I woke up the next day with an arm in my face. Shoving Jess off of me, feeling the bruises as I moved, I look around to find Mercy already gone. I laid there for another hour or so just thinking of the past events and how I didn't think I would ever heal from what had happened. As Jess began to stir I rolled away pretending to still be asleep. I felt her get up and leave to go to her room to change clothes. I slowly stood up and moved to the mirror looking at my black and blue face. I had bruises everywhere. I couldn't stand it, heck Adam couldn't even stand to look at me yesterday.

"Come on Tay. Mercy has breakfast fixed for us down stairs." Jess called from the door. I nodded and stood still in my pj's.

We walked downstairs together finding Mercy laying out food along the counters. I guess she cooked for the whole house.

"How did you sleep?" Mercy asked as we piled our plates with eggs, bacon and even pancakes.

I shrugged. There wasn't much talk after that, at least not from me, Mercy and Jess tried to make small talk but I just didn't feel like talking.

I made my way back up to my room to take a shower. I told the girls I was fine on my own and could use some time to think. I had yet to see Adam since yesterday. Mercy had mentioned that he had left early that morning for a run.

I scrubbed clean in the shower, standing for a good fifteen minutes just letting the warm water run over me. As I climbed out I was again reminded of what happened by the bruises reflecting back at me from the mirror. I still couldn't fully believe it had happened. There were patches I didn't remember, either from the drugs he had used or from the hits to the head. Either way I wished I couldn't remember any of it.

I had dressed in long sleeves and sweat pants that way I at least didn't have to look at the bruises. Mercy and Jess had been in almost every hour to check on me. I could tell they wanted to talk to me but I just couldn't. Jess finally found an old diary of hers and gave it to me.

"If you can't talk about it at least try to write it out. It's not good to bottle stuff up." She left me with the diary and a feathery purple pen to write with.

It was sunset and I was sitting beside my window looking out at the sky still trying to put words on the paper. All I could think of was how I was ruined. How could Adam want me after this? Interrupting my thoughts was a knock on the door.

"Come in"

Adam stepped inside and closed the door behind him. I couldn't look at him.

"I'm sorry I haven't been here. I didn't want to be around you while being so angry." I knew he couldn't stand being around me. That thought hurt me more than anything Thomas had done to me. Tears began falling as I furiously wiped them away. I hated crying and didn't want Adam to see how weak I was.

"Why are you crying? Did I say something wrong?" he asked softly moving to kneel beside me.

"I'm ruined." I blubbered, hiding my face in my hands. "No one will ever want me after what he did. No one will ever love me. You don't even want to be around me." I cried even harder if that's possible.

"I didn't mean it like that I'm sorry. I was so angry at him and that I wasn't there to protect you. I just needed to clear my head." He told me as he wrapped his arms around me warming my heart like nothing else before.

"I don't want pity." I told him as I slightly pulled away. It pained me to do it but I couldn't stand to be pitied. He pulled me closer.

"I do not pity you. I am concerned. I hate what that bastard did to you but you are not ruined. You will be loved." The last part was almost a whisper.

"I need to tell you something Taylor. I know this probably isn't the best time but I need you to know." He pulled back lifting my head making me look at him.

"When a man chooses a wife or girlfriend the wolf in him has to agree on her otherwise it would never work. My wolf has chosen you…"

"But you don't want me." I stated turning my head trying to move away. Adam pulled me tight again reaching to turn my head to look at him.

"I want you. My wolf just knew before my human-self did. I wanted to court you like a man should for a woman and I still want to do that but I don't want to push you. I just wanted you to know thatbI'm here when you are ready, if you will have me." I was blushing. Somehow my crying had stopped and I was blushing. Man, emotions are weird.

"I would like that." I told him leaning into him resting my head beneath his chin.