Seduced by My Childhood Sweetheart’s Brother
Chapter 197

197- Leaving and leaning

As we step outside, I’m confused to replace that I actually have no idea where we are. I really was justrunning and following the tracking spell. I don’t know how far I ran. It’s a good thing the others are hereto bring back the cars because I would be wandering all night trying to replace my way back. I’m also fairlysure that I left my phone in the car when I jumped out in a hurry. Kiara clutches my hand tightly as thecars pull up on the street in front of us.

“Megan, Darrien. You stay here and speak to the police when they arrive. Direct further questions tome. Shaun, you stay with them too.” Bellamy directs as Shaun hops out the car. At Megan’s insistencehe stays a good couple of metres away from us.

“Yes Alpha Kane.” He responds cheerfully. Aaron and Rio also climb out of the vehicles. Rio stops tochat with one of the other Shifters whose name I still don’t know. Aaron immediately approaches me.Actually a better way to phrase it is that he storms over. He looks almost angry. Or at least as angry ashe ever looks. Is he avoiding looking at me straight on? Darn it. He IS upset with me. I guess he didn’tappreciate being ordered out of the room. But the place was on FIRE. There was no point in both of usbeing there. I expected him to march right up to me, but with a glance at Kiara he stops a fair distanceaway and then just stands there, ramrod straight back and arms crossed over his chest. Yeah… I’mgoing to have to do something about him. Megan and Shaun have moved on to comforting the Shifterwoman who was being held hostage at the house. I call out to Megan.

“Megs? Make sure she has somewhere safe to stay.” I remind her. Megan gives a casual wave as ifshe had already considered that. The Shifter woman sends a watery smile my way. She’s not had agreat night and now half of her home is burned up.

“Kiara? Can I sit you in the back seat of my car so I can get dressed? We can put the heater on foryou?” Bellamy suggests gently. She turns to look at me and I nod.

“I’ll come sit with you.” I promise. She nods her consent and Bellamy carefully lowers her into the backseat of the black car. She slides along the seat to ball herself up against the far side car door and Imove with her placing myself in the middle seat. Kiara moves from against the car door and insteadplasters herself to my side. Bellamy steps away and grabs something from the boot of the car, newclothes I assume. When he returns, he looks a little odd. His face and arms are absolutely filthy withash and soot, but his blue shirt and black track pants are immaculately clean. They look very out ofplace. Ugh, we all need to get cleaned up. Every single one of us is a mess, although Kiara is definitelythe worst. She looks like she hasn’t gotten to clean herself up since she was taken. She is still wearingher ratty old pyjamas. Bellamy doesn’t get into the car with us, instead he kneels down by the open cardoor.

“Kiara? I promised we wouldn’t take you anywhere without your permission. Would you like to comeback to where Ryann and I live? We can get you some food and a bath. We will probably have to havea quick talk with some police but we will try and get it over with as soon as possible. He promises.Kiara nods and Bellamy moves into the driver’s seat. I assume it will just be the three of us going sincewe’re still keeping the others away from Kiara which is why I’m shocked when Aaron climbs into theback seat beside me. Kiara whimpers and moves away from me and Aaron to press her back againstthe car door.

“Hey, sweetheart, it’s okay. This is Aaron, he is my good friend and he also works as my personalb*dyguard. It’s his job to keep me safe. He will help keep you safe too. I know he looks kind of big andscary but he’s really not. I trust him completely and totally so you can too.” I do my best to reassure her.She still seems nervous and doesn’t move from her place, but she does relax a little bit. Bellamy startsthe car and we start towards home.

The silence in the back seat is painful. Kiara is silent because she isn’t talking. Aaron is usually silent,but this is different to usual. Usually he responds non–verbally and I can see his attentiveness andinterest. Right now it feels

197- Leaving and leaning

more like he is pointedly ignoring me.

“Aaron are you okay?” I ask.

“Yes Miss Gale.” he responds coldly. Ouch, yeah he’s pissed.

“You don’t seem okay. You seem kind of angry. Are you mad at me Aaron?” I demand. Withouthesitation he responds.

“Of course Miss Gale.” Darn, of course? Aaron really must be upset with me. Still, like Bellamy, isuspect that he is less angry and more concerned. Aaron really is a giant teddy bear after all. Bellamyglances back from the driver’s seat but I give him a smile to show him that I’m handling it. Aaron isn’tdoing anything wrong, he’s allowed to be upset with me.

“Are you angry because I made you leave? Or more accurately because I made you leave me behind?”I clarify. He gives

a short nod.

“Right, well would it help if I apologise?” I ask. Aaron turns his head towards me a little and narrows hiseyes. Right… Well, I don’t know what that means, but he still deserves an apology.

“Aaron, I am sorry that I ordered you to leave and made it impossible for you to do your job. I really doappreciate. everything you do for me and I will do my best to be more respectful of that in the future.Also I promise not to stay in a burning building without you again, next time you can totally stay withme. Forgive me?” I wink at him. Aaron considers my face then a small smile creeps across his own. Hegives a slight nod. I bump his elbow with my own.

“Thanks Aaron.“I tell him gratefully.

Kiara coughs again which draws my attention back to her. I notice that Kiara has been watching myinteractions with Aaron intently. She looks a little confused by it. I wink at her.

“Aaron doesn’t talk much. But it’s fun to try and trick him into it. You should have a try sometime.” I joke.It was the right thing to say. Kiara straightens up and sits in the car seat beside me properly, no longercowering away from Aaron. I squeeze her hand in encouragement and she gives me a small, weaksmile. That smile does more for making me feel better than all the painkillers in the world. She ishurting and scared, but she can still smile. It’s going to be a long and difficult road to her recovery, but Iknow that she is going to be okay.

Chapter Comments

9

POST NOW