as fast as you can.

Henry breathed out a deep sigh before a smile appeared on his face. "Oh, my little sweet girl,..." His words dragged as he caressed her face. Part of him wished he could call in, stay inside with his omega all day. It had been months since he had a whole day to just devour her as he saw fit, but today wasn't that day. He had already taken off so much time to track her down, he couldn't already be calling in. "Trust me, I don't worry about you. Not really, anyway. I have eyes everywhere. How do you think I found out so quickly you tried leaving yesterday?"

Letting his words sink in, he leaned forward and pressed a kiss to her forehead. He knew what she was getting at. She wanted a cellphone, but that wouldn't happen. Just so she could sit around and talk to other alphas behind his back? Make plans without him, just with her friends on evenings when she should be home warming his bed? Taylor didn't need a cellphone.

"I will know when you leave for the dry cleaners and I will know when you make it home. Don't test me, little bird." Henry hated that he had to warn his omega. That he had to clearly explain that if she went anywhere other than where he permitted her to, he would know. Immediately. "Be ready when I get home, we will go out to the grocery store. Remember?" In Henry's mind, that should be enough for her to look forward to. Not many alphas accompanied their omegas on shopping trips, she should be delighted he would take time out of his free evening to help her do the shopping. Soon, once he trusted her again, she would miss the time they would share doing those things together.

Pressing another soft kiss to Taylor's cheek, giving her shoulder a light squeeze, Henry left her there. Disappearing from the kitchen, he barely called goodbye to her as he left for work.

@ castle.

Taylor was nervous, there was no denying that as Henry drove them to the banquet hall. From what Henry knew, he was about to receive an award and this was an incredibly important night for him. She was excited for him and definitely happy. But that didn't stop her from being nervous, her stomach twisted into a knot. If something happened here.. if she somehow messed up? She just wanted to prove to Henry that she could handle going out with him, without making a mistake. Without something happening to ruin their night.

Glancing toward Henry, she gave him a shy smile as she glanced down to her dress. Smoothing out her skirt, Taylor didn't even reach to open her door until Henry stepped around to help her out. Clutching his hand, Taylor was pressed into his side as they stepped into the hall. Her eyes widened as she glanced around, unable to deny how wonderful the hall looked.

"Why don't you go get us drinks? Come right back to me.."

Taylor nodded quickly, leaning up to kiss his jaw before she spun around and headed toward where the drinks were being served. She made sure to keep her head lowered, not wanting to have too much contact with anyone who she wasn't supposed to. Standing in line, Taylor felt increasingly nervous as people continued to line up behind her.

It wasn't until she'd been handed both drinks and Taylor started to turn, to head back toward where she had left Henry.

The sight she was met with made Taylor stop in her steps, her eyes wide. "Fancy seeing you here," Adrian joked, an award winning smile on his face. "Never thought I would see you again. The rumor is you ran away..." he trailed off.

Taylor whimpered as she glanced around wildly, trying to see where Henry was. Taylor thought she had seen him and she took a panicked step forward, only to drip over the edge of her dress. She stumbled forward, spilling both of her drinks all over Adrian. Her eyes widened as she froze, only staring at him. But she heard a noise off to the side and it was alls he needed to be snapped back to reality as she began to back away from him, shaking her head. "I.. I'm sorry, sir. I didn't.. it was an accident, please," she begged, already wishing she had been told to stay home. They had only been here for a few minutes and she had already managed to mess it up.

Henry had watched Taylor walk away, his eyes running down her curves, admiring the way the gold dress shined under the lights. He fixed his cuff, taking a deep breath as he turned away, hoping that everything would go smoothly. He stepped off to the side, greeting one of his bosses and striking up small talk, until he caught Taylor's scent. Tainted with fear.

The hairs on the back of Henry's neck stood up and his jaw tensed. Great. What had his omega done now? Excusing himself from his boss, Henry quickly headed for the bar, straight for Taylor. Had they even been here five minutes and already, the bitch had gone and fucked something up.

"Omega?" Henry grumbled, his hand sliding up her hip as he stepped up behind her. He followed where her eyes were trained, a growl beginning to rumble from deep in his throat. Glancing towards his colleague, Henry's nose wrinkled as he set his eyes on Adrian. And then on his soaked dress shirt. "Oh, Adrian," Henry sighed, running a hand through his hair as he forced himself to relax. To shrug it off like it was no big deal. "We'll get that cleaned for you," he chuckled, though his grip on Taylor's waist tightened. He apologized to his co-worker, before forcing Taylor to step away with him.

