Her small hands fisted tightly into his shirt as soft, broken sobs escaped her lips. He cupped her cheek, guiding her head to rest against his chest, rocking gently back and forth slow, rhythmic movements, like one would soothe a frightened child.
"I'm here, my doll," he rasped, pressing a kiss to the crown of her head. "I'm right here."
His arms tightened around her.
"I won't let anything hurt you. I swear it."
"I'll protect you."
Now he understood.
Now he fucking understood her terror her instinctive fear of his reality. Someone from his race had destroyed her long before he ever entered her life. Her reaction wasn't irrational.
It was survival.
If only he had known sooner.
The realization struck him like lightning, a violent thunderbolt cracking open a memory he'd buried. The night before they left his house Sofia on the floor by the main door, sobbing, spiraling into a panic attack. And beneath it all…
The scent.
A rogue.
"Fuck," he cursed silently.
