“Relax,” Basil says, moving a little closer. “It’s all going to be okay.” He smells weird. Fresh. Maybe even soapy. Alphas don’t smell like that. They smell hard, like cut steel and raging fires.Right?
I think about his strange aroma as both alphas begin to wash me.
Basil holds a wet rag, skimming it over my sensitive skin, while Killian uses his free hand. He rubs the dirt off my knees and feet, before focusing on my hands.
I think about wiggling away from them, but my body holds no strength. Instead, I loll my head to the side, resting against Killian’s firm chest. His sleek muscles are more subtle than his packmates. He’s more lean. Toned.
My eyes begin to drift shut, as I fall into the comfortable sensation of water washing over me. It laps gently at my skin, pulling me into a dream-like haze. But then, fingers curve around my inner thigh, and panic rips through me.
“Stop!” I manage to force the word from my mouth as my whole body locks up.
Stunned at my outburst, both alphas stare down at me, their eyes comically wide. I brace myself, expecting one of them to snap or snarl, or maybe even hit me. But neither one does.
Finally, Basil lets out a short laugh and says, “Shit.”
Killian smiles, and deep lines settle around his eyes. It’s clear he smiles often. “We’re almost done, omega.” He smooths his hand over my upper arm. “Be patient, sweetheart.”
I want to snap and snarl and tell him to screw off. But my mind is too slow, and by the time I can find the words Basil has his hands in my hair, purring softly.
The rumbling sound radiates from his chest while nails scratch softly at my scalp. They tug gently at my roots before slipping through the wet strands. The alpha works quietly, making sure to get every inch of my head. It feels so good and vaguely familiar.
My eyes float closed and memories of my mother wash over me.
When I was little, she’d sit on the edge of the washbasin, humming little songs while she washed the dirt off my face. I’d play with the soap, making beards and puffy hats out of soap. Now that I’m grown, she and I would sit side-by-side while we wash the little ones after dinner. Or we did….
I wonder what happened today when she woke up and found me gone. Was she sad? Devastated? Angry?
Did Burke beat her for crying?
Did the Frolen pack hurt them when Burke told them I was gone?
Intense emotion grips me, and tears burn the back of my eyes. I swallow hard, trying to force down my growing sadness, but I can’t stop it. My tears are a rolling boulder, threatening to crush me if I don’t let them out. So I let them.
A bubble leaps from my throat, and hot tears fall down my face.
It almost feels good to cry.
“She must be exhausted,” Killian murmurs. I can hear the pity in his deep voice, but I don’t care anymore.I just want my mom.
“Let me wash her face and we can get out of here,” Basil says. The wet cloth brushes over my mouth and cheeks, wiping away the dried blood and salty tears. He’s shockingly gentle, touching me with so much care.
“Good girl,” Killian praises me when I take a deep breath. “We’re almost done.”
Basil purrs as he washes my forehead and cheeks. He moves down and around my ears, pausing before touching the spot where my gland is. The second the warm rag presses against my throat, electricity shoots through me. The confusing sensation mixes with my grief, making my stomach ache and I whimper.
“I think that’s good,” Killian says, then he moves. Water splashes as I’m carried back to the shoreline, but I keep my eyes shut tight. I don’t want to see their faces. I don’t want to see their pity for the pathetic omega that can’t even have a bath without falling apart.
“I checked the cave,” Tristan whispers softly, probably assuming I’m asleep. “Everything is still there.”
“Good.” Killian adjusts me in his hold, and I realize that we’re all still naked. I wish he’d let me put those horrible sweatpants back on. I’m chilly. “Come on,” Killian says. “We need to get this omega in bed.”
And just like that, panic slams into me once again.
What do they plan to do to me in bed?
Toward the Cave
Basil
