Chapter 7

Chapter 7

“Did you still want to go home?”

They’d been standing in the woods for what seemed like hours, Cheyenne still in his embrace.

Cheyenne, of course didn’t know where she wanted to go or what she wanted to do.

“I can take you home.” Skylar’s voice sounded again.

Cheyenne still didn’t respond.

Should she go home? She thought about leaving Skylar and imagined her having yet another panic attack on her bathroom floor.

Something about Skylar made the panic cease. His presence made everything seem like it’d be okay. She feared if she left his presence, she’d just die.

“Cheyenne?”

“No.”

It was quiet again.

She had lost her mind. She’s going against all her morals and common freakin sense.

“What do you want to do then?”

Cheyenne sighed and pulled away from Skylar hating the absence of his warmth.

“Shower? Can I shower?”

Skylar nodded.

“Of course.”

Cheyenne waited for Skylar to lead the way back out of the woods and once he did they were on their way.

“What are you thinking?” Skylar asked.

Cheyenne looked at him confused.

“Thinking?”

“I just turned into a wolf in front of you. Tell me what you’re thinking.”

Cheyenne looked down at her feet as they continued to walk.

“I don’t really think I’m thinking anything. I don’t know what to think.”

It was quiet for a second before Skylar broke the silence.

“I guess I should expect that.” Skylar smiles.

“I still can’t believe it. I mean, I had a second of suspicion but it hadn’t made sense.“

Skylar nodded.

“I still can’t believe you’re here. Like walking with me out of the woods back to the pack house.”

“Pack house?”

Skylar nodded.

“Yes. Pack house. It’s where all of us live. In one huge house. As a pack.”

Cheyenne was stunned.

“They’re...they can...change, too?”

Skylar nodded again.

“We’re a pack. And we’d prefer the term shift than change. So yes, everyone shifts.”

“Shift.” She tried the word.

Skylar smiled at her and continued walking until the pack house was in view.

Skylar opened the door for Cheyenne to which she stepped into. It wasn’t but five seconds after Skylar shut the door did all his pack mates come into view.

“How’d it go?” Chaskai asked.

Cheyenne jolted slightly by their sudden appearance.

“She’s back. And not screaming or kicking. I’d say it went well. Which is weird.” Aaron said, a little concerned.

Nadia walked up to Cheyenne.

“How are you feeling?”

“I-I’m okay.” She reassured the red head.

Nadia looked up at Skylar a bit confused thinking he didn’t show her what they thought he would.

As if reading her thoughts Skylar spoke.

“I shifted in front of her. She was stunned but she didn’t faint or scream for the hills. I’m just as surprised as you guys are.”

Cheyenne tilted her head and looked at all of them.

“All of you...shift?”

They all nodded.

Cheyenne was the only human standing in that room. They knew it just as well as she did. They could snap her in two without a second thought.

That thought made her uneasy.

“We’ll explain.”

“It’s fine. I just want to shower.” Cheyenne said.

They looked at Skylar.

“I told her she could shower.” Skylar said.

Chaskai nudged Nadia from Cheyenne.

“Let Sky take care of her, okay? She’s gotta trust him.” Chaskai said.

Nadia nodded as Skylar took Cheyenne’s hand and led her up the stairs.

Normally, she’d oppose immediately but Skylar has made it clear several times that he would never hurt her.

When she found that they were back in the same room she woke up in, she assumed it was Skylar’s room.

She didn’t have time to take in the details of it before but now she could see he had a thing for gray. It was a nice color that went with just about anything.

The large bed over in the corner of the room was messy with deep gray sheets from when she woke up, the walls a soft gray, not harsh but a calming tone. There were splashes of brown and green within the little things in his room but for the most part, gray.

“The bathroom is over there. Towels wash cloths and soap in there. I’ll see if Nadia or Havana has anything you can borrow.”

“Okay, thank you.”

Skylar nodded her to the bathroom as he left the room to find Nadia and Havana.

He found Havana first.

“Hey, Havana do you have any clothes Cheyenne can borrow?”

Havana tilted her head.

“I might have a shirt but I don’t think she’d be able to fit my pants. She’s curvier compared to me.” Havana made her way to her closet and pulled out a black T-shirt and a red plaid shirt.

“This is it. You’ll have to ask Nadia for bottoms. She might have something that will fit her.” She said handing the articles of clothing to him.

“Thank you.”

“Hey, Hava–oh Skylar. Hey. How’s Cheyenne doing?”

Skylar smiled at Nadia.

“You’re timing is impeccable, Nadia.”

“Why? What’s up?”

“Do you have any bottoms Cheyenne can borrow?”

Nadia nodded.

“There’s a chance I have a thing or two. I actually need to talk to you about something. It’s about Cheyenne.”

Havana looked curious but Skylar frowned.

“What about her?” Skylar asked.

Nadia waved him on and began walking to her room. Skylar thanked Havana one more time before following Nadia to her room.

“Nadia, what is it about my mate?”

Nadia sighed as she sifted through her pants drawer trying to find some jeans for Cheyenne.

“I don’t want to worry you but it could be nothing. But I just thought you should know.”

“Know what?”

Nadia stood with pants that looked like they could fit Cheyenne. If they didn’t, he’d just give her sweats.

“Skylar I know she’s your mate but I need you not to go in there and scare her.” Nadia said softly.

