Wyvern Protection Unit - Chapter 103: Chapter 103
You are reading Wyvern Protection Unit, Chapter 103: Chapter 103. Read more chapters of Wyvern Protection Unit.
Jennifer stored her spare toothbrush and paste, smoothed her hand over her hair, and closed her eyes. She counted to ten, then straightened, willing her queasiness away before returning to where Zircon waited for her anxiously.
“Okay. I’m ready.”
“Don’t you think you should stop by the clinic?” he asked.
“What for?” she asked, perplexed.
“Jenn, you just puked your guts out,” he said, and fuck, was she embarrassed.
“I got a little worked up, excuse me for being sort of human,” she growled, leaving him to follow.
“That’s not what I meant. Geez, will you wait a second? I’m worried about you,” he growled.
“You know what, I just saw video of my father, who I have not seen since I was like seven, and not only is the bastard alive, but he’s fucking vile. He is selling Shifters, Conny. What kind of person sells another person?” she asked, voice slightly tinged with hysterics.
It hit her then. Hard. What kind of people did she come from? Did she even know herself at all? Her Nana was great to her when she was growing up. She provided comfort and support, but they never talked about her mother and father. Not ever.
“No need to dredge up that misery. You just keep your chin up, my girl.”
Nana would always say something like that whenever Jennifer felt brave enough to ask. Owls were not exactly confrontational, though they were apex hunters, they preferred to go it alone. So she’d let it be. Maybe she should have pressed harder. Guilt and sadness warred within her, but nothing stung so badly as the harsh slap of regret.
“Hey, easy,” Zircon growled and his hand on her elbow steadied her somehow.
“Shit. I’m sorry. This is just bringing up a lot of stuff for me.”
“I can’t even imagine. Come on. Talk to me, Jenn,” Zircon said, his expression concerned.
She closed her eyes and tried for control. But he was right. Whatever was happening between them, it would have to wait. She needed an ear, and Zircon was the best listener she knew. Her heart ached with sadness. She wished she had the right to crawl onto his lap and just spill her guts, but what good would that do?
Besides, she couldn’t face another rejection. Not when she was finally ready to admit what she’d been too afraid to even acknowledge for so long. Jennifer was in love with him. But like a fool, she’d waited too long, and he didn’t want her anymore. Of all the terrible things she’d gone through because of her father leaving them, that was one of the worst.
I’m sorry, Mom. I let you down. I fell in love. And I will never be the same again.
Fuck. She was so fucked up.
“Come back. Hey, come back, look at me, Jenn. I’m here, okay? Talk to me, please,” he begged.
The silent, sexy, patient man was hammering away at her defenses, and she just wasn’t strong enough to deny it anymore.
Chip. Chip. Chip.
“I-I’m sorry, Conny. I am so sorry for everything,” she began, tears freely flowing down her face.
“Hey, now, what are you talking about?” he murmured, and scooped her into his arms.
“You can’t just keep picking me up. I’m gonna hurt you,” she sniffed, and he mock-glared, making her giggle.
Next, he settled into her chair with her on his lap. One big, warm hand rested on her hip, the other cupped her cheek, forcing her to look at him.
“What is it, baby? You know you can tell me anything.”
“I know, and it scares me,” she confessed. “You know, you’re my best friend, Conny.”
“Me? I thought Caro was your best friend or Kim?”
“Oh, they are,” she said, sniffing and trying not to cry. “Even Daeja, if you want the truth. But girlfriends are different. I mean, they have their mates and their own lives. When we get together, it’s nonstop yapping. But with you, I can just be. See? You’re not even asking me questions,” she said, offering a tiny, hollow laugh.
“I don’t want you to stop talking to me,” he replied, shrugging.
“That’s what I mean. You know when to listen. In fact, I imagine I have given you an ear full over the years.”
“What is this, Jenn? What’s gotten into you, baby?”
“Did you ever wonder why I pushed you away so hard for so many years?” she asked, heart hammering inside her chest.
