Astrid moved in and out of sleep the next few days. Sometimes she would try to jump out of bed, kicking and screaming as if her body was about to be opened up and violated again. She could hear Gaston and Lefoe torturing her. "Oh yea you whore that's what you like isn't it!" Her mind couldn't be rid of the things they had said, and she knew this never would have happened had she not been such a "whoore."

The pain all over her body was overwhelming, everyone thought she had been attacked by wolves, except Adam.

Astrid would awake from her personal hell, demons all around her, violating her body ripping her in two. Adams face was all that kept her from tumbling down into a deep black hole. She looked through her swollen puffy eyes, Adam was slumped over her bed. His big hands clutching the sheets, his hair pulled back in a messy twist. He slept so soundly.

Astrid tried to sit up in the bed, but a sharp pain like a knife stabbed her in her midsection. "Ahhhh!" She let the squeal slip from between her teeth. Adam opened his eyes and shot upright like a lightning bold had struck him. "Astrid!' He cradled her back supporting her as she had tried to sit up but failed. Tears ran down her face, she tried to breathe and catch her breath but it hurt so much.

"Easy, it's okay, calm down I've got you." Adam cooed. He stuffed two feather pillows behind her back so she could comfortably sit up. She finally caught her breath and focused on breathing deeply but gently, everything hurt.

Adam stood crouched over her afraid to touch her as if she would break if he did what he so longed to do and hold her close.

"Adam," Astrid looked into Adams sad handsome face. "Adam I'm so sorry, I should never have run away." It even hurt to speak. Adam pulled his mouth into a strait line to keep his lips from quivering. He shook his head and looked up at the ceiling searching for words. "No Astrid I'm-I'm so sorry this is all my fault!" Tears overtook him and he sniffled through his words breaking Astrids heart. She reached up and placed her hand on Adams cheek, he clutched her hand and kissed her palm. "Adam you saved me, this would have happened no matter what."

Astrid knew she would have met this awful fate sooner or later, that's what she got for fornicating with an evil man like Gaston. How could she have been so stupid.

Adams face turned to stone, what he was so worried for, praying not to be true Astrid had just confirmed. "So.." Adams voice shook. "It wasn't wolves?"

Astrid felt her own shameful tears invade her eyes, "yes Adam it was wolves, just not the kind you think." Adam held her palm and cried into it. He grew tense, anger filling his blood like hot oil. "Who did this, I'm going to kill them. Not just them I'm going make them disappear." Adams deep voice trembled with anger. Astrid took his shirt and gripped it with her hands. "It doesn't matter Adam, this was my fault, I caused this you can only blame me." Astrid pleaded, "just...just please don't go Adam I don't want to be alone!" Astrid tried to pull him close but everything inside and out was painful.

"Shhhh," Adam cooed, he positioned himself on the bed so that he could wrap her gently in his arms without causing her pain. "Il never leave you." Adam whispered. Astrid held on to him for dear life, his white shirt was stained from her blood and tears, she rested her head on his chest. She felt his body shaking from muffled sobs.

Adam never left Astrids side, he kept her in the west wing away from everyone, she wasn't ready to face them especially not her mother, she was sure she would just die of shame if her mother saw her like this, and she had warned her so many times.

Adam acted as a messenger, Astrid begged him to tell the staff it was wolves, that it had been an accident. It pained Adam so much to carry her secret alone, but if it brought her peace he would have done anything.

Astrid slept most of that month, Adam cared for her and healed most of her awful wounds with his love. The nights were the worst, Astrid would have nightmares of Gaston pulling her like a hellhound into the abyss while monsters chewed on her. She would wake up screaming "stoooop! Please!" Adam would be there to hold her and rock her gently until she came to, then she would just hang on him and sob.

