Chapter Sixty Two

Chapter Sixty Two
Elliot

Everyone had slipped out quietly without me knowing, leaving the three of us in the room by ourselves. Tenderly rubbing the back of my son’s head as his eyes droop I say,

“Is there somewhere he can take a nap?”

Lincoln looks down at Cyan and gently smiles. “Yeah, follow me.” He turns around and starts heading for the stairs with me right behind him.

I didn’t need to wonder on where we were going when it was clear he was heading for his room. I was curious if he still used it now that the house was completely his. When he opens the door it felt like stepping into the past as everything about his room was exactly the same. Nothing had changed since he was fifteen years old. Still the same bed with the same covers. Trophies, ribbons and plaques were still placed on shelves with nothing newly added. The curtains were drawn to light the room, showing the backyard that still looked the same. I couldn’t help but look to the maze that held our hidden hedge that seemed to be in better shape than I remembered, telling me that Lincoln must have taken over it’s care after Han was imprisoned.

“Is this your room?” Cyan asks causing me to bring my focus back onto them.

Lincoln lowers him to the bed, takes his shoes off and undoes the covers where Cyan’s little body quickly gets under. “Yep. This is where I sleep. I grew up in this room.”

“All these belong to you?” His little voice asks in wonder as he gazes everywhere he could.

Lincoln smiles as he tucks him in with such care. “Every single last one.” Cyan once again rubs his eyes as sleep starts to take over.

“Will you stay with me?” He asks tiredly making me smile, watching Lincoln to see what he would say to that.

He leans over him and whispers, “From here on out I’ll always stay with you.” And there goes my heart. Cyan looks over to me and reaches out his hand, “Mommy.”

I quickly climb on the bed and lay right next to him as he snuggles further into the covers, closing his eyes. Lincoln watches the two of us as he sits there still holding on to his other hand, while I softly graze my fingers through his hair lulling him further into slumber like I always do when I’m home for his naps.

Lincoln eventually lays on his other side, putting his hand on his chest feeling him breathe as he sleeps. For the next ten minutes we just lay there staring at each other, not saying a word as we listen to the soft sounds of sleep from our son. It was a blessed moment I only dreamed of having. And now that it was finally here a huge weight I had been carrying all this time has finally lifted.

Lincoln mouths so he doesn’t wake Cyan, ‘We need to talk’.

I slowly nod my head, and we both carefully get off the bed. Cyan doesn’t even move and he looked so tiny in his father’s massive king size bed that protectiveness swims through me. Taking my hand Lincoln pulls me out of the room leaving the door lightly ajar.

“Toby.” He calls out in a tone that spoke authority.

A man materializes out of nowhere leaving me a bit surprised. “Yes, master Lincoln?”

“Guard this room. If the boy wakes up call me immediately.”

The man nods his head and stations on the other side of the door where he could easily see my son through the crack of the door.

I frown as he pulls me towards back to his office. “There’s a household full of people we trust Lincoln, why all the dramatics?” I ask, knowing about the threats but this seemed a bit much.

He doesn’t answer my question when he closes the door behind me and heads for his desk where everything was still thrown all over the floor from our inpatient tryst we had earlier. Blushing I start to pick up the items. Lincoln stoops down to help as he says,

“I meant what I said to Cyan, Elli. I want you both living here with me.”

My blush grew even more. To live here in this mansion…it wasn’t something I ever thought I would live inside of. Hell, I never thought I would ever be back onto its grounds but here I was doing just that.

“I agree. Once everything gets settle at home, I’ll be more than happy to pack up and bring Cyan, my dad and me here-”

“I want you to move in immediately.” He cuts me off, his voice thicker with authority.

I couldn’t help but feel pressured. Frowning in displeasure I state, “I can’t just move in like that Lin. I still have my lease at the apartment to think about. I have school and Cyan has his preschool he goes too-”

“I can pay off the lease, and you can still go to school with Tris and Cam. We can transfer Cyan into a new preschool center-”

“Don’t do that Lin. Don’t just start taking over everything again.” I couldn’t help snapping at him. I stand up placing his sticky note box on the desk facing him fully now.

“I’m not trying to just take over-” He starts to argue.

“Yes, you are.” I take a deep breath. “Lincoln, all your life you felt like you had to do everything. You forget I know you better than anyone in this entire world. I watched you for years picking up pieces that no young child should have the burden for other peoples misfortune. You did everything in your power to keep them safe, to keep everyone around you from facing hardships that would have happened without your interference. Why do you always take it upon yourself to help those in need who are capable to handle it themselves?”

He grits his teeth as I watch his jaw work in frustration. “It’s the only way I know how to be Elli. You’re right. I’ve always thought to myself that it would be better if I took the burden of others because I always believed that…”

“You deserved the punishment.” I whisper for him when he wouldn’t say the words aloud. “You always believed that you deserved the blame and guilt for something you never had control over in the first place. It’s been six years since he’s been gone Lin. When are you finally going to let things go?”

“How can I when I’ve been doing it since I could remember?” He puts down whatever object he picked up on the desk and stares at it for a moment. “Threats have been made against me and the family, Elliot. Threats I know you’re aware of.” He pulls something out of his pocket and hands it to me.

My chest tightens wondering who gave him this. I stare at the picture of Cyan and my father, the very one that was threatening my son.

“You stated you know me better than anyone in the entire world. Yet somehow you think I’m willing to let you, your father and our son back where you’re not protected? Someone obviously knows a lot more than you thought. I know they’re threatening you and Cyan because of me. There’s no other logic that makes sense otherwise.”

Damn. I didn’t want him to be aware of this since he had so much already on his plate. It had to be Tristan or Cameron or maybe both, who showed this to him. The fight leaves me. I knew he was right. We were better off staying here where we would be protected. Cyan’s safety was the most important thing to me.

“I understand you want to tie up loose ends before moving in with me. I’m asking you to please let me do it for you.” He begs, taking my hand and pulling me close to him. “If anything happens to you Elliot…if anything happens to Cyan, I’ll lose my shit.” He whispers.

His eyes turn yellow at the promise of that. I knew he would be exactly as everyone thought he was on those rumors. He’s right, if anything happens to either of us or even both of us, whoever was threatening him should be more worried about his Alpha state more than anything. Because Lincoln will definitely become the barbaric, uncontrollable, maniac Alpha the outside world has ever known.

Giving in I gently say, “Fine. We’ll do what you want. But let me make one thing clear to you Lin. You won’t be doing this alone. For once it’s time someone stands up for you and comes to your rescue. I plan to be that person a hundred times over. Don’t push me away and allow me to be there for you. Promise me that you’ll let me.” I beg right back.

I could tell he didn’t want to agree, but then his features soften. “You’re just as stubborn as I am.”

A smile replaces my frown as I lean in to kiss him. “You made me that way.” 

A/N: Important announcement on my insta!