My stomach is sending shooting pains throughout my body, weakening it more than it already is. Ellie's arms are tight around my hips, her fingers hooked through the belt loops of my jeans trying to stop me from moving from the lounge and towards the locked doors that leave the suite. Something strong inside of me is forcing me to go to Ryder. There is a small niggling at the back of my mind that doesn't want him in the centre of whatever danger is going on outside those doors. I don't want him to get hurt. I can't lose him. Ellie's strength lapses for the smaller of a second and I tumble to the floor. Whatever state of mind I am in. It isn't what I normally experience and I try to push myself up and closer to the door, closer to Ryder. When I try to push myself up my strength falters and it is Reynolds that has to pick me up off the floor. His grip is strong and warm but he can't stop the pain I feel and he definitely can't stop the shakes that are starting to conquer my body. I'm screaming at him to let me go or to call Ryder up here and away from what is going on. "Lottie," his voice is loud fighting to be heard over mine. "He'll be all right Lottie. He's the strongest King we have ever had he can protect himself and it's our job to make sure that you are safe." "I need to go to him." the words are a quiet sob as they leave my mouth. Reynolds grunts when I get kick in just above his crotch area but his grip doesn't loosen his hold on me at all. "You need to be protected over him." His voice comes out in a little growl and his hands tighten around me. "If you do not stop struggling you will open your wound and Ryder will kill me for it, so please stop before I have to sedate you." My body goes slack at the idea of him being close to me with the idea that he would do that to me. That's when the shaking takes over my body and the painful memories resurface in my mind. Reynolds seems to notice what he's done and his voice is stressed as he starts to reassure me that I'm safe. As he begins to argue with Charlie I block it all out and his kind words that made me so uncomfortable in that unforgiving house take over. His face has never plagued my mind until now and having him back there is even more uncomfortable than having him standing in front of me. I don't want him controlling my life like he does. My eyes are closed and Reynolds is beginning to struggle holding me. I can feel that he's trying to keep them squarely on my waist, not moving further up to hold me over the cut and not moving down to a place that I desperately try to hide and deep away from the opposite sex. A deep growl enters the room and Reynolds loosens his grip enough that he is still holding me up and stopping me from getting away again. The growl continues to echo through the room and I can hear Ellie whisper something before footsteps leave the room, the doors closing behind whoever left. Soft fingers tickle underneath my jaw and I exhale out a shaky breathe releasing the tension that I feel in my chest. "Lottie?" It's Ryder's voice. When I open my eyes I'm met with Ryder's hazel even with mine. My eyes move quickly down his body to see that he is only wearing a pair of dark grey shorts that are slung so low on hips I can see the defined lines of hips that disappear beneath the material. He had shifted before this. The fight was over. My hands that had been pushing at Reynolds hold stop and they grab at Ryder's neck as I pull myself against him. I don't know why I do so, but I just want to have his arms wrapped around me knowing that it will be the way to calm me down. Ryder seems shocked by my movement but he drops his fingers from my jaw to replace Reynolds arms around my waist pulling me in closer to his chest. I hear Reynolds and Ryder exchange something in Jordanian they even give each other small growls before the door opens and closes telling me that Reynolds has left the room leaving me and Ryder alone. His face still plagues me mind and the shaking is still controlling my body but Ryder's hand running through my hair as he keeps a steady grip around my waist. His chin is resting on top of my head and I can feel his breathe stirring up the thin broken hair's there. He isn't saying anything. Just holding me and I am beginning to fear what will happen when he lets go. He has a mate out there somewhere and it isn't me. I don't want him to hurt me like he hurt the other women he was with. It won't be the same as he did with the two that betrayed his touch and the love that he already feels for the girl he will spend the rest of his life with but as soon as he lays his eyes on her I know my heart will break. I need to stop the feelings that I have for him before they get any stronger than what they already have. It will never end well if I don't. Ryder's fingers come down to cup my jaw so he can angle my face up towards his. His breathe moving over my tremoring lips now.