Chapter 4
Elias Kade
I was cataloguing supplies I already knew by heart when the door opened, and Griff walked in carrying Tamsin in his arms.
For a moment, my breath caught so hard it hurt.
She was wrapped up in his dark green military issue coat, the fabric bunched in his fists where he held her close. Her legs were bare from mid-thigh down, skin flushed and streaked faintly with dried water and mud.
Mine.
The bond snapped tight in my chest, a visceral pull that had nothing to do with reason and everything to do with blood.
My gaze roved over her without permission, cataloguing her naked body instinctively.
Her breathing was even, her eyes alert. Her torso was still very mildly bruised where the lycan had injured her, but that would fade within a few more days.
She was going to be okay.
“What happened? Where was she?” I asked.
Tamsin’s head lifted slightly at the sound of my voice, eyes flicking to mine with that familiar spark that told me she was far more awake than anyone had anticipated. I swallowed heavily, the scent of her arousal heavy on the air.
Griff stopped just inside the room. “She woke up early.”
My gaze shifted to him and then back to her. “I can see that.”
“She needed to shift,” he added, and there was a note in his voice—half frustration, half pride—that made the corner of my mouth twitch despite myself. “Then she went out on her own and hunted.”
I stepped closer, careful not to crowd her, but close enough that the bond hummed a bit louder. “You went running through the forest alone?” I questioned her gently.
She lifted her chin, defiant even in his arms. “I needed to.”
Still, the idea of her alone out there, newly healed, newly bonded, to us with her wolf instincts still settling… It sent alarm bells ringing inside my head.
Griff adjusted his grip, clearly sensing the shift in me. “She’s fine,” he said firmly. “I found her. Tracked her myself.”
“I’m not questioning your competence,” I replied evenly. Then, softer, to her, “You should have told someone where you were going.”
Her eyes flashed. “I can bathe myself too, if that’s the next lecture.”
The faintest smile tugged at my mouth.
I reached out, resting my hand briefly against her ankle where it peeked out from beneath the coat.
“You don’t have to take care of yourself all the time anymore,” I said quietly. “You have us now.”
Her blush deepened, spreading hot and unmistakable. She looked away, muttering something under her breath that sounded suspiciously like a curse.
Griff huffed a laugh.
I shot him a look, then gestured toward the nearest bed. “Set her down.”
He did carefully, easing her onto the mattress without jostling her. The coat shifted, revealing more beautifully bare skin, and Tamsin immediately clutched it tighter around herself.
“I can walk,” she protested.
“I know,” I said mildly. “Humor us.”
She grumbled but didn’t argue further.
I turned toward the sink, grabbing a clean towel and a basin. “I’ll get some warm water.”
“I said I can—”
“Tamsin,” I interrupted gently, meeting her gaze. “Let someone take care of you for once.”
Something in my tone must have reached her, because she huffed and finally nodded.
“Fine,” she muttered, but it was full of reluctance.
I smiled despite myself.
As I filled the basin with water, the door opened again.
Nox entered first, silent as ever, his eyes already on Tamsin. His expression flickered with relief, quick and contained, before hardening into irritation.
“Located her then?” he said flatly.
“Yes,” Griff replied. “Eventually. I followed her scent and found her like this…”
Bishop followed close behind, posture stiff with concern, his gaze flicking immediately to her bare legs, then snapping up to her face with deliberate restraint.
“You ran off,” he said, not unkindly, but not too pleased either.
Eamon came in last, his expression somewhere between professional calm and personal worry. “You were supposed to be resting.”
Tamsin crossed her arms beneath the coat, chin lifting. “For the last time, I’m fine!”
Four pairs of eyes narrowed on her.
I bit back a smile.
Griff folded his arms, leaning back against the wall. “Don’t worry, boys. I already addressed her naughtiness.”
Nox’s brow lifted, curiosity brimming in his eyes. “Did you?”
