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anguish.
    Kris lowered his voice, but had to keep it high enough for me to hear or else his mother wouldn’t be able to. “Mom, don’t freak her out.”
    “Oh, dear. Yes. I’m so sorry, dear.” She cautiously approached me.
    Dom slid between us. “Don’t upset her,” he rumbled.
    My heart warmed. He was definitely keeping his promise. I didn’t know how I could have ever doubted him. “It’s okay, Dom.” She was human. I didn’t want him bullying her.
    Apparently she didn’t need me to defend her though. She placed a hand on one of her wide hips and scowled at him. “Honey, you’re not the alpha yet. Nevertheless, you know I treat everyone like my own so don’t give me any lip.” She shoved him aside.
    There was something charming and endearing about the woman. He r accent hinted that she was a Southern belle who could raise hell. I immediately liked her.
    “Hi, honey. My name’s Lisa. I’m Kris’ momma.” She held up an oversized bag. “I brought you some clothes. I can help you change out of those.”
    I looked down at my outfit. I startled at the blood staining my hoodie, undoubtedly having ruined my shirt beneath. No one had said anything. Not even Dom. They’d kept qu iet.
    I turned my attention to him. I saw the apology in his eyes. He didn’t want to upset me further. They were all more concerned about me than their images because they’d walked through a busy school with someone covered in blood. I hadn’t realized I was even bleeding. It must have happened after I got out of the shower because I’d changed into my school clothes. How had I not smelled it, sensed it, something?
    Lisa’s smile fell. “Or not. We can wait until after the doctor looks at you, dear.”
    I nodded my head numbly, my mind racing, my head spinning.
    It was all a blur. How had I gotten here? How had I gone from an innocent little girl to a regularly abused young woman? Everything had just happened it seemed. There was no gentle transition. There was nothing gentle or easy about what brought me here.
    I’d never wanted to run more than now. Tears stung my eyes. I couldn’t hide from them the way I could hide from myself. I couldn’t hide the truth from them the way I could from myself. I could manipulate what I believed based off what I hoped. I couldn’t manipulate facts though; I couldn’t deny the present.
    I was abruptly all too conscious of my predicament. I was a weak wolf standing bared and broken before kind strangers who didn’t look at me with hope; they looked at me helplessly, hopelessly. They saw me for who I was, not who I convinced myself I was. I’d never felt like such an utter failure as a wolf, and especially as a woman.
    I’d completely abandoned the progressive women’s rights movement. I represented women of an era past. I was a prime example of oppression.
    Another knock sounded on the door.
    “I’ve got it,” Dom’s dad stated, flying across the room to answer the door. Rather than welcome the person in, he slid outside.
    Insecurities attacked me. Was he embarrassed by me and didn’t want to anger his son or hurt my feelings? No doubt he was talking about me…right?
    Chapter 22
    Dominick
    “In here.” My dad led the doctor into the living room.
    Sophie scrutinized the man approaching, taking a step closer to one of the sofas. “It’s okay. That’s our pack doctor,” I explained.
    Lisa moved beside Kris, allowing the man to glimpse all of Sophie.
    She worked her bottom lip hard. She wasn’t blinking. She was staring ahead at him . Her anxiety was palpable. I wanted to touch her, to reassure her, but couldn’t because her asshole father had beat her to pulp.
    “Hello, Sophie. My name is Dr. Charles. I take care of all the wolves in the building.”
    Her expression tugged down into the beginnings of a frown.
    Sensing her shift, he sprung into action. “I just need to examine your arm and any other wounds.”
    Hesitantly, she nodded her head.
    Dr. Charles looked around