Emotional

The words felt like dagger crashing through Alister's heart, breaking him out of his daze in the process.

He immediately let go of her waist, his tight and protective grip faltering to a soft and gentle grasp around her shoulders.

His heart fell as he stared at her panicked, teary-eyed complexion. Delicate tears stormed down her paled cheeks as her arms feebly shook in his hands.

Almost as a matter of instinct, he gently laid his rough hand at the side of her soft cheek, slowly rubbing away the rogue tear. She winced at the sudden tender contact, shutting her eyes as she defeatedly tried to mentally escape the terrifying situation.

Deep down, she knew no harm would come to her. She knew the familiar man would never hurt her, but the layer of panic from the situation in which she had awoken clouded her judgement as well as her common sense.