Four

"Hey!" I giggled in protest as Xavier's hands teased closer to my shameful pool of arousal, my voice breathless, but there was an edge he seemed to catch.

He chuckled, his hand halting on their ascent, but his fingers rested on my thigh, possessive, yet sweet "Fine, fine," he murumed, playfulness in his voice. "I'll just wait."

"Wait for what?" I fisted the back of his shirt and pushed up, finding Theo and Dane trailed behind, their eyes watchful but partially glazed with a mind-link that made me curious.

Theo caught my staring, an easy, lopsided grin spreading almost instantly that made my heart race, his eyes softening like pools of crystal blue sea.

"You'll see, princess." He answered, his voice gentle. He tilted his head in a look of consideration.

He looks at me like I'm his favourite thing. I murumed shyly to Annie, my stomach knotting and I felt my skin warm under his attentive, appreciative gaze.

She giggled, admiring him back through my eyes. You probably are. She replied.

Xavier walked with confidence, strolling out of the building, his arm securing me against his shoulder so I barely moved, but I wasn't uncomfortable either...like I fit perfectly in his arms.

"You good up there?" He dramatically called with teasing after a moment, feeling me look around us then.

"Aren't we meant to go back to class?" I asked, realising we'd turned away from the forest line I'd run through that led back to the school ground.

Instead, we were headed for the parking lot that attached to the sports field.

"I said we're not done with you."

Xavier pointed out in a chuckle below me, his fingers squeezing my thighs in an attempt at reassurance, but all I felt was temptation

I scowled at the back of his head in confusion, ignoring the way he made my thighs tighten with each swirl of his fingers. "What does that mean exactly?"

When he ignored me, I lent down and slapped his muscular ass cheek. "Hey, mister!" I yipped, my hand aching slightly.

"No hitting, brat!" He laughed, jostling me on his shoulder to make me squeak and giggle.

Dane answered, his head rising from the quiet conversation with Theo, his eyes unglazing to settle on me in a claiming gaze that held my attention, and breath.

"Means we want some time to get to know you." He said, his voice a low timbre that I felt usually left no room for argument.

Usually, Annie snickered.

I raised a brow at him, feeling his gaze narrow at my defiance.

"So, we're just skipping school?" I paled a little at the after thought.

Would they tell my..guardians? Would they know?

Theo chuckled, the noise calming and distracting me almost instantly. "We're allowed to." Was all he said, grinning confidently.

The world tilted suddenly and I was placed on the hood of a big four-wheel drive, the metal warm from the sun, but I still shivered as Xavier pulled away.

I took a moment to battle the dizziness while they shuffled around, only to be shocked and squeaked when the car started, the engine rumbling to life beneath me.

Dane smirked at me from the front seat, amused by my reaction.

I stuck my tongue at him, realising he did it on purpose. "Meanie."

His laugh was muffled by the sound of the engine as Theo came to stand in front of me.

"You're ours, sweetheart. Let us keep you close and spend some time with you." He said, smiling as he held his arms out for me, expectantly.

Instinctively, I reached for him, letting him pull me down and carried me into the backseat.

"I-I can't stay long..." I moved to sit, but Xavier's arm wrapped my waist, pulling me across the plush seats, his fingers on my body gentle.

"Don't worry about anything," he murmured quietly while Theo climbed in beside me.

Dane turned the music down, a soft orchestral song playing gently as he moved to look back at me.

"We'll take care of everything, starting with you." He said firmly, his voice laced with tenderness resonating deeper than I think he realised, and a small, tight smile spread on his lips.

I couldn't image the three men before me meeting those that had 'cared' for me all these years,

My past and my guardians weren't something they'd agree with.

Annie told me that much, submitting and giving into them easily. Even with the teachers and other Shifters, Annie had been reserved and quiet, a glimmer of fear for how others would see us if they knew what we were.

What Annie's form looked like.

But...with them...It was different.

She didn't had a shred of fear, as if she understood the men the Goddess had chosen as my mates, were nothing like those I'd come across before.

Their brutality wasn't aimed at the weak.

It was at those who harmed them.

I shuffled back between Theo and Xavier, somewhat nervously.

"What's on your mind, Rosie?" Dane asked, a small smile forming on my lips at the name.

I hesitated, meeting his eyes in the mirror. "Where are we going?"

"Home." He answered simply.

The warmth and smell in the car filled my head, the feeling of safety and comfort causing a wave of tiredness I'd never felt to wash over me.

I yawned, stretching and apologised.

Theo chuckled, wrapping his arm over me and pulled me against him, kissing my temple.

Xavier touched my thigh, my hand moving to take it and he gave a small smile as I looked up him through heavy eyelids, making sure it was okay.

He squeezed my hand.

"Tired, baby?" Theo asked in my ear, kissing my cheek.

I nodded. "I don't know why, I was fine a few seconds."

Xavier let go of my hand, banding his hand around my knees and pulled my jelly-like legs onto his lap.

Before I could protest, he was taking off my ratty shoes. I felt his hesitation as he looked at them, just as he had my braless torso.

Worry and confusion darkening his expression.

A yawn from me pulled his attention away, dropping the shoes.

"You okay, my little sweet?" He murmured, him and Theo adjusting me so I laid across them.

Theo nuzzled my neck, making me hum a yes.

"You make me tired," I accused in a whisper, my voice already heavy.

Dane chuckled and I opened an eye I hadn't realised I'd close to see him smiling at me through the mirror. "It's common for Shifters, like..."

"Annie," I offered when he paused, giving me a moment to answer.

They all smiled.

"It's common for Annie, and in turn you, to be tired from the excitement of the bond. It's to encourage couples to seek a den." Dane explained, a quirk of pride to his voice and his green eyes met mine again in the mirror for a moment. "So, get some sleep and we'll talk more when you wake up, okay?"

"I have to go back to my-." I couldn't stop the edge of panic in my voice, or find a word to call the place of my fears and nightmares.

A roll of tension filled the car, an anger I couldn't place heating the small space.

"You're coming home, Rose. With us." Dane growled, his voice firm and leaving absolutely no room for argument this time.

At least, none I would consider using.

He called it home.

The way he looked at me before he turned to focus on the road — like he intended for me to never go back.

I nodded mutely, gingerly moving and laying back across Xavier and Theo, both of them smiling as I got comfortable.

Xavier leaned down to kiss my exposed stomach, not realising he was kissing a bruise.

I giggled shyly, rolling slightly and tried to cover it with my arms but his hand fell over it, his fingers stroking the skin softly in lazy patterns across my stomach, resting his forearm on my hip.

Theo put a rolled up jumper that smelt of him under my head on his lap, stroking my hair as I laid with my back to him, partially hugging his leg.

"Thank you," I mumbled, not really sure what for.

He leaned down, kissing my hair at the same time Xavier kissed my shoulder.

"Sleep, our little mate." I'm not sure which one said it, maybe it was all of them.

Either way, I hummed, my heart soaring.

"Thank you." I whispered again before I began to drift, Annie already purring, dreaming soundly for the first time since we'd joined.

The nightmares that normally plagued me, dulled; a distant memory in their arms.

I shivered at a cool breeze, only to feel someone pull something up, covering me in a blanket of some kind and I was pulled against a strong and warm chest.

"We got you, princess," Theo whispered tenderly, his protective and kind arms bounding around me in a shield of warmth and love, my body surrendering naturally to the sleep that beckoned.