Glad to see that their spirits hadn’t been completely broken by their captivity, he took them over to the van so they could get some bathing supplies.
Ronin left the camp and led the omegas to the river. It was just the men, Sophie and Cybil having gone earlier.
He made sure to face away as the omegas undressed and got into the river, to give them some privacy. When he finally heard splashing and was sure they were decent—as decent as one could be being fully naked—Ronin turned around and took in the four men, including his mate, as they got washed up in the water. Ronin caught a glimpse of Shawn’s back. The omega had scattered red lines up and down his back that appeared fresh, and also healed scars that looked like they’d been left over from beatings. Ronin’s eyes travelled to the other omega, Marco, and he had much of the same.
Ro had known Jax was hurt, but apparently not how badly. He had bruises covering his back and a large handprint around his arm. He couldn’t imagine what his chest looked like.
Ronin closed his eyes for a moment, needing to brace himself before looking at his mate
Oliver was a different case. When they caught the omegas, he seemed relieved, just like the rest of them, but he wasn’t scared. He didn’t have a single welt on his body—at least none that Ronin could see.
“Thank fuck,” Ronin muttered, but he immediately felt bad. Even as he was grateful his mate was fine, he felt horrible for feeling that way when it was clear the other men had been brutalized.
Oliver must have heard him because he turned around and glanced in his direction. He stood in the river, just staring back at Ronin. Ronin managed a smile, all the while his mind kept wondering why Oliver didn’t have the same marks the others did. Maybe he would have to double back and have a little chat with Anton. He had a feeling the fucker had an explanation, and Ronin already knew it wouldn’t be altruistic.
Chapter Nine
Ollie
Oliver sat in the circle watching the flames as they danced. It had been a long and emotional six months. He'd lost track of how long he had been captured until Ronin told him what day it was.
A part of him had never thought it would come to an end—or at least not a happy ending—but to be free and sitting around a fire again, and with a mate, Ollie lowered his head to his shoulder and took a surreptitious look at Ronin behind him. The alpha—or in this casehisalpha—must have been watching him because their eyes met and held, and Ronin’s lips curved into a smile. Ollie couldn’t help smiling back. For the first time in what felt like forever, Ollie was hopeful, like anything could happen.
He heard a yawn to the left of him, and Ollie looked over to find Jax sliding further down into his sleeping bag.
“Sleepy, huh?” He couldn't help running his hand through Jax's hair. Even though Jax was older than him, there was just something about him that brought out Ollie's protective instincts. Maybe it was the fact that his friend was five feet even and maybe a hundred pounds soaking wet.
Jax yawned again, and Ollie couldn't help it—so did he. “Super sleepy,” Jax sighed.
This was the first time that Jax had ever said that. Maybe it was because he finally felt safe, as usually his friend had a hard time falling asleep.
“I think I’m gonna go to sleep too,” Shawn chimed in on the other side of Jax. He tried maneuvering himself into his sleeping bag, but he hadn't lowered the zip enough, so he huffed and stood. Ollie couldn't help chuckling when he saw the hoodie one of the alphas—Maddox—had loaned Shawn fell well below his knees.
“I think I've been waiting so long for today to walk out of that building, and I guess a part of me isn't ready to go to sleep...” Ollie’s voice trailed off.
“We're out of there.” Jax’s voice had him looking at his friend who was basically swallowed up by his sleeping bag. “You... We're not going to wake and be back there.”
Shawn chuckled, although it wasn't exactly humor filled. “Trust me, I understand how Ollie feels. I can't believe I am falling asleep in clean clothes. I feel like it’s been years.” His friend sighed and closed his eyes. “I still can't believe someone came to get us out.”
Ollie glanced over at Cybil, Sophie, and Marco—they’d fallen asleep a couple of hours ago—and then back at Shawn. “Yeah, neither can I.”
Ollie glanced behind him again to look over to the van where Ronin was leaning, and his heart began racing.
He heard a chuckle from beside him, and he glanced in that direction to find Shawn watching him. “Goodnight!” Shawn winked at him.
“Night,” Ollie replied, and he watched as Shawn burrowed all the way down in his sleeping bag.
Oliver turned back over to Ronin and found his gaze was still focused on him. His cheeks heated and he looked away quickly and tried focusing on what was left of the fire. He pulled his legs into his body and put his chin on his knees as he stared into the dancing flames. Ollie had to admit he wasn't surprised when he heard footsteps coming from behind him, or that he already knew it was Ronin. His mate walked over and lowered himself down onto the sleeping bag to his right.
Ollie turned his neck to the side. “Hello.”
His mate smiled at him. “Hello. Hope you don’t mind me interrupting your peaceful night.”
Oliver shook his head from side to side, but didn't lift his chin from his knees. Instead, he tilted his neck further, looking up into the clear sky. He could see a million stars above them, and he couldn't help the chuckle that escaped. His brain was still wondering how he was even having this moment.
“Care to share what has you laughing?" Ronin asked.
“I just couldn’t have asked for a better night to get rescued.” Oliver said.
