Monroe was waiting for us with a lot more people than I’d expected… And about two dozen people I’d never seen before. He nodded when I growled.
“I didn’t agree to a circus. This is like sixty people.”
“I know, and I’m sorry, but you are maybe one offivemale red lions left that we know of and you were bound for so long,” he said gently. “I swear this is for—you know you have to teach the cubs. You did so as an attorney.”
I sighed. Heavily.
“I’m interested as a doctor too,” Ha-joon admitted. We’d spent some time together and I actually respected him and Ellie now even if she irked me sometimes. I fully understood that her trauma couldn’t make her see clearly. And Aurora was the culprit ofsomeof it.
But at least she was starting to understand that. He was a good guy though and understood things weren’t always how they seemed, so he wasn’t quick to judge me either.
“Just give me the damn towel so I don’t upset Aurora,” I grumbled as I took off my shirt. I knew they wanted me to shift so they could do their thing. My lion lurched inside of me and I let out a slow breath. “Some people need to check themselves. We’re not a pet or my lion is going to act out.”
“I agree,” Ha-joon said darkly, staring down a few people. “The attitude of some—this isn’t his penance for—you aren’t here to judge him. You’re coming in late to a complicated situation. Check your egos and judgments or leave.”
Aurora was immediately there to help me, smiling up at me. “I brought the burgers he likes. And I went to that farm Alexis recommended and got him some nice, butchered duck.”
I chuckled, leaning in and kissing her hair. “He loves when you feed him, beauty.”
“This is going to be a serious problem,” someone grumbled.
I turned just in time to see the person gesturing between the two of us and snarled loudly.
“What did Dr. Clark just say?” Monroe snapped.
“No, I’m sorry, but—he’s one of a few left and she’s infertile,” the guy pushed, doubling down. “The news was talking about it and—”
“How dare you challenge me when I was kind in letting you learn?” Monroe bellowed in a way that made all the magics cower. I didn’t like it, but it seemed to do something to their magic that translated to hurting them physically.
I was upset for Aurora, but she had a completely different response, moving in front of me protectively.
“I did not take those interviews and deal with all of this judgment just so we can turn things around from demeaning women as broodmares to men being stud horses. Whoever is here in the interest of learning about Creed and hispotentialto sire more red lion shifters, you are not welcome.” She immediately looked to Ha-joon.
And even I could register the steam coming out of his ears. He pointed to several and gestured towards the door.
“Wow, no good deed really goes unpunished,” I chuckled darkly, sickened when a dozen left.
“Don’t worry, cub,” Monroe said quietly. “This was my miscalculation and I will handle it. They won’t remember what you are or their interest.” He sighed when I shot him a disbelieving look. “It’s why I don’t confer with others much,but every so often I take the chance and hope society has progressed.”
“And you normally find?” Aurora checked.
He met her gaze and looked tired. “Disappointment.”
“Yes, I find the same,” she admitted before giving me the best smile she could.
I wasn’t as old as her—and neither of us were remotely close to Monroe—but I also found the same. It was why I didn’t even try… Except with Aurora, and so far I didn’t regret that.
One instance didn’t make an argument though. It was an anomaly.
I wrapped the provided towel around my waist and stripped the rest off, noticing the way Aurora blushed as she looked away. I didn’t mean to be a cad, but things were progressing in that way too. She seemed… Interested.
I’d talked to her trauma shrink a few times and she gave me warnings and triggers to watch out for, but also explained that while Aurora was extremely and repeatedly abused, nothing had happened for centuries. She’d been safe and she wasn’t scared to sleep worrying Kenneth would wake her to rape her. She didn’t look for an elder around every corner.
It was more the acceptance, exploring, and once we were intimate that could bring up her past horrors. I promised to do my best with all of it and not pressure or force her.
I was pretty sure I’d proven that given it had been months now and that one kiss I’d apologized for was all we’d had. I wasn’t complaining, and I would be as patient as Aurora needed, but… It was difficult when I wanted her.
I shifted and promised my lion this was all to help us. He didn’t care as long as Aurora was there fucking paying attention to him. He was like a damn kitten rubbing against her forgetting his size and almost knocking her over.
