Total pages in book: 113
Estimated words: 109716 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 549(@200wpm)___ 439(@250wpm)___ 366(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 109716 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 549(@200wpm)___ 439(@250wpm)___ 366(@300wpm)
Her sobbing gradually dissolved to small hiccups. When the car finally stopped in front of the house, I breathed out. “I’m home, Angel,” I said before hanging up.
I opened the door and quickly got out. Running up the steps, I was almost at the door when a sharp pain shot through my wounded leg.
I limped inside the house. From the top of the stairs, I heard sobbing. Following it to my room, I pushed the door open.
My knees almost gave out at the sight in front of me. The room was completely trashed. Lena and Maddie were hugging each other next to the door, crying. Phoenix paced the room while Viktor stood in the middle, facing the corner next to the bed.
My hands curled into fists at my sides, and I moved forward slowly.
Ayla was on the floor, next to the nightstand. She sat against the wall, her knees pulled up to her chest, rocking back and forth as she cried. She was curled into herself, as if hiding from everything and everyone.
My heart stuttered at the sight. She looked so broken, so fragile.
I turned to Viktor. He looked in pain. Shaking his head, he walked out of the room.
My gaze moved back to Ayla. Her face was hidden behind her arms. I walked forward and knelt down in front of Ayla. “Angel,” I whispered.
Her head snapped up, and she choked back a sob. Her eyes were red and filled with tears. Her cheeks flushed and wet. She looked at me with so much emotion that it was impossible for me to take.
So much pain. Sadness. Anger. Betrayal. Hurt.
I knew in that moment, she felt too much, too fast.
Ayla let out a loud cry, and in a flash, she was in my arms. We sank to the floor, and she climbed into my lap. With her face hidden in my chest, she burrowed deeper into my body like she wanted to hide in me.
I wrapped my arms around her and rocked her back and forth. “Shh…it’s okay, Angel. I’m here now, and I am not leaving you.”
Placing kisses on her head and face, I held her tighter. “I got you, Angel.”
Her arms went around me, holding me. Her fingers dug into my side as she cried in my chest. She never uttered a word. I didn’t urge her to.
I held her, and I knew it was enough for her. As long as she was in my arms, it was enough for me too.
The door closed behind us as everyone left. We stayed on the ground as Ayla continued to cry. I talked to her as I did before.
I carried her to bed. We laid under the covers, holding each other.
Her tears eventually stopped, and when silence fell upon us, I stopped talking too. I slightly pulled away and saw that her eyes were closed. I brushed her tears away and softly caressed her cheeks.
We stayed like this for some time, and finally, Ayla slowly blinked her eyes open. I tried to smile but found it hard to. My heart was in agony. It hurt so fucking much, it was almost impossible to breathe.
When Ayla stared at me, I sucked in a harsh breath.
The emotions I had seen in them before were now gone.
“Angel,” I whispered. “Let me see you…cry, be angry. Hit me. Scream at me. But I can’t bear to look into those empty eyes anymore.”
She continued to stare in silence and then closed her eyes.
That was it. I sighed and waited for her breathing to even out.
I slowly moved away and got off the bed. My leg continued to ache, the muscles contracting painfully as I limped.
After removing my coat and slacks, I examined the wound. It wasn’t bleeding, but it hurt as if the stitches were being ripped away from my skin.
I was taking off my shirt when I froze.
“You…are…hurt.”
My eyes widened, my mouth falling open.
That voice. That beautiful voice.
The words were so softly spoken, the voice slightly scratchy. But I heard it.
My throat was suddenly dry, and my heart drummed so loudly that I heard it in my own ears. My chest tightened. Swiveling around, I faced my Angel.
She was staring at my leg with her lifeless green eyes. But she fucking talked. To me.
I held my fist to my mouth, holding back my emotions before clearing my throat.
“I’m…okay,” I replied, taking a step forward.
Her gaze stayed fixated on my wound for another minute before she looked at me.
We stared at each other. Blue to green.
No more words were spoken by her.
Eventually, she closed her eyes and burrowed deeper under the cover.
This time, I smiled.
I had promised to give Ayla back her wings.
And I would continue to fight until my Angel could fly again.
Chapter 8
Ayla
I hate him.
The man with those beautiful blue eyes, I hated him.
I hated that he made me feel. I hated that his touch made me feel.