His other hand had set on her elbow in a bruising grip as he forced her off to the side. "Only took you five minutes this time, huh, pup? Record breaking," he growled in her ear as he pulled her towards the exit. "I should've left you at home."

@ castle.

Taylor flinched, all but jumping away from the arm that slid around her waist because she was afraid it was someone who wasn't Henry. When she realized it was him, Taylor melted into his side. Her gaze dropped to the floor and she twisted, pressing her nose to his collar in an effort to calm her racing heart. She shivered as the grip on her waist tightened, making her panic rise again. "I-" she started, wincing when Henry squeezed her elbow even tighter. The silent warning made her fall silent, his angry words made her sick to her stomach. This was the last thing that she had wanted to happen and she wanted to tell Henry that, desperately, but she couldn't even find the courage to speak as Henry led them outside.

Tears burned her eyes, sliding down her cheeks as Taylor followed Henry back to his car. This had been such an important night and it seemed like she couldn't even get through the first hour without messing up. Taylor bit back a sob, not wanting to make any more of a scene than she had already managed to. Once she was settled in her seat, her shoulders were curled in on herself as she shrank backward, trying to make herself as small as she could.

Even with the barrier of the car in between them, Taylor could sense his anger. The charred scent only grew stronger when Henry slid into the driver's seat. She opened her mouth to apologize, to tell him how sorry she was and that she hadn't done anything. Taylor wanted to tell him all of this but already, she knew she was in trouble. She was silent the whole ride home, desperately trying not to panic too much.

It wasn't necessarily the actual disturbance Taylor had caused that upset Henry enough to leave, no. It was the fact that she had been caught speaking with him, the same alpha from the night before when she had run away. What a coincidence. Henry's grip tightened on the wheel of the car as he drove them home, the silence only serving to let him mull in his own thoughts. The longer he thought, the angrier he became.

He was silent the whole ride. Pulling the car into their drive, Henry threw the car in park and dropped his hands to his thighs. A loud sigh left him as his shoulders slumped, regret for ever bringing her written all over his face. "Why were you speaking with Adrian?" He growled, jealousy thick in his voice. No answer she gave would be enough to subdue him, to make him stop and actually think for a moment. No, instead, whatever answer she decided to throw his way, he would twist and mangle until it could fit his narrative.

"Get inside, Omega," Henry barked, demanding her to move, to scurry away until she was hidden inside. Henry sat in his car for a moment, his hands smacking the steering wheel. Tonight was so important to him. All of his hard work and he was about to be recognized for it, and instead, he was missing it. He would go into work on Monday and be reminded of it, he would still get his medal, sure, but the moment was lost to him. Dragging himself out of the car, Henry counted the steps until he was standing inside his home.

"Omega," he called, looking around the dark living room. He wasn't about to play a game of hide-and-seek. "Come here," he commanded her, slowly shrugging his suit jacket from his shoulders.

@ castle.

Taylor whimpered as Henry asked her why she had been talking to Adrian. She hadn't even spoken to Adrian except to apologize but she knew what this looked like. She knew how Henry was going to react and that was the part that terrified her. Her bottom lip wobbled as she tried to form a proper response to Henry's question. "I-I... I wasn't. He c-came up to me a-" Taylor had been in the middle of her explanation but then Henry was ordering her into the house. She was quick to nod her head, climbing out of the car. She lifted her dress and all but ran inside, kicking her shoes off and starting toward the stairs.

Taylor assumed that Henry would want her upstairs immediately but when she heard him call out, her foot stopped, hovering on the second step of their stairs. Whimpering, Taylor hesitated before she turned back around, making her way toward Henry. She lowered herself to her knees in front of Henry. Her head hung, tears threatening to fall as she stared at Henry's shoes.

"I was just trying to find you, alpha. I swear," tailor whispered, pressing herself even closer against the floor. She wanted to be as small as she could, afraid of how he was going to react to her speaking out of turn. That was the smallest of her transgressions at this point and she knew it but she hoped her explanation would somehow manage to help her.

Henry lowered his head, watching as his omega dropped to the floor, on her knees as she pleaded for his forgiveness. It was a nice sight, seeing Taylor groveling at his feet, almost as if she knew her place. But she couldn't, because if Taylor had known her place, she would've never been caught speaking with another alpha.

