Chapter 5 Learning to Help
**Marcus's POV**
I sat on the floor beside Lily's bed, her small hand still clutched in mine, and felt completely helpless.
She was crying again—softer now, exhausted tears that leaked from the corners of her eyes even as her body fought for sleep. Every few minutes, she'd start to drift off, her breathing evening out, and then she'd shift slightly and her broken ribs would make her gasp in pain. The cycle repeated over and over, and each time I watched her jolt awake with a whimper, something in my chest cracked a little more.
This was my mate. The person the Moon Goddess had chosen for me. And she'd been suffering like this for five years while I'd been too scared and stupid to reach out to her.
*Dad*, I sent through the mind link, keeping my mental voice
