Abbie's POV
I walked away from Tara with a big smile on my face, opened the door to the restroom, and sighed, couldn't help but feel content. Maybe it was childish behavior, but right now, I did not care. I was satisfied with the look on my sister Tara's face. She had finally made me lose my giblets, and I was done being the nice one.
"Hmmm!" I hear Lily sigh while leaning on the vanity with her head hung low.
"Lil... are you ok?" I asked, making her jump in place.
"Abbie. Shit... you startled me," she says, holding her hand over her heart, making me chuckle lightly.
"Sorry. Didn't mean to." I replied as I leaned back with my hands against the door.
"You must think I'm going crazy, right?" she asks, giving me an apologetic look.
"No. Not at all, Lil." I reply, walking toward her and holding her shoulders.
"Lil... I get it. You went through hell with your previous mate. He did things to you that should never be forced upon anyone. Lil, you are a true hero, a survivor." I say, making her eyes watery as she looks down.
"I hate that I can't correspond to Henry like I should. He deserves a better mate, not someone... tainted."
"Stop it, Lily. You are not tainted. Those scars you're holding on to... they are not there to make you feel ashamed," I said, making her stare at me surprised.
"Lil, You're still here, you're still standing. Those wounds, those scars they left you. It is a reminder that you survived that hell. You survived and lived to tell. You are a warrior and a goddess, and neither he nor anyone can break you again because you proved you could live despite that hell."
"Still... I wish I weren't so scared and filled with guilt. I want to be with Henry... I do...I love him, Abbie, but every time I see him, it's a constant nightmare of... what if Timothy ever came back." she leans against the vanity, sighing and closing her eyes.
"I'm scared that he can hurt Henry, Abbie. After Hunter and Henry rescued me, Timothy somehow found out Henry was my mate, and swore revenge on Henry for taking me away from him." she sobs, lowering her head. I could feel her tremble, making me feel concerned. She looked absolutely mortified, and I didn't know what to say or do, but to listen.
"I'd rather die than see Henry get hurt because of me, Abbie. Timothy is a sadistic man and doesn't care for anyone but himself. He didn't care that he had already rejected me, he kept coming back to torture me and abuse me, sent men to do the same, and laughed in my face as they had their way with me. I constantly wake up in a cold sweat, dreaming I'm back in that cold, dark, and horrible dungeon." she says, making me knit my brows in sadness. I can't believe she went through so much.
I wish things had been different. I wish I had been stronger when I was younger, and didn't let myself be pushed around so much by Tara and Armand. If I had been stronger back then, maybe I wouldn't have had to leave...and maybe, I would have been here to help protect Liliana.
I don't know who this Timothy guy is... but I already hate him. If he ever came and showed his face, I'd rip his throat out myself.
"What if... what if he does something horrible to Henry? I could never live,"
"Stop it!" I cut her off, making my heart ache for her as tears fell from my eyes. Hunter would never allow that, Lily. And Henry is a strong and powerful guy, too. Even if this... timothy guy ever came back... you have all of us to protect you. You're not alone anymore. You're not alone." I said as I hugged her tightly, making her so on my shoulder.
"I mean it, Lily... you're not alone. You have great friends to look after you now, a great pack that loves and respects you, a caring brother who will kill for you, and a sister in me who would do the same." I said, making her chuckle.
We must have been there a while because a few minutes later, Henry came knocking on the door to check on us. We made our way out, and immediately, Henry asked Lily if she was ok. I could see the concerned look on his face, making my lip tug into a small smile.
"I'll let you guys talk for a bit, ok? I'll wait for you guys back at the cafe." I say, making her look at me in concern. "You'll be fine. Henry would never hurt you." I said through our mind link, making her bite her bottom lip.
I began to walk past them and made a turn away from the hallway toward the cafe when I spotted my sexy devil. Hunter stood with his hands crossed and leaning on the wall close to the cafe.
"Hunter!" I said wide-eyed, making him chuckle. I couldn't help but run to him, hugging him tightly around his neck as he hugged me back tightly, making me squeal in excitement.
"I missed you."
"I missed you too, baby," he says, making me feel warm inside as our spark surged through our bodies. "Hows>ily? Henry told me she ran out of here, is she ok?" he asks, concerned, holding my hands.
"She's doing ok now. She still has much to heal, but, We'll be there for her. Little by little." I say, making him sigh. "I swear if I ever get my hands on that motherfu,"
"Hunter!" I scold him, making him growl. His eyes darken, and his canines expose.
"Titus... Hunter... I know you both are angry. You have all the right to be. But what Lily needs the most right now is for us, Tobe there for her. She needs our moral support more than us going after revenge. That... Timothy guy... will get karma sooner or later." I say, gritting my teeth at his name.
"I suppose you're right, baby. I just... I should have ripped his head off when I had the chance to." he says, fisting his hands. His veins engorged around his neck and temples, making me bite my bottom lip.
I know... not the time to get turned on, right? But damn... he's fucking sexy, alright?
Lily and Henry finally returned, and we had a nice, quiet coffee together before we had to head back.
"So... why did you return a day earlier, brother?" Lily asks, making him clear his throat. He and Henry exchanged glances, making me race a brow discreetly.
"Kaiden had to go take care of a few things. And Ricky had to take Livie to her check-up, so we postponed the rest of the meetings until a week before the king's birthday," he says, smiling at her. But, why did I feel he was hiding something from me? He acted rather suspicious right now. Still, I preferred not to pursue the matter and left it alone. For now... that is.
A half-hour later, we were finally going back to the pack house. Henry took Lily in his car while I rode back with Hunter in his nice sports car. Back home, I couldn't wait to feel more comfortable as I kicked off my shoes and threw my bra on the floor, making Hunter chuckle.
"Now... Correct me if I'm wrong... but did I hear my baby being a naughty girl today at the mall before I saw you?" he asks as he tilts his head slightly and lifts a brow.
He stalks toward me, grabbing me by the waist, tightening his grip around me, and kissing my mark. I couldn't help but bite my bottom lip and tilt my head heavenward as I closed my eyes, allowing myself to indulge in the feel of our spark again.
"I... I have not." I whispered, gripping his arms and squeezing them tightly as he sucked gently on my mark. It was more than evident he liked to tease me.
"Oh? That's not what I heard. What did you tell Tara, huh?" he asks, looking at me with lust in his eyes. They were dark, daring, and oh so damn charming.
"I... she was provoking me, ok? I had to put her in her place. At least this once. She thinks I'm still that stupid girl she would boss around and have Daddy dear whip because she was simply having a bad day at school. Tara is the epitome of a sadist. I will not stand for her bitchiness anymore." I said calmly, looking down to hide my irritation.
He sighs, smiles, and hugs me around my shoulders tightly. "Oh... and is that why you told her about how good," he says, as he gets closer, making me lean against the dresser behind me. His eyes darken, and I can hear a chesty growl vibrate off his throat as I realize he's looking at my bra-less chest.
He leaned next to my ear and whispered, making my hair stand in the back of my neck as my skin filled with goosebumps, "You enjoyed it when I ate you out in the shower?"
My eyes widen in surprise, making my cheeks heat in embarrassment. "I... Hunter... I... Sorry." I lowered my sight, making him chuckle.
"Sorry for what? That just means I'm doing a better job at pleasing my girl better than I thought," he says, kissing my lips, and making me moan involuntarily.