When I don’t answer, Angel grabs a fistful of his hair in frustration, fighting the urge to reach for me again.
“Nevaeh!” The way he growls my name drags me out of my head long enough to find his eyes.
I look up at Angel. The tears I’ve been holding back break free, and nausea crawls up my throat. I clamp my mouth shut to stop the bile and curl into myself. Covering my ears, I press my face into the mattress, trying to muffle the noise in myhead as my broken wails fill the room.
Angel paces the length of the bed, waiting—desperate—for a sign that it’s okay to come any closer. I can’t speak… so I give him the one thing I can. He’s always been able to read me, always knows what I need with a single glance.
I’m praying his witchcraft will help me tonight.
I look up, silently begging him to take the weight off my chest, and within seconds, he’s there. He gently lifts my curled frame and cradles my trembling body in his lap. I cry out when every part of my body hurts like a truck ran over me.
Angel tucks the back of my head against his neck, and that’s all it takes for me to shatter. I wrap my arms around his waist and let the sobs rip through me. I cry into his shoulder, shaking violently, clinging to him like my life depends on it.
My wails echo through the room, soaking the walls in the pain I’ve buried for far too long.
The scariest part is… I know I’m safe now. There’s nothing to fear. It doesn’t matter who’s chasing me because my family will always have my back.
But who’s going to tell the nine-year-old inside me that she doesn’t need to hide anymore? How do I convince her that silence won’t save her now because the blows aren’t coming? All that little girl knows is to stay small, stay silent, and hope they stop hitting.
I learned to swallow my screams until the only safe place left to cry was inside my head.
But now, with my mate holding me close, his Divine humming, creating a protective shield around us, I know I can scream. I can be as loud as I want without fearing the next hit will be harder.
Angel drapes the thick duvet over me, thinking the shivers are from the cold. He slides his hand under my shirt, his touch warm and steady as he rubs soft, soothing circles on my bare back.
I can barely breathe through the sobs, but I keep whispering between gasps, begging him not to leave. Angel kisses my headover and over again, reminding me that he’s here and I’m safe.
His lips on my head, his voice in my ear, his fingers curled in my hair slowly chase away my worst memories, replacing them with this moment.
Angel clears his throat, his voice unsteady. I can tell I’m scaring him, but he keeps speaking softly, desperate to anchor me back.
“Please don’t leave,” I cry.
“Shhh, I’m never leaving, baby. Just focus on my heartbeat. Breathe with me, okay?” He inhales deeply, and I try to copy him, my cheek pressed to his heart. “That’s it, sweetheart. Keep breathing for me. You’re doing so well.”
I know my effort is not perfect, not even close, but his encouraging murmurs and the steady beat of his heart slowly bleed the panic from my system.
When Angel shifts slightly, trying to pull away, I bury my face in his neck and let out a soft whimper, clinging tighter. He shushes me and rocks us gently.
He asks me to trust him, then guides my hands under his hoodie, wrapping them around his waist. When he leans away, I panic, but in one fluid motion, he pulls off his forest green hoodie and slips it over my head. When he’s done, I immediately close the wretched gap between us, pressing against him again.
He was gone for less than five seconds, but that was enough for my tears to return and the panic to grip my throat again. Angel wipes the fresh tears, and I nuzzle into his bare chest like a cat.
Wrapped in his scent and grounded by his warm touch, I calm down quicker than I ever have after a panic attack.
We stay curled together until my eyelids burn and my body feels too heavy to support its own weight.
“You’ll be here when I wake up, right?” My voice is barely a whisper, but the fear laced within it is crystal clear.
“I’ll always be here,” Angel promises.
He eases us down the bed, never loosening his hold aroundmy waist. His fingers play with my hair, lulling me to sleep, and I completely relax on top of him.
His scent is irresistible, and the urge to bite his neck nearly overwhelms me, but I settle for a soft kiss instead. He hugs me tighter in response, pressing me flush against him.
“Go to sleep, sweetheart. I’ve got you.” His chin rests on my head, his hand rubbing my back under his hoodie.
I hold him close, my fingers digging into his back. “Will you hide me if they come back?”
