13
My face hurt, and I felt like I was light headed. I didn't want to be here. All I could think about was being in my bed at my parent's house. They came to see me and weren't too upset about Rafael. If anything they seemed like they could live with it. They even spoke to me about moving back in with them, until I recovered. Rafael wouldn't let that happen though. I heard Albert out there. My room isn't too far from the hall where everyone was.
The door opened, and I looked up to see Rafael. He winced as he saw me. My face was still swollen and my nose at stitches on it, even under my eye too.
"Hey." I said gently watching him. He slowly stepped over to me. I remember seeing his face before the lights went out in my head. He was there with the police. "Are you okay?"
But immediately he shook his head.
"Don't even ask that." he said leaning over and taking my hands slowly. He looked so torn, so beaten.
"What happened?" I asked. He swallowed some and rubbed his thumbs over my fingers.
"An alpha of the Aryan Ace Biker Gang came in, shot up the school, and came after you. His beta is Sara Johnson." he said. I tensed at his words before shaking my head slowly which hurt by the way to do.
"Yes… I know Sarah. She came to us beaten and nearly ready to kill herself." I said. His jaw clenched.
"I thought I could do this… have you work with AntiDom and get information for our case against them, but no more. I don't want you anywhere involved with them." he said. My mouth dropped some.
"What? No, I want to help you." I said lightly and he looked at me with deep dark green eyes.
"Albert Nottingham is responsible for this. He fed you lies about alphas and betas." he said. I winced.
"Not all of what he said were lies… yes he spoke like a cult leader, that I immediately caught on to. But I also saw what happens when a beta decides to take hold of her own life. Sarah's alpha beat her and even when she left, he seemed so hurt by it. Maybe it was because he couldn't control her anymore or it was something else. But I do know, if a beta is taken from an alpha you will go crazy." I explained. He just stared at me with light fear eyes and he just gently placed his hand on my face. It stung and I hissed and leaned back and he removed his hand.
"Aurora, I don't want to lose you. It's only been a week, and I already don't want to be anywhere that you can't follow. I don't want you to go anywhere I can't follow." he admitted his voice passionate. I just stared at him for a moment. I could only imagine what he would do if I were to leave him. I only nodded. I knew I couldn't just up and leave AntiDom, but I couldn't even think of that right now. I just leaned back in the bed and sighed.
"When can I go home?" I asked. He gently kissed my knuckles.
"Soon." he answered. I nodded.
"My parents want me to come home and recover at their house… I don't want to go back there." I said and he shook his head.
"And you will not have to go back there." he said. I smiled and gently lifted my right arm and it hurt to do so. I gently stroked his face.
"I need to redo my hair… the bastard completely messed up my twists." I said. Now he smiled a bit.
"We can call whoever you need to and set it up." he replied. I smirked.
"When will you be going back to work?" I asked. He shook his head.
"Until you are better." he said. Now I shook my head which confused him.
"No. You need to go to work soon. I will not have you missing your job for me." I said. He gave a scoff.
"I won't let anyone else look after you… I am not going to leave your side until this is over." he said. I knew there would be no changing his mind, so I nodded. He smiled. "I'm going to ask the doctor when you can leave, but until then I will not be leaving your side."
"Ok." I replied, and he nodded and left the room. When the moon was up, I demanded Rafael to go home. He needed rest. The doctor said my ribs will heal up soon, and in a week I could go home. I was in a peaceful state, until light shined in my face, and my eyes opened. Someone was coming in, and I gasped at the shadowy figure who stood there. I leaned up moving to press the button to alert the nurse.
"Hey hey, it's me." I winced.
"Orion?" I whispered. He came from the shadows and nodded.
"Yeah." he responded. I shook my head in confusion.
"What are you doing here?" I asked. He gave a small smile.
"Just came to check on you. I couldn't do it earlier. Everyone at AntiDom really want to see you again." he said. I nodded slowly trying to remain calm.
"Soon." I replied. "What does Albert say about what happened at the school?" He gave a mild frown.
"Alphas are getting more possessive the more we fight for our freedom. There's been talk that there could be more laws that are even stricter giving alphas more and more power over us." he said. I took a deep breath. I nodded.
"I'll be out soon. I will come and visit you all then." I replied. He sighed.
"There's a war coming, Nightingale. You're alpha's been keeping you from it. He needs to go." he said seriously. I stared at him deeply for a moment.
"You mean kill him?" I asked and he shrugged.
"You'd be free. Free to do what you want, date who you want. You can be back with Billy." he said. I nodded at his words.
