She was saying words. He just needed a minute before he could process them. She had been kidnapped and raped when she was still just a girl. Barely having gone through her first shift. It usually happened around 14. Sometimes later. Sometimes earlier. It was a puberty thing. And here she was telling him and his two closest pack members about the abuse that had been inflicted on her when she was still a child.

"I'm not sure what he was using but he was injecting me with things to make the pregnancy happen. I miscarried 3 times before this one." She paused and I watched her features sadden as she looked down at the sleeping baby. "The babies didn't do anything wrong. They were a means to an end for him."

"How long?" Malcolm asked. He was just as disturbed as Liam. Not only had this man slaughtered a family to take the daughter but he was obviously using human drugs to force a pregnancy. Wolves could very rarely have children with anyone other than their mate. Often the mothers of those children were shunned and the child were, more often than not, barely tolerated. This was different though. She hadn't gone out and sought another man. She had been forced to comply with a monster.

"Six years." Her reply was short and matter of fact. "He had become complacent over the last few months. The pregnancy was progressing and I was getting too big to do anything." She paused. "He informed me that he was leaving for a few days and I knew that this would be my only chance." She placed her hand on Liams chest. He knew without her speaking she wanted to walk. He let her. But her hand remained in his as they continued.

It was half an hour before she start to talk again. None of the males had pushed her about information. She didn't know how angry they all were on her behalf. Liam was having a hard time controlling his own. When he would replay her words in his head he would feel the anger rise up. Burning in his heart. She would squeeze his hand gently and the soothing sparks would calm him. He looked down at their joined hands. He had missed this. Being with her.

His heart jumped. He had just met her. Where had that thought come from?
You're not ready yet. Ranger informed him. She isn't either. You feel it. That's all you need for now. You'll figure it out.

What are you talking about?! Tell me now! Liam yelled at his wolf, who was already pulling back into his consciousness.

You have to know for yourself. Was the reply before his wolf shut him out completely.

Now Liam was confused. He sighed. He didn't want to but he trusted his wolf.

"The day he left was the day I followed through on my escape. I had been working on it for months. The moment I found out I was pregnant I knew." She stopped. Liam stopped and faced her. "I knew that he was the one. I could feel it. This was the baby he so desperately wanted. An innocent life. I had to protect him." Her eyes filled with tears but they didn't fall. His beta and gamma had stopped and where watching. She continued. Still holding Liams hand. He was falling into her blue eyes.

"I had stashed food. A few pieces of clothing. My little bag was packed. The only thing that stood in between me and escaped was the front door. He had three dead bolts. You had to have a key to use them. Inside and out. The windows all had bars. The door was the only way I was getting out. And in the end it was a lot easier that I thought." Liam saw the gleam enter her eyes. She had a smirk on her lips. "Only thing I wish is that I could have seen his face when he saw the front door." She tilted her head back and laughed. A full,hearty laugh. Not one of those delicate giggles. Liam and the others couldn't help but grin with her.

"And what did you do Everly?" Liam asked with mirth.