“Are we?” Elijah asked her, raising one of his brows from where he was standing by the window, busy on his phone. I knew he was handling the search for now, telling me to take a break, not that the fucker took a break himself.
“Aren’t we?”
I glanced at her, her eyes a little too suspiciously wide as she stared at her dad, looking like a fucking puppy. Azura Rayne Westwood; she may be known to the world as Elijah and Scarlett’s daughter, but she was really the daughter of Indigo, Scarlett’s biological sister, who died eight years ago. The pup had almost died, too. If one of their relatives with witch heritage hadn’t performed a spell, sacrificing her own life to place the unborn pup into Scarlett’s womb, she would have.
Indigo had been mated to a man from my pack… one who was fiercely loyal and efficient, yet he had been abusive. Right under my nose, and I had missed it. Yeah, I knew he was a fucking shit show, but Indigo still refused to leave him, but I had missed all the abuse. It had reduced Indigo to a shell of the woman she had once been. Looking at her daughter, I saw the same fire in her that the young Indigo once had, and I hoped it remained. Indigo had always had Elijah wrapped around her finger from when she was a fucking pup, and her daughter sure was the same.
“I’ll order it,” he finished.
I didn’t miss her victorious smile as she winked at Skyla.Right, so Lucifer incarnate had a say.Speaking of, she turned to me, giving me a devilish smile.
“Is everything okay, Daddy?”
“Yeah, sure is.”
Scarlett entered with my little girl looking normal, not a bruise or a speck of dirt on her, but we all fucking knew the unseen effects remained.
“Kataleya! Look what I set up.” Skyla pointed to the dollhouse, brushing her hair back from her face. She usually didn’t play with dolls often. Everyone fucking knew it was an act of kindness towards her sister. Kataleya smiled as Azura jumped up.
“Come on, Kat, let’s play,” she stated, walking over to my pup and taking her hand confidently.
“Girls are so loud,” Dante added, shaking his head.
“Dante, be nice because I’m trying to be nice,” Skyla shot back, narrowing her eyes.
“Play nice, children. So, I heard we are having pizza?” Scarlett raised an eyebrow, walking over to Elijah and tugging him down for a kiss. I stood up.
“Mind staying with the pups? I’m going to go have a smoke,” I remarked.
She nodded, although the look in her fucking eyes was almost as if she knew where I wanted to go, or more like needed to. Kiara was my real addiction, and I needed her to feel fucking sane. The guilt inside of me was only growing, and I needed a dose of Kiara before I saw my princess’ medical report.
I walked through the hall and up the stairs, heading to my bedroom. I opened the door, her scent hitting me like a strong dose of nicotine. Serena and Kevin were both in the room.
“Alpha,” Kevin said, politely lowering his head. I gave a curt nod before looking at Kiara.
“Excuse us,” Serena murmured as they left the room. The door shut behind them with a click.
I looked down at Kiara, the clear cut along her head still vivid, although the blood had stopped flowing. The blanket was draped over her, pulled up to her chest, and her plump, kissable lips were slightly parted. I walked over to her and sat down on the bed.
“Fuck, Amore Mio…”
I ran my hand tenderly through her hair, making sure not to pull at it. Despite it being cleaned up, there were still traces of dry blood that remained, making her hair stick together. The sparks of the bond danced along my hand and arm. I closed my eyes, inhaling her intoxicating scent that overpowered the distinct scent of whatever the doctor had used to clean her wounds.
“You found her… protected her, and I didn’t even get there in time to protect you,” I murmured quietly.
I knew she wouldn’t blame me, and I was still fucking pissed that she went alone, but I also knew she was the one who had found her, the reason our angel was back with us, and that she was capable… but still.
Pretty fucking useless; that was how I fucking felt… I couldn’t even protect my family.
On top of that, times had fucking changed. There was a time I would have found the bastard behind this and killed him slowly and fucking painfully. I would have kept going, not caring for anything but to reach my goal. But now, I had priorities and responsibilities, to make sure my family was safe, and as much as I wanted to get the fuck out there and find the fucker, I couldn’t go and leave any of them behind. Kiara in this state, although the doctor said she’d be awake soon, Dante… Kat… even Sky, who, although she was acting like she was okay, was fucking affected by everything that had happened.
I leaned down, a few strands of my hair brushing her face as I touched my forehead to hers ever so lightly, not wanting to hurt her. The sparks between us danced across my skin.
I fucking love you, Amore Mio… so fucking much.I moved back slightly, my nose brushing hers before I kissed her deeply.
“Wake up, so I can fucking punish you in the best fucking way for running off,” I smirked, running my fingers through my hair, pushing it back, and standing up.
Time to go see my girl’s reports…I walked past the dresser, spotting Kiara’s wedding rings. I picked them up, and glanced towards the bed, my chest constricting at the memory of how we had parted that day. I placedthem down before I left the room, glancing at Kevin and Serena.
