Gray's POV

It had been a month since Maisee joined us and I was more terrified than ever. It had taken me a while to figure out just how broken she was but… Now that I did, well, let's just say I'd been a lot happier not knowing. Ignorance is bliss. The monster back at her old house had truly screwed her up inside. And it wasn't just the trauma that she had from being beaten for years. It was that she believed that she deserved all of that.

"Maisee get back here!"

"No!" Who would've thought that the giggling girl in front of me, with the shining sky-blue eyes and innocent look, thought herself worthless? Not me, that's for sure. She told me a few days ago, when she was curled up in a corner of her bedroom, quietly sobbing to herself. I'd asked her what was wrong, trying to comfort her. She'd looked so heartbroken. And then she looked me straight in the eye, telling me to leave because she didn't deserve to be hugged and cherished and loved. I'd never hugged anyone tighter. Before then I'd only let her initiate contact, as I knew she'd probably have a fear of it, but all thoughts flew out of my head in that one moment. My soulfinder was hurt and… And she didn't think she had the right to get better.

"Why not?"

"Cause you're mean." I continued to chase her around the house, trying to forget all the thoughts that had been building up. The headache it was giving me just thinking about her in pain was enough for me to want to forget that memory forever. But at the same time, I didn't. I wanted to be able to help her. Without knowing what the problem was, I'd never be able to do it. Even if it ended up causing me pain to watch her suffer… At least it would mean me being able to put an end to her pain.

"Oh come on, all I did was tickle you."

"Exactly!" I had her trapped, her back against my parent's bedroom door at the end of the hallway. Smiling at her cockily, I reached down to her waist and pulled her towards me, intending on starting the on slaughter. The laugh that would soon reach my ears made me grin all the wider, but before I could get to it, we were interrupted.

"What're you doing?" A quick look over my shoulder told me that it was Vince who was standing behind us. A teddy was clutched in his hands as he gazed at us in confusion.

"Nothing, I'm just killing Maisee for being a very bad girl." I winked at Vinny but he didn't seem to get the joke, stalking in between us and pushing us both apart. He then stood in front of her, looking at me with child-like anger. I had to cough to hide the chuckle that threatened to escape my mouth.

"No! Don't hurt her! Maisee brings me cookies and she's nice!" Hiding her own smile, Maisee crouched down next to him and wrapping her arms around him.

"Aw Vince, don't worry, he wasn't actually going to hurt me."

"Are you sure?"

"Definitely."

"Oh good, cause mommy says soulfinders are special and I don't want Gray to kill his." He then looked at both of us with the biggest puppy dog eyes ever. Not being able to stop myself from laughing anymore, I left out a loud guffaw of laughter. That is, until I realised what he'd said. That sobered me up quickly enough.

"Vince, what's that word you just said? Soulfinders?"

"Yeah. Mommy and daddy are soulfinders and they love each other very much." He then shrugged, whilst I stopped myself from strangling the kid just to get him to shut his trap.

"Vinny I believe it's your bedtime now-"

"Why do you not want her to know that you're hers forever?" Maisee was gaping at the both of us, and (not for the first time since I found out she was my soulfinder) I deeply regretted not having told her. I should've. It would've made complete sense for me to tell the girl I'm in love with that I'm bound to her until the day I die. But at first, I didn't want to overload her. And then I didn't want her to feel pressured into anything. And… In the end, I just wanted her to fall in love with me the old fashioned way. Without crazy telepathic bonds or superpowers. I guess I just wanted to be normal for once. I should've known that wasn't a possibility anymore.

"W-what?" Standing up, she looked me in the eye for a couple of seconds. Hoping I'd confirm the statement, I suppose. But when I didn't, she started walking away, towards her own bedroom.

"Wait, Maisee-"

"No, if it's true I just- I just need to get my head around a few things." I thought we'd gotten past the point where she hid her feelings from me because that's what she'd been told to do in her old house. I thought we were passed the point where she stuttered. It was like she was taking a massive step back. Not nearly as afraid as she was when she first met me but definitely close.

But it wasn't her taking a step back, it was me screwing up to the point where she retreated to her defence mechanisms.

Hi :)

Well, that chapter took an unexpected turn. Tbh I was just going to write them having some adorable time - which it did start out as - and then suddenly this happened and I was just like whale then.

But yeah, I hope you liked this chapter :) And I know I say it every chapter but I cannot stress it enough, I love all the support you give me, it's honestly what drives this story forwards.

And I am really sorry that it's been so slow but I wanted it to be more realistic in its pace. So just bear with me xD

Bye bye :)