Page 37 of The Night Wolf
Accept it? Didn’t he understand? He thought hedidfeel safe, but maybe that was an illusion.
“My old pack was different. Ryker was anything but a nurturer. You did everything you could to avoid letting him see you, because once he had his sights set on you, he would have what he wanted.”
“So he raped people. That is what you’re saying, right?”
The screams. Sean could still hear people as they begged for help. “Yes.” He’d wanted to stop Ryker, but Sean’s parents had said the Alpha could do what he wanted and that Sean should never get involved. He’d done exactly that, doing his best to ignore the kids who went missing, to block out the whimpers in the night.
“I understand now.”
How could he? How could anyone? “What do you mean?”
“Do you feel safe here? In Lydon?”
“Yes, Alpha. I can sleep again without having too many dreams, and even the ones I have don’t have me curled up in a corner somewhere.”
Gareth rubbed his hand over his eyes. “I swear to you, Ryker will pay for what he’s done. For now, though, will you trust me for fifteen minutes?”
A month ago, Sean would have said no way in hell. Alphas were never to be trusted, a lesson that had been beaten into him. But Gareth had done what he said he would. He worked to ensure Sean felt safe.
“I do.”
“Good. Come with me.”
He got up and held out a hand. Sean reached for it, then pulled away.
“Trust me, Sean.”
A leap of faith was needed here. He took a deep breath, then grabbed Gareth’s hand. As soon as they made contact, the familiar warmth of Gareth’s skin washed over Sean. Who was this man that he affected Sean so?
“Good. Let’s go.”
Gareth led them through the living room and out the double doors that overlooked the forest. Sean inhaled, loving the scent of the pines, especially when it blended with Gareth’s own musky-sweet smell.
“I want you to stand here and close your eyes.”
Sean did as his Alpha bade him.
“Good. Now just relax. I want you to take deep, even breaths. Inhale through your nose, exhale through your mouth.”
As soon as Sean closed his eyes, the sounds of Gareth moving caught his attention. “Alpha?”
A firm grip on his shoulder grounded Sean in the moment.
“I’m not going anywhere, I promise. Keep breathing. Inhale. Hold-two-three-four. Exhale. Now I want you to keep that up.”
Gareth’s other hand went to Sean’s opposite shoulder and stroked over it. Sean groaned as the muscles Gareth worked loosened. He’d never realized how much tension his body held until this moment. Even when he was certain he was safe, the fear never let go of him.
“Wolves in the wild need touch with their pack. They eat together, sleep together, live and die together. They help each other out, and in that, they find a unity of purpose. We are a melding of wolf and human, both species that thrive on tactile sensations. What this means is, we need the touch more than either of our parts.”
He moved one hand to Sean’s lower back, and the other to his upper.
“And you, who have never known a gentle touch beyond your own brother, need it more than anyone I’ve ever known.”
It was true. Sean relished the times Quinn had hugged him. He soaked up the feelings, and they calmed him.
He turned and threw himself into Gareth’s arms, pleased when they enfolded him.
“See? There’s nothing wrong here. You needed the touch, and I did too. I quite like a hug now and then.”
