Page 18 of The Brooding Alpha's Mate
Damn those fucking lions. They’d abused him. I didn’t know all the ways they’d tortured him, but Colson was jumpy. He flinched when I touched him, involuntarily, but still.
There were scars on his body. I’d tried to keep his modesty as much as possible, but I’d seen his skin.
Those lions were on the top of my list. I almost hoped they did come after me. That way, when I ripped their throats open, it would be justified. It was justified in any case, but at least I could say it was in defense of myself and my mate.
He got up and went to the restroom and came back looking a bit better.
“Are you hungry again?” I asked. Colson walked over to the window. “No. Thank you.”
I was well aware of what was bothering my mate. Alphas and omegas who found each other, often had the honeymoon period in normal circumstances.
But these were far from normal circumstances.
My omega was hurt. Short-term, he had injuries to his shoulder that needed to heal up. The extra food, protein, and rest should help, but it would take time as everything did.
Long-term, my sweet wolf had experienced some deep trauma. I had no idea how long he was with the lions or how hecame to be in their pride in the first place, but they’d abused him. His body would heal easily, but his mind; that would take a lot longer.
I had to be gentle with him.
“The healer said shifting might help me heal faster.” Colson stared out the open window. His arms were wrapped around himself. A sadness hung in the air between us.
Our lack of intimacy was making him sad. Frustrated. Worried, even.
“We can shift whenever you like.”
He nodded. “Would you like to now? This shoulder is achy and I’m kind of tired of it.”
“Of course. Let’s go.”
We walked outside and my chest whirred with anxiety. I was a confident bear. Always had been. But undressing in front of my omega gave me a bit of nervousness. Him seeing me naked for the first time.
He was a wolf. What if he didn’t like my bear.
A thousand thoughts plagued me.
That’s when the faith in Fate kicked in. We were made for each other.
I had to believe in that.
We walked outside and into the woods a bit, giving us some camouflage. My bear sniffed the air, using my human nose to make sure there was no danger. We were clear.
“I can turn around if you like,” I said. Shifters didn’t mind nakedness but this was different.
“You don’t have to. I’m fine. It’s just a body.”
“Okay.”
I intended not to make a big deal of stripping down and immediately failed. Colson removed his shirt and the rage shot through me. Not at him. Never at him.
At the damage those lions had done to him.
He brought his shirt up and covered himself. “I’m sorry.”
“Sweetheart,” I said and walked over to him. I tried to give him some space but no more. “The anger is not at you. You are perfect just the way you are. I’m so angry at those assholes for doing this to you—to my mate.”
“I know you’re not…it’s okay.”
“What?” I hooked my finger under his chin to make Colson look at me. “What are you talking about?”