“Oh, yes,” Griff said dryly. “Very thoroughly.”
I noticed then that Griff’s coat had ridden up a bit, exposing her bare ass. She moved to cover herself and that’s when I noticed that it was just the slightest bit pink.
Griff had spanked her.
Hot.
Nox’s mouth curved into a slow grin. Bishop’s lips twitched into the barest ghost of a smile. Even Eamon looked faintly amused as he shook his head.
“Good,” Nox said. “She needs to know there’s consequences.”
Tamsin’s face went crimson.
“I hate all of you,” she muttered.
Griff snorted. “No, you don’t.”
I set the basin down and moved closer again, kneeling in front of her. I dipped the towel into the water and wrung it out, then lifted her foot gently into my hands.
She stiffened, then relaxed despite herself.
“Easy,” I murmured. “I’ve got you.”
As I cleaned the mud and dirt from her skin, my thoughts drifted back through years of careful hiding and calculated restraint, completely unbidden.
I’d learned how to disappear when I was very young.
My family had been torn apart when I was barely more than a boy, ferals tearing through our settlement until the Watch arrived just late enough to call it containment instead of failure. I’d survived because I was born a wolf and learned how to pretend that I wasn’t.
I’d hidden within the Watch’s ranks, learned their methods, their blind spots. I’d played the role of mentor, soldier, anything that kept suspicion away from the truth of what I really was.
It had been lonely.
It had been necessary.
Until Tamsin Drake walked into my life like a lit match, burning holes through every one of their lies just by existing.
Now, kneeling at her feet, washing away the remnants of her first hunt as a wolf, I felt something I hadn’t allowed myself in a very long time.
Hope.
I reached her thighs and she hesitantly parted her legs for me.
I drew in a breath, seeing that she was wet and had to ignore the jabbing desire that shot straight down to my cock.
The scent of her arousal swirled around me, and it was hard to keep focused as I finished cleaning the mud off her legs.
“I can finish bathing myself,” she said, glancing at all of us in turn, then landing squarely back on me. “You’re all staring.”
“No one’s staring,” Nox said dryly.
Bishop cleared his throat. “That is… debatable.”
Her blush deepened.
I reached out, meaning to take Griff’s coat, letting her see my hands before touching her. “May I?”
She hesitated, fingers tightening briefly in the coat.
Then she nodded.
I eased the coat from her shoulders, careful not to rush, folding it neatly and setting it aside.
The air shifted perceptibly. Tamsin drew her knees in a little, suddenly very aware of being the only unclothed one in a room full of men who were all staring at her with hunger, concern, and increasingly obvious desire.
Her cheeks burned.
I dipped the cloth into the warm water, wrung it out, and started with her left wrist, slow and unhurried, washing away dried mud and whatever else was on her skin. It was warm beneath my fingers, alive and responsive.
She shivered faintly.
“Cold?” I asked.
“No,” she said quickly.
I moved upward with careful restraint, continuing with her forearm, then her elbow, never lingering, never rushing.
Tamsin watched me the entire time.
“I don’t like being fussed over,” she muttered.
“I know,” I said. “You’ll tolerate it anyway.”
“That doesn’t mean I like it.”
“Yet here you are,” Bishop said mildly.
She shot him a look. “You’re enjoying this far too much.”
“Perhaps,” he smirked.
Ignoring the others, I paused when I reached her breasts, waiting for her consent. She inhaled audibly, then nodded once.
I continued, keeping my movements respectful even as her nipples pebbled before my eyes. I was acutely aware of the room, of the weight of four other gazes. No one looked away. I didn’t either.
Her blush spread further, vivid now, creeping across her chest and up to her ears.
“This is deeply unfair,” she grumbled.
“Running off alone was unfair,” Griff replied calmly. “This is just another consequence, just like your spanking.”
She glared at him. “You enjoyed that far too much.”
His mouth curved. “I think you did too, little mate.”
