When Things Start Falling Apart

Maddison’s POV

I barely slept that night.

Every time I closed my eyes, I kept seeing Liam running into Emma’s arms again.

“Mommy.”

The word wouldn’t leave my head no matter how hard I tried.

I turned around on the bed slowly and stared at the ceiling. The room was quiet except for the soft sound of the air conditioner. Everything here was calm, too calm. I still wasn’t used to it.

No shouting.

No fear.

No footsteps that made my chest tighten.

I slowly sat up, pressing my hand against my ribs when pain shot through my body. The bruises were healing, but not fast enough. My wolf was still weak after the accident.

I looked around the room again before my eyes stopped on the glass of water near the bed.

Damian must have left it there earlier.

My chest tightened strangely at the thought.

I still didn’t understand why he cared this much.

The sound of a knock pulled me from my thoughts.

Before I could answer, the door opened slightly and Katie peeked her head inside.

“Oh good, you’re awake.”

I nodded a little.

She walked inside carrying a few shopping bags in her hands before dropping them carefully on the couch.

“What’s all this?” I asked quietly.

“Clothes.” She smiled. “You can’t keep wearing hospital gowns forever.”

I stared at the bags in surprise. “You bought these for me?”

“Well technically Alpha Damian paid for them.”

My cheeks warmed instantly.

“That wasn’t necessary.”

Katie rolled her eyes dramatically. “Trust me, arguing with that man is impossible.”

A small laugh escaped my lips before I could stop it.

Katie froze for a second then pointed at me excitedly.

“There! You did it again.”

I frowned. “Did what?”

“You laughed.”

The smile on my face slowly faded.

I honestly couldn’t remember the last time laughing felt natural.

Katie’s expression softened when she noticed my face change.

“You’ve really been through a lot, haven’t you?”

My throat tightened immediately.

I looked down at my hands. “I’m okay.”

“That’s not an answer.”

I stayed silent.

Katie sighed softly before sitting beside me on the bed.

“You know, when Damian brought you here, everyone thought you were going to die.”

My fingers slowly tightened together.

“He barely left the hospital wing. Henry practically forced him to shower.”

I blinked in surprise.

“Why?”

Katie gave me a look like the answer was obvious.

“Because he was worried.”

The strange feeling in my chest returned again.

Warm, uncomfortable, dangerous.

I quickly shook my head. “He barely knows me.”

“Sometimes that doesn’t matter.”

Before I could respond, another knock came from the door.

This time Damian walked in.

The moment his eyes landed on me, he paused slightly like he was checking if I was alright.

That small action alone made my heart flutter.

Katie stood up immediately. “Perfect timing. Tell her to stop pretending she’s fine.”

“Katie,” I whispered in embarrassment.

“What? It’s true.”

Damian’s gaze moved back to me. “Are you in pain?”

“No, I’m not.”

The lie came too fast.

His eyes narrowed slightly. “Maddison.”

I looked away immediately.

“I’m fine.”

He didn’t say anything for a few seconds.

Then he walked closer and placed a small paper bag on the table beside me.

“You need to eat properly.”

“I’m not hungry.”

“You said the same thing yesterday.”

Katie snorted softly behind him. “See? Impossible.”

Damian ignored her completely.

I stared at the food quietly before finally reaching for it slowly.

For some reason, the look on his face softened a little when I did.

Katie noticed too because she suddenly smirked.

“Oh wow.”

Damian finally looked at her. “What?”

“Nothing.” She grinned. “Absolutely nothing.”

I frowned in confusion while Damian looked mildly annoyed.

Katie grabbed her purse quickly. “Anyway, I should leave before Rowan starts looking for me.”

She winked at me before practically running out of the room.

The moment the door closed, silence filled the room again.

Awkward silence.

I focused on opening the food container just so I wouldn’t have to look at Damian directly.

“You don’t have to force yourself around me,” he suddenly said.

I looked up slowly. “What?”

“You get tense whenever I walk into the room.”

Heat rushed to my face instantly.

“I’m sorry.”

“There you go again.”

I froze.

Damian leaned against the wall quietly.

“You apologize too much.”

My fingers tightened around the spoon.

“I don’t mean to.”

“I know.”

His voice wasn’t harsh.

That somehow made it worse.

Because I wasn’t used to people correcting me gently.

I swallowed hard before finally asking the question that had been sitting in my chest since I woke up.

“Did Fernando come looking for me?”

Damian’s expression changed immediately.

Slightly colder.

“Yes.”

My heart dropped.

“He knows I’m alive?”

“He suspects it.”

Fear slowly crawled into my chest.

“What did he say?”

Damian stared at me for a moment before answering.

“He wants you back.”

I let out a bitter laugh.

Of course he did.

Not because he loved me.

Because Fernando hated losing control over things that belonged to him.

And that was all I had ever been to him.

A possession.

Nothing more.

I looked down quietly as memories started flooding back again.

The beatings.

The insults.

Emma.

Liam calling her mommy.

My eyes burned badly.

“I can’t go back there,” I whispered before I could stop myself.

The room became very quiet after that.

Then Damian finally spoke.

“You won’t.”

I looked up at him slowly.

The look in his eyes was calm and certain.

And for the first time in years…

I actually wanted to believe someone.