Broken, Beaten, but Alive

I started to tremble, eyes tearing up as I continued looking up into Tristan's face, feeling my heart clenching painfully in my chest, as if it were trying to fold in on itself and collapse.
"Chance," he said in a warning tone, eyes flickering.
"Pl-please, don't do this," I begged, tears falling from my eyes and dripping down my cheeks and chin, "Tr-Tristan, please. I don't want to do this."
"Are you saying you don't trust me?" he demanded, indignation clear on his face.
I shook my head, tears still pooling over my eyes. "N-no, I trust you. But—"
"No buts. Spit it out. Now."

____

Chance Davis has had a pretty tough life.

It's not made any better when an angry male by the name of Tristan barges into her life, claiming to be her--albeit unwilling--other half, mate, and all that other nonsense. Things might not be so bad, if Chance wasn't afraid of most men, Tristan wasn't borderline abusive, Tristan's family wouldn't hide things, and certain villains wouldn't re-introduce themselves into the young couple's life's.

But hey, that would be too easy, wouldn't it?

(Cover image not mine)