jace's pov

I'm worried about Acacia. She had been with me now for about a week or so, and ever since she had given us a glimpse into her past she had shut down. She became hesitant with her words, the fragile confidence she had built since I found her, was gone. Her nightmares grew more intense, but the second I was able to pull her from her memories, her walls drew up like a fortress. She'd apologize and try to assure me she was fine, but it was more than obvious she wasn't. She was drowning in her thoughts and was too afraid to reach out for help. She was still too unsure of speaking to others, and when we were around every she seemed to retreat even further into herself, merely sitting back watching everyone intently with her big brown eyes. Eyes filled with curiosity, a yearning for the companionship and affection from those around her.

Yet she held back.

I was planning on talking to Ainsley, wanting desperately for some advice. I was at a loss as to how I could help her. I was terrified of setting her recovery back further if I upset or triggered her in some way. The trust we were building was still shaky, and I knew Acacia was still wary of our bond. She accepted it, but she held back just a little. As if she waiting for the other shoe to drop, for me to suddenly change my mind, and reject her. She was hesitant, and I more than understood why. Everyone in her life, everyone she should have been able to trust, had let her down. That much I knew. The people who should have been there to protect her weren't. Instead, they rejected her, leaving her to suffer. She had no concept of trust. How was she, when she'd never had anyone she could trust?

I understood.

She needed time, stability, and patience. I could be that for her. I could give her that. I would be her protector. I would show her, day in and day out, that I wasn't going anywhere. I wasn't going to change my mind. I wasn't going to turn my back on her. I would never break her trust. It didn't matter to me how long it would take,

I would spend the rest of our days making sure she felt loved.

Safe.

Secure.

Ainsley was out of town till tomorrow, and I could tell the more time she had to worry about reliving her past, the more anxious she became.

"Acacia, sweet, please talk to me." Her big eyes looked at me in shock at my sudden outburst of concern, "It breaks my heart to see you hurting like this. I cannot sit back and you suffer alone. I'm here, sweet. I'm here. I'm not going anywhere. Whatever demons you're battling, whatever the nightmares that plague you, I am here. All you need to do is let me in."

Her eyes were downcast, her gaze on her lap, "I am afraid Jace. Always. I am so afraid always."

She finally raised her head to meet my gaze, and my heart broke. Tears were streaming down her face, yet she never made a sound. Even without her admission, her eyes gave her emotions away. Those big brown eyes of hers were always so expressive, words were hardly necessary. Once again I saw the yearning in her eyes, my fierce warrior goddess of a mate, starving for some sort of affection. Yet too afraid to ask, so she suffered silently. My heart hurt for the little girl she once was.

I didn't miss a beat. I immediately gathered her up in my arms. Wrapping her tiny legs around my waist as I held her as close as possible. It was like she was lowering her walls, even if it was just for a moment, like a dam breaking. She buried her face in my neck as she unconsciously breathed in my scent. I felt utterly helpless as I carried her over to our bed. Keeping her as close as humanly possible, I wrapped her tiny frame in blankets, as I hoped and prayed the warmth would soothe her in some way.

"I am here sweet. I won't let anyone hurt you. You are safe with me, OK? You are safe. I won't let them hurt you. Whoever, whatever, still haunts you will never hurt you again. Do not let them have any more power over you. You are safe. And I will say it however many times you need me to." I crooned in her ear, her sobs subsiding slightly as exhaustion took hold. Her body was still weak, and the constant state of fear she was in was not good. A person can not heal in that state. Her body would never be able to regain its strength with all of the stress that seemed to weigh her down. What she needed was time and space to heal where she didn't have to worry or stress about her past. She needed to focus on her recovery. But I feared that the worst was yet to come, and were merely sitting idle like sitting ducks, clueless to the danger lurking around the corner. The fear of the unknown was stifling, taking its hold on you, and draining you of every bit of energy in your body. So much was happening, and it felt hard to catch my breath.

"I- I want to be strong." She sobbed out.

"Don't you see, my sweet Acacia? You are one of the strongest wolves I have ever met. You have looked the devil in the eye and came out on the other side. Being afraid does not make you weak. Being afraid makes you human. I am afraid. Knowing there is something out there that might a threat to you, kills me inside. I can not, and will not lose you. Never again will anyone hurt you. As long as I am breathing on this Earth, you will be safe.

That is my vow to you."