We don’t dare leave her for a single second.
If he just jerks a finger in her direction, I will end him.
At some point, she wakes up and tries to get up. I slip into the tent while Cyn goes outside.
When she goes to speak, I put a hand across her mouth, lean in, and whisper in her ear.
“You are injured, and you smell like an omega. We are all that’s standing between you and them. I need you to stay quiet and out of the way until you are feeling strong enough to hide it.”
Her eyes have gotten so wide, I can see fear in them but outrage, too, which is okay, as long as she’s taking this seriously.
I take my hand away from her mouth, and she awkwardly sits up. I pass her my water bottle, trying not to purr over her accepting water from me.
I’ve even got a bowl of that foul fake potato crap for her to eat. She eats it with no complaint, even though it's extra nasty tonight. Her eyes look brighter, and after she’s eaten, I check her head.
I wish we had ice, but she’s doing all right now.
“How are you feeling?”
“Just tired.”
I lay down beside her, and when she realises I’m not going anywhere, she carefully lays down beside me; I wait until she’s completely still before I wiggle up closer, putting an arm over her waist.
“What are you doing?”
“It’s cold, and your sleeping bag got ruined, remember. You’re not well. Let me help you.”
“Scent mark me?” she asks bitterly.
“That, too,” I murmur and rub my chin over her back. “It will keep you safe. Is that so bad?”
She hesitates, and I know she wants to say yes, desperately wants to banish me from her space, but she’s smart enough to realise she needs our help.
She subsides but with spicy notes in her cookie scent. I lean in and inhale deeply.
“You smell delicious when you’re mad.”
Her skin breaks out in goosebumps. I lay back down, not willing to push it.
She grumbles but goes to sleep in my arms.
At one point, she starts dreaming. It’s a nightmare, she’s twitching and whimpering in my embrace, and then she whispers my name.
But it doesn’t sound good. I’ve never heard her say my name like that, and I never want to again.
It’s like I broke her.
Bonnie
Iexplode out of the tent like it’s just another day and clap my hands.
“Right, sorry about yesterday, everyone. I want to thank you for taking care of me, but it was just a minor bump, and I’m okay now.”
“You are?” Kevin asks sceptically.
“Absolutely. I’ve had much worse injuries.”
He grunts and turns away, but Rojer is still watching me. Too intent. Too hostile.
