Chapter Four

“You could be more gentle, please,” Blythe muttered. Killian shot her a look over his shoulder and grunted. Blythe’s temper flared. “You can talk, so why don’t you act human and not like some kind of animal!” She knew as soon as the words left her lips they were a mistake.

Killian stopped so fast she didn’t see him move toward her. He grabbed her by the wrists and pinned her against the hallway wall. She looked both ways and saw no one nearby to help her. She gulped as his head lowered to her neck. She felt his breath on her pulse and then he licked it. She shivered and tried to jerk away.

“I am an animal,” he answered before pulling back and continuing to walk down the hall. “Don’t forget it.” He acted like nothing happened, while Blythe’s heart was racing and her breathing harsh. What the hell was this guy’s problem? First he kissed her. Then he carried her against his chest and fought for her. Finally, he pinned her against a wall and licked her neck.

“Wait,” she called, realizing how far ahead he’d gotten. She didn’t want to be alone and so far Killian was the only one she knew to any extent. He didn’t wait, and she had to run to catch up. She had just made it to where Killian had stopped when she saw a man approaching them from down the hallway. She moved closer to Killian’s back and saw his head whip around to face the man.

“Well, lookie here,” the man said, stopping a few feet away. “Killian got himself a woman. Why isn’t she marked? That makes her free game, and a lot of these men want a mate.”

Killian widened his stance and clenched his fists. His entire frame hid Blythe from the other shifter’s view. She tilted her head to the side and looked under his arm to see the man. He was the same height as Killian, but lacked the same bulk. His eyes were brown and matched the color of his hair. His face and hands were tanned. The man smiled and waved at her. Killian’s growl kept her from responding to his friendliness.

Killian opened the door they were standing in front of and reached back to grab Blythe by the arm. She gasped at the tightness of his grip. He ignored her and threw her into the room. She tripped and landed on her hip. She sucked in air and winced in pain. Looking back up at Killian, she saw him blocking the door with his body.

“That was mean, Killian. That’s no way to treat a woman. Maybe you shouldn’t have a mate. Give her to me, I’ll care for her better than you,” the man snapped.

“Mine,” Killian snarled. He stepped into the room and slammed the door shut. He turned the metal lock, effectively locking the door. When he turned to face her, Blythe started backing away on the floor. His eyes followed her movements and he stalked toward her slowly.

“What are you doing?” Blythe asked, gasping as her back met a piece of furniture.

Killian didn’t respond and stopped at her feet. He leaned down and picked her up, setting her on her feet. He grabbed her hips and threw her on the bed. The entire time, his blue eyes stared into her green ones. He watched her expressions and allowed her a small peek into his soul. Killian crawled toward her, his huge body eating the distance between them. His eyes lit up with desire and his mouth opened slightly. Blythe’s eyes widened and she backed up as far as she could. When he kept going, she curled into a ball with a whimper.

“Don’t hurt me,” she pleaded.

The room grew silent and she felt Killian stop moving. She kept her head covered, afraid it was some trick. When nothing happened, she raised her arm and peeked up at him. He was staring down at her with a look of anger on his face.

“I won’t hurt you,” he finally replied, between clenched teeth. He climbed off the bed and disappeared into what she assumed was the bathroom. Was this his room? Blythe looked around, taking in the sparse furniture. There wasn’t much; only a dresser, a bed, and a tall lamp. The bathroom door was the only other door. It was hardly a room she would ever want to live in. The bare walls were made of gray stone that seemed cold and unwelcoming. The floor was cold and also concrete. No rug graced the floor and it chilled the bottom of her bare feet. These living conditions were not something she was used to. She was used to carpeted floors and plenty of light and decorations.

She sat up and pulled her legs toward her body. She rested her chin on her knees and stared at the closed bathroom door. What had he been planning to do? Was he going to sleep with her? She shivered at that thought. She knew very little about the intimacies of a couple. She’d only just had her first kiss and it had been stolen by Killian. Her thoughts on bedroom matters were only from what her mother had tried to tell her. Blythe had been too embarrassed and had asked her mom to stop and left the room. Now she wished she knew more.

