ONA

rs I've paced, looked at the ceiling, run my hands through my hair, or even eng

ady back to doi

it's the look doctors carry when they're coming out from a patient... over the years, I've come to read meaning from his facial expressions,

g negative, you said s

fly at the chair right beside me

ve time to give it a full thought.

mix of healing and fresh wounds. Some of those injuries should have been treated days ago. The fact that they weren't means they've had time to develop early sign

t want to, but because it's the only t

ntal point right now." He pauses. "It isn't, and the malnutrition isn't recent, this isn't a week without food, It's been prolonged. Months, poss

nt to process that

t something that should be possible. Our wolves are supposed to protect against that. But without a wolf activ

need her to open up and tell me everything tha

mel erosion, some sensitivity, one molar on the lower left that's going to

itional plan. Small meals, frequently, nothing too heavy too soon or her stomach won't handle it. We need to reintroduce food gradually an

, I can only think one thing, she's strong, and the fac

then he drops a bomb th

sn't bo

the

with her throat, her larynx, her vocal cords, which means structurally, she

... it explains everything, why she flinches, why fear lives so deeply in her, why trust doesn't com

likely a sustained period of events, so overwhelming that the brain essentially pulls the emergency brake on verbal communication. It's a p

suddenly becomes very in

go through this, bit by bit until all that's left are thei

I ask. My voice come

voice will reinforce the association between speaking and danger." He holds my gaze pointedly. I get the message. "What she needs is therapy. Consistent, patient, trauma-informed therapy with someone she ca

will com

nt matters enormously, Alpha. She needs to feel safe. Consistently, reliably safe, in a way she can predict. Not safe one

rted. I'd recommend letting her sleep through to morning without distu

arrangements. I need to get her clothes, and in as much as I want her to sta

ed, and turns to

needing to tell h

his tracks, direct

therapist that'll help her. I don't care what it

wing the wrinkles at the sides of h

WARR

looking up at me with a wicked little sm

er onto my worktable. My lips trail soft kisses from her fo

re obstacles standing in our way. Just you and me, sweetheart, an

her sweet scent of strawberries and fresh flowers. Fuck,

the exquisite necklace I bought especially for her, fastening it ar

her fingers. "Babe, is that a sapphire? The rarest, most

smile tugs

r all, not everyone could come up with a ma

s her cheek, and she l

e his other brides. Then we'll have the entire pack to ourselves, along with our future p

th my hands. My nose still throbs from Ronan's attack, but

ink. I keep blocking it out, kissing every inch of

ce slips through again,

let out a

r be urgent, or I swear I'll have

an." His voice is tense. "On the last page, in the fine prin

body go

ha

which means legally she own

to my arm, her smile slipping.