Chapter 22

«Fraction)

I sit on the floor with my back to the door. for the seventh night in a row I’m listening to Anna sob to

herself in the shower. I know what’s happening in her dreams, she doesn’t realise it, but she talks in her

sleep. I listen as her father beats her, as John attacks her and dumps her in a cage, tonight I listened

as I tormented her. Each time she speaks in her sleep it kills something inside of me. Since that first

night we haven’t spoken about being mates, I haven’t touched her or even spoken. to her intimately.

She hasn’t left my bedroom, not once. I bring her food: she pushes it around her plate, and we sit in

silence. I want to be there for her but I’m running out of ways to help. Her safe place is the bathroom,

any time I try to talk to her she runs into there and hides for hours on end.

‘What can we do Leo?‘ I reach out to my wolf for advice.

‘Are you Alpha?‘ Leo responds

‘What a stupid question, of course I am.”

14.30

The Sadness Bubble

Vouchers

“Then be Alpha‘

‘What the hell does that mean?’

He doesn’t reply. “Then be Alpha.‘ What the hell does that mean?!

(Anna)

I don’t know how long I’ve been sitting in the shower, long enough for my shower to change from cold

to hot and back to cold. My tears have mixed with the water, I’m not even sure I’m crying anymore. I

should get up, I can hear Winter willing me to get up, she’s lending me her strength, but I don’t want it. I

want my sadness to weigh me down. I’m carrying it around me like a shroud, like a bubble. I’m using it

to protect myself.

It’s like an explosion goes off in the bathroom, the door splintering shocks a scream out of me. Fraction

is standing in front of me, he’s wearing the basketball shorts he fell asleep in, his beard is full and wild

like he’s been running his hands through it. His hair is standing on end, which makes him look adorable

and young. His eyes are switching between green and yellow, his chest is puffing in and out from his

deep breathing. He walks towards me as his eyes settle on green. He carefully opens the shower door

and leans down to pick me up. My n*ked wet b*dy collides with his chest. I’m not sure if I jump into his

arms or if he picks me up. I’m enveloped in a fluffy white towel as he sits me on the counter between

the two sinks.

“This has to stop Anna; I can’t help if you don’t talk to me.” He says in a low voice as he pushes the wet

hair out of my face. “You need to start talking or at least stop running from me. I won’t hurt you Anna,

not ever.” As he talks my eyes are drawn to his mouth, I don’t know why I do it, I’m like a moth to the

flame. I lean in and land a feather light k*ss on his l*ps. He doesn’t k*ss me back, so I go in for another,

this time I hold my l*ps to his. I’m just about to pull away when he slants his l*ps over mine, I feel his

tongue caress my l*ps and I gasp in

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surprise. As his tongue blends with mine fireworks go off in my head, it’s like Christmas, fresh cookies

and sunny days all rolled into one giant ball of goodness. I moan into his mouth and pull him closer with

my hands in his hair. I can’t get enough of his taste. I try to bring my leg up to his hip as he pushes me

away and holds me in place with his hands.

“Damn it, Anna. That’s not what I meant!” He sounds mad, the weapon I feel pressing between my

thighs says he’s anything but mad.

“I need you.” I say as I try to reach his mouth again, damn his immovable arms. “I’m your mate and I

need you!”

“No!” He moves to stand near the bath out of arms reach, I pull the towel further around me.

“You don’t want me?” I’m starting to cry, Goddess when will I run out of tears?

“Does it look like I don’t want you?” He points to his crotch, “Of course I want you. I just don’t want you

to regret it. When I finally have you, I want you to want me as much as I do you. I want you to feel loved

and cared for.”

“Then you’re going to be waiting a long time.” I sound bitter and angry. I jump down from the counter

and head back to the bed. I curl up under the sheets and start crying all over again. I hear Fraction take

his usual spot in the chair next to the bed.

III

Rage