Chance had left me alone for a few hours. I had been laying in my bed staring at the ceiling when I heard a soft knock on my bedroom door. I could smell Chance and I groaned, not wanting to talk to him or really anyone at the moment. Chance knocked again and I huffed, standing up from my bed and wiping at my eyes, trying to hide the fact that I was crying. I looked in my mirror and cringed, my cheeks were blotchy and my eyes were bloodshot. I honestly didn't care what I looked like to Chance and opened my door. I didn't make eye contact with Chane and just went back to laying in my bed.

"What do you want?" I whispered, my face to the wall and my back-facing Chance.

I heard my door shut and felt the bed dip a bit. "Do you want to tell me what happened down there?"

I mumbled into my pillow, "No."

Chance sighed. "It was sort of a rhetorical question, Bailey."

I turned around to face Chance and looked at him. "You asked me a question so how am I supposed to know if you wanted an answer or not?"

Chance growled and I groaned. "Why do you have to make everything so goddamn difficult all the time?"

"Why do you always have to growl at me?"

Chance cracked a small smile and then it disappeared. "Can you please give me some sort of explanation? My wolf is going crazy knowing that someone had hurt his mate, please calm him down."

I felt my heart sink a little because Chance doesn't care about me at all. It shouldn't hurt but it does. "It started freshman year. There was this senior that was interested in me. I was about to turn fifteen and he was eighteen at the time. I didn't really think it was a problem. I was shocked that someone actually liked him. I was short with long curly hair and still wearing my retainers. I didn't have many friends. My friends thought this was a prank because how could a popular senior like a little freshman like me? I didn't want to believe them because he was actually nice to me. I did whatever he asked me to do. I loved all the attention he was giving me, even though he told me it would be our little secret. After the summer going into my sophomore year, everything changed."

I stood up from my bed, not wanting to look at Chance anymore. He was giving me the look everyone gave me when they found out what had happened to me. I didn't need the pity look, especially from him. I walked over to my vanity and sat down at the chair, staring at my hands. Chance finally spoke. "How did things change?"

I looked at the pictures on my mirror, smiling at the memories from high school and sort of missing my friends that I ended up cutting off. "I guess I finally went through puberty. I stopped wearing my retainers, I got contacts and I finally grew a few inches. I did my makeup and I straightened my hair. I was still with that guy even though now he was in college. He told he actually did start talking to me on a bet and ended up liking me in the end. I was almost sixteen now and he was nineteen in college. I was so naïve and I ignored my friends and their input on him but damn should I have listened to them."

I took a deep breath, the next part of the story being the hardest for me to tell. "It was the middle of my sophomore year and he got me drunk at a college party and he had sex with me. I woke up the next day being really sore and there was a tiny bit of blood on the bed sheets. He was asleep next to me. I asked him what happened and he said we had sex and I had consented and the blood was normal. I remembered bits and pieces of that night. I remember fighting him and screaming but he told me that I wanted this and that if I had sex with him, I would be the most popular person ever. I was so stupid."

I wiped at my eyes and Chance whimpered, his wolf probably hurting. "Bails..."

I sniffed. "I'm not done. He continued to have sex with me even though I didn't want to but I was scared to leave him or tell anyone. He started hitting me when I would want to leave or not have sex. He would tie me up and leave me there and beat me. It was the beginning of my senior year when I couldn't even hide the bruises or the pain anymore. It was when he broke my arm that I had to tell my mom everything. She made me contact the police and take up self defense classes. I spent my entire senior year in court with him. I won and he's in jail for a very long time now for abusing and raping a minor."

Chance didn't say anything for a little while. "Where is he now?"

"He's in jail for life for abusing and raping a minor. He was doing the same thing to another girl in one of his classes. He went to jail with no bail or even with the idea of parole. I don't care about him and he's not coming for me anytime soon, I promise you. I thought I loved him but turns out I don't even know what love is."

Chance growled. "I could kill him. I could go to where he is right now and kill him with my bare hands. No man should ever do that to a girl, let alone do that to someone for four fucking years!"

I flinched, hating when Chance yelled. "Do you understand why I hate that you're so possessive? You yell and growl and try to control me all the time and it reminds me of him! I'm afraid you're going to hurt me one day."

Chance's eyes went back to a beautiful sea blue color. 'You think I'm going to hurt you?"

"Yes! I'm afraid of you sometimes. I'm scared you're going to touch me like he touched me. You talk about mating and biting and I'm not ready for that, mentally or physically and I probably won't be for a very long time and you need to accept that!"

Chance stood from my bed. "Then I'll wait for you, Bails. I would never force you to do something you don't want to do."

I laughed bitterly. "You forced me to come and live with you. How could I not be afraid? You threatened to tie me up and that brings back so many goddamn memories! I have scars on my wrists from the ropes and the abuse. Why do you think I usually only wear long sleepover shirts? I try so hard to hide the scars he left behind on me, mentally and physically."