Zircon canted his head, eyes on her as he took in what she was saying. She couldn’t imagine how hard this was for him. And she so regretted hurting him, but that was the past, and she couldn’t undo the past.
“My dad left us when I was a child,” she began, waiting for a signal to continue.
He nodded, jaw clenched, and she knew he was reining in emotions. A man like Zircon would never be okay with someone walking out on his duties, especially fatherhood.
“He cheated on my mother, destroyed their matebond, and left her with a broken heart. She was so miserable, she could not function. I was left to fend for myself, and when she couldn’t take it anymore, she drove us to this target range where humans practiced with all kinds of weapons, guns, rifles, arrows. She made me promise to never let a man have control over me. Then she shifted into her Owl and nosedived—”
“Fuck, Jenn. Baby, you don’t have to go on,” he said, holding her even tighter.
“I have to. I need you to understand. I promised her I wouldn’t ever be vulnerable to a matebond. That I would never ever claim or be claimed by my mate, especially not my fated mate, because look what happened to her,” she confessed, tears spilling onto his shirt as he hugged her close.
“I’m sorry, Jenn. I’m so sorry, baby. I didn’t know you went through all that. I am so sorry I pushed you and tried so hard to get you to agree to be mine. If I knew what your mother went through, and what you’d been put through, I would have waited longer—”
“No, you have been wonderful to me. So patient and kind. Last night, gods, last night, I mean, I know why you turned me down. And I get it. I have been so horrible to you. I’m so sorry, Conny. I should have told you sooner. And I should have told you I love you, and you are my fated mate, and I should have been braver and now I lost you—”
“Lost me? Woman, are you blind? You couldn’t fucking lose me if you tried, Jenn. I love you. I wanted to claim you last night more than anything, but I wanted to make sure you were one hundred percent in this. Cause once I bite you, I can never walk away. Don’t you understand? You own me, Jennifer. You own us. You have the fealty of my Wyvern. I love you,” he said, rambling as he pressed kisses to her forehead and cheeks, her nose, chin, and lips.
“You love me? Even though—”
“I love you. Period. Forever. Always.”
She kissed him then, really kissed him, with everything she felt burning in her blood. Zircon wrapped his arms tighter, and she’d never felt so damn complete in her entire life. She loved him. She had said it out loud, owned it, and it was the most liberating thing in the world.
“Want you, mate,” Zircon growled, and she shivered with need.
“Sorry to interrupt, but I think your phone is beeping, Miss Dylluan,” Mother’s annoyed voice sounded through the intercom.
Jennifer gasped and looked down to see they’d leaned on the little intercom box, pressing the button when they’d been making out like a couple of horny teenagers.
Uh oh.
“Um, sorry! Yep, leaving now,” she said and turned the thing off.
“Oops,” Conny said, but he was grinning. He waggled his eyebrows, and she shook her head, laughing as they stood up together.
“Okay, we will, um, finish this later. Now, we have work to do,” she said, wiping her face and smoothing her hair back.
Her phone chirped again, and she looked down to see a couple of missed texts. Jennifer’s heart stopped in her chest as she read the message.
Is that really you, ladybug? How’d you find me? It’s been so long. How about you repeat our secret code word to me, just for old time’s sake? So I know you’re not really some fairytale prince looking for my bank account info? LOL. -DAD
That’s funny, Dad. But yeah. It’s really me. Your daughter. Jennifer. I found you through your high school reunion website. -JENN
The code word? -DAD
Peaches. Our secret code word was Peaches. -JENN
It really is you. I want to see you. Can we meet? Are you still in New Jersey? -DAD
Yep. But I can come to you. Where are you, Dad? -JENN
I’m still driving trucks. I’ll be in South Jersey, by Blue Valley, in an hour. -DAD
Perfect. I am half an hour away. This is exciting. -JENN
I think so too, ladybug. See you in an hour. There’s a roadhouse. Serious Moonlight. Best chicken wings for a hundred miles. -DAD
I’ll see you there. -JENN
Jennifer looked up into expectant blue eyes. Zircon was reading over her shoulder the whole time. She’d felt him there, so close, but not touching. It comforted her. Gave her what strength she needed to continue texting.
