Conner

Skye’s cry of pain was like a bucket of cold water poured over us and all I wanted was to hold him tight in my arms and promise that we would never hurt him, but his begging broke my heart and I stepped back, giving him a way out. I reached for Antonio to hold both him and myself back when I finally took in Skye’s body. Bruises and abrasions littered his skin, some red and angry, others a deep purple with green around the edges. It was at this moment that I realized we hadn’t offered to clean him the night before. I could still make out the scent of the other man and blood clinging to his skin, tainting his fresh, sweet scent.

“Little one?” Antonio asked quietly. 

Skye was shaking almost violently and I gave up staying away from him. “Sweetheart,” I wrapped him up in my arms and sat on the bed with him on my lap. “Tonio, would you fetch two cloths? One damp and one dry.” Antonio nodded and fled to the bathroom to retrieve the towels. “Sweetheart,” he didn’t respond, so I lifted his chin, “Skye?” He blinked, his expressive eyes only vaguely focusing on me. “Can we wash you?”

He nuzzled closer to me and grimaced. “I-I guess so. Or I could just go shower. That way you don’t have to look at my body.”

He went to stand, but I wrapped my arms around him tighter. “It would be our honor to wash you, sweetheart.”

“But only if you are comfortable with that.” Antonio said when he returned. “We only want you to feel safe with us.”

Skye held still for a long moment and my heart dropped, thinking he would refuse the offer, but he nodded and curled closer into me. 

“I’d like that.” He said softly.

Antonio and I gently cleaned his skin, then I left him and Antonio in the bed and went to find food for the three of us.

***

“Alpha!” 

I turned at Jefferson’s call. “Jefferson, what can I do for you?” 

The warrior wolf bowed his head, but not in the usual show of submission. It was a cocky tilt that had my wolf on edge.

“I wanted to see if there was anything I could do for the omega, to make his stay here more comfortable.”

At his slick smile, a growl erupted from my throat. The stunned look on the warrior’s face made my wolf happy enough to calm momentarily. “You will do nothing for him.” I growled. “He is under my protection. Spread that around the other wolves. Now go!”

Jefferson turned and almost sprinted out of the room. 

“That was kinda hot.” Skye’s soft whisper made me spin around and I found him leaning against the doorway. His cheeks flamed red when he realized I heard him and heat flashed through me as I thought back to when I returned with breakfast and what had followed. His face had been about the same shade of red then. 

I waved him over to me and watched as he scampered over, a cute little smile on his face. “Hi!” he said shyly. 

I lifted him into my arms and he wrapped around me like a monkey. “Hello sweetheart. How are you feeling?” As we made our way towards my desk, I ran my hand lightly over his butt. “Are you sore?”

He blushed again and pressed his face against my shirt, but shook his head. I chuckled, which had him bringing his head back up with a pouting glare on his face.

“Why are you laughing at me?” He stuck his bottom lip out and I stifled my laughter.

“Never sweetheart. I would never laugh at you.”

He stopped pouting and a shy smile crossed his face. “I think I believe you.” 

I sat down and cuddled him close to my chest. “You can believe me, Skye. You are mine and Tonio’s, that means we would never make fun of you in any way.”

He snuggled in closer. “I think I’m gonna like being yours.” He yawned and my heart fluttered, contentment settling deep in my soul.