"Would you hurt me?"
"Have I yet?" He asked.
I thought about it carefully. Things he'd done had hurt my body.
"Tell me what you are thinking." He slid out of me.
Making me moan in pain from the aching of my body. I clutched the bedding and tried not to move until the cramping inside me subsided.
He rolled off the bed and landed smoothly on his feet. Stepping into his breeches, he tugged them up his legs and buttoned his pants. Sweeping up his shirt and holding it in a clenched fist.
"You have hurt my body."
"Yes, I suppose I have. It was not my intent."
"What was?"
"To stem the physical pain to come. I know I have better control than my brothers. The Mating Moon is already rising, and they will be far more overzealous in their hunger. Especially for you."
"Why me, Vanquish? Why not one of the other breedables?"
"We fancy you. We take care of you. We care for you."
"You do?"
"Yes. That's why we bring you food and find clothes for you."
"The whole village does."
He gave me a chiding look. Slowly blinking large green eyes as he waited for me to catch on. The yellow vanishing from his irises as his gaze softened.
It was you three that were helping me this whole time?"
"Yes. The others in the pack saw no reason to help you unless you were willing to..." He gave my body a long look before clearing his throat. "Service them."
I scurried to a sitting position to glare at him. "Truly?"
"They thought they should have some return for their efforts."
He defended.
"So why didn't you three think so?" I asked belligerently.
He shrugged and looked to the floor next to him. Seeming suddenly uncomfortable.
I'd never seen him look unsure.
"We have time. We hunt for fun, and we thought someone should look after you."
I stared at him astounded. "So that's what you think this is?"
"No." He shifted slightly, disconcerted. Gesturing to me, tugging the coverlet across my lap and over my chest. "This was pure pleasure. I have no excuse."
"Then why have you all gone from looking after me to sating yourselves on me?"
"We could do it with the other women instead. But it isn't the same." He paused. Brows bunching with some kind of emotion as he gestured to me. "You smell like honey. You heat us and we're drawn to you..."
"Crave you." He admitted.
My brow knitted as I attempted to decide if this was some game, he was playing. But I'd never known Vanquish to be anything other than ruthlessly blunt.
"I've begged you to leave me be."
"Who'd bring you food then? Who'd take you out for fresh air? Who would you talk to?" His voice dropped.
"I don't talk to you now!" I objected.
"You speak to no one. But us more than any other. No packmate should be so isolated. We worry for you."
I didn't like this intimate look inside their deeds and motives. It made me feel different.
"You're all so cruel to me!" My voice broke with emotion.
He looked as though I'd punched him. Rearing back. "Cruel?"
I nodded.
"Vanna Rae, we're cruel to males in this pack and even some of the other females. But we only play with you. Tease you. You've never seen us be truly cruel. You should've seen what
Hunter did to Bryan last eve for sniffing around your hut."
"To Bryan!" He was one of the ugliest wolves in the pack. Known to be violent with even the willing breeders like Cindy.
"Why was he looking around my home?" I retreated until my back was to the wall. Fearful at just the thought.
"Why do you think?" He eyed me askance. "You smell amazing."
He tugged on his shirt. "Don't worry, Rabbit. We wouldn't let any other male anywhere near you."
"What if the Alpha wanted me?"
Vanquish's head shot up. "Then one or several of us would not end well."