Nothing she said helped her. "Oh, my sweet, little Omega," Henry shushed her, his body completely still. Slowly, Henry squatted down, bringing his fingers to lift her chin, so she was looking directly into his eyes. "You had been doing so well. Being such a good little girl," without much warning, he dropped his fingers from her chin and instead, planted his fist in her gut. Taylor had curled into his side and without giving her much time to process the blow, he grabbed her by the neckline of her gown and hoisted her back up to her feet.

"You do not even so much as look at another alpha, do you hear me?" He growled, his face twisting into nothing but an expression of anger. His fist
connected with the side of her face and when her body fell limp, he let her drop to the floor. Listening to her sobs. "I said, do you hear me, Omega?" He spat, circling her as she curled in on herself on the floor.

@ castle.

Taylor whimpered, squirming closer to Henry. She buried herself against his side, reluctant to look up to Henry. She was sure that he was going to see the tears that were threatening to fall as her eyes locked with him. Her lips parted as she looked up to him, his words doing little to calm her. She had hoped that Henry might see the truth that she had been trying to explain to him. In one breath, Taylor had thought that she would be fine and in the next, his fist connected with her gut. She choked out a sob, her arm sliding around her torso as she sank to the floor.

She whined as Henry lifted her back to her feet, her feet dangling for a moment before Taylor was able to stand properly. Taylor hated the look on Henry's face. He was so angry, he looked like he was ready to punish her. Briefly, Taylor wondered if this would be coupled with the punishment that she hadn't really seen yet from having run away from him.

Her thoughts were interrupted as Henry punched her. Taylor yelped as her head smacked against the floor. She curled up, whimpering as Henry started to circle around her. She felt like a piece of meat, that Henry was just waiting to devour. Taylor sobbed, her shoulders beginning to shake as her fear consumed her. "Y-Yes, alpha. P-Pl.. Please," Taylor managed to force the words out, still struggling to catch her breath. "'m sorry. I love you," she whispered, her tears beginning to fall.

Henry growled as he continued to circle her, her pleading and sobbing doing little too calm him. Not even her admitting to loving him. She wouldn't have run away if she loved him. "Do you think it's smart to lie to me, Omega?" He reached down to grab her up off of the floor, holding her tightly by her shoulders. "You are my omega and still, you try to run away from me, you speak with other alphas..." He growled, forcing her towards the stairs, up towards their bedroom.

"Tell me, pup, were you hoping he'd rescue you? Do you want a different alpha, hmm? Are you not pleased with me?" He shoved her into their bedroom, slamming the door shut behind him. Watching her as she tripped over her own feet, falling to the floor. "Do I not protect you, Omega? Give you everything you could want or need? What else do you want?" He growled, stalking her as if she was nothing more than prey.

Henry pulled her up once more, beginning to rip the dress from her body. "Tell me the truth, Omega. Would you like a different alpha?" His voice dipped, a low growl emitting from the back of his throat as he forced her gown down off of her hips, before throwing her into the bed before him.

@ castle.

Taylor wasn't lying. She knew better than to lie to him and she didn't think he ever would do it again, even over something small. Certainly not something so serious as talking to another alpha. She whined, reaching up a shaking hand to set it on Henry's chest. Her eyes were wide as she looked up to him, shaking her head. "I-I.. I.. I o-only.. I apologized!" Taylor nearly shouted the words, so afraid that she wouldn't even be able to get the words out before Henry hit her again and she was unable to breath or focus on her explanation enough to deliver it.

Stumbling after Henry, Taylor yelped as she dropped to the floor. Her body shook as she pushed herself away from him, backing up until she hit the bed. Taylor visibly flinched, bringing her arms up in a weak attempt to protect herself. "A-Alpha, please," she whimpered, a sharp sob tearing from her lips as Henry tore her dress from her body. She made sure not to so much as flinch as he moved it down her hips, not wanting to give him the idea that she was going to fight him.

"N-No. Never. Alpha," Taylor stumbled over her words as she looked up to him. Taylor started to reach out to him, only to gasp as she was thrown backward. She braced herself against the mattress before she started to roll onto her stomach, sure that Henry would only want her to present. She whimpered as she covered her face with her hands, wishing that she could simply disappear. “I love you. Please!”

Henry watched her scramble on the bed, trying to gather her composure before she rolled onto her stomach. She did her best to present to him, even as her whole body shook and she tried not to weep. His hands came to his collar and he began to unbutton his own shirt, feeling his fingers glide over the soft fabric. "You are mine." He muttered, taking his time as his fingers dropped from button to button, until he shrugged the shirt from his shoulders and began to unbutton his trousers.

