He let me go and stomped off into the trees. I rubbed my neck and cleared my throat. "Well, there's no need to choke me."
Wren stared after him as he got farther and farther away, eventually disappearing into the darkness. "He's hurting."
"He's hurting? Did you see what he did to me? I'm going to bruise!" I moved my hand as Wren steppedcloser to examine it. "It's already black and blue. I can feel it."
She tried to fight a smile and lifted a hand to run her fingers over my injury. "I can't really tell with your tattoos, but it looks fine. He barely even held you by the neck, Zayn."
I grabbed her hand and held it against my chest. "I missed you, Wrenny. I should have never turned my back on you. If I wouldn't have run off like a scolded puppy, I would have been there, and this would never have happened to you."
Tears filled her eyes, and she looked down. I hated seeing her hurting and pulled her closer, wrapping an arm around her.
"I'm glad this happened. We found your sister and learned Marcos is an even bigger threat." She put her forehead against my chest. I wondered if she could feel what she was doing to my heart. "I don't deserve yours or Kingston's forgiveness."
I stroked her back, leaning back against the tree. If my legs weren't so tired, I'd have wanted to stay with her wrapped in my arms forever. "You deserve everything, Wren."
"So do you." She sniffled. "And Kingston... and Sully."
"He doesn't like to be called that." With a sigh, Imoved her far enough away from me so I could see her face. "You like him?"
Her lips twisted to the side, and I knew without her even telling me. Damn it.
"I don't know what I'm feeling, all right? I like all of you in different ways." She shook her head like she couldn't believe it. "I should make sure he's okay. He headed for the stream. Might be nice to rinse off and get a drink."
"Well, I'm not letting you go alone when he's going around choking innocent people." I kept ahold of her hand and let her lead me through the trees. Was she planning on dating all of us? How would that work when she got sick of one or two of us? Did this mean she was staying?
We came to the stream and my heart leapt into my throat. Sullivan was lying in the stream, his head all the way under. What the hell had happened?
Letting Wren's hand go, I sprinted the rest of the way, sloshing through the water and grabbing him by the arm. The water wasn't deep—it came to about mid-shin—but even wolves had a time limit on staying underwater.
"What the hell are you thinking?" I practically threw him into the dirt.
"I was rinsing off! What the fuck!" He did somekind of ninja move where he jumped to his feet in one fluid motion and then charged at me like a bull.
The wind was knocked out of me as he hit me around the waist and took me down right into the stream. The cool water shocked my system into awareness, and I squirmed underneath him, trying to get free.
Both of us were naked, so it was no surprise when his dick rubbed right against mine. If I hadn’t been nervous he was going to hold me under to drown my ass, I might have found the whole tryst a turn-on.
I managed to get free and surfaced, preparing for him to attack again. He was sitting on his ass in the middle of the stream, and I started to get to my feet, but one of my legs gave out, sending me to my knees.
"What the hell, Sullivan!" Wren rushed to me and helped me to my feet. "He was trying to help you! Who the fuck lies in the middle of a stream like that?"
Sullivan ran his hand over his face. "I'm sorry."
"Are you okay?" Wren was shaking slightly as she looked me over. "I don't see any injuries or smell any blood."
"I'm fine, Wrenny." I looked past her to Sullivan,who was standing now, hanging his head in shame. Good. He should feel bad. He was a pit bull attacking a harmless puppy. "Why don't you rinse off and then we'll sleep."
I put myself between her and Sullivan and crossed my arms as he moved to dry land. Why did he have to be such an asshole? What did Wren mean about he was hurting?
The moonlight hit his back at just the right angle to make the scars on his back practically glow as he walked back to the cabin.
We followed shortly after when Wren was done, and he had found a few blankets and was lying with his hands behind his head. "The stars are beautiful tonight. It will be a nice way to fall asleep."
Wren went and lay next to him, her head practically laying on his chest and her entire side flush against his. Calmness washed over me at the sight. It was the oddest thing because, if anything, I should have wanted to rip out Sullivan's throat for touching my girl.
With a sigh, I lay on my side next to Wren, throwing a leg over hers and wrapping an arm around her waist. My face was precariously close to her tit, but I needed to be on my best behavior.
"Let's sleep for a few hours and then get moving.Kingston is probably worried." Wren yawned and started running her fingers through my hair. "I'm surprised he didn't come back this way."
