God of Strength (Light of Obsession #1)

Chapter 18

Alicia

My foot taps on the floor nervously, I can hear my heartbeat in my ears. Yesterday, everything was revealed to Eli and Creigh. I called them this morning, asking to meet, to explain to them that I do love Vaughn and I'm safe with him.

     I asked them to come to a coffee shop next to campus, I assumed if it was in public, the chances of them killing Vaughn would be lower.

      I hope.

Vaughn squeezes my hand comfortingly, running his finger over it. I've never felt more safe with anyone than I have with him. Yesterday made me feel even closer to him, we spent it all tangled in each others arm as I buried my face in him.

"I adore you, y'know that?" He asked, running his hand through my hair. "A part of me wants to build you an altar to worship you on. God, you're so perfect."

"I don't feel so perfect." I murmured back, head reeling."

He begins to place kisses all over me, trailing from the top of my head all the way down.

"Perfect. You're an angel sent from heaven- no, fuck that. You're a goddess." He muttered.

I smile softly at the memory, leaning into his touch. He tucks my head into the crook of his neck, placing a kiss to it.

"I'm right here, Kukolka. Don't worry." He comforted.

     As I leaned into Vaughn's warmth, the turbulent emotions in my chest slowly settled, leaving a gentle calm in their wake. The soft, comforting rhythm of his heartbeat against my ear was like a balm to my anxious thoughts. But the impending conversation with Eli and Creigh loomed overhead, a dark cloud threatening to disrupt the peace I felt now.

"You think they'll understand?" I asked, my voice barely above a whisper.

Vaughn pulled back slightly, his deep-set eyes locking onto mine with an intensity that sent chills down my spine. "They will. Once they see how happy you are, how safe you are with me, they'll come around." His certainty was unwavering, and for a moment, I wanted to believe him completely.

  They had always been protective, their instincts honed to keep me safe from harm—and right now, from Vaughn. I could picture them storming into the café, ready to confront the man they deemed unworthy of my affection.

The bell above the door chimed, breaking my train of thought, and I looked over my shoulder. Eli and Creigh stepped inside, their expressions a mixture of concern and determination. My heart dropped.

"They're here," I breathed, gripping Vaughn's hand tighter.

Vaughn's eyes momentarily darkened, the possessive edge returning to his demeanor, but he squeezed my hand in reassurance. "Remember what I said. You're with me, and no one else matters."

As they approached our table, I could feel the tension building in the air like a storm cloud on the horizon. Eli's brows furrowed in disapproval, while Creigh maintained an analytical gaze, his mind clearly racing through every possibility.

"Little angel," Eli started, his voice warmer than his expression suggested. His eyes scrutinize Vaughn in a glare.

"Hey," I replied, trying to project calmness. With a slight nod, I motioned for them to sit. Vaughn remained close, his presence a steady shield against whatever storm might come.

"We're just here to make sure you're okay," Creigh said, looking directly at me, while still keeping Vaughn in the corner of his eye. "I know you're caught up in him, but Alicia—"

"Caught up?" Vaughn interrupted, his tone suddenly sharp and cool. "It's far beyond that, and you should know that I'd never let anything happen to her."

Eli's expression hardened as he turned to Vaughn. "That's what we're worried about. You're intense, and Alicia is—"

"Safe." It was a simple, profound word that hung in the air, filled with Vaughn's unyielding conviction. "I love her, and I'd do anything to keep her safe."

"Love?" Creigh scoffed, incredulity lacing his voice. "You think love looks like stalking her every move and controlling her life?"

I felt a pang of anger rising, interjecting, "That's not how it is! Vaughn—"

"Don't," he said softly but firmly, cutting me off with a tender yet possessive grip on my hand. "You have to let me handle this."

The tension in the room escalated, a palpable mix of aggression and desperation. I could feel Eli and Creigh's concern for me pulsing in their eyes, but I also felt Vaughn's unwavering loyalty and desire to protect me.

"Let me speak," I took a deep breath, trying to gather my thoughts. "I called you here because I want you to understand. Vaughn isn't what you think. Yes, he's intense, but his intentions are pure. He would never harm me. I need you both to trust me."

"Trust you?" Eli's voice was incredulous. "What kind of person puts you in a situation where we have to worry about your safety?"

     "Enough!" My voice rose above the growing tumult. I met their eyes, all three of them, and felt the weight of their concern pressing down on my shoulders. "I love him. And I'm choosing to be here, with him. You need to accept that. Vaughn hasn't put me in a situation where you have to worry, quite the opposite! He's been attentive and caring and amazing to me!"

     Vaughn's grip tightened around my hand, and for a fleeting moment, I felt the weight of our connection. I had chosen him, despite the chaos swirling around us.

    "Please," I continued, softening my tone. "I only want you to see how much I mean it. How happy I am."

     Creigh glanced at Eli, wrestling with his emotions. "Alicia, you're our priority—"

      "No," I cut him off gently, my heart racing with a mix of fear and determination. "I'm not a child anymore. I can make my own decisions."

     Eli's expression shifted, realization dawning as he searched my face. "And you truly believe he loves you? That this is real?"

     I nodded, my voice steadier as I met Vaughn's gaze. "With all my heart."

     Vaughn's lips curved into a small smile, one that made me feel warm all over. "Then let me show you how real I can be," he said, looking directly at the two men who had been my protectors for so long.

      The silence that followed was thick, almost suffocating, filled with the unsaid words and the change that was unfolding. I wanted to believe that Eli and Creigh would come to accept this, and that if they saw Vaughn's devotion, they might understand that love, even in its most complicated forms, was worth fighting for.

     "Let's have that coffee and talk," Eli finally broke the silence, his tone shifting from hostility to a wary acceptance. "But we'll be watching you, Vaughn. Very closely."

     "Fair enough," Vaughn replied, an air of confidence filling the space.

      "Just one more thing." I comment.

      Eli raises an eyebrow. "Yeah?"

      "Please, don't tell mum or daddy. I'm visiting them next week anyway, I'll tell them then." I say, looking up at them pleadingly.

       Eli sighs then ruffles my hair. "Yeah, we won't."

     As the tension began to dissipate, I exhaled deeply. Each heartbeat felt like a promise, one I hoped everyone would come to understand. I was ready to defend my choice, ready to prove that love, with all its complexities, could conquer even the fiercest doubt.

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A/N:
And the long awaited reveal is here!! Looks like Vaughn and Alicia are close to their happily ever after... or are they?
Thank you so much for the support!
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