Slipping his shoes off, Henry dropped his pants and stepped up to the bed, his hand wrapped around his cock as he pumped himself. "You are never going to leave me, Omega." He growled, reaching forward to grab her by the hips. Dragging her to the edge of the bed, Henry lined the tip of his cock up with her opening, slowly rubbing his head over her slick, between her folds. "You and I are one," he yelled at her, slamming his cock in entirely, burying himself inside of her cunt.

Henry rocked his hips at a steady, fast pace. He fucked Taylor mercilessly into the mattress, running his hand up her back until he could grab onto her hair. He wrapped it around his hand, forcing her head back as he tugged on her. Slamming his hips into her, he watched her ass before him, listened to how she cried and gasped for air. "Never leaving me again, Omega," he panted, taking long deep strokes.

@ castle.

Taylor choked back a sob as Henry growled, knowing full well that there was no escaping what Henry planned to do to her. She leaned down, burying her face against the mattress. "Y-Yes, alph-" Taylor's words were cut off by Henry slamming into her. She gasped, arching forward as he settled into a harsh pace. There was no preparing for her, she didn't have the time to s much as take a breath before Henry pinned her against the mattress.

Her body was responding to Henry, slick making his movements smoother. Taylor's omega was welcoming Henry, begging her to please him. To show him that she could be a good omega, that she could do everything that was expected of her. That she could be worthy of carrying his pups. Every inch of her body wanted Henry to be happy with her, afraid that she wasn't going to be able to prove any of this to him. It seemed like every time that she tried, Taylor ended up doing something wrong. Even when she had been completely innocent, had tried to avoid getting into trouble, it found her.

Pressing back into Henry's thrusts, Taylor whimpered as she reached back, setting her hand on his thigh. It was the only part of Henry that she could reach but she hoped the touch would show Henry that she loved him. She knew that she had somehow messed up, that she needed to accept her punishment. That she was ready to do that for him.

Settling his hand on her hip, Henry held Taylor as still as he could as he fucked into her. He wasn't focused on anything other than being as aggressive as he could, wanting make sure Taylor would ache between her thighs when he was done. This was a punishment after all, she did deserve it. Dropping his hand from her hair, he lowered it to her side, beginning to nip over her shoulder.

It wasn't until he felt her fingers brush his thigh that he slowed, not having expected the light touch. Growling into her ear, his movement softened, his teeth nipping at her earlobe. Henry was surprised that Taylor wasn't begging him to stop, pleading that she'd never do it again. Instead, she seemed to be taking her punishment in stride, her face hidden in the pillows. Sweet little omega. It confused him, she seemed to be doing so much better, submitting more to him than she had before she ran away, but... Why did she make such stupid mistakes, if they weren't deliberate? Running his hand down to meet hers, he gave it a light squeeze as he bit at her neck. He rocked his hips gently into her, taking a moment to fully enjoy just how hot she was, how tight she became when she tensed around his girth. Her slick only helped him stretch her, only confirmed she was enjoying this as much as he was. At least, her inner omega was enjoying it.

"Mine," Henry growled in her ear, dropping kisses down her neck until he could sink his teeth back into her throat. He felt his knot swelling, and he only bit down deeper to keep himself from howling. Wrapping his arms around Taylor tightly, he pulled her tighter against his chest as he filled her. His face pressed tightly against her neck, Henry could only allow himself to be enveloped by her sweet scent. And even though this was a punishment, he couldn't help but close his eyes and crave for when he would be able to put a pup in her.

@ castle.

The growl that Henry let out when her fingers brushed against him made Taylor panic. She ripped her hand away from him, another pained moan sounding from her lips as her hand dropped to the mattress beside her knee. She screwed her eyes shut, trying to focus on anything that wasn't what she had done. Taylor could picture Adrian's face, the smile he wore, how confident he had seemed. Taylor had been so panicked that she didn't even say anything to him, just trying to find her alpha. Taylor had wanted to find Henry and in her panic, she'd messed up. She should have stayed calm, that was what this was about.

Taylor wasn't comforted by the slowing of his thrusts, ready for Henry to lash out at her for having interrupted him. That was what this was about, wasn't it? It made her heart sink to know that she couldn't do anything to make him happy. His hand squeezed hers and it was only then that she felt like she had been encouraged. Taylor relaxed slightly, nodding her head when Henry whispered to her. "Yours, a-all.. yours," Taylor gasped, the words becoming a bit of a mantra as Henry finished inside her.