Nox snorted softly. Bishop grinned with obvious interest. Eamon shook his head, lips pressed together in amusement.
I moved to her stomach next, careful around the faint tenderness left behind by the lycan wound.
“You’re healing fast,” I said quietly.
She swallowed. “I feel… different.”
“You are,” I replied. “You’re a wolf now.”
Her eyes flicked up to mine, soft and uncertain. “I’m not used to that.”
“I know,” I said gently. “But you have us now. And whatever you need, we’ll be here for you.”
When she was clean, I reached for a towel and draped it briefly around her shoulders, blotting away the last traces of water before letting it fall back to her lap.
She looked up at me as she stood up and dried off, her eyes searching mine before her lips curled up just slightly in the barest trace of a smile.
“Thank you,” she murmured and I nodded once in acknowledgement.
Then her shoulders slumped just a fraction. The defiance in her spine softened. Her breathing deepened, the adrenaline finally bleeding out of her system now that the hunt, the shift, and the bath were done.
She swayed just a bit.
She was tired.
Griff noticed at the same time I did. He moved in without a word, one hand hovering at her back without touching yet, giving her the dignity of choice even as he prepared to catch her.
“Hey,” he said. “That’s enough excitement for one day.”
“I’m fine,” she said automatically, but it came out slower this time. Much less convincing than before.
Bishop took a step closer. Nox straightened from the wall. Eamon was already reaching for the blanket at the foot of the bed.
“Tamsin,” I said quietly, rising to my feet. “You’re exhausted.”
She scoffed weakly. “I just did a bit of hunting.”
“While healing from a lycan bite,” Eamon added calmly.
She rolled her eyes, but her knees bent slightly, betraying her.
Griff didn’t wait any longer. He took the towel away and tossed it aside. Then he looped an arm around her and lifted her clean off the floor.
“Hey—” she protested, reflexive. “Put me down.”
“No,” he countered. “You’ve done enough for today.”
She glared up at him, but it lacked any bite.
I stepped in close as Griff lowered her back onto the cot, easing her down with care. She made a soft sound of annoyance that was far more tired than angry, then sank into the bed as if gravity had finally decided to claim her.
Eamon pulled a blanket up over her, tucking it around her. Griff draped his coat back over her too.
She immediately tried to push herself upright again.
“I don’t need—”
I caught her wrist gently.
She stilled.
“Tamsin,” I said, letting just enough edge creep into my voice to get her attention. “If you get out of that bed again, I will put you over my knee and spank that defiant little ass bright red right now.”
Her eyes flicked to mine, heated desire and amusement sparking there despite her fatigue. “Is that a promise?”
I leaned in closer, lowering my voice.
“Careful,” I murmured. “You’re already on thin ice, little mate.”
Her lips parted. A faint flush crept back into her cheeks. “You wouldn’t.”
I straightened just enough for her to see my expression clearly.
“Oh,” I said calmly, “I absolutely would.”
Her eyes widened a fraction.
Griff snorted. “You heard him.”
She huffed, finally giving in, and let herself sink back against the pillows. “You’re all impossible.”
“Correct,” Bishop replied.
Eamon checked her pulse again, satisfied. “She needs sleep. Real sleep. No shifting, no running, no disappearing acts.”
“This is humiliating,” she yawned. Her eyes fluttered heavily, the fight draining out of her now that she was horizontal and warm and surrounded.
Griff brushed a hand over her hair. Nox resumed his place against the wall, ever watchful. Bishop took up position near the door like a sentry. Eamon adjusted the blanket one last time and gave me a look that said, ‘don’t let her get up again.’
I didn’t need to be told.
Tamsin’s gaze found mine one more time, heavy-lidded now. Then, just before sleep claimed her, she added very softly, “You’re all very bossy.”
I smiled despite myself.
“Sleep,” I said gently but firmly. “That’s not a suggestion.”
She closed her eyes, not exactly obediently, but close enough.
“Good girl,” I whispered.