It pained Adam more than he could express to see her this way. When he had helped her into the tub, seeing her naked body almost sent him over the edge, especially when she caught glimpse of herself. Her face was swollen and black from where Gaston punched her, she could barely speak through her cut lip that required two stitches. Bite marks ,much deeper and much more sinister than the playful ones Adam had given her, speckled across her pale breasts. Two particularly nasty ones required stitches. One on her left upper chest, one on her inner thigh. She had wrings around her arms where Lefoe held her down, her legs looked like the spots on a jungle cat from the bruises. Both injuries on her entrances made it nearly impossible to walk.

She healed well in Adams care, eventually her skin had a yellow tint to it where the black and blue was fading away. The cuts on her body turned to flakey scabs that would one day be scars. The emotional scars healed much slower, as they were much much deeper.

"Astrid?" A rather haggard Adam asked his love. "Yes Adam?" Astrid was dressing herself, it took effort but she could do that now. "Maybe today you'd like to go outside? Perhaps see Mrs. Potts? She really misses you Astrid I can't keep her waiting much longer." Adams words stung Astrid, she hadn't been able to leave the west wing since Adam carried her to the castle half dead and mangled. She thought if she left Gaston would find her again, or worse, she would have to eventually explain what really happened.

Adam looked at Astrid with anticipation, he had dark circles around his beautiful blue eyes from crying and lack of sleep. He kind of hunched over like a broken man, Astrid knew she couldn't do this to him any longer, she had to leave the west wing.

She smiled up at him, a fake polite smile. "That would be lovely dear." She fought to hide the fear in her voice. Adams face lit up, a beautiful smile warmed Astrids heart. "Wonderful!" Let me just shave, and change. Mrs Potts will be so happy! Everyone misses you so much and I'm selfishly keeping you all to myself!" Adam was so cheerey it made Astrid joyful and sad at the same time.

He went to help her button her dress, her arms still hurt to move too far back. As he buttoned those tiny pearl buttons he kissed evry mark on her, his lips lingered on her neck and colar bones. Astrid wantid to love him kissing her, but it just reminded her of the wolves licking and biting her body. She pulled away from Adam, obviously crushing him. He spun her around and cradled her, pressing kisses into her hair. "Astrid, we need to talk about this sometime." He pleaded. Astrid couldn't ever stop herself from crying anymore so she just surrendered to her tears. "I know Adam." Adam stroked her back with his fingers careful not to hurt her, his once strong sturdy Astrid was now like a delicate butterfly with a broken wing.

"Astrid if you don't want to talk to me please just tell someone, your mother.." Adam suggested. Astrid pulled back and cried "No! She can never know! No one can not ever!' Adam got down on one knee and took her hands. Strange how this way he almost could look her in the eyes face to face, he was so tall. "I swear, I will never tell a soul. But eventually you have to tell me who did this. I have to know." Astrid just nodded, she knew he would eventually find out anyhow. "Just not today." Astrids green eyes pleaded with Adam, he could finally see them again as the swelling had left leaving just a little yellow tint under her eye. Adam stood and sighed, "okay my love."

"I love you Adam." Astrid cooed, "I love you too Astrid," the word didn't frighten Adam anymore.

Adam carried Astrid down the staircase, it was still pretty difficult for her to walk. She was much lighter than he was used to, she had lost a lot of weight. When he presented her to the staff they all greeted her with joy and wariness, Adam had kept his promise. No one knew, not even the sweet Mrs Potts who cried and hugged her girl. It was so painfull to see her mother, she was still ashamed even if Mrs Potts didn't know the truth.

They all sat down and ate breakfast together, something Astrid had never seen, clearly her tragedy had brought the castle together. They were like a family. "Any word from the king?" Adam asked Lumiear eagerly. Lumiear just shook his head, "I am afraid not master, but the Capitol is such a long journey, and his highness has so much bigness to attend, why I would not be surprised if the king stated half a year!" Adam furrowed his brow, and patted Lumiear, "Just please let me know any word you hear."

Astrid found this incredibly odd, Adam never wished to hear from his father, the king. She wondered what it was all about. Breakfast was taking a very long time, everyone was just so excited to have her back but it greatly overwhelmed her. She spoke to Adam with her eyes, he excused himself and she knowing the next few weeks would be difficult for her.