LUKE
I picked Ava up and held her against my chest while she cried. I didn't know the right thing to say, so I didn't say anything. I just kissed her forehead a lot and held her close. Eventually, she fell asleep, exhausted. I got up and laid her down on the bed, pulling the covers over her. Her face was red, and her eyes were swollen. She had a frown even while sleeping. She looked so small and so broken. I sat beside her on the bed and gazed at her. My tiny mate. Why did she have to go through so much? I wished I could take away all her pain.
I was so angry. Angry at Taylor for daring to hurt Ava, and angry at myself for not stopping it in time. She could have died today. We'd been together for one f*****g day, and I could have lost her. My breath caught in my throat at the thought. A