She leaned back in the bed and waited for Killian to come out. He couldn’t hide forever, but part of her wished she didn’t have to face him. She was a little afraid of him. Okay, that was an understatement. Blythe didn’t know much about men and knew even less about how to react around shifters or what they meant when they said she wasn’t marked. How was Killian supposed to mark her? Was it going to hurt? She shivered again. What if he had to sink teeth into her skin? She whimpered.

Water turned on in the bathroom and she realized Killian was taking a shower. She really had to use the bathroom, but she was not going in there while he was there, even though she’d been holding it for some time. Glancing at the door, she wondered if the infirmary had a bathroom. She knew where that was, and Seth seemed nice enough. Maybe if there wasn’t one there, she could at least ask Seth where she could find one.

Climbing off the bed, she eyed the bathroom door. Should she tell Killian? “I won’t be gone that long,” she told herself quietly. She walked over to the bedroom door, unlocked it, and opened it. She stuck her head out the door and glanced down the hall. It was empty so she stepped out into the hallway and left the door cracked so she’d know which one it was.

Heading back toward the infirmary, Blythe hoped she didn’t pass anyone. She made it without meeting anyone in the hall and she sighed with relief. She pushed the doors open and found Seth talking to the same man who had set Killian off in the hallway moments ago.

“Hello dear, what are you doing here?” he asked, stepping around Seth and walking toward her.

“I needed to use the bathroom and was hoping there was one in here,” she replied softly. The man laughed.

“Does Killian not have a bathroom?” he asked, stopping a few feet away from her. He looked her up and down and the look in his eyes had her questioning her actions. Maybe she should have told Killian where she was going.

“He was taking a shower,” she answered.

“Oh, really now?” he replied. “My name’s Diego.”

“Seth, is there a bathroom in here?” she asked, not offering her name. So far no one knew it and she wanted to keep it that way.

“Yea, right back there,” he pointed behind him to a cracked door. She moved around Diego, making sure not to touch him or get within reach. He smiled at her and followed her movements with his eyes. She swore he licked his lips, but she must’ve been imagining it.

“Thanks,” she told Seth. She disappeared into the bathroom and shut the door, locking it. She quickly relieved herself, wanting to get back to Killian’s room where it was perhaps comparably safer.

After washing her hands, Blythe opened the door. She found Seth gone and Diego resting on one of the beds. His ankles were crossed and his hands behind his head. He looked asleep, but she knew differently. She slowly started toward the door.

As she walked, she watched Diego, waiting for him to spring up from his spot or say something. Shrugging, she turned toward the door. She was almost there when a hand came down on her mouth and an arm wrapped around her waist. Blythe’s eyes widened in fright and she tried to scream. The hand muffled the sound and she knew no one had heard it.

Tears pricked at her eyes and she fought against the hand holding her and dragging her backward. Why was Diego doing this? What was he going to do to her? When she felt him disappear and her body was sent flying backward, she was too stunned to scream. She landed with a thud on the mattress. Diego immediately climbed on top of her and covered her mouth again.

“I’m sorry. I’ll take much better care of you than Killian. He’s a monster. No one wants him as a mate. I won’t hurt you like he did earlier. You can take my mark and then we’ll mate and you’ll get pregnant. Killian won’t want you,” Diego told her. His intentions clear, Blythe struggled harder.

The door opened and Blythe’s eyes shot to the door. Seth walked in and gasped at the sight. “Diego, what the fuck, man?”

“Seth, turn around and leave. This doesn’t concern you,” Diego snarled as he used his other hand to undo his pants.

“Killian is going to kill you.”

“Go make sure he doesn’t find her. You know how long I’ve been waiting for a mate. They skipped over me to punish me. This is my chance. Killian doesn’t deserve her. He hurt her earlier,” Diego argued.

“You’re a fucking idiot,” Seth shook his head. “I’m warning you, Diego. Let her go.” When Diego made no motion to move, Seth disappeared back out the door and Blythe thought she might cry. Why hadn’t Seth helped her?

“He’s not strong enough to beat me, sweetheart. Don’t take it personally.”

Diego’s free hand grew claws and he placed it above the material on her chest. He smiled and brought it slowly down, slicing the fabric in two. Blythe’s tears fell, leaving wet streaks down her cheeks. Diego didn’t seem to care that she was frightened. He was selfish and she wished the worst punishment on him.

The fabric fell to the sides, leaving her breasts exposed to his gaze. He licked his lips and smiled at her. “Beautiful baby. I can’t wait to play with those.”