“It’s on,” he growled, eyes glowing. “You sure you are okay with this? He hasn’t seen you yet. We can get someone else to go undercover—”
“No. This is my father. I want to look into his eyes and hear his voice when I ask him about what he’s done.”
Conny simply nodded. He didn’t second guess her or try to take over the assignment. No. He was a professional too, and on this one, he was there to back her up. Oh, she knew he would never let anything hurt her. Even if last night left her confused, that was a certainty. She was in safe hands, er, claws with him.
After calling Mother with an update, Jennifer grabbed her backpack and was ready to go. No need for weapons. Shifters brought their own. Zircon led the way to his truck, opening the door for her without comment.
She got in, squeaking, when he patted her ass on her way up into the seat. Truthfully, though, she liked it. Jennifer had never been one to receive that kind of playful possessive display from a man. Especially not a man who looked like him.
Zircon jogged around to the driver’s side, sliding into his seat with practiced ease. The roads were clear, but the sky was overcast. It looked ominous and gray, like the calm before the storm. She placed one hand over her stomach as nerves assailed her.
“Hey, you’re going to be fine. I’ll come in with you—”
“No. It might spook him. I’ll go alone.”
“I really don’t like the idea of that, Jenn.”
She narrowed her eyes at him. Possessive was hot. Bossy was not.
“Listen up, Zircon Wessex, I might have just told you I love you, but you do not get to tell me what to do.”
“Fine,” he growled, shifting into gear. “But if he lays a hand on you, father or not, I’ll burn him to ashes.”
Gulp.
But he didn’t drive yet. Not until Jennifer nodded, as if she was actually agreeing to allow him to kill her father if he touched her—which was highly unlikely. Still, since she was on a new honesty kick, Jennifer had to admit something.
Murdery was kinda hot on Conny. Okay, it was super hot. Like inferno level hot.
“Okay. I’m ready.”
“Don’t you think you should stop by the clinic?” he asked.
“What for?” she asked, perplexed.
“Jenn, you just puked your guts out,” he said, and fuck, was she embarrassed.
“I got a little worked up, excuse me for being sort of human,” she growled, leaving him to follow.
“That’s not what I meant. Geez, will you wait a second? I’m worried about you,” he growled.
“You know what, I just saw video of my father, who I have not seen since I was like seven, and not only is the bastard alive, but he’s fucking vile. He is selling Shifters, Conny. What kind of person sells another person?” she asked, voice slightly tinged with hysterics.
It hit her then. Hard. What kind of people did she come from? Did she even know herself at all? Her Nana was great to her when she was growing up. She provided comfort and support, but they never talked about her mother and father. Not ever.
“No need to dredge up that misery. You just keep your chin up, my girl.”
Nana would always say something like that whenever Jennifer felt brave enough to ask. Owls were not exactly confrontational, though they were apex hunters, they preferred to go it alone. So she’d let it be. Maybe she should have pressed harder. Guilt and sadness warred within her, but nothing stung so badly as the harsh slap of regret.
“Hey, easy,” Zircon growled and his hand on her elbow steadied her somehow.
“Shit. I’m sorry. This is just bringing up a lot of stuff for me.”
“I can’t even imagine. Come on. Talk to me, Jenn,” Zircon said, his expression concerned.
She closed her eyes and tried for control. But he was right. Whatever was happening between them, it would have to wait. She needed an ear, and Zircon was the best listener she knew. Her heart ached with sadness. She wished she had the right to crawl onto his lap and just spill her guts, but what good would that do?
Besides, she couldn’t face another rejection. Not when she was finally ready to admit what she’d been too afraid to even acknowledge for so long. Jennifer was in love with him. But like a fool, she’d waited too long, and he didn’t want her anymore. Of all the terrible things she’d gone through because of her father leaving them, that was one of the worst.
