I had to spend another two nights at the hospital for Melissa to make sure I was on the right path to recovery. My body had gotten thinner due to the lack of nutrients and it was disappointing to know that my hard work had gone down the drain.

Leila came to visit me a few times with Oliver by her side. Oliver cried the first time he saw me and he apologized for not being able to help me. He refused to leave my side the entire visit and from what Leila would tell me, he would beg her to come and visit me every time they would cross paths.

It always made me happy whenever I thought of Oliver. I never thought that I would be so accepted by so many people in such a short amount of time.

Other than them, none of the other pack members had come to see me since Levi was very protective even though the culprit of the poisoning had already been found.

After asking the pack members in charge of the meals, it turned out that Lucas had been given community service as a part of his punishment and he was in charge of preparing some of the meals that day. The pack members didn't think anything of the fact that I had a different meal from the others since Lucas told them it was his way of apologizing to me for what he did.

Levi and I settled on having him be imprisoned for life rather than an execution since I felt like taking another life wouldn't solve anything.

As usual, Levi wouldn't leave my side and would instead bring the pack work with him so he could work alongside me and get my opinion on things as well.

But even though he was always around me, it seemed as though there was something that still bothered him. He would be reading his paperwork but it was as if he wasn't seeing it and his mind was somewhere else.

Whenever I saw his mind wander like that my thoughts always flashed back to the morning I got poisoned and after seeing that he wasn't going to tell me on his own, I couldn't hold back my curiosity anymore.

"Hey, Levi?"

"Yeah?" he mumbled, rubbing his eyes and placing down the paperwork in his hands so he could look at me. "What's wrong?"

"It's just... you never told me what got you so upset that morning."

His eyes locked on my fidgeting hands and he clenched his jaw.

"I didn't want to tell you because I knew you would start to worry but it looks as though that plan backfired. I thought we would have solved it by now but we have no leads and we've made no progress."

Levi let out a sigh and pushed away all the paperwork laid out on the bed. He leaned forward so he could rest his head against my thighs. His exhaustion was taking a toll on him and I hoped that by telling me what was going on, he would feel more at ease and I could share his burden.

"Rain, you know I'm going to do everything I can to protect you right?" he whispered. I could feel the heat of his fingers dancing along the scars scattered across my wrists and I knew without a doubt that no matter what was to happen, I would always be his.

"Yes, I know," I smiled gently, tangling my fingers in his hair.

"It's your father," he said. "He somehow got through the patrols that morning. August spotted him but he left before he was able to do anything. He left behind a note saying that he would be coming for you."

I couldn't find it in me to say anything. The nightmares that haunted me every time I closed my eyes seemed more like foreshadowing than a reminder of my dark past. I should have known that he would come for me, but deep down I hoped that I could remain in this dream forever. This dream of Levi and I. Of gentle kisses and whispering touches and quiet I love you's.

Levi's eyes were warm but it looked as though there was something missing like he was waiting for me to say something, to assure him that everything would be okay.

Lost in the soft look on his face, the words fell from my lips, "I trust you."

A smile tugged at his cheeks as he wrapped his arms around my waist and buried his face into my stomach.

"I'm going to have someone around you at all times starting tomorrow. Leila, August, or Alexander will be there to protect you when I can't be there. Once you're discharged, I don't want you to leave the mansion until we're able to find your father. I wouldn't be able to stand it if anything else were to happen to you."

His soothing voice was muffled and I could feel his warm breath through the thin fabric of my gown with every word he spoke. He was determined. Determined to protect me and keep me safe even if he had to lock me away. But I knew that this illusion of a happy life was simply a facade, a delusion that now rippled under the pressure of my father's presence.

I always tried to hide from my past. It was a part of me I wanted to ignore. I felt dirty and impure, stained by the fingertips of hands that did not belong to Levi. But I was no longer the same puppet that obeyed my father's every whim. Levi made me realize that there is more to me than the scars on my skin and the tales my father told of my sins.

I now had something I wanted to protect. I had a future to look forward to and if it came to it, I would do whatever it takes to keep Levi safe. No matter what sacrifices I had to make.

"We'll be okay, Levi. I promise."