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15. Voss

15

VOSS

“There we go,” I muttered as I caught her in my arms.

I scooped Bexley off her tired feet and cradled her close as I made my way toward my home. And as I did, I passed by our most capable healer. The woman I sent to draw the bath in the first place.

“Thank you, Merida,” I said with a nod of my head.

She nodded hers in return. “You’re welcome, Alpha.”

The exhaustion of her pack was written all over their faces. The pups were overtired and hypervigilant about each and every sound that came from the woods. The adults of her pack were dragging ass, barely able to get up steps or even tuck their own children in. It was a wonder that Bexley stayed awake and alert for as long as she did. It was only a matter of time before she collapsed herself, and as I walked her into my home, silence descended around the compound.

The celebration was a success.

And now, it was time for everyone to rest.

Bexley, included.

“There we go,” I said as I eased us in through my front door.

I shook my head as I made my way up the stairs of my home. Not even the herbs and spices that Merida bathed Bexley in drowned out Ronyn’s scent. I snarled to myself as I walked over to my bed. I laid her sleeping body against the pillow and fluffed her hair out like a small halo. She looked so peaceful sleeping, and I wondered what Ronyn did to her.

I didn’t smell his mark, but I sure as hell smelled his touch.

Thank fuck, my thoughts were blocked away from my pack.

“All right,” I muttered to myself as I tucked Bexley in, “time to get some rest.”

As I perched in a chair beside my bed, I watched her sleep. I clocked the soft way her shoulders rose and fell with her steady breathing. I watched how she turned onto her side, facing me, as if her body naturally gravitated to mine, even in the midst of sleep. I propped my steel-toed boot up on the side of the bed to stretch my muscles. I sank into the chair, spreading my legs and chewing on my lower lip.

And as I sat there…

Got a group of deer north, northeast of the compound, Ronyn said.

Dom popped up. How many miles?

Eh, seven or so.

You’re seven miles out? Dom asked.

Don’t ask, Ronyn grumbled.

I wanted to ask him if he was rejected. The thought made me grin. He was out running and hunting, which means whatever the hell took place in that bath house pissed him off.

“Good girl,” I said with a soft chuckle.

My cock twitched with a need for my mate while Dom and Ronyn went back and forth on where these deer were. I wouldn’t touch her, though. She was already touched enough by the men of my pack.

Nope, five, Ronyn said. Two bucks, a doe, and a couple of fawns.

Leave one of those bucks for me, would you? I got some steam to blow off, Dom said.

I rolled my eyes as I kept tabs on their conversation, but pretty much stayed out of it. If they wanted to hunt at three in the fucking morning, that was on them. I wanted to stay by my mate’s side, though. I wanted to watch over Bexley and make sure that whatever she needed, she’d get.

Even though I knew something was a bit… off with her whole situation.

I just couldn’t put my finger on it yet.

Voss? the two men ask in unison.

Yep? I asked as I reached out.

You got an opinion on this situation? Dom asked.

Ronyn stayed silent, and I thought that was interesting. Bring the deer back and prepare them for storage. Then, the two of you need to get some sleep.

Wait, what? Ronyn asked.

Yeah, we’re way past that, Voss, Dom said with a chuckle.

What’s got your mind wrapped up on itself? Ronyn asked.

It was my turn not to answer, but my general commander of our armies wasn’t an idiot.

Ronyn scoffed. It’s that girl, isn’t it?

I watched Bexley turn onto her side and curl up into the fetal position. You mean, the one you left high and dry in the bath house, Ronyn?

What the fuck is he talking about? Dom snarled.

It didn’t shock me that Ronyn didn’t respond. He always wielded silence as a weapon to get out of situations that made him uncomfortable.

Annoying trait, but weirdly efficient.

Ronyn, don’t you go silent on me now, Dom said heatedly. What did you do to my mate?

Nothing that isn’t my right to do to my mate, Ronyn snarled right back.

Shut up, the both of you, I said curtly in groupthink, you’ll wake up the entire fucking pack with that nonsense.

The two of them shut the fuck up as Bexley wrapped her fists up into the comforter I pulled up to her chin.

Do whatever the hell you’re doing with the deer and go to bed, I said.

Ronyn spoke back up. But, what about ? —.

