I felt very,verysmall. “How are you adjusting to the magic? Do you feel any different?”
The hurt look she shot me like I was dense for now only thinking to ask was… Valid. I was a mess and way too selfish with her.
“I feel strange a lot,” she admitted after I found a spot in the parking garage. “I’ve heard that can be the mating bond between a different species, but also I’m still recovering from so much physical neglect. I feel…”
“Feel it more?” I checked.
“Yes, and the drive to fix it,” she said quietly as she got out.
Which was good. So why was she sad?
Because we’re ruining that progress and making her backslide. This is our fault.
“Can I hold your hand?” I asked quietly as I met up with her.
She extended it to me but then frowned as she glanced at her phone. “Ha-joon has been trying to reach you?”
I pressed my lips together but then swore, patting my pockets. “I’m so fucking all over. I have no idea where my phone even is. Gods, I need to like get it together, but it’s like my brain and my lion’s just…”
“We’ll figure this out,” she comforted when she realized this was maybe deeper than she realized. Or just because Aurora was amazing and I really didn’t deserve her.
It turned out that Ha-joon wanted to check me out in lion form first with a few other shifter doctors since I was a miracle. I sighed, but Aurora gave me a look that melted me.
“I cannot say no to you,” I mumbled as I started undressing behind the SUV.
“Me? What do I have to do with this?” she asked.
Except I didn’t know how to answer without sounding like an asshole.
“Your mate is not one to be so accommodating and lions certainly aren’t, ma’am,” one of her security who apparently pitied me explained. “This will help ASH and your—Ms. Reed. That is why Creed allows all of this crazy around him and his medical anything. For you to be happy.”
“Is this true?” Aurora asked, her tone confused.
“Yes,” I answered immediately. “Even if you’re validly upset with your daughters, you love them and want them to succeed. For Ellie, that’s ASH.” I cleared my throat and handed my clothes to her when I saw she’d come around the SUV. “I know I mess up a lot, but I would do anything to make you happy, Aurora. I promise I’ll get my shit together for you.”
I shifted before I said anything stupid and my lion was hesitant going near her.
She gasped when she realized what he was doing. He wasn’t being assuming or demanding. He was… Not being an asshole.
So basic politeness, but it was a start.
“We need to be the team, my mate,” she whispered as she gave my ear a quick scratch. But that was it.
And he was ridiculously sad that was it.However, he accepted finally it was his fault.
“Just a woman walking her lion,” Ellie joked as she joined us outside of the parking garage. She’d been a bit pushy after Aurora made it clear she wanted space. I knew it was worry for Aurora and—a lot had changed, especially after Ellie learned Aurora had lost her immortality to protect Ellie and Theresa.
Theresa was still too hesitant and—maybe she was respecting what Aurora asked for and needed. I wasn’t sure.
I couldn’t figure out my own shit, so I was the last person to start trying to decipher the emotional health of others.
Ellie wanted Aurora to go get checked out as well and some tests done. I was immediately on edge but told my lion to stuff it, especially with so many people around us. I would not embarrass Aurora or treat her like a child around others who made that mistake.
Aurora shot me a look and clearly noted my response. She took a slow breath and then looked back at Ellie. “I would feel uncomfortable being away from my mate right now given what he’s going through and allowing his care to become a circus to help teach your doctors. I will make an appointment soon that he can attend with me as we support each other that way.”
My lion was all over her, almost knocking her over as he tried to get her affection.
She chuckled and scratched his ear. “Yes, well, you’re going to tell the doctors what you think you discovered. Hopefully, they can help and make this easier on both of us.”