Reaching up shakily, Taylor set her free hand on his head. She scratched her nails against his scalp, in an effort to continue to show him that she was okay. That she understood she needed to be punished. Or maybe it wasn't that.. maybe she just knew that if she didn't take the punishment, Henry would have only get angrier. An ache settled between her thighs, a combination of how hard Henry had been fucking her and the need for her own release. Taylor had been so focused on what Henry was doing that she hadn't been able to relax enough to cum.

She squirmed against him but didn't dare complain. Taylor was quiet, the sounds of them catching their breath the only thing that filled the room as she relaxed against the mattress.

Henry rolled onto his back, stretching gingerly as he looked up at the ceiling. A deep sigh left him as he relaxed back into the mattress, still feeling so angry. It had been such an important night and his omega had ruined it for him. Her scent permeated the room, the sweet odor laced with her own arousal was enough to keep him subdued against the bed. It was enough to keep him from lashing out at her again.

Taylor curled up against his side, quiet as she hid her face in his chest. The sound of her panting, Henry almost wanted to roll over on top of her again. His heart beating brash against his ribs, his chest rising and falling drastically with each breath he took, sweat beaded across his forehead.

Snaking his arm back around her waist, he held her flush against his side. Rubbing his jaw against the top of her head, he closed his eyes and tried to focus on her scent, how her body felt molded against his. "When are you going to learn, Omega?" He whispered, his fingers running through her hair as he rolled to face her, pressing her into his chest.

If the whole incident at the party had been just an accident, why had it been so hard for her to just remain calm? To not spill her drink all over an officer? If Adrian had prompted her, why could she not have just kept her head down and just returned to him? Why did she have to make a scene. It was impossible for Henry to believe it had all just been a horrible mistake. Was Taylor trying to bring attention to herself, in some shameful way to try and make him look bad? Did she want another alpha to swoop in and try to take her away? "I can't take you anywhere..." His voice was a low grumble.

@ castle.

The moment that Henry laid back against the mattress, Taylor buried herself against him. She squeezed her eyes shut, her arm set gently on her stomach. Already, she knew that if she looked down she would see a bruise in the shape of Henry's fist. She wondered if her face would be the same. It was rare that Henry beat her so badly - there was no room for debating whether she had messed up or not. Taylor knew that she had. Taylor wanted so badly to do better, to at least make Henry happy because then he wouldn't hurt her and then she could at least try to convince herself that she was living the life that she had wanted.

Henry's words made her heart break all over again. Taylor whimpered, her breath catching in the back of her throat. She knew she was close to breaking down all over again but she trying not to. Her emotions would influence Henry so easily that she didn't want to risk it. "I-I have," she whimpered, the only words that she could bring herself to say. "Alpha, I swear. Wanna make you proud. Happy," Taylor whispered the words. She wanted so desperately to reach out and love on him. She wanted to scent him, she wanted to make sure Henry understood how sorry she was and how ready she was to make him happy but she couldn't bring herself to. She was afraid to do anything that Henry didn't directly tell her to.

"D-Do you.. want me to start a bath? Or make a snack?" Taylor's voice was quiet as she spoke, bracing herself for Henry to lash out at her. All she could picture was the night that Henry had driven her to run away. That night had been the worst night of her life but she's barely managed to escape that happening again today. "O-Or.. both?"

Henry wrapped his arms tighter around her waist, keeping her locked against him. "You're not going anywhere." There bad been many nights that week that Henry had come home to Taylor already asleep, tucked away in his bed. It had been well after midnight, so he wasn't upset to find her not waiting on him, but still. He hadn't had much time to just lay in his bed with his omega in his arms.

That's what he needed right now, while he was seething with anger. If she got up and left to do something, he would be left alone and would only find himself falling deeper into a pit of rage. Nuzzling his head into her neck, he nuzzled against her scent gland, closing his eyes and just taking her all in. He nudged his nose along her bond mark, as if needing to remind himself that it was there. She was his.

---

Waking up the next morning, Henry opened his eyes to light streaming in through the window. Signing, he ran his hands along the empty space in the bed next to him. He thought having her home would fix everything, make everything better again. Instead, he still had a massive headache. Forcing himself to his feet, he walked out into the hall. Still completely naked, he didn't care to get dressed. It was his one day off, he didn't have to dress if he didn't want to.

"Omega?" He called, his voice thick with sleep.

@ castle.

