“Cassius, look at me.”
Damp scared eyes blinked up, meeting my own. I spoke quickly. “Deep breaths, little wolf. You’re safe. Deep, like this.” I inhaled and slowly let my breath out. “Breathe with me.”
He was still hitching at air, his hands grasping at my shoulders.
“Slowly. Match my breath. I’ve got you.”
Tears rolled into the hair at his temples but finally his eyes cleared. “They came through the gate. So fast. I was sitting by the pool. I tried to run.”
My palm brushed the hair back from his forehead. “You’re going to have a black eye.”
He started to silently sob again. “They were going to take me away. I kicked. I screamed. I have no rights. They were stronger. It’s not fair!” His lips thinned into a tight line. “It’s wrong!”
This was how Kirion must’ve felt when I’d chased him around my dad’s house. I’d been drunk and twenty. But that was no excuse. I had intentions to scare him, nothing more. I was angry at him and Dad. But he didn’t know that.
Shame washed over me but I had no time right now for any flashbacks.
“They laughed.” Cassius’s voice was broken.
“They were drunk idiots. But that’s no excuse. If I see Bish again I’ll fucking kill him.”
A shiver took Cassius’s whole body. I grabbed the blanket that was over the armrest of the couch and spread it over him. “I need to fix the fire and turn up the heat. I’ll get you something for those bruises.”
He was still in shock, gaze darting about the room. I stood and his eyes widened. I looked down at my body, remembering my clothes had been ripped away. “Malinekan came out. I couldn’t stop him.” I grabbed another blanket and wrapped it around my waist.
“He’s big.” Cassius was breathing better now. “He saved me. Thank you.”
My palm pressed the top of his head. “Don’t move. I’ll be right back.”
He clutched at the blanket, eyes wide, and watched me walk to the fireplace. I lit another fire, then hurried toward the kitchen to grab something for his swollen face. In the hall, I turned up the heat.
When I returned, Cassius was up on one elbow. I brought him water, a soda and juice. I set them on the table. “I didn’t know which you’d prefer.”
He didn’t reply. He still looked terrified. I had an urge to wrap him up in my arms and never let go. But that wouldn’t be appropriate.
I held up a towel and opened it. “And I brought this.” In it was a bag of cold, squishy cubes. “This is for black eyes and such.”
“You had that on hand?” he asked.
“You have no idea how many fights I’ve been in, do you?”
He shook his head as I pressed the towel against his face. He winced.
“It’s cold,” I said. “But it helps. Does your head hurt?”
“A little.”
I reached into a drawer under the coffee table and brought out the aspirin. I handed him two along with the juice. “Are you sure Malinekan didn’t scratch you?”
“He scared me at first. He didn’t hurt me. Is he mad?”
“At those alphas, yes.”
“At me?”
“Why would he be mad at you? He wants you to know he’s not angry. He was scared for you. He didn’t mean to come on you so fast or hold you so tight. He was afraid they’d already hurt you.”
“I—I didn’t mean to get into any trouble.”
