"Acacia" Grayson mind-links softly, bringing me out of my thoughts. Slowly, I look up at him and he gives me a small smile, crouching down in front of me. 

"Please eat something, Princess. I know it's hard and I can't even begin to imagine how you're feeling right now and all I want to do is make it better but you have to eat something for me, baby. It will make you feel a little better, I promise" he pleads, nervously.

I nod and do as I'm told, popping a grape into my mouth and chewing it slowly. I sigh, drained of emotion as Grayson rubs slow circles into my thighs. We've been home for a little while now after the very long journey home and the whole adrenaline and fear of the situation has well and truly worn off, leaving me sore and exhausted. 

When we first arrived home, I'm honestly surprised at how far I had run when I originally escaped. It genuinely had been a six-hour journey that I had run to get away from Zane and I was truly baffled as to how I managed to survive it in the first place. We were then swamped by Grayson's family upon our return to his house and as nice as it was to finally see them again, I really wasn't in the mood to see anyone and exchange pleasantries. 

He quickly proceeded to shoo them away before carrying me into the guest bathroom and calling Doctor Teresa over to the house to tend to our wounds that needed immediate attention. She quickly cleaned Grayson's bite mark on his arm which had already begun to heal before moving on to me, fussing over me for what seemed like forever whilst Grayson stood brooding in the corner. I guess he hadn't really gotten a moment to comprehend any of this whole situation either so he was definitely stewing in it while Teresa cared for me.

Grayson gives my thigh a gentle squeeze, bringing me out of my thoughts once again. I finish a few more pieces of fruit before putting the tray of food back onto the coffee table. I watch as Grayson frowns but doesn't push it any further. Instead, he stands up and very gently scoops me into his arms before carrying me into the bathroom.

He sets me down on the sink counter and I watch as he runs a warm bath, chucking in what I can only assume is a lavender bath bomb from the way it smells but I'm too tired to really pay much notice.

After a few minutes, my dirty rags are carefully taken off my body before Grayson strips down and gently lifts me up and carries me into the bath. I hiss as the water washes over me, the oils from the bath bomb stinging my skin.

"Just relax, Princess" Grayson mind-links quietly. "The lavender and lemongrass from the bath bomb will help with your cuts and bruises." I nod and slowly relax into the warmth of the water and Grayson's secure hold on me.

God, I missed being in his arms. He makes me feel so safe.

"Thank you, Grayson," I mink link weakly as I close my eyes and rest my head against his shoulder.

"Why are you thanking me, Acacia?" he asks, confused.

"Because you saved me yet again and you take such good care of me and you love me and want me and-" I start but am quickly cut off by Grayson who sits me up and kisses me gently, cupping my face with his free hand.

"Acacia," he says huskily, his eyes burning into me.

"Mmm?"

"You don't ever have to thank me for any of that stuff."

"But I do..."

"No, you don't. Firstly, I shouldn't have had to save you again. I shouldn't have allowed you to be taken in the first place!" he starts, his expression tormented.

"I fucked up and you had to suffer because of it. It was my fault and you didn't deserve any of it."

"But-"

"Secondly, I'm not doing any of it because I feel like I have to as your mate. I do it all because I want to. I want to care for you and love you and keep you safe. I'm always going to save you Acacia, and I am always going to be here for you. You are my world, Princess and I am going to spend the rest of my life proving that to you because it's true. You deserve the world, Acacia."

His eyes search me, almost pleading for forgiveness as I reach up and gently touch his cheek. He closes his eyes, resting his head in my hand for a moment, face still set in a worried expression.

"I forgive you, Grayson" I stutter aloud. His face softens as he opens his eyes, however, the guilt is clearly still eating him up inside.

"Thank you" he signs back. I nod with a small smile, trailing my fingertips along his jawline. "I'm going to spend the rest of my life making it up to you" he continues, mind-linking.

"Okay" is all I manage to mind link back before his lips come crashing down on mine. I melt into the kiss as he pulls me closer to him.

Eventually, we break away and I rest my head on his shoulder once again, only this time I am even more drained than before. I begin to zone out a little as Grayson gently washes me, being careful of my cuts and bruises.

I watch, half-awake, as he quickly gets out, dries off and wraps a towel around his waist before scooping me out of the water and wrapping me up in a big fuzzy towel.

He carries me over to the bed before setting me down and drying me off. My eyes become heavy as he disappears for a couple of minutes only to return holding one of his shirts and two pairs of boxes. He quickly slips a pair on before sliding the other pair onto my body and placing the shirt over my head and arms and letting it fall over the rest of me. 

