I frowned. “Maybe that is something I need to learn more about and look into.”
“That’s a good idea and something I can absolutely help with.” Her confident smile filled me with hope and I nodded, absolutely willing to accept the help.
Of course I was. That was the whole point of therapy after all.
Creed was waiting for me outside along with my guard which surprised me. He looked crushed as he took in my state. “I hurt you, didn’t I? It really was that bad? You hated it and—”
“No, please,” I whispered and went to him. I reached up and took his face in my hands and forced him to look at me. “Thesearemy demons, Creed. You have done nothing. Please, do not take this on yourself when you are already overburdened.”
“I just want to know what to do and I’m scared to hurt you, Aurora,” he rasped as he leaned our foreheads together. “I want to give you everything and perfect and—”
“And that’s not real life,” Marie said from behind me. “You did well, Creed. Keep as you are, and your support like this will make all of the difference. It truly will.”
Again, her complete faith at the outcome, not just flowery words, soothed both of us.
“Something more happened though,” she worried after a few moments.
I did a double take and realized she was right, Creed was scared. It hit me hard. “You’re out of time. Something happened.”
He swallowed loudly. “Yes. My lion is reacting…” He looked to Marie for help.
And she swore under her breath, shocking me because she wasn’t one to use profanity. “He’s upset Aurora wasn’t more willing and thinks you abused your mate even a little bit and with your broken bond and the beingboundthing—I’m so sorry. I couldn’t have known.”
Creed gave a half shrug. “I’m a shifter and I didn’t think of this. Other shifter docs didn’t think it. Luckily, Monroe took what I said seriously and he made it clear the situation—it has to be like now.” He gave me a destroyed look. “I’m so sorry. I wanted us to have more time—we don’t—”
“Don’t you dare suggest that, Creed Maddox,” I snapped. “Especially after I trusted you enough to give you my body and heart! We will see Monroe at once and get the steps—right away.” I pressed my lips together when he blinked at me. “Move your butt!”
“You basically just confessed you loved him,” my guard muttered under her breath.
“Well, that shouldn’t be a shocker even if I’m too broken to handle it well,” I grumbled as I shoved Creed towards the door. “Creed, you are too big for me to move and not hurt. Move it!”
“Right, yeah, okay—right,” he mumbled, and for the first time wasn’t graceful, tripping over his feet even.
He was running on autopilot as we drove to where Monroe was. I didn’t even ask how he’d gotten to my appointment when I’d had our vehicle. He knew how to use the transit system and was… Normal with those things.
Or those Uber things maybe?
Either way, we were in front of Monroe faster than Creed was ready for.
“Walk us through it again, if you please,” I said bluntly. “We’re now at the moment and it was all overwhelming last time. Plus, there could be updates.”
“And now you’re more worried than ever,” he said gently, giving me a knowing look.
Yes, of course I was. My feelings for Creed were deeper and I was more invested.
“You’re right that we’ve added a few things,” one of the witches agreed. “One is a potion for you.” She gave me a sad look when I frowned. “Given Creed’s condition has progressed, we’ve agreed that—your fear and trauma could be a problem.”
“You’re not fucking drugging my mate,” Creed snarled, his lion eyes flashing instead of his human ones.
Which shocked me. I couldn’t even curb my reaction but then managed to shake out of it. “Shush, you. I’m the boss and you behave.” I ignored his hurt look and focused on the witch. “Explain please.” I swallowed loudly as she did.
Basically, they were worried his lion wouldn’t complete the mating bond if he sensed I wasn’t willing physically and wassomeone who didn’t want sex… That was too gray an area with a “wounded” lion to risk given the state Creed was in. So it wasn’t like they were going to knock me out.
That wouldn’t have worked either.
It was akin to that pot brownie, but it wasn’t guesswork for dosing. It was for my anxiety, and honestly even if I was fine with us being intimate again or wanted it, I should have had it because of the change in Creed’s condition. They all looked at me like they agreed when I said that.
Especially Creed.
