SOPHIA’S POV
I froze when I recognized Bianca.
For a second, I thought my exhaustion was playing tricks on but then she lifted her head slightly, and I saw her swollen lip, the purple bruising along her cheekbone, the way her shoulders curled inward like she was trying to disappear.
Her scent hit next. It was filled with so much fear.
My wolf growled inside . It was as angry as I was.
“Bianca,” I said softly. “It’s .”
She started crying imdiately. Not loud sobs. She cried with quiet, broken sounds she tried to swallow back. She shook her head and covered her face with her hands.
“I—I can’t,” she whispered. “I can’t talk.”
“It’s okay,” I tried to keep my voice calm even though my chest was tight with anger. “You don’t have to talk yet. Just breathe.”
I guided her gently to the bed and helped her sit. My hands were professional, careful, even though my insides were burning. I examined her.
There were older bruises fading into new ones.
I noticed so fresh marks along her arms, finger-shaped bruises around her upper arm. There were red shadows along her neck where soone had gripped too hard. When I asked her to turn slightly, I saw dark bruising across her back.
My jaw clenched so hard it hurt. My blood was boiling at this point.
When I finished, I stepped back and t her eyes.
She imdiately looked away and I knew instantly. I knew the scum she married was behind this.
“What happened this ti?” I asked gently.
She shook her head again. “It’s nothing.”
“Bianca,” I said. “This isn’t nothing.”
Her fingers twisted together, her voice dropping lower. “Marcel... he lost control again.”
“Again,” I repeated quietly.
“Yes.” She nodded. “It wasn’t the first ti”
“And it won’t be the last.” I gritted out.
Bianca looked at with wide eyes. My words had left a mark. She knew I was saying the truth.
“He promised to change,” she added quickly, like she was afraid I would interrupt. “He said he’s trying. He just... sotis he gets angry. He doesn’t an it.”
My hands curled into fists at my sides. Nothing annoyed more than seeing her defend him.
“Bianca,” I said carefully, “no one accidentally does this.”
She flinched. “You don’t understand. I love him. He loves too”
Love. The word tasted bitter in my mouth. I took a deep breath to calm myself as I was a few seconds away from exploding.
“Where are you sleeping tonight?” I asked, “Because you cannot go ho.”
She looked up at . “I am going ho.”
I stared at her in disbelief. “What?”
“He said he was sorry,” she insisted. “He cried. He said it won’t happen again.”
“You have fresh bruises on your neck.” I snapped at her.
“He didn’t an to grab that hard.”
“Your back is covered in marks.”
“I fell,” she said weakly.
“Stop lying.” I shook my head. “You didn’t fall.”
She reached for my arm suddenly. “Please don’t report this.”
The words made sothing inside snap.
“I have to,” I said. “This is serious.”
“No!” she cried. “Sophia, please. If you report it, he’ll lose his job. He’ll hate . I’ll have no one.”
I stepped closer. “Listen to .”
“No, you listen,” she said desperately. “I can handle it.”
“You can’t,” I snapped before I could stop myself. “This will get worse.”
She stood up, shaking. “You think I don’t know that? You think I’m stupid?”
“That’s not what I said.”
“You always think you know better,” she said, tears streaming down her face. “You doctors. You wolves. You think you’re so strong. Not everyone can just leave.”
“Strength has nothing to do with this,” I said. “This is about survival.”
“I don’t want to be alone!” she scread.
I lowered my voice. “You already are.”
She collapsed back onto the bed, sobbing. “Please. Just don’t report it.”
“Bianca, your injuries were bad. You could have internal damage.”
“I don’t care.”
“He could have killed you,” I said bluntly.
She went very still.
“I love him,” she whispered.
I sat beside her and took her hand gently. “Love should not hurt like this.”
She cried harder then, burying her face in my shoulder. I held her, rubbing slow circles into her back.
“You deserve better,” I said softly. “You deserve safety.”
She nodded weakly, “I know but please....please. I beg you.”
I closed my eyes and inhaled. I would think about this later. Right now she was my priority.
“I’ll keep an eye on your recovery,” I added. “But this doesn’t end here.”
She didn’t answer.
Later, I stepped out to get her sothing warm to drink.
The café near the hospital was crowded.
As I waited in line, I heard laughter.
A familiar laugh. I turned.
Marcel was sitting at a small table. He looked relaxed. He was leaning toward another woman, smiling easily. His hand rested over hers. He looked happy.
I had to double check to make sure it was him. It really was the bastard.
My vision went red. All I could see were Bianca’s bruises, her trembling hands, her broken voice.
I grabbed my coffee and walked straight toward him.
My blood was boiling. All I could feel inside was rage. Before he could look up, I threw it in his face.
He scread as hot liquid splashed over his eyes and shirt.
“You monster,” My voice shook with rage.
I slapped him hard across the face. The sound echoed through the café.
“Stay away from her,” I said. “If you ever touch Bianca again, I will destroy you.”
He jumped up, furious. “Are you insane?”
The woman beside him scread and shoved her chair back.
Staff rushed toward us. People stared. Marcel pulled out his phone, hands shaking.
“She assaulted ,” he shouted. “Call the police.”
Before I could leave the police had arrived. They asked questions. Marcel shouted over . I stood there, breathing hard, my wrists burning as they cuffed .
As they led out, whispers followed.
I looked back toward the hospital doors. Even though I was being arrested, I was still worried about Bianca.
I hoped she would be safe tonight.
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