"Get into bed, sweetheart," he says softly and I do as I'm told while he turns the light off and joins me in bed, wrapping his arm around my waist and curling me into his chest protectively.

I quickly begin to drift off to sleep as Grayson kisses my forehead softly.

"I love you, Acacia," he mind-links huskily. I grin, opening my eyes to look up at him and I see he is smiling back at me.

"I love you too."

"Good," he says grinning before kissing me softly.

Eventually, we break away and I snuggle into him and drift off into what will be the best sleep in the past week or so.

I'm glad to be home.

Slowly stirring, I roll over and stretch my arms out, only to be met with an empty bed. I groan and open my eyes, the moonlight shining through the windows. Shit, what time is it? I must've slept for hours, that's probably why Grayson got up.

Shivering, I wrap a blanket around my body before climbing out of bed and padding my way over to the sitting area to see that Grayson has left a tray of food on the coffee table for me. Somewhat hungry, I sit down for a moment and eat a few mouthfuls of pasta and a bread roll before deciding that I should go try and find Grayson.

Mustering all my energy, I walk over to the door and step outside and place my hand on the wall, closing my eyes. Faint vibrations beat through the wood and I silently follow them, my fingertips gliding over the day wallpaper. I soon find myself outside Grayson's office and I nervously knock on the door.

"It's open, Princess" Grayson mind-links warmly and I open the door to see Grayson's family scattered around the room, eating and drinking and chattering away with music playing quietly in the background.

In the centre of it all, Grayson sits behind his desk with a drink in his hand and a tired but mildly amused expression on his face. He smiles as he casts his eyes over to me, drinking me in and my cheeks flush with heat.

With a small smile, I shuffle over to Grayson. I receive a few smiles as I walk past but no one stops what they are doing completely to acknowledge my presence which I appreciate. I reach Grayson, who quickly puts down his drink to pull me into him, sitting me on his lap.

"How was your sleep, my love?" he mind-links softly after pecking my lips.

"It was good, although I'm still tired." 

"That's understandable though, considering everything you've just been through."

"Mmm... What time is it?"

"Almost midnight" he replies before reaching into his top drawer and pulling out a small box. "This is for you" he continues with a small smile. I give him a funny look as I take the box and nervously open it.

New hearing aids.

"Thank you, Grayson" I mind link, smiling. He nods and kisses my cheek before letting me put them on. I smile as everything becomes slightly clearer and I can make out people's conversations. All of his family seemed to be involved in some heated group discussion, laughing and raising their voices at each other.

"I didn't realise your family were coming back over," I start, turning to look at Grayson. "Had I known, I would have woken up earlier."

"That's the thing, I didn't know either," he replies, a frown creeping its way onto his face.

"What do you mean?"

"I was doing some work and they just showed up. They like to invite themselves over unannounced sometimes."

"Oh."

"Yeah. I know they mean well but sometimes it can be super frustrating. Plus, after everything that has happened recently, I didn't have the heart to tell them to leave."

I nod and cast my eyes back out to them. Bella notices and flashes me a giant grin before turning and yelling something at her brother, giggling at his reaction.

God, I miss my family. I should really ask Grayson about going to see them now that it's safer. I have so many things I want to talk to them about and catch up on. I want to see Claire again, she'll be so much more grown up now than the last time I saw her.

"Did you want anything to eat Princess?" Grayson mind-links, pulling me from my thoughts. 

"No, I'm okay. I ate a little before I came to find you" I reply, shaking my head.

"Okay, Princess. Shall we go back to bed?" 

Nodding, I snuggle into his chest and hook my arms around his neck. "Wait, what about your family?"

"They let themselves in, so I'm sure they can let themselves out again too," he mind-links with a smirk.

I listen carefully as he says goodnight to everyone before standing up and walking back to his bedroom.

Suddenly, he runs and jumps into the bed with me still in his arms, causing me to giggle. I kiss his jaw before sliding out of his arms and putting my hearing aids on the bedside table while he takes his jeans and shirt off.

As soon as I lay back into the bed, Grayson curls his arm around my waist and pulls me into him. I giggle and he kisses me softly once more.

"Goodnight Acacia" Grayson mind-links happily.

"G-good-d-n-night G-G-Grays-son" I reply aloud before snuggling into him and drifting back off to sleep.

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Hey Guys,

So, I hope you enjoyed that chapter! Thanks for sticking by me through all this and feel free to vote and leave me a comment below letting me know whether you liked this chapter!!

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Thanks,

- Allamy xx