“Because you were a child when you were first raped,” Alexis whispered. “And yes, I’ve seen it. I know someone not at ASH even who has worked miracles with people.” She swallowed loudly. “She worked miracles withmeand now I have a healthy sexual appetite and not a day goes by that I don’t think the work I put in was worth it.”
Aurora studied Alexis for several moments. “You truly know, don’t you?”
“Yes, I do. I also know you have one question circling that seems to be holding you back. Just ask. I promise—I understand now and I will help you, doll.”
That seemed to be what Aurora needed to hear. “How do I open up to the group and not make them feel like I did Creed? Like his trauma was insignificant because it wasn’t as much as mine? It’s not worth my healing to hurt the healing of others. That’s why I can’t talk in those meetings, and I’m stuck.”
I looked over my shoulder at Ellie and Theresa, taking in their shocked expressions… And that’s why I was furious with both of them and thought they were entitled, spoiled brats.
Yes, they were wronged.
Yes, they acknowledged they could never see Aurora clearly.
But it was right in front of their fucking faces that Aurora would burn forstrangersto help them and they painted her the villain of everything and for everyone.
Which honestly made them villains in Aurora’s story too. In a way, it really did.
8
Creed
I was beyond glad when Alexis took over and Ellie not only got me the rest of the day off of work but somehow worked things out with my PO, so I was basically in her care for the weekend. Yeah, she was my babysitter then, but… I didn’t fucking care. I really didn’t.
I just couldn’t leave Aurora in the condition she was in.
And the first thing Alexis did was talk Aurora into eating a bit of a pot brownie. I was worried about her taking a downer when she was depressed enough to try for suicide… I thought we were making too light of that.
“She broke,” Alexis whispered, clearly understanding where my head was. “I would bet money it was more about her ‘shame’ embarrassing Ellie and Theresa in their very prestigious careers than her truly wanting to end her suffering. She stopped to have lunch with you to say goodbye. She immediately shut down the conversation and came to a decision.”
“She was falling on her sword to save them from the embarrassment,” I mumbled, getting what she was saying. I shook my head. “They don’t fucking deserve it.”
She sighed, ignoring when Theresa and Ellie seemed upset at what I’d said. “If you can always be perfect, you’d be the first.They went through a lot too. Did you never shit on anyone as you navigated your traumas?”
Yeah, that was fair.
“Fine, then I get to be the boss of this because I’m the one completely on her team,” I declared before focusing on Ellie. “And you’ve asked me to put a whole lot of fucking faith in you, yeah? I’ve also proven that I’m not here to shit on you either because we both know at any point I could have gone to the press and I didn’t.”
She studied me in a way that was unnerving. “Some of that was a bit of a lie and I’d like to know why since you opened that can of worms.”
I sighed, thinking that was fair, but I studied her back. She had to be wearing some sort of magical charms to know so much. She was rich enough for them after all. “I wouldn’t have for personal reasons like I got set up for shining too brightly over the Alpha’s real kids. They fully expected me to go back and be their pet lion after my sentence was up.”
“Instead, you worked your ass off in prison, got paroled way earlier than anyone expected without snitching, and moved several states away where they can’t touch you,” she muttered. “Interesting.”
Since we were being so honest. “You got one wrong there. I did snitch. Just not on them. I like living, and apparently it was a smart move since they put magic on me.”
“Yes, on the topic of magic, before we get started on your plan,” Alexis interjected and went over by Aurora. “Ellie and Theresa need to see what’s on your arm.”
“No,” she mumbled. “And Xavier hovering is unnerving me now with some of what he said.”
I shot the shifter an unfriendly look.
He took it in stride. “I have my own demons and one of them is someone I loved committing suicide. I was unkind as I told her what she would do to those left behind.”
I gave him a pass when I saw he was legit shaky.
“We’ll talk later, but you recognized what was going on and stopped her,” Ellie said quietly. “You will forever have my thanks.” She patted his shoulder and let out a slow breath after he left. “I saw a mark on your arm once above your elbow. You wouldn’t tell me what it was and hurried to cover it. Kenneth said it proved you were a bought mare.”
Aurora gave her a hurt look. “Do you always have to be so unkind? I know I have sinned against you, but I was nevercruelto you, Ellie.”
