Page 50 of Bought and Shared
However, my body defies my words as I realize I can hear a high-pitched electrical hum that seems to be coming from inside my head from the shock of what I’ve just been through, and the horror of what almost happened. The sunny day begins to go dark and I feel a cold sweat break out over my body. Nausea wells up suddenly and I’m afraid I’m going to vomit.
“It’s okay. You’re safe with me, draftee. I’ll take you directly to the Colonel’s office where you’ll be most comfortable.”
Crom lifts me into his strong arms and carries me back to the officer’s barracks. When we get into the elevator, he holds me close. A low rumble in his chest lulls me into a shaky sense of calm. My body feels heavy as I snuggle against him, desperate for the comfort he provides.
When the elevator doors snap open, Crom walks swiftly down a sleek hallway. His large strides eat up the distance. When he suddenly stops, I look up.
Shifting my weight in his arms, Crom raises his fist and forcefully knocks. I hear a voice telling us to enter, and we step inside.
“Is the Colonel in?” Crom’s inquires with an edge of urgency.
I glance up to see a thin, human male with black wire-rim glasses blinking owlishly back at us. “He’s busy at the moment. If you’ll have a seat and wait-,”
Crom doesn’t listen to the delicate man. Instead, he marches beyond him and knocks on what I presume is Oren’s office door.
“Come in,” his deep voice sounds from within.
The minute we step into the room, I peek up and spot my master’s face. His nostrils flare, his lips thin, and his eyes harden to ice.
Somebody is about to be in a world of hurt.
Oren
When I hear a rough knock at my door, I set my tablet aside and call for the offending party to open it. I vaguely think about where Bryan might be when Crom enters my office with Aurora bundled in his arms.
Immediately I tense at the intimate scene. I hate everything about it. His hands on her body. Her relaxed posture as he carries her around like she’s his. Even worse, my mate looks terrified. That is something I simply can’t stand for.
I’m up and around my desk before any words can be spoken. Wresting my mate from the junior officer’s arms, I begin to purr for her. Aurora melts against my chest and relaxes noticeably once the sound begins.
“What happened? Why is she so upset?” I demand, managing to moderate my tone so that I don’t further upset the delicate creature pressed endearingly against my body.
Crom gives me a concise explanation of what has transpired. I’m so angry, I could combust. Outwardly, however, I hold it together. I can only imagine what will happen as soon as I tell Knox. I can’t promise he won’t outright kill the two men, as I myself want to do, but somehow, I manage to not act upon the ferocious urge at the moment.
Thankful for Crom’s arrival at the brutal scene, I chuck my chin in his direction. “I am more grateful to you than you’ll ever know, Lieutenant. You have my eternal gratitude. I can only imagine what could have happened had you not been performing your rounds so diligently today. Rest assured, this won’t be forgotten.”
Crom bows his head and quietly exits my office. I’m not far behind him. I need to take Aurora back to our suite where she can tell me her side of events and rest after such a harrowing ordeal.
I purr nearly the entire way there. By the time we reach our front door, she’s nearly asleep, but I can’t allow that yet. I need answers to some very important questions first.
Carrying her straight to the bedroom, I settle Aurora into my bed and pull the covers up to her chin. I note red marks on her face and have to clench the fabric in my fists to control my rage. When her trembling subsides some, I ask, “What happened, Kitten?”
A tear streaks down her pale cheek and my heart goes tumbling with it. “The two human men from the other day attacked mewhile I was walking back from the draftee services office.” Her voice is thready and weak and she suppresses a little sob as she answers. I may never recover.
Confused I ask as calmly as possible, “Why were you at the draftee services office?”
“I was told they had information about potential future careers. I was so excited, I headed over there after breakfast to see what avenues were available to me,” she explains between hiccups.
Brushing her silky ringlets away from her face, I smile. “Did anything catch your attention?” This human female already has me wrapped around her little finger. Whatever she wants, if it was within my power to give it to her, I will. No questions asked, no expense spared.
She sniffs and nods. “A few things, but I’m not sure yet. The idea of going to school, to college, is still so new to me.”
“The two soldiers were there at the office then?” I press, wanting to know how the cowardly attack was carried out. I believe it was an isolated incident, but I can’t rule out the possibility it has something to do with the bus incident.
“I’d already exited the office when they grabbed me and pulled me into an equipment shed,” Aurora reveals with a full-body shudder.
This next question is very important, though I know it will be very difficult for my mate to answer. “Did they hurt you at all, Aurora? Do you need to speak with one of our doctors?”
It had clearly been their intent, though Lieutenant Crom seemed to believe he’d entered the shed before anything devastating hadtaken place. Either way, I want to hear what Aurora has to say about it so I can provide whatever support she needs.