I’m sorry, Mom. I let you down. I fell in love. And I will never be the same again.
Fuck. She was so fucked up.
“Come back. Hey, come back, look at me, Jenn. I’m here, okay? Talk to me, please,” he begged.
The silent, sexy, patient man was hammering away at her defenses, and she just wasn’t strong enough to deny it anymore.
Chip. Chip. Chip.
“I-I’m sorry, Conny. I am so sorry for everything,” she began, tears freely flowing down her face.
“Hey, now, what are you talking about?” he murmured, and scooped her into his arms.
“You can’t just keep picking me up. I’m gonna hurt you,” she sniffed, and he mock-glared, making her giggle.
Next, he settled into her chair with her on his lap. One big, warm hand rested on her hip, the other cupped her cheek, forcing her to look at him.
“What is it, baby? You know you can tell me anything.”
“I know, and it scares me,” she confessed. “You know, you’re my best friend, Conny.”
“Me? I thought Caro was your best friend or Kim?”
“Oh, they are,” she said, sniffing and trying not to cry. “Even Daeja, if you want the truth. But girlfriends are different. I mean, they have their mates and their own lives. When we get together, it’s nonstop yapping. But with you, I can just be. See? You’re not even asking me questions,” she said, offering a tiny, hollow laugh.
“I don’t want you to stop talking to me,” he replied, shrugging.
“That’s what I mean. You know when to listen. In fact, I imagine I have given you an ear full over the years.”
“What is this, Jenn? What’s gotten into you, baby?”
“Did you ever wonder why I pushed you away so hard for so many years?” she asked, heart hammering inside her chest.
Zircon canted his head, eyes on her as he took in what she was saying. She couldn’t imagine how hard this was for him. And she so regretted hurting him, but that was the past, and she couldn’t undo the past.
“My dad left us when I was a child,” she began, waiting for a signal to continue.
He nodded, jaw clenched, and she knew he was reining in emotions. A man like Zircon would never be okay with someone walking out on his duties, especially fatherhood.
“He cheated on my mother, destroyed their matebond, and left her with a broken heart. She was so miserable, she could not function. I was left to fend for myself, and when she couldn’t take it anymore, she drove us to this target range where humans practiced with all kinds of weapons, guns, rifles, arrows. She made me promise to never let a man have control over me. Then she shifted into her Owl and nosedived—”
“Fuck, Jenn. Baby, you don’t have to go on,” he said, holding her even tighter.
“I have to. I need you to understand. I promised her I wouldn’t ever be vulnerable to a matebond. That I would never ever claim or be claimed by my mate, especially not my fated mate, because look what happened to her,” she confessed, tears spilling onto his shirt as he hugged her close.
“I’m sorry, Jenn. I’m so sorry, baby. I didn’t know you went through all that. I am so sorry I pushed you and tried so hard to get you to agree to be mine. If I knew what your mother went through, and what you’d been put through, I would have waited longer—”
“No, you have been wonderful to me. So patient and kind. Last night, gods, last night, I mean, I know why you turned me down. And I get it. I have been so horrible to you. I’m so sorry, Conny. I should have told you sooner. And I should have told you I love you, and you are my fated mate, and I should have been braver and now I lost you—”
“Lost me? Woman, are you blind? You couldn’t fucking lose me if you tried, Jenn. I love you. I wanted to claim you last night more than anything, but I wanted to make sure you were one hundred percent in this. Cause once I bite you, I can never walk away. Don’t you understand? You own me, Jennifer. You own us. You have the fealty of my Wyvern. I love you,” he said, rambling as he pressed kisses to her forehead and cheeks, her nose, chin, and lips.
“You love me? Even though—”
“I love you. Period. Forever. Always.”