Taylor had woken earlier than Henry but she'd laid beside him for nearly an hour, not wanting to get up and risk upsetting Henry if he woke. She had to go to the bathroom and if Henry woke, she was sure he would want breakfast. But was this a good idea? She laid beside him, her heart racing the entire time as she stared at the wall opposite them. It was only when the feeling became unbearable that she forced herself out of bed, tiptoeing into the bathroom to relieve herself before heading downstairs to begin making breakfast.

Deciding to make biscuits and gravy, Taylor started on the dough before anything else. She was as quiet as she could be, not wanting to wake Henry before the food was ready. Unless he woke on his own. When Henry called out her title, Taylor's breath caught in the back of her throat. She froze, shrinking toward the stove in front of her. If Henry was mad because she'd left the room, she couldn't say she didn't know he'd be upset. She had known and yet she had still done it. But she was serving him. That mattered, didn't it?

"Just in the kitchen!" Taylor called out, relieved when her voice didn't crack at all. She started chewing on her bottom lip, stirring the gravy. The biscuits were just finishing up in the oven as Henry made his way down the stairs. She grabbed a glass for him and poured his drink before setting it on the table by his spot.

As she brought the plate of food to Henry, Taylor was quiet. Her head was lowered, her eyes on the floor even as she stood beside him. "Did you want anything else, immediately?" She asked softly, only taking a seat beside him once he'd answered.

Henry entered the kitchen, still somewhat annoyed from the night before. He was trying to tell himself there would be other banquets, other parties, where he would definitely remember to not take Taylor, but he only had one omega. And even after the punishment she had endured the night before, she had still woken before him and was busy making his breakfast.

That counted for something.

Coming up to the table, Henry slowly sank to his seat, letting his arms rest on the table. "Go grab my robe from the bathroom," he demanded once she had sat his plate down in front of him. No good morning, no sweet kiss. Her alpha couldn't bring himself to be affectionate with her this morning. Still seething from the night before.

He watched her as she disappeared, picking his glass of orange juice up and taking a sip. When she returned, he barely nodded in acknowledgment, no words of praise. Standing, he let her help slip the robe around him, and when she stepped back, he frowned. He turned towards her, gesturing to way the robe was still open down the middle. "Tie it for me, Omega," his voice thick from how aggravated he was. He shouldn't have had to ask her.

Taylor was shaking before him, still on edge and he didn't blame her. If she so much as stepped out of line, he was bound to snap. And if he snapped, he would hurt her worse than he had the night before. There was a tint of a bruise on the side of her face, and seeing it, Henry felt his heart tremble for a moment. Only for a second did he feel any sort of remorse, before it was gone as fast as it had came. She had deserved it. Bringing his hand up to brush his thumb over her cheek, he spoke shortly with her, "You should've already had that covered up." His omega should have woken up early enough to do her make up and hair before fixing his breakfast. Not that she wasn't gorgeous on her own, but it was clear she wasn't trying to impress him with her looks anymore.

@ castle.

Taylor gave a sharp nod of her head, spinning around and racing up the stairs to get Henry's robe as he had requested. She returned moments later with it clutched tightly beneath her arm. Stepping around him, Taylor helped slide it onto his arms as she chewed on. her bottom lip. She took a small step backward so he could sit comfortably, only for her face to fall when he pointed out how she hadn't tied it for him. Taylor opened her mouth to apologize before she decided that it probably wasn't the best idea. She fell silent as she tied his robe shut. She flinched as he raised his hand, bracing herself for Henry to lash out. When he only brushed his thumb over her cheek, her breath caught in the back of her throat.

"I-I.." she stuttered, fumbling over her words as tears pricked the corners of her eyes. Taylor didn't want to piss Henry off by giving him some sort of excuse. "I just didn't want to wake you, alpha. I'm sorry, I'll go do that.. right away," Taylor rushed the words, turning around to head right back upstairs. Taylor was quiet as she started to do her makeup. Each time that she brushed over the bruise, Taylor winced but she forced herself through it.

It was only when she was finished, with her hair brushed out and tied into a ponytail that Taylor let herself step away from the bathroom. Unsure of whether they were going out today or not, Taylor decided to pull on sweater dress that barely made it to her midthighs, hugging her curves perfectly. It was getting later in the year so she hoped that since it showed off her bond mark while displaying her curves that Henry would be pleased by the choice.

Taylor shifted uncomfortably in the dining room, shifting from one side to the other. When Henry didn't speak immediately, Taylor moved over to thestove to begin cleaning up the dirty pots.