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
it when you suggested you couldn’t be my
you pushed me over the edge,
continuing.”
her grappling with her emotions. “Dominic,
She whispers, staring at the water. “I wasn’t
think maybe
aware of. And Mike’s betrayal and
them into very
and I gently flip her
facing me completely, I snuggle her to my chest, lowering my knees
can
so sorry, baby.” I profess, kissing her
I just don’t trust myself not to say things
mean when I’m that angry. The same way I would never make
a punishment in the height of a fury. I think taking
maybe we can
too much physical distance.” I suggest. “But even if we can’t, you
how far I go or how long I stay away, I will always come back
you, Ella.”
her arms tighten
you,” She hiccups, “and I’m sorry I said I couldn’t be your Luna, but you have
This isn’t the
for you and failed.”
moment.” I order, sliding my finger under her
mine. “First of all you take care of me all
You keep
l’m being an ogre You stand up to bullies like the Prince and
don’t want you
Alpha’s DNA to nurture and protect. If you didn’t let me
you, I would be a
“But I didn’t
the terror that
I suggested tying her up. I’ve growled and grumbled
my knee and overpowered her countless times without any
her wolf responds to my bossiness like
both know this didn’t happen randomly. I accidentally triggered something
didn’t I?”
Ella’s chin, but her eyes look anywhere
slight nod, and then her wide gaze returns
my heart aches. “Do we have
I could tell her no, promise that she won’t ever have
help anything.
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