His neck burns. The spot where his mating mark should be burns the closer Travis got. He is shaking, aching all over, and he knows Travis’ touch would soothe him.
But he is hurt and bleeding. He doesn’t want to repeat his life all over again with the alpha. Not when it led him to lose everything.
And everything was him, Travis. Someone who once awakened him has done it again. 
His fated mate. 
Things have changed. He is a different person now.
But his stupid omega is making a fool out of him by reacting in all the worst ways.
“Don’t,” Day holds his hand out, heart racing. He doesn’t know why this was happening. His body and mind are clashing again, like they always do whenever they do this. “I am not some weak omega who is going to present to you simply because you were once mated to me. I am not going to submit to you. You are not my alpha.”
Gods, how he wishes he could give in just this once. He can already feel the slick trickling down his thighs.
Soiling his jeans.
And going by the way Travis’ pheromones flare, nose twitching, he knows the alpha can smell he is losing the battle.
…
Day can find nothing wrong with his life.
He is now enrolled in university, a whole new life away from his cage, finally growing up and discovering who he is.
Then crosses paths with Travis.
 The alpha who makes him feel like he is being born and dying all at the same time. A thread is pulled every time he locks eyes with him, talks with him ... feels him near him. 
Every time his scent wraps his body like the softest cloud.
With each tug, the life that has been carefully woven and fed to him starts to fall apart. Day realizes he isn’t who he has been told he is, and he was someone different once.
Something else, but it was all taken away.
Travis was taken away, too.
All the scars unravel themselves on his bones, and he is once again breaking apart.

Lily lies next to her son, pulling his shaking body close to her and holding him.


"My baby," she whispers, her eyes watering. "I am so sorry I wasn't here quickly enough."


Lily presses her lips to his head, and Day's shaking body starts to uncoil.


"Mommy is so sorry. This is all my fault; I am the one who put that bastard in your life. I didn't know, baby; I am so sorry. I am so sorry, baby," she rocks him, a single tear rolling down her cheek.


That first year after Day was taken home from that facility, where another man had tried to take her baby away, and she had to make it right, Day wouldn't sleep alone.


 Haunted by nightmares and stress, his body tense, unable to rest or even settle down unless she was with him, holding him, and humming.


Chapter 32 - MY PRECIOUS