Chapter 121
Trigger Warning: This chapter contains experiences of abuse and s3xual assaultnothing explicit, but please take care reading..
Sinclair
Ella’s small body is completely stiff in my arms, even though we’re in her favorite
place. I’ve only bathed with her once before, but it didn’t take a rocket scientist to
figure out how much she loves a bubble bath. She takes at least four a week, and
when she’s upset I’ve known her to have a bath even after showering. Until I spoke
with Cora about Ella’s self-care practices, I didn’t understand the connection to her
childhood experience of neglect, but now that I know I’m determined never to deprive
her of the comfort even if my water bills go through the roof and the city goes into a
drought.
“Are you ready to talk this out, trouble?” I inquire, resting my hands on her round
tummy and feeling a pulse of stress from the baby. A fresh spark of worry assails me,
and I know that Rafe is channeling his mother’s fraught emotions. Ella doesn’t
respond to my question, and I press on, realizing that the poor little wolf isn’t going to
relax until she knows l’m not going to reject her”
Sweetheart, it never even crossed my mind to end things. I love you
Ella’s muscles tighten further, though I didn’t think such a thing was possible.
“But..She stammers, twisting around to look at me, “but you left!”
Im sorry that I walked out.”I reply gently, grazing my knuckles over her cheek. “But it
wasn’t because I ever had doubts about us.”I share, wondering about my sweet
mate’s reaction. I know some survivors of child abuse view any confrontation as a
disaster or threat, but Ella has weathered my anger in the past without any signs of a
trauma response. “I was angry that you thought you don’t contribute anything to our
my wolf lost it when you suggested you
the edge, and I needed to calm
continuing.”
brow furrows, and I can see her
whispers, staring at the water.
think maybe I have
of. And Mike’s betrayal and
into
I gently flip her body the
is facing me completely, I snuggle her to my chest, lowering
she can
profess, kissing her
upset, I
I’m that angry. The same way I would never make
punishment in the height of a fury. I think taking some space in the
maybe we can
distance.” I suggest. “But even if
far I go or how long I stay away, I will always come back
you, Ella.”
whimpers, and her arms
I said I couldn’t be your Luna,
weight here. This isn’t the first time I’ve tried to
for you and failed.”
at me for a moment.” I order, sliding my
to mine. “First of all you take care of me all the time. You
keep me
up to bullies
burdens even when I don’t want you to. Moreover, I need to
and protect.
of you, I
frowns. “But I didn’t let you.
thing.” I sigh, recalling the terror that came
I’ve growled and
and overpowered her
responds to my
both know this didn’t happen
didn’t I?”
still holding Ella’s chin, but her eyes look anywhere but at me. Slight
as Ella gives a slight nod, and then her wide gaze returns to
aches. “Do we have to
her no, promise that she won’t ever have to relive her
I know that wouldn’t help anything. “We’re in
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