Total pages in book: 151
Estimated words: 139803 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 699(@200wpm)___ 559(@250wpm)___ 466(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 139803 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 699(@200wpm)___ 559(@250wpm)___ 466(@300wpm)
He nodded. “I always knew you would, baby girl. Don’t ever forget that, okay? When the day seems dark, spread those wings and scream at the pain. Be my goddess and be Axel’s fighter.”
“What colors do you bleed?” Axel asked as he stepped into the kitchen, obviously picking up on the conversation.
I smiled at him through my tears. “Brown and blue.”
He nodded, leaning down to cup my face in his hands. “Remember the colors you bleed, sweet girl. We are always with you, no matter what.”
49
Julian brought my hand up to his lips as we walked into the visitation room at the center. “Breathe. We’re here with you, baby. I know you’re nervous, but you have to remain calm.”
“I’m not sure if I’m ready to do this group session.”
“Sweet girl,” Axel said softly, drawing my eyes up to his dark ones. He rubbed his thumb over the back of my hand that he was holding, “you will be fine. You’re so much stronger—definitely a lot stronger than you were when you were last here in the center. Just breathe.”
Dr. Gresham stepped out of one of the private rooms and gave the three of us a warm smile, but it fell from his face when his eyes landed on me. “Meghan, it’s going to be okay,” Dr. Gresham assured me. “Here, take a seat.” He pulled out a chair. I dropped into it as I rubbed my chest. “You’re pale as a sheet.”
“I don’t know how I feel about this group session anymore.” I was extremely nervous. I knew Alli hated me, and I wasn’t sure if I was ready to face that hatred.
Axel knelt in front of me and grabbed my hands in his. “Meghan, sweet girl, you’re not alone. Julian and I are both here to be a buffer if she wants to try or say anything stupid to you, okay?”
I drew in a deep, shaky breath, hating the way that my chest ached. Julian pressed his warm, strong hand over my heart where it was beating rapidly. “You’re so strong, baby girl. Remember how strong you are,” he gently told me. “Where’s my goddess, baby girl?”
“She’s scared,” I told him, my voice trembling.
“Scream in the face of your fears, baby. Spread those beautiful white wings. Remember how they finally changed colors because you got stronger? Spread those wings, baby girl.”
Axel cupped my cheek, drawing my eyes to his. I knew everyone was staring at us. We were taboo; our relationship wasn’t anything normal, but I needed both of them at that moment, needed both of their reassurances.
“What colors do you bleed, sweet girl?” Axel asked me.
“Brown and blue,” I quietly answered.
He nodded. “You bleed us. Us, sweet girl. Don’t lose sight of that. When it begins to get tough, you remember the blood that flows inside of you. Remember Julian’s goddess. Remember that you’re my fighter, fighting your way through every bit of pain and fear inside of you.”
I nodded as a tear slid down my cheek. I quickly reached up to swipe it away.
“You ready, baby girl?” Julian asked me.
I drew in a deep breath and nodded my head before I stood to my feet. Dr. Gresham opened the door and led us inside. Alli was sitting at the table, but she looked up when we walked in. A smile stretched her lips when her eyes landed on Axel.
He gave my hand a gentle squeeze before he released it and wrapped his little sister up in his arms. Julian wound his arm around my waist and tugged me against his side. “Let’s take seats,” Dr. Gresham suggested as he took his own seat.
Julian pulled my chair out for me and waited for me to sit down before he did. Axel sat on the other side of me, and his hand rested lightly on my thigh under the table. Julian twisted our fingers together.
“My main concern today is how Alli feels about sharing a house with Meghan,” Dr. Gresham began.
Julian cleared his throat. “I want to make it clear that even though my name is on the paperwork, it is Meghan’s house, and what she says goes.”
Dr. Gresham nodded in understanding. “That’s understandable.” Dr. Gresham turned to Alli. “Alli, what are your feelings on this?”
“I don’t like her,” Alli bluntly spoke.
I flinched. Axel tightened his grip on my thigh in response. His body tensed next to me. A low rumble sounded from Julian’s chest.
“Why is that?” Dr. Gresham asked her.
She turned her angry brown eyes to me—eyes that were the same shade as her brother’s. “She took everyone away from me. Axel, Julian, Vincent—no one wants to deal with me.”
“That’s not true,” I cut in before Dr. Gresham could. “I didn’t take anyone from you, Alli. In fact, your brother and I had a pretty big argument because he wanted to put me before you. I was on your side,” I snapped at her. She scoffed in disbelief. “I was ready to break things off with your brother even though I knew it would kill a part of me so that you could have someone to rely on, someone that wasn’t worried about me.”