Chance's expression softened. "I would never force you to have sex with me. You are my mate and my other half. I'm sorry if I made you feel this way. I might not show it much, but I do care about you Bailey, wolf aside."

I turned away from Chance, letting out a chocked sob. I felt Chance's presence behind me. I think he was scared to touch me. I turned around and wrapped my arms around his neck, breathing in his scent and trying to calm my crying down. His arms circled around my waist and for some reason, I felt safe."

"Why don't you get some sleep?"

I nodded and let Chance lead me to my bed. He pulled the covers up to my chin and kissed my forehead. He was able to leave but I grabbed onto his wrist. "Please stay for a little."

Chance nodded and walked around to the other side of my bed and got under the blankets with me. I moved a tiny bit closer to him but not enough to touch him and then I fell asleep, with no nightmares."

***

I woke up to snoring. The sun was shining through my window and I was starving. My stomach was growling and my wolf was becoming restless. I tried getting up but then I realized that Chance's legs and mine were tangled together His head was resting in the crease of my neck and shoulder. One arm was draped loosely over my waist and he was snoring extra fucking loud in my ear.

I grabbed my pillow from out under my head and threw it at his head. Chance groaned and rolled over, taking the blankets with him and leaving my body bare and cold. I hit him again with the pillow and he stuck his head under his pillow and mumbled a few words. I laughed and got up, walking into my bathroom and brushing my teeth and hair. I then headed downstairs and was engulfed in the smell of bacon, eggs, and hash browns.

My grandma was near the stove, making some eggs. She turned around when she heard the creak in the floorboard and smiled at me. "Good morning, sugarplum. I knew I heard someone but wasn't sure who else would be up just yet."

I smiled and sat down at the table. "Where is everyone?"

Grandma took the eggs off the stove and put them on a plate. She added a few pieces of bacon and some hash browns. I took a piece of toast and took the plate from him. "Your grandfather went to the store to get some milk and orange juice. Your mom is upstairs in the shower and your dad is still sleeping. Chance still sleeping?"

I nodded and began eating the eggs. "Thank you for the breakfast, it smells and tastes amazing. I woke up Chance so he should be down here soon."

As soon as the words left me mouth, Chance appeared in the kitchen. After last night, I felt like we became closer. I still wasn't ready to give myself to him fully but I was willing to give him a chance, pun intended.

"Hi, sweetheart, what would you like?"

Chance looked at my grandma and then sat down next to me. "A little bit of everything?"

I giggled and my grandma smiled. "I know how you men are with food, always so hungry. Baileys dad could eat everything in the house in one day if I let him. You can have whatever you like and can also have seconds or thirds if you want."

Chace smiled and thanked her and took the plate from her. I looked up and saw my dad and mom coming into the kitchen. "Did I hear someone mention my name?"

"Good morning." I said, as soon as everyone was now in the kitchen, including my grandpa.

Chance stole a piece of bacon from plate and gave me a huge smile. "Hi."

I stole toast from his plate. "Hi."

Chance poured himself a cup of orange juice. I poured myself a cup too. "Can we talk later?"

Chance nodded, "Yeah, anything bad?"

I shook my head. "No, but you might enjoy what I have to say."

Chance smiled and continued eating. I stopped eating and looked at my family. My mom handed me a box. "Happy birthday, sweetie."

I laughed, forgetting it was my birthday. Chance looked at me and smiled. "Yes, happy birthday. I Have your gift at home. Today, we're doing the barbeque for your birthday and for you to meet the pack. You'll be introduced as my Luna and later in the week you'll be brought into the pack. You guys are all invited, it starts at two. I'll have my Beta come and pick everyone up."

My grandma nodded. "Sounds great, honey."

I smiled, petting my dogs that were sitting under the table, waiting for food to fall on the ground. "I better start getting ready then. Should we head back?"

"Yes, let's go. Thank you so much for breakfast. See you guys later," Chance put his cup and plate in the sink and then turned to me, "Want to go for a run?"

I smiled. "Yes, my wolf has been anxious all night."

"Let's go."

Chance and I ran outside, shifting midair into our wolves. I shook out my fur and playfully nudged Chance's side. He nipped at my side, nudging me back. I licked his face and took off running. I thought I was in the lead but then I felt someone tackle me and looked up to see Chance's wolf on top of me. His snout nuzzled into my neck.

Chance sat down and tilted his head to the side while I lay on the ground. The sun was shining rightly above us and I didn't want to head back just yet.

Can we stay here for a little bit? I don't want to head back just yet.

Chance laid down next to me. Sure, are you tired?

A little bit, can I nap here for an hour?

Chance rested his head on my back. Of course. I'll keep watch.

I closed my eyes and let the darkness envelop me.

______