07

I sprinted out of the living room and up the stairs. Not being able to control the feelings that I was experiencing right now. But I knew whatever was happening—it was happening to Ava. She was hurting herself.

Kayden and Lucy instantly run after me, their feet hot on my trail. My chest was heaving and I could literally feel my skin crawl with pain.

As I reach the bathroom door, I don't even hesitate to kick it down. The door snaps off the hinges, my hand throws it out of the way before I enter the bathroom.

Big puffs of steam come swarming towards me, I can barely even make out the shower it was so steamy. I hear her whimpers of pain in between deep uneven breathing. My forehead is coated in sweat the second I enter, the heat level in the room was too extreme.

Stepping closer to the shower I watch as the scolding water patters against her reddened back and her limp body against the white tub.

"Ava," her name comes out of my mouth nothing but a pathetic heartbroken whimper.

Before I can even think about what is happening I reach for her. Putting my hands in instantly to retract her body from the bathtub and away from the boiling water. Not even flinching when it hits my skin, scalding me.

Pulling her naked body out, I look at her face and watch as she falls into a lightheaded state. Her eyes rolled into the back of her head and her plump lips slightly parted.

"Put her on the floor, I can heal her." Lucy says quickly, her voice clear with panic. She grabs a blanket from the bed and lays it down onto the floor.

I notice Kayden standing in the door way, instantly growling at him not wanting my mate to be exposed to him.

Get out.

Kayden's eyes meet mine, he nods before shutting the door.

I place my mates body down onto the blanket and Lucy and I examine her back. "Fuck Jaxon, this isn't good!" Lucy whispers shouts to me.

Her back was red beyond belief and starting to peel from the burns. "How does our shower water even get this hot?!" Lucy says to me as her eyes scan her wounds.

My hands begin to shake at her pain, having to push back the tears that had gathered in my eyes. How much pain was she actually suffering to be hurting herself like this?

Lucy kneels down next to Ava and places her hands gently on her back. She closes her eyes and soon the burns start to heal themselves.

Once Lucy finished her healing, I scoop Ava up in the blanket and hold her close to my chest. My whole body was tingling from the bond, contact between us only making it stronger.

"Trust me when I say I am going to fucking murder those people that done this to her." I growl out to Lucy.

"I know and you have every right, but instead of focusing on that you need to focus on her." Lucy's voice is gentle and I know that shes speaking sense.

As much as I want to rip out Lucien's throat and everyone else that have even laid a finger on her, I needed to focus on her needs and her emotions more than anything. I need to build a real relationship with her, one built with trust and comfort.

Clutching my mate closer to me, I look down at her peaceful face. "You're right Luce, she comes first."

"I'll give you two some space," Lucy offers me a small smile and I watch as she turns to leave.

"Luce?" I call to her and she turns back quickly. "Thank you."

Her smile grows before she leaves.

I place my mate down on the bed, still wrapped up with the blanket. Gathering the spare clothes Lucy had given her, I slowly put them on her tiny body. I tried my best not to look at her naked body, she was going to be my Luna and I had to show her respect.

My hand reaches up and I gently begin to stroke her hair soothingly. After a few minutes she stirs and I wonder if it would be best to give her some space but at the same time I cannot even think about leaving her side.

She was hurting which resulted in hurting herself and that completely destroyed me. Her eyes part slightly and they look straight at me. At first she doesn't jump, she just continues to stare before pulling back from me.

I could feel her distress already, it was radiating through me like a blizzard.

"Hey, it's okay." I say softly.

Tears well up in her eyes as she continues to stare at me in horror.

"You don't need to be scared. I haven't given you any reason to not trust me, have I?" I question.

Her big brown eyes are still staring at me.

"Have I?" I ask again and she slowly shakes her head after a few moments.

"Then you don't need to be scared. Nothing and I repeat nothing is going to happen to you. You're safe."

She just nods again and looks down to her lap.

"Are you okay?" I ask her. Her eyes don't leave her lap but she nods.

"Lucy, my sister? She is a healer, she healed your back." I tell her, my eyes trying to catch hers but she continues to shield herself from me.

My mate nibbles at her lip and fumbles with her hands. "Hey," I take a risk and reach out to hold her hand.

Her eyes instantly jump back to mine, the warmth that has spread through my hand felt so good. Having her this close, the closest we had probably been.

In the back of my head I was worrying that she would think that this was too soon. But I know she felt it too, the warmth and the protection.

"Before you feel like you need to hurt yourself, talk to me. Please. Or Lucy, or anyone. Just don't go through it alone." I say softly.

"Okay."

I'm surprised by her voice and just hearing it puts me at ease, so I smile at her.

"H-How did you know?" Her voice is quiet and if I wasn't a wolf I wouldn't have been able to hear it.

"Know what?"

"That I was hurting myself." Her words are blunt.

"Because you're my mate, I feel your pain. I feel your emotions."

I watch as her eyebrows pull into a frown. "How?"

"It's called a bond. It helps us grow closer, it's what you feel when I touch you."

Her face looks even more confused. "W-Why didn't I have one with Lucien?" Her eyes cloud with tears when she mentioned his name.

I sigh looking at her. "Because I care about you. It only grows if the person gives their all to the other."

She blinks at me a couple times.

"Y-Your beta was here w-wasn't he?" Her voice comes out in broken speech, I notice that her body begins to shake slightly.

I furrow my eyebrows at her.

"Kayden? Yeah..." I trail off not understanding what she meant.

Her eyes begin to widen with fear and I can hear a slight hitch in her breathing.

Shaking my head at her feeling confused. "What's the matter?"

She shakes her head at me and avoids my eye contact, I can literally see her going back into her shell.

"Come on, let's get some breakfast." I say tugging at her little hand slightly. A distraction from everything was definitely needed.