She kissed him then, really kissed him, with everything she felt burning in her blood. Zircon wrapped his arms tighter, and she’d never felt so damn complete in her entire life. She loved him. She had said it out loud, owned it, and it was the most liberating thing in the world.
“Want you, mate,” Zircon growled, and she shivered with need.
“Sorry to interrupt, but I think your phone is beeping, Miss Dylluan,” Mother’s annoyed voice sounded through the intercom.
Jennifer gasped and looked down to see they’d leaned on the little intercom box, pressing the button when they’d been making out like a couple of horny teenagers.
Uh oh.
“Um, sorry! Yep, leaving now,” she said and turned the thing off.
“Oops,” Conny said, but he was grinning. He waggled his eyebrows, and she shook her head, laughing as they stood up together.
“Okay, we will, um, finish this later. Now, we have work to do,” she said, wiping her face and smoothing her hair back.
Her phone chirped again, and she looked down to see a couple of missed texts. Jennifer’s heart stopped in her chest as she read the message.
Is that really you, ladybug? How’d you find me? It’s been so long. How about you repeat our secret code word to me, just for old time’s sake? So I know you’re not really some fairytale prince looking for my bank account info? LOL. -DAD
That’s funny, Dad. But yeah. It’s really me. Your daughter. Jennifer. I found you through your high school reunion website. -JENN
The code word? -DAD
Peaches. Our secret code word was Peaches. -JENN
It really is you. I want to see you. Can we meet? Are you still in New Jersey? -DAD
Yep. But I can come to you. Where are you, Dad? -JENN
I’m still driving trucks. I’ll be in South Jersey, by Blue Valley, in an hour. -DAD
Perfect. I am half an hour away. This is exciting. -JENN
I think so too, ladybug. See you in an hour. There’s a roadhouse. Serious Moonlight. Best chicken wings for a hundred miles. -DAD
I’ll see you there. -JENN
Jennifer looked up into expectant blue eyes. Zircon was reading over her shoulder the whole time. She’d felt him there, so close, but not touching. It comforted her. Gave her what strength she needed to continue texting.
“It’s on,” he growled, eyes glowing. “You sure you are okay with this? He hasn’t seen you yet. We can get someone else to go undercover—”
“No. This is my father. I want to look into his eyes and hear his voice when I ask him about what he’s done.”
Conny simply nodded. He didn’t second guess her or try to take over the assignment. No. He was a professional too, and on this one, he was there to back her up. Oh, she knew he would never let anything hurt her. Even if last night left her confused, that was a certainty. She was in safe hands, er, claws with him.
After calling Mother with an update, Jennifer grabbed her backpack and was ready to go. No need for weapons. Shifters brought their own. Zircon led the way to his truck, opening the door for her without comment.
She got in, squeaking, when he patted her ass on her way up into the seat. Truthfully, though, she liked it. Jennifer had never been one to receive that kind of playful possessive display from a man. Especially not a man who looked like him.
Zircon jogged around to the driver’s side, sliding into his seat with practiced ease. The roads were clear, but the sky was overcast. It looked ominous and gray, like the calm before the storm. She placed one hand over her stomach as nerves assailed her.
“Hey, you’re going to be fine. I’ll come in with you—”
“No. It might spook him. I’ll go alone.”
“I really don’t like the idea of that, Jenn.”
She narrowed her eyes at him. Possessive was hot. Bossy was not.
“Listen up, Zircon Wessex, I might have just told you I love you, but you do not get to tell me what to do.”
“Fine,” he growled, shifting into gear. “But if he lays a hand on you, father or not, I’ll burn him to ashes.”
Gulp.
But he didn’t drive yet. Not until Jennifer nodded, as if she was actually agreeing to allow him to kill her father if he touched her—which was highly unlikely. Still, since she was on a new honesty kick, Jennifer had to admit something.
Murdery was kinda hot on Conny. Okay, it was super hot. Like inferno level hot.
End of Wyvern Protection Unit Chapter 103. Continue reading Chapter 104 or return to Wyvern Protection Unit book page.