This sent Skylar into a confused and frustrated frenzy.

“What is it, Nadia?!”

“When I was changing her I noticed something a little odd.”

Skylar frowned but waited for her to continue. When she didn’t his frown deepened.

“Odd how? What are you talking about?”

It was quiet for a moment before she spoke again.

“She had scars. On her back. Like these huge, long scars running all over her back. I don’t know how she got them but it looked painful.”

“Scars? Like burns? As if she was caught in a fire?”

Nadia shook her head.

“No these are slashes. Like she was whipped.”

Skylar’s features turned hard and a growl escaped his throat.

Whoever had dared to hurt his mate will surely meet their maker.

“Skylar, I think she was abused somehow. She’s in an extremely fragile state. You can’t go in there demanding who her villain is.”

Skylar frowned and thought for a second and looked at Nadia.

“I think I already know.” Skylar announced and turned on his heels and hurried back to his room.

When he opened the door he was greeted by Cheyenne just coming out of the bathroom with a towel wrapped around her.

She froze locking gazes with him and for a second he had almost forgotten why he had came in the room in such a rush.

She was beautiful. Her brown skin dripping with water from the steamy shower and light blotches of red around her chest indicated her shower was too hot and her long locs fell loose down her back.

“Cheyenne..?”

She visibly stiffens, frozen in place.

“Come here, Princess.”

Cheyenne looked at him clearly skeptical and didn’t move.

“I won’t hurt you, I just need you to come here. Can you come to me please?” He tried to mask his anger.

“Can I get dressed first?” She gestured to the clothes in his arms.

Skylar shook his head.

“Come here first.”

“Skylar–“

“You come to me or I’m coming over to you.” He growled slightly letting his anger seep through.

She jolted a bit at the low rumbling sound coming from his chest. That didn’t make her want to get anywhere near him but she feared what he’d do if she stayed there. Skylar was a werewolf and could easily kill her if he wanted to.

She slowly walked towards him as his features softened. She kept some distance between them but he closed it.

“Turn around.”

“Wha–“

“Just turn around.” He bit back a growl trying not to scare her but failed when she took a small step back from him.

“I’m sorry, I don’t mean to scare you. Just trust me, okay?”

Cheyenne did trust him but she was confused as to why he wanted her to turn around. She did it anyway, giving him her towel wrapped back.

She stiffened when Skylar moved her hair over her shoulders and clutches her towel.

Skylar could already see the large slashed scars around her shoulder blades and top of her back that indeed looked like she had been whipped.

“Do you trust me?”

She hesitated but nodded.

He lowered his hands to the towel and tugged it down so it fell just under the small of her back.

He didn’t bother biting back his growl of anger this time as he examined his mate.

The scars overlapped each other and looked risen against her skin. Some were skinny while others looked like that has once been infected. The slashed skin was darker than the rest of her.

He gently traced them all over her back. Cheyenne quivered under his touch but didn’t move away from him.

“Who did this to you?” He growled.

Cheyenne was quiet, still a bit shocked that he’s moved her towel and seen her scars.

“Cheyenne?”

The memories were flooding back to her as she tried holding back the tears.

“Cheyenne?” He said a little louder.

She seemed to snap out of it when she turned to look over her shoulder to him.

“Who’s Oliver?” He asked, face hard.

Her eyes widened and fear danced in her eyes. She turned to face him, pulling the towel up and put distance back between them.

“How do you...is he here? Oh goodness, is he here?”

Skylar frowned that this man could have her react in such a way. So fearful and vulnerable.

“I have to leave.”

“Cheyenne, he’s not here. Why would you think he was?”

“He’s not here?” She dodged his question.

“No.”

“Then you’ve met him somewhere? How do you know him?”

“Only by name. A name you were mumbling in your sleep.”

Cheyenne looked down and clutched her towel closer.

“Talk to me, Princess. What happened? How’d you get those scars? Who’s Oliver and why are you mumbling about him in your sleep? Why would you think he was here?”

She bubbled at his nickname for her. She loved that he cared. Made it a point to make sure she was okay.

“I’m fine. It was a long time ago. He hasn’t made any appearances so I’m okay.”

“Where is he?”

She looked up at him.

“Because I swear to you if I ever crossed paths with this sick monster I will wipe him from the face of the earth.”

She was stunned.

“You’d kill him?”

“If it meant good on your safety then yes. I wouldn’t hesitate to rip his throat out with my teeth.” He growled.

She knew he could do that if the situation was deemed appropriate but her thinking about Skylar killing made her sick.

“You don’t have to...he won’t find me.”

“He’s looking for you?”

Cheyenne didn’t want to tell him too much given they had only met about a couple weeks ago. She couldn’t know how long this would last.

“You can talk to me, princess. I want to keep you safe.”

“Why? Why do you care?”

“How could I not care? You’re my mate. It is my job to keep you out of harms way and take down anyone who threatens your safety.”

She stopped listening after the word ‘mate’.

“I’m what?” She asked.

Skylar closed the distance between them that she was creating and lifted her chin to him so she looked him in the eyes.

“You’re my mate. Specifically made for me and I for you. You are mine and only mine as I am yours and only yours.”

“Mine?”

She was stunned.

He nodded.

“Yours.” He smiled.

“And yours?”

Skylar smiled more and he looked so handsome.

“Mine.”