Your Alpha has spoken, I said as Bexley’s brow furrowed deeply, now, get to processing those deer and get to bed.

“No,” Bexley whimpered softly.

I immediately froze as another helpless sound fell from her parted lips.

“No, please. Stop it.”

I tilted my head and watched as she wriggled around in bed. She clutched that blanket close to her and curled into the tightest little ball I’d ever seen. I scooted the chair closer to the side of the bed. I reached out and brushed her hair away from her sweating forehead.

“Sh, sh, sh, sh,” I shushed softly, “you’re safe, Bexley. It’s okay. You’re all right.”

My beckoning seemed to help because she simmered down. Her body unfurled a little bit. Her whimpering stopped. The sweating ceased. I used the comforter to wipe the sweat off her brow before I leaned back in the chair and kicked my leg up again.

Only for it to start back up.

“I’ll quit,” she whimpered as pain laced her voice. “Stop, or I’ll quit.”

I yanked my legs away and stood. I hovered over her, cloaking her in my shadow as she tossed and turned. I knew a nightmare when I saw one, but I couldn’t save her from it. The one thing on this planet I had no control over. The one thing on this planet that I couldn’t take from her. I wanted to shoulder the nightmare myself. I wanted to trade places with her, just so I could battle her demons while she got a good night’s rest.

I watched her forehead glisten with beads of sweat again as her body shivered.

And when I went to wipe the sweat off her forehead again…

“No!” she exclaimed as she bolted upright in my bed.

Her hand wrapped around my wrist as she sat there, dripping with sweat as her eyes bulged. They looked around wildly, almost as if trying to find the source of whatever she just captured in the middle of the night. She wrenched me forward as I stood there, continuing to hover in front of her. I watched her get her bearings as my face sat only inches away from hers. And as she squinted her eyes, she finally released my wrist.

“Voss,” she whispered.

I set down the corner of the comforter that was wet from wiping away her sweat. Then, I perched on the edge of the bed as she slowly leaned back.

“Why are you watching me sleep?” she asked as she cocked her head.

Jesus, she had incredible senses and reflexes. Even when sleeping. “You were having a nightmare.”

Her gaze danced tiredly around my room. “Where am I?”

I placed my hands on her shoulders and scooted her back down into bed. “Come on, you need sleep.”

“What, wait? No. Where am I?”

“My home, Bexley,” I said calmly, but sternly as I pinned her with a look. “Now, let me tuck you in so you can rest. You and your pack have had a hell of an evening.”

She stared up at the ceiling and laughed breathlessly. “You can say that again.”

I chuckled as I tucked her in. “Now, get some rest.”

“I’m not tired.”

“You will be here in a few minutes.”

“No, seriously, I’m never tired after nightmares.”

I eased myself back down into my chair. “That bath Merida gave you will put you back out again.”

She slowly looked over at me. “Are you who told her to draw that bath?”

I nodded. “Yep.”

Her face softened. “Thank you.”

I shrugged. “It’s basic Alpha treatment.”

There was a twinge of something behind her eyes, but it disappeared before she spoke. “Well, still. Thank you for the kindness.”

Not to my shock at all, but Bexley yawned a yawn so great that it dropped her jaw and brought tears to her eyes. She nuzzled her cheek against the pillow I laid her back down on, and almost immediately her eyes fell closed. I grinned to myself. She was stubborn, but not stupid. I enjoyed a little bit of stubbornness every now and again. It kept things interesting.

We had an interesting life ahead of us, that much was for certain.

“Sleep well,” I murmured.

Bexley yawned again before she turned over onto her side again. “Night night.”

But all too soon…

“Jacob, no. Please. I can’t.”

My heart broke for her sounds. I wondered what she dreamed about. I wondered what could have possibly been so horrible and so terrible that it haunted her, even when she was supposed to be resting.

“Jacob, please,” she whimpered.

She sounded on the verge of tears, and it made me lean up before I picked up the comforter and dabbed away at her tears again.

“No matter what, I will always keep you safe,” I vowed as I continued brushing her tears away.

No matter where she went, and no matter where life took her, I’d always be there. No one would ever touch her again unless they wanted to die. No one would ever harm her so long as I was around.

No more nightmare fuel for my mate.

Not as long as I had an eye on her.

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