“Strip down, little one.” Knox steps closer, his presence completely filling the small room, and I’m suddenly very aware of every inch of my own body. My hoodie is heavy on my shoulders, and my pants are itchy around my waist.
And the thought of stripping down in front of the two is terrifying. I know how ridiculous that is—especially since Knox saw every inch of me last night, then Dakota saw me this morning, but I can’t help it.
“I’ll help,” Knox says when I don’t move. “Arms up,” he commands in a calm, soft tone, but the alpha in him makes my pulse spike.
My hands shoot straight up, allowing Knox to tug the hoodie up and hand it to Dakota. Next, he removes my shirt, exposing my upper half. My skin prickles as an intense sense of vulnerability settles over me. But then I notice Dakota’s face. His eyes are fixed firmly on mine. He isn’t looking at any other part of my body, not even when Knox pulls my pants down, leaving me completely bare.
And I suddenly realize that I like this beta.
Dakota’s kindness is so careful and deliberate. I still don’t trust all the alphas in the pack—their kind can shift into something dangerous in a heartbeat—but Dakota…heseemssafe.
“What’s this?” Knox’s voice drops, suddenly worried.
“What?” I look up at the alpha, but he’s too busy staring at the side of my neck.At my mark.My stomach tightens, and I drop my gaze, immediately ashamed.
“Skyla,” Knox whispers my name as he brushes the hair off my neck to better see it. “This looks awful.” His voice is strained, like he’s never seen something so horrific in all his life. “Whathappened?”
“Oh, I…uh…” Dakota stammers, his eyes flickering to mine, then back to Knox. “I forgot to tell you about that. I meant to?—”
“You knew about this?” Knox’s head snaps toward Dakota, dark and unyielding. He’s not yelling or lashing out, but the way he looks at the beta makes me curl inward, small and guilty.
I hate that I’m naked right now.
“Yeah.” Dakota grimaces. While he does look sorry, he doesn’t seem to be scared.
Maybe he knows that Knox won’t hit him in front of me? Some pack alphas like to punish their packmates in private…I assume.
“Dakota.” Knox draws in a slow breath, his voice steady but edged with command. “Things like this are important for me to know.”
“I know.” Dakota’s head drops, gaze fixed on his feet. “I’m sorry. I meant to tell you. I just—” he exhales, frustrated with himself. “I didn’t.”
Knox’s hand moves, tilting Dakota’s chin back up. Knox’s dark eyes soften as he studies the beta. “It’s okay,” Knox says, voice gentler now. A small smile ghosts across his mouth as his palm cups Dakota’s cheek. “It’s been a hell of a few days.”
Relief flickers in Dakota’s eyes, his shoulders loosening as he nods.
“Come on.” Knox curls his big hand around my wrist, guiding me toward the tub. “I need to clean this.”
I don’t want him to clean anything. Or Dakota.
I’m twenty-two years old, and perfectly capable of washing myself. But I don’t know how to tell them that without sounding ungrateful or rude.
“Careful,” Knox tells me as I lift one leg, then step into the tub.
The moment my foot breaks the surface, heat rushes up my legs and goosebumps flash across my sides. I sink down slowly, the hot water hugging every inch of me, making the knot in my chest ease.
The second my butt touches the bottom of the tub, Dakota dips a shower puff into the water before bringing it to my arm. His touch is feather light, so cautious it’s almost tentative, dragging suds over my skin in tiny arcs. He works down my arm, then to my knees, like he’s afraid that if he presses too hard, I’ll break.
It’s so sweet, it makes my throat ache.
Knox grabs something out of the cabinet under the sink, then falls to his knees right next to me. Leaning across Dakota, he turns off the water before turning his attention to my neck. His touch is firmer than Dakota’s, but still careful. He works quietly, every motion deliberate—cleaning, patting, dabbing—but I cansmellthe anger radiating off him. Smoky cherry, too acidic, mixed with something sharper. It makes my stomach turn and my pulse spike.
Is he mad atme?
I bite the inside of my cheek, trying to focus on Dakota’s calm eyes, on the way his fingers move slowly over my shins, while Knox handles my neck.
It’s all so much. I’m dizzy with a dangerous mixture of overlapping emotions. Fear. Shame. Sadness. Exhaustion. And something that feels like…affection? I don’t know if that’s it, but I’m definitely thankful for these men right now. They’re being very kind.
And for some reason, that causes tension to coil in my chest, making my throat tighten and my head ache.
