The Broken Warrior’s Daughter

Chapter 0227

| wake to Liam between my legs after having him insideall night. My body Is sore in ways that | could have never imagined but the feeling that | have, both my own and coming from Liam through the bond, bringsa happiness | haven't felt in years. I'm not alone any longer.

m loves me, | can feel it. | can feel his joy at our bonding, at my acceptance of him. We're laying in bed, my head on Liam’s chest, his hand running through my hair, when he bringsback to reality.

“We have the meeting with Rik and his pack members this evening about the vampires and our plan. Do you want to go visit Eli this morning, since we didn’t get to yesterday?”

| look up at Liam. He’s looking at the ceiling, but he looks atwhen | look at him. “I do. Don’t you want closure Liam? Don’t you want to be able to move past. this?”

He sighs, looking back up at the ceiling. “I do want closure. | want to leave this behind and start our slate clean. So, let's get up and go see Eli.” He reaches down and kisses the top of my head. | reach my hand around his waist and hug him. close.

“You and me, Liam. It’s you and me.” That gets a smile from my big guy. “Yes, it is little angel.”

| get up, and start to crawl out of bed, only to have him smack my ass. | turn and look at him over my shoulder. He shrugs at me. “It was there, tempting me.” He says with a smirk, getting up too.

“Also, | want to move your things into this room today. Are you okay with that? You can redecorate any way you like. | don’t have anything personal that | want to keep other than the pictures of my parents.”

“We'll make memories together and create our own private little space here over time.” | tell him. “And yes, I’d be happy to move my things in here, what little | have.”

Asmile, similar to the one that he has in his picture as a 5-year old, spreads across his face. He walks to me, wrapping his arms around me. “You and me, together. | love the sound of that.”

After we get dressed, we walk downstairs hand in hand. “Let’s eat breakfast then head down to the cells.” 0 +15 BONOS When we walk into the dining room, the entire room goes quiet. | squeeze his hand tighter, not knowing what | should do.

Liam addresses the room. “Everyone. | thank you for your patience withlately. I've been busy the last couple of weeks with sthings that have cup. Iti be making a formal announcement to the pack later this week, but for now, letintroduce Angel Bennis, your future Luna.”

The room erupts into applause and Liam guides us to a table. He leavesthere to go get our food and several pack members cover to congratulate me. At Liam’s request, I’m wearing a top that clearly shows my mate mark. For once, I’m not embarrassed to show the markings on my body. I’m proud of this one.

Liam comes back and we eat, more pack members join us and | watch the easy conversation he has with his pack. | can see the respect that they have for him. Many of them askwhere | cfrom and Liam easily redirects the conversation, telling them that he’ll explain more when he makes the formal

announcement.

When we're done, we head down to the cells. The smell is terrible. | can tell that anyone down here is required to use the bathroom in their cells and it doesn’t smell like there are toilets. Before we get to the bottom, Liam leans in to whisper in my ear. “Remember your promise, Angel. You stay by my side.”

| reach out and take his hand, intertwining our fingers as we make our way to Eli Gunnar’s cell. As soon as we step up to the cell, Eli is on his feet.

“What the fuck, Alpha.” He makes the word sound as derogatory as possible. ” Why the fuck did you bring a she—-wolf down here. She doesn’t need to see what you do to me.”

“She's not here to watch Eli, she’s here to listen.”

“Oh, yeah, because that’s so much better. She won’t watch you beat the shit out of me, she'll just listen to you do it? You’re more of an asshole than | thought you.

were.

Liam snarls at him, lunging at him. | turn, putting my hands on Liam’s chest. | don’t say anything | just look at him until he looks at me. | watch the muscle in his jaw tick until he gets himself under control.

When he’s calm, | turn back around. | can see that Eli is looking at us curiously. “I want to hear your answers to Liam’s questions.”

+15 BONOS

“You mean question, don’t you? He only ever asksone question and he doesn’t like my answer.”

“I'd like to hear your answer.”

“Why?” He asks me.

Alessia comes forward and | see the moment he realizes what | am. “Guardian.” He says it reverently.

Liam yanksto his side, wrapping his arms around me. “I’ve already marked her so you can forget trying to take what's mine.” He snarls at Eli.

Eli looks at Liam. “I already told you, | know what | did with Cara was a mistake. | was wrong. | wouldn't do that to her.”

“Sure you wouldn't.” He snarls and | see Eli rolling his eyes, about to jump into what I’m guessing is a long-term argument. | interrupt before this goes too far.

“That’s not why I’m here Eli.” I turn and look at Liam. “Why did you do it?” Liam asks him.

“| didn’t do it. Not that you'll believe me, even with your Guardian here.” ‘Angel, he’s telling the truth.‘ Alessia tells me. | know it already. Deceit has a distinctly metallic taste to it. There was none of that with Eli’s answer.

| take a step forward, earninga growl from Liam. “You were found with her body in your arms.” | say, my head tilted, trying to get a read on him.

“Yes. | never said otherwise.”

“If you didn’t kill her, why were you holding her dead body?”

He looks fromto Liam. “It’s a long story and your mate there won't believeanyway, so why should | tell you.” | turn and look at Liam. He’s looking at me, expectingto tell him that Eli is lying, but | can’t.

“Liam, he’s telling the truth.”