Alan. “Ellie made a slip in her current state. I need one of the witches you trust to lock something in my siblings’ minds for her safety.”

“Fuck all the fucking fucks today,” Alan snarled before disconnecting.

“Well, he’s having a good time,” Ellie drawled with a frown. “What did I let slip? I’m normally really good at that no matter what condition I’m in. I’m a vault.” She met my gaze and sighed. “It’s your fault. I get all gooey and let my guard down around you.”

“Aye, I’ll take the blame for it. It’s all my fault, so let me protect you.”

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