He lifted her and threw the fabric to the floor. Her mouth opened in shock. If he hadn’t pinned her arms down with his knees, she would have punched him. She felt so exposed, as no man had ever seen her bare body. Her face turned red from embarrassment and shame. She should have fought harder. Now she was going to pay the ultimate price for her lack of strength. If this monster took her virginity, no one would want her.

“You just said you wouldn’t hurt me,” Blythe spat. “You’re hurting me!” Blythe’s voice grew louder toward the end and she hoped someone heard her. Diego’s hand slammed back down on her mouth.

Just as he lifted his hips to start on her pants, the door slammed open again. It was Seth and he looked pissed. “You better run, Diego.”

“What the fuck, Seth? Why are you back?” Diego growled.

“He’s coming.”

“What?” Diego asked. Seth never got to reply. The door was filled with a huge bulky body. Killian stepped into the room and took in the scene. As soon as he saw Blythe under Diego and her chest bare, he lost it.

Blythe had never seen a look of such fury before. His mouth opened and his teeth grew long and pointed. His eyes were cold with the promise of death in their depths. His forehead was wrinkled in fury. It scared her and she closed her eyes. The hand over her mouth disappeared once more and she opened her mouth to scream, “Killian!”

“Seth, get her out of here,” Killian snarled, knowing he couldn’t shift with Blythe so close to Diego. He didn’t want to hurt her by accident. His skin rippled as he fought off the change. His arms sprouted fur and then returned to his normal tan skin. His bones popped and his legs bent, but he straightened them out. Diego leaped off the bed and eyed the door. There was no way he’d make it past Killian, but he had an idea.

Grabbing Blythe, Diego jerked her off the bed and to her feet. Her arms immediately went over her chest and her sob filled the silence of the room. “Let me go, Killian. I’ll kill her if you don’t and then neither of us will have her.”

“Diego,” Killian growled, the sound filling the room. Blythe jerked out of Diego’s arm, the distraction giving enough time for her to run toward Killian. She cried out as Diego grabbed her hair and yanked her backward.

Killian leaped over her, shifting into his tiger form. His paws landed on Diego’s shoulders and he took him down. Blythe ran toward Seth. She had to get away. She needed clothes to hide her bare chest and the sobs wracking her body were causing her to stumble. Seth picked her up in his arms and she buried her face in his shirt and sobbed. He ran down the hall and pushed a door open. Blythe didn’t look around, but she knew it was probably Killian’s room.

He set her gently down on the bed and she curled into a ball, using her legs to hide her nakedness. Seth started pulling out drawers on the dresser and grabbed a shirt. He brought it over to her and handed it to her. He turned around so she could pull it over her head. When she was dressed, she stretched out and let the tears fall.

Today had been the worst day of her life. First, Killian had found her in the Running. Second, she’d lost her first kiss. Third, she’d almost been raped. What else could go wrong? She felt the bed dip and then someone patted her on the back. It was an awkward gesture, but she rolled over and smiled weakly up at Seth. She wiped at her eyes and tried to calm herself.

“I’m sorry. If I was stronger, I could have forced Diego to stop when I walked in the room the first time. I went and got Killian immediately. I’m glad we made it before anything else happened. I’m so sorry.”

“It’s okay,” Blythe said. “At least you brought Killian.”

“I’m glad I got back in time.”

“Wouldn’t a bear be strong?” Blythe asked after a moment of silence.

“Well, you see…” Seth was interrupted as the sound of running footsteps and loud voices caused him to turn toward the door. It was still open and he got to his feet. He walked over to the door and was about to close it when two armed guards ran by.

“Oh shit,” he mumbled. He turned and looked at Blythe. “Lock the door and only open it for Killian.”

“Wait,” she called, but he was already gone. She got to her feet, her legs feeling weak and wobbly. She walked over to the door and locked it. Walking back over to the bed, she crawled under the covers and breathed in the masculine scent imprinted on the sheets.

She heard more shouting voices and then a roar. She covered her ears and pulled the sheet over her head. The noises sounded outside the door and she feared they’d try to get in and find her. She sighed in relief as they grew faint and then disappeared altogether.

She waited a few moments and the lull of sleep was growing too strong. She had just drifted off when a pounding started on the door. She shrieked and curled into a ball. She hoped they went away.

