REED POV
Liana clung to me as I carried her up the stairs leaving Malcolm and my brothers behind, her small hands clutching the fabric of my shirt like I was her last tether to safety. Her breaths were shallow, and every now and then, I felt the tremor that shook her slight frame. My wolf stirred uneasily, pacing inside me as though it could sense the vulnerability radiating from her.
“It’s okay,” I murmured, glancing down at her. She didn’t look up, her face pressed into my chest, but her fingers gripped me tighter. “No one’s going to hurt you. I promise.”
The words sounded hollow even to my ears. I hated how fragile she seemed, hated that she was terrified to the point of trembling. She was supposed to feel safe with us—with me.
When we reached her room, I nudged the door open with m