"He has political friends. Killing him could lead to a world of pain for the group. Cops will be all over us twenty-four seven." I announced. He crossed his arms and nodded.
"Yeah you're right. You need to know something." he said moving up to me with a worried expression. "There's been talk in the area. The Aryan Aces aren't too happy they lost a strong white alpha to a black beta woman."
I tensed.
"Who have you heard this from?" I asked.
"The bar. I've been in there a couple of times. I needed to get information on the shooter myself. You're all they talk about and honey, it ain't anything good. You need to come back with us. We can protect you." he said. I looked away shaking my head mildly.
"There is no protection anywhere. If they come for me, and you all fight, cops will be involved and there will be blood and it will never end." I said. Now I felt his warm hand beneath my cheek and I was being maneuvered to look at him
"There will come a time when blood is all we have left." he said. This wasn't good. Cops vs. AntiDom vs. Biker gang. This was too much. I didn't want anyone to get hurt.
"I just want our voices heard." I said. He nodded and reached into his black coat pocket and pulling out my necklace. He unhooked it and clasped it behind my neck.
"And soon they will be." he said before kissing my forehead. "Just keep your eyes open." I nodded.
"Always." I replied and he moved over to the door before stopping and turning back to me.
"Your alpha is nice to you now because you're wounded. The second you're healed and can spread your legs for him and do as you're commanded, he'll be right back to your old ways. Don't run off your set path Nightingale. Just because you're coded, doesn't mean you have to submit." he told. My heart tightened at his words, and I watched him leave. So many thing were going through my head right now. All the years of listening to Albert and seeing his teachings in the eyes of alphas. Then seeing Rafael, my alpha, and how things have been between us. It's been rocky of course, but he was willing to listen to me and he seemed to understand where I was coming from right? I just let my head fall back on my pillow and fell asleep.
Normal POV- 8 weeks later
Barba had been distracted all day. Ever since he had brought Aurora home, she had been withdrawn from him. She was acting like a guest again in his home- their home. He couldn't quite point it out. The gestures were so small. She asked when she could do something, or use an item in the house. She asked to have friends over. Maybe that was because she was just 18, and felt he needed to know company came over. A few weeks ago, she was asked to say a few words at a school funeral on behalf the students killed in the Marymount Massacre. I guess it was because she was specifically targeted and survived, the school wanted her to say something. She sang a gospel song, and it was beautiful.
He had been tapping his pen on some papers in thought, glancing at his phone from time to time. It was a Saturday and she was at a hair appointment right now, so he didn't want to bother her. Although he had asked on five separate occasions if she was alright. Maybe he should talk to her tonight. There was a firm knock on his door.
"Come." he stated and the door opened. It was Olivia who smiled.
"Hey. Just wanted to congratulate you on the Mayfield Case. He looked like he was so close to getting away with those rapes." she said. Barba only nodded and continued writing.
"Yeah. Thanks." he said dryly and continued writing. Olivia licked the inside of her cheek and stepped in.
"You were exceptionally brutal… on both the rapist and victim. A male who was raping alpha women. Yet he still didn't tell the court whether he was a beta or an alpha himself. Though we would have known he was a beta if someone claimed him." she said. Barba arched a brow while flipping some papers.
"Are you trying to make a point, because I am not hearing it." he said. Olivia inhaled.
"What's wrong, Rafael?" she asked. She never said his first name unless it was serious. Barba sighed heavily.
"It's Aurora." he merely answered. Olivia tilted her head some.
"Everything okay?" she asked. He shrugged.
"Ever since we got her out of the hospital, and I told her she was no longer to help in the AntiDom cases, she's been off and distant. She acts like a stranger in our home." he said. Olivia looked to the ground for answers and parted her lips.
"She's been through a lot. Her school was shot up, she was victimized by the shooter. Not to mention talk about retaliation from the Aryan Aces. I wouldn't be surprised if she was withdrawn, maybe feeling helpless." she explained. Barba was not convinced.
"It's something else. I feel it in my chest. She won't let me touch her or get too close. It's like she's uncomfortable." he said. Olivia gave a light scoff.
"Well can you blame her? I'm sure sex isn't what she's trying to focus on." she defended, and Barba shook his head.
"I meant the littlest of contact. You know what, I'm going to head out. I have errands to run and since we have no cases, I shall see you tomorrow detective." he said packing up his things. Olivia gave him a knowing look.
"Don't terrorize her, Babra." she warned. Barba gave her a shocked look.
"I would do no such thing." he said. She tilted her head giving him a look that said 'really?'
"Well do not be so hard on her. Maybe she is trying to open up to you again on her own time." she said. Barba looked down at her words before just turning and leaving his office.