Page 30 of Claimed

I nod and my hair is released as I’m pulled back against Chase’s chest, his arms pulling tighter around me than before. The other four stare at me with a mix of anger and concern.

“Sweetheart,” Maddox says gently as he squeezes my hand. “I know you said they tortured you, but I didn’t realize…”

“How many?” Bain asks, and I turn to him in question. “How many times?”

I shake my head. “I don’t know. I lost count years ago.”

He squeezes his eyes tightly shut and takes a deep breath. I look at Hunter in concern, and he squeezes my calf, giving me a smile that's more of a grimace.

“Bain’s wolf is pressing him to shift and kill the men who did that, even though we don’t know where they are. But he knows if he does that, you’ll shift and he won’t get any answers. He’s trying to calm his wolf down.”

Bain’s eyes suddenly snap open. His pain and rage-filled eyes meet mine as he growls out. “I vow to you, angel. I will destroy every person who ever harmed you.”

His free hand comes up to trace along the marks, following them to wear they disappear on the opposite side of my chest, near Maddox. “How far does this trail go?”

“I haven’t seen it,” I tell him honestly as I bite my lip, still scared for him to know the truth.

“But you feel it, every time you resurrect?” he confirms and I nod. “Show me,” he demands. “Point to where you felt the last one.”

I glance down my body, trying to pinpoint it since I was in my wolf form at the time. Then I place my hand on my stomach, just above my navel.

He presses his bare leg against mine, making sure we stay connected as Chase grabs my hand and pulls it up, away from my stomach. Then Bain grabs my nightie in both hands, right over the spot I’d just been touching, and rips it, making me gasp in surprise.

I did not expect that.

I watch with wide eyes as he sticks his thick fingers in the two-inch hole and rips it wider. Then he pulls his fingers out and moves the opening around until he finds the little black hearts. He follows it until he finds the end, just a little right of center. Then he uses the hole to follow the trail the other way until the nightie has no more give in it.

He lifts a hand and a sharp claw pops out of his index finger, and he uses that to cut a slit in the fabric.

Everyone is silent as he works, and it surprises me that nobody is saying anything. Then I realize they’re probably speaking in their bond. Maybe they don’t want me to hear what they’re saying.

“Does this wrap all the way around your back?” Maddox asks when he realizes that would be the only way to connect the trail to the other end on my chest nearest to him.

I nod and a couple of them curse. I watch Bain as his blue eyes grow so intense. I know his wolf is pushing hard to break through. He holds out his hands, palms up, and his claws all start to push out.

He shakes his head, battling his wolf for control.

“No,” he grits out. “One death is too many. But this…” his eyes move to my body, bouncing between the marks he can see on my chest and the hole at my abdomen. “This is hundreds.”

His eyes lift to mine, and he shakes his head, looking positively heartbroken. “I’m so fucking sorry you went through that alone, baby. I can’t even—I don’t know how—” he cuts himself off and shakes his head again, and I see his eyes start to grow damp.

My big, strong Bain is crying. For me? For something I went through before he ever even knew I existed?

As we stare at one another, my own emotions rise. Not just for knowing that he cares this much about me and something I’ve been through, but for what I actually went through. The torture, the loneliness, the never-ending daily battle of wishing to permanently die just so I could be rid of the pain.

Unable to help myself, I launch myself at him, throwing my arms around his neck, as his wrap tightly around me. My legs wrap around his waist and hold him as tightly as I can as I press my face into his neck, letting his scent calm me.

I feel the other’s hands on me and realize they were able to hold on, as I had momentarily forgotten about my little shifting problem. Luckily, they hadn’t. But nobody speaks, they just let us cling to each other as we silently work through our emotions.

Just having Bain there to hold on to, knowing he’s not going anywhere, helps anchor me. Slowly, the tension starts to fade, as does my energy. I feel myself moved to my side in the bed as I snuggle into a chest. The scent of cedar, layered with leather and faint ash, invades my nose, and I press close, knowing that somehow I ended up in Maddox’s arms.

I let his relaxing scent and powerful arms wrap around me as I fall asleep.

Chapter 11

Cherry

The second we enter the bakery, the smell of pastry, chocolate, and sugar invades my senses. It’s the best thing I’ve ever smelled—second to my guys, of course.