Chapter 214 214
Aurélie’s POV
His tongue slips into my mouth, claiming me without hesitation. My lips are dry, my body weak but he doesn’t care. Through our incomplete bond, I feel the powerful hum of his desire, strong and undeniable. Goddess help me when that bond is whole.
The kiss begins fiercely, passionately like he’s unwilling to let me go at all. Then reality seems to catch up with him. I’m in a hospital bed. Carefully, he slows, softening the kiss, turning it sensual rather than consuming.
“How are you feeling?” he asks at last, pulling back just enough to speak, his lips still brushing mine as if he’s not quite ready to release me.
“I’m fine,” I answer honestly. “Sore… but I want to see the children.”
“They’ve been terrified,” he murmurs. “We all have.” His voice drops, rough with memory. “Don’t ever do that to us again. To me.”
Before I can respond, Fabrice returns Florence right behind him. Florence pulls me into her arms without hesitation, holding me tightly as she updates me on the children. Nearby, Fabrice and Damien speak quietly about my recovery.
Fabrice would prefer I remain under hospital observation, but he admits the worst has passed. As long as I promise to rest actually rest I’m cleared for home recovery.
It takes nearly an hour before I finally convince them to take me back to Damien’s house. I need to see the children. I need to hold them.
When we arrive, warriors from both my pack and Damien’s are gathered outside the Alpha house. One by one, they offer quiet words of recovery, gratitude to the Moon Goddess for my healing.
Healed?
Is that because Damien marked me?
What I don’t expect is the silence inside the house.
As we step in, I find Dominique asleep on the sofa, sitting upright, his head resting against Maurice’s chest—Maurice himself also asleep. On the opposite couch, Théo is slumped over, fast asleep as well, while Delphine sleeps peacefully in Roland’s arms.
A low growl rumbles from Damien behind me.
I ignore it.
She’s safe. She’s four. It’s innocent they’re only children. Friends.
Not wanting to disturb them, I quietly retreat into Damien’s office, settling onto the sofa there instead.
But the moment I look around, I realize just how hard he and his team worked to find us.
The room is chaos.
Papers litter the floor. Maps cover the walls. Photographs of Gaston and Geneviève are pinned up alongside timelines and notes. Another photograph blacked out, the face completely obscured catches my attention.
What was that?
I begin gathering the papers from the floor, stacking them neatly on his desk. That’s when I see them.
Legal documents.
My name.
I skim the pages once. Then again slower this time, my heart pounding as comprehension sinks in.
“What’s this?” I ask as Damien enters with a bottle of water.
He steps behind me, resting his chin on my shoulder as his gaze drops to the desk.
“They’re legal documents,” he says calmly. “Confirming that my pack, my alliances, and all business and financial holdings transfer to you in the event of my death.”
I turn, stunned. “What? You did all this?”
Everything. Everything placed in my hands. To safeguard. To protect. Until Dominique comes of age.
The trust behind it steals my breath. He trusts me with his legacy. With his children. With everything he’s built.
“Of course,” he replies simply. Then his expression darkens. “I need to check on the rogue.”
“Wait he’s here?” I spin to face him, anger flaring hot and sharp. My earlier warmth evaporates instantly. “On pack grounds?”
“I’m handling it.”
“I want to come.”
“No.” His voice leaves no room for argument. “You rest.”
He leans down and presses a kiss to my mark. Electricity ripples through me, heat flooding my body dangerously close to traveling far lower than appropriate.
“What are you going to do?” I ask quietly.
His smile is slow. Cold.
“I’m afraid he’s about to experience the wrath of the Alpha King.”