Page 62 of Lavender and Lightning

“She’ll be—”

“She hasn’t driven since the accident, Luc. And right after a stressful encounter is not the best—”

“According to whom, Rhett. Not the best time, according to whom,” I shout over him.

He stops his pacing and looks at me with his jaw slack and eyes wide. He’s used to me talking back, but full-on shouting is not my style. But I’m frankly sick of the babying attitude Rhett’s adopted in the last few weeks. He’s treating Lydia like she’s made of spun sugar and one wrong step is going to send her scattering to the four winds. But she’s so much more than a doll to be dressed up and kept on a shelf.

“Her doctors told her she’s clear to drive again. And if she says she’s ready, then we have to believe her,” I continue, lowering my voice slightly, but not letting up on the heat.

“She could have a panic attack—”

“And if she does, then we deal with it at that point. But we can’t keep doing this to her, Rhett.”

“Doing what, exactly?”

“Acting like we know what’s best for her. If we don’t let her be herself, and think for herself, and make her own fucking decisions, then we’re no better than that piece of shit we’re trying to protect her from.”

Rhett goes silent, staggering back a step. I’ve hit a nerve and I’m just irritated enough to not care. Rhett needs to see what’s happening before it’s too late. And if he’s going to listen to anyone, it’s going to be me. He sinks down onto the sectional, and I watch as he hangs his head in his hands, breathing hard. I move on instinct, sliding up to sit beside him and put a hand on his back, rubbing in soothing circles.

“What the fuck is wrong with me, Luc?” Rhett whispers.

I blink in surprise, but don’t let my worry for him show in my body language. I’ve never seen Rhett this torn up before, and it kills me to see my alpha this way.

“I love her so fucking much, but I feel like I’m just ruining everything. I don’t know what’s gotten into me, but I can’t stop thinking that every time she’s out of my sight that it’s going to be the last time I see her,” he goes on.

The realization hits me like a dump truck. Rhett put her in her car the night of the accident. He was the last person to see her before what very well could have been a fatal accident.

“She’s okay now, Rhett. She survived, and she’s still here,” I say gently.

“But what if…”

Rhett trails off, taking a shuddering breath. I move closer, laying my head on his shoulder as I wrap my arm tightly around his back. He shakes under me, and I have to swallow the lump in my throat. My alpha has so much room in his heart, and there are so many feelings trapped there. His love for us, his anger, his drive and ambition, and his fear.

“It’s okay to be scared for her. It’s okay to want to keep her safe. There isn’t anything wrong with wanting to protect us from harm,” I start, trying to keep my voice as even as possible.

“But I don’t want to hurt her. I don’t want to become someone she fears or resents in the name of protecting her.”

I squeeze him before pressing a kiss to his shoulder. “You can see that it’s wrong. That already makes you better than them. And it’s okay to mess up and forget sometimes. You’re only human. The important thing is to try to do better in the future.”

Rhett nods and goes quiet for a long time. I keep stroking his back in the silence, letting him feel my love and support without needing to speak. After a while, Rhett leans into me, and I support his weight. His head finds its way to rest on my shoulder, and I kiss his golden hair tenderly.

“I’m sorry I’ve been acting like a total knothead,” he mumbles.

“I wouldn’t say that. Maybe just a partial knothead,” I tease gently.

He chuckles and I relax slightly. He lifts his head to look up at me with icy eyes full of emotion. The fear still dances there, but I don’t expect it’ll go away soon. I lean down and press a soft kiss to his lips, and he returns it without hesitation. My stomach does a little swoop, but Rhett has always given me butterflies. When we pull apart, he sits up to his full height before gathering me into his side.

“I love you,” he whispers into my hair.

“I love you, too. Now, who’s going to go get our girl?”

Rhett pulls away to look at me with a raised brow. “Our girl?”

I roll my eyes. “You didn’t think I’d be able to stay away from someone as adorable as Lydia, did you?” I ask, only half joking.

Rhett laughs and shakes his head. “Go get her. I’ve got work I’ve got to do on that recent donation.”

“Oh, you mean the hoarding stash?” I deadpan with a snort as I stand.

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