Maddox POV

I sat in the uncomfortable plastic chair, next to Phoenix's hospital bed. She had just gotten out of surgery a few hours ago, several casts now adorned her tiny figure. Bandages surrounded her torso and covered her back, her left wrist had a baby blue cast on along with one on her right foot. Cuts and scars littered her face and body.

My wolf Aaron desperately wanted her to wake up, and to have her in our arms.

I jumped slightly at the sound of the door opening, I looked up and saw Wyatt, one of our pack doctors, walking in looking down at a clipboard.

"Maddox, her results just came in, we need to talk about her condition," Aaron growled in my head, and I struggled to control myself. I couldn't help myself, it sounded like he was going to deliver bad news. I nodded, not trusting my voice.

"You have to promise me that you won't do anything rash when you hear what I have to say. I don't want you to lash out on me, as I'm doing my best to help both Phoenix and you." I cracked my knuckles and huffed a bit, but agreed reluctantly.

"We had initially thought that all the damage had been done to her over the last three weeks, but we've proven to have been wrong. She has injuries that seem to date back months, years even. Many of them never healed properly, and were never given any medical attention. That, plus the information you told us about her, how shy and timid she was, how small and light she is, I can only assume she's been abused and neglected for years."

My face paled a bit, the thought of this beautiful girl being hurt for years physically hurt me. What had she been through? How had I not been there to help her?

I looked to Wyatt for more information, scared that if I tried to talk nothing would come out of my mouth.

"Her wrist was completely shattered, the carving Alpha Taylor most likely will scar over and become permanent on her forearm, she had deep lacerations on her back, parts of her spine were visible. She is severely underweight, a pretty serious fibula fracture, severe burns to her wrists from prolonged exposure to silver, 3 ribs badly broken. Her wolf is unable to heal her properly, so it could take months for her to properly heal herself. Not to mention the emotional and mental trauma she's likely accumulated over the years, it would probably be beneficial for her to go into therapy."

He continued to list off injuries, while I tried desperately to not burst into tears. I zoned out slightly, but then noticed Wyatt pause. I glared at him, he looked fearful, sad.

"What is it?" I asked him, my voice coming out as a whisper.

He lowered his head slightly composing himself, he seemed genuinely upset. "I'm sorry Maddox," that didn't sound good.

"The nurses found bruising on her inner thighs, which is a common sign for forced intercourse. We thought it would be beneficial to perform a rape kit, and it came back positive."

All I saw was red upon hearing these words. This couldn't be real. I wanted to scream, to punch something, punch someone. I was ready to go down to the cells to end Taylor's life when I heard a quiet sob from behind me.

I spun around to see Phoenix wincing in pain on the bed. I temporarily forgot about my anger, and quickly approached the hospital bed. I cupped her tear stained, bruised face. She cowered, pulling her head away from my hand, squeezing her eyes shut out of fear. I pulled my hand away cautiously.

"I'm sorry, I'm sorry Phoenix. You're okay, you're safe now," I whispered in attempts to calm her.

"I-it-it hurts," she whimpered, her small figure physically shaking, she was grasping at her stomach with her arms, breathing heavily. My heart nearly shattered, I would do anything to take away the pain she was feeling.

Wyatt stepped in and began to prepare another IV, presumably some kind of painkiller. Her eyes widened looking at the needle that he was about to inject her arm with, several IV's were already in her arm, keeping her alive, what would another one be?

I lightly brushed my hand over hers, feeling a million tingles shoot up my arm. Her head shot up and looked at me, confusion filling her features. While she was distracted Wyatt easily put the IV in her arm, hopefully it would kick in soon so she'd begin to feel better.

"W-Why am I-I here..?" She choked out quietly, tears still silently streaming down her face.

"You're my mate, I need you. I want you more than anything. I'm sorry I couldn't help you earlier," she just stared at me, still looking puzzled. She shook her head, then looked down at her hands.

"You're just being nice to me. Nobody wants me... I don't want me." I wanted nothing more than to wrap her in my arms, and kiss away her problems, but I knew she wouldn't be too keen on the idea. I knelt down so I was at eye level with her.

"Don't say that, it's nowhere near the truth. You are a beautiful, strong girl, who I am beyond proud to call my mate." Her cheeks burned a slight red upon hearing this and she let her hair fall in front of her face, providing some kind of safety net, not having to show her vulnerability.

"So, I'm not going back to my old pack?" She questioned her head cocking slightly to the side.

"Never." Her face, visibly brightened upon hearing this, Aaron was purring in my head. The smallest inkling of a smile appeared on her face as she processed the new information.

Aaron ranted in my head.

I looked down at Phoenix who was silently looking down at her hands, fiddling with her fingers. A small smile forced its way onto my face, and I nodded