“Open the door,” Killian snapped. Blythe thought about her options. She could lock him out, but he had come to her rescue and she didn’t want to piss him off. Her life was in his hands now.

Getting to her feet, reluctantly leaving the warmth of the bed, she walked over to the door. She unlocked the door and then jerked back as it flew open. She gasped and covered her mouth with her hands. Killian was covered in blood and she didn’t know if it was his or Diego’s.

He moved past her, heading toward the bathroom. He didn’t speak another word or even glance her way. She shut and locked the door again and wondered what to do. Should she go back to the bed, or see if he needed help with his injuries? She wasn’t a doctor, but she could help him if he was cut on his back.

Biting her fingernails, she debated with herself for some time. She heard running water and a harsh curse before making up her mind. She slowly approached the open bathroom door. She stuck her head in and looked for Killian. He was sitting on the toilet, his body completely naked. She averted her eyes, a blush tinting her cheeks.

“Do you need help?” she asked softly, meeting his eyes.

He growled.

Blythe took a step back, regretting her decision to ask him if he needed help. He could suffer if he was going to be that rude. She had just turned to walk back into the bedroom when his voice stopped her.

“Yes,” he snapped. He seemed reluctant to ask her for help. He pointed to the sink and then to his back. She walked over to the ointment and picked it up.

“Can you cover yourself?” she asked, staring at the sink. She heard him growl again, and she wondered if he’d do it. She saw a hand reaching past her and she jerked to the side. Killian grabbed a towel and draped it over his legs. Blythe turned to face him once she was satisfied he was completely covered. She made him spin around and then got behind him. His back was covered with blood.

Turning back toward the sink, she set the ointment down and grabbed a towel. She turned the faucet on and stuck it under the water. She wrung it out and then pressed it lightly against his back. She wiped most of the blood off and saw his scratches. They were deep and seemed to ooze blood. Did shifters heal faster than normal?

Killian didn’t even wince when she pressed the ointment into the wounds. There were four parallel lines that matched the claws from an animal. He had gotten them by protecting her and avenging her honor. It was sweet, at least to her.

When she was done putting the ointment on his back, she set it on the sink and stepped back toward the door. She turned to face him just as he spun back around. “Anything else?” she asked. He shook his head and motioned for her to close the door on her way out.

Blythe backed into the bedroom and pulled the bathroom door closed behind her. She walked over to the bed and lay down. Pulling the covers up to her neck, she thought about their sleeping arrangement. Her pulse started racing as she realized there was only one bed. Reality slammed into her and images of Killian sleeping next to her filled her head.

What would it be like having a man sleeping next to her? Would they spoon or cuddle, or keep to their own sides of the bed? This bed was definitely bigger than the cot in the infirmary. It could easily hold two people and have plenty of room in the middle. Though that might not be true with Killian’s bulk. She was nervous about sleeping next to him.

What if she snored or drooled? She’d wake up mortified if she drooled and left a puddle. She also wondered if they’d end up sleeping on separate sides if she’d stay like that. What if she rolled toward his body heat in the middle of the night? There were so many what ifs that she didn’t know what to do.

The bathroom door opened and Killian stepped into the room with a towel around his waist. At least he wasn’t naked. Blythe kept her gaze facing the wall and pulled the cover higher up, hiding her face a little.

She heard a noise and then the bed dipped beneath his weight. Her heartbeat quickened and her palms started sweating. What now? He pulled the covers back and slid underneath. She waited for his next move.

When only silence permeated the room, she rolled toward the lamp. It was still on. She pulled the cover down and looked over at him. He was lying on his side and facing away from her. His hair was dripping wet and his wounds looked red and swollen. She knew what she had to do, but she was afraid to speak first.

After debating mentally for a few moments, she opened her mouth. “Thank you,” she whispered, knowing he could hear her. She waited for him to reply, but no sound came from him. She felt disappointed and rolled to her side away from him.

She was almost asleep when she felt him roll. Her breathing was even and she was barely aware of much. She felt an arm wrap around her waist and then she was pulled backward against a hard chest. She tensed as his breath tickled her neck, but relaxed when he did nothing more. His arm was still draped across her stomach and he didn’t seem like he was going to move it.

She lay there for a few minutes, not sure what to do. Finally sleep won and she drifted off.