"Stop that."
I jumped slightly as my eyes shot over to the familiar hulking form standing in the doorway of my bathroom. I always forget how tall Derek is until I'm standing right next to him. Or in this case in front of him.
"Stop what?" my brows...
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I stared blankly at the ceiling while the paramedics came to check on me as I let Derek's words sink in. I was feeling such a large range of emotions all at once that I didn't know what to say. The only emotions that seemed to be stronger than the rest were both anger and confusion.
Why would his dad come after me? I've never even met the guy and yet he knows who I am and what I look like? Did he follow me to the cabin?
A deep, shaky sigh, followed by Derek clearing his throat pulled me out of my thoughts. Slightly turning my head to face him, the pinched expression on his lightly bruised face told me all that I needed to know.
He blames himself for this. For his dad hurting me. I won't let him succumb to the thoughts that have tormented me for the last 12 and a half years.
"I'm so sorry, Red. It's my fault-"
"Don't you dare." I cut him off with a glare, pulling my hand out of his grasp so I can cup his cheek, brushing away a stray tear with my thumb.
"But I-" Derek sniffled, but I once again cut him off, pulling him down far enough so his forehead was lightly pressed against mine.
"No. You don't get to do that. You don't get to blame yourself for something you had no control over. You don't need to apologize for your father's actions- he's the one who did this to me, not you."
"Okay... Okay, I'm sorry." He sighed, a small smirk tugging at his lips as he leaned away after placing a light kiss to the scar on my nose. The action made the blush on my already flushed cheeks darker as I slapped his broad shoulder.
"What the fuck did I just say?"
Derek winced, though the smile on his face never wavered as the paramedics carefully lifted me from the floor to the gurney they were just barely able to fit through the narrow front door to the cabin.
Taking advantage of the new height, my eyes tore away from Derek to the rest of my surroundings and my breath hitched at what I saw.
The door was no longer on its hinges, some of the frame splintered around the wood floors. The tables were turned and stray papers were all over the place along with broken glass- including the glass from the family portrait that used to hang on the wall beside the fireplace.
It hurt to see my childhood summer home look this way, but at the same time I couldn't help but compare myself to this place. From the outside we both seem perfectly intact, sure there are a few nicks and scars engraved on the outer walls- but it's nothing compared to the horrors that lie within.
"How you feelin' kiddo?" Alex's voice cut through my thoughts as I wiped away a tear that slipped from my eye.
A bitter chuckle escaped my lips before I could stop it, "like someone beat the shit out of me then choked me out."
Alex frowned at my response while Eli, his partner, pulled out a pocket notebook thingy.
"What do you remember?" Alex asked, wiping a strand of hair out of my face before stepping back and crossing his arms over his chest.
