Protective Instinct

KELLAN’S POV

The moment she collapsed into me, I knew something was wrong.

Not a bad day. Not annoying coworkers. This was deeper. Heavier. The way her body folded into my chest like she’d been holding herself upright all day on sheer will alone told me everything.

I tightened my arms around her instinctively, one hand settling between her shoulder blades, the other cradling the back of her head.