Xavier placed me down as the three of them surrounded me, his hand an anchoring weight against the panic. Dane reached out, stroking my cheek to calm me, his eyes soft. "I think we should set ground rules." I blinked but nodded. "Okay?" "We take care of you, that includes financially." I went to protest but Xavier's hand covered my mouth, pulling me against his chest. I looked up at him, a whimper in my throat. He smirked. "You wait until he's done talking. I'll spank you if I feel you try and argue before that." An expected flood of lust took me for a moment at the thought, causing him to raise a brow in warning. I nodded in agreement. He kissed my forehead before tilting my head down, making me face Dane again. Theo put his hands into his pockets, smiling at me from beside Dane. The sight comforted me, making me know I was safe here. With them. Dane settled me with a look. "This is your home, Rose — for you and Annie. We built this place just for you, and ever
I followed their scents back upstairs, feeling awkward for a moment in Theo's pants, Dane's shirt and a hoodie of Xav's, but, the moment their eyes fell on me. I felt...alive. Seen for the first time in what I guessed was... ever. Theo tilted his head at me, a smile spreading on his lips. "There's our princess," he murmured softly, care and tenderness in his voice. My heart flipped, my fingers toying with the edges of the sleeves of Xav's jumper. "Hi," I mumbled back shyly, my eyes locking onto Dane as he approached, seeming drawn to me. I found myself stepping closer, drawn to him as well. "How you feeling, little one?" He asked quietly, reaching for me and his hand circled my waist, bringing me in and hugging me to his chest. "Better." I whispered, inhaling his scent of chocolate and dusk. "I'm just hoping this isn't a dream." I admitted. He touched my chin, my head tilting up to meet his eyes. They were bright, like polished stone, but I could see the darkness swir
{Xavier} I closed the door behind me, leaving Rose in the guest bathroom to shower after trading her clothes for the blanket, and walked back into the main bedroom. Despite there being an open-air bath and shower ensemble in the same room, she was too nervous to bath in front of us. Well, maybe not me anymore. I thought smugly, her sweet taste still on my lips and tongue like an intoxicating drug. If Dane and Theo hadn't come home, I'd have surely continued. Devoured our little mate so much, she'd have forgotten her own name, let alone the horrors that haunted her. I stepped into the bedroom, throwing the blanket back onto the bed and felt Dane move quickly to shut the door. Before I could turn back, he suddenly grabbed me by the back of the neck. "Wha-" My words were cut off as his lips slammed into mine, his tongue forcing its way into my mouth and swept. You bastard. He growled at me through our mind-link, his grip on me tightening to keep our mouths sealed.
Xav's voice skittered across my spine, heat trailing my body and coiling tightly in my stomach. His lips consumed mine, moving expertly, like he intended to claim every inch of me. My hips ground with need, uncaring that he was so large compared to me, I found myself meeting his muscular stomach. He chuckled darkly as he pulled away from my lips, letting me catch my breath and watching me squirm for a moment. "Needy little brat," he teased, his hand running down my waist, gripping my hip gently, but firmly. "You want something hard to rub against, hmm?" He cooed, his voice like silk over jagged stones. Heat flooded me, but I found myself nodding, my lower lip trapped by my teeth, trying not to cry out. He straightened slightly, his hips raising and he tugged me forward, pressing us together. I almost shattered as fabric scraped, his hard length beneath creating perfect friction against the aching nerves between my thighs. "Oh, fuck!" I gasped, his hand grinding my hips a
{Rose} I woke up in an unfamiliar room, large and spacious, and the bedding beneath me was enormous. Much more comfortable than I was use to. It was dark, though I couldn't be sure that wasn't just from the thick curtains that hung against the wall.How long have I been asleep? I muttered to Annie, rubbing my eyes and crawling from the bed, going to the window. I didn't hear her reply, my mind going blank with terror as I drew the curtains back, discovering the sun had almost set. Hours. I realised in shock. I'd been asleep for hours.My feet were moving before my next thoughts could register, small radiations of pain in my sides and back a reminder. I needed to get back... he'd come looking for me. Annie tried to reason, her voice drowned out with my fearful shriek. He told me to not be late getting back after school! "Who told you to not be late?" A deep baritone voice asked, stopping me dead in my tracks as my hands curled around the front door handle. I didn't realise I'
{Theo}"Come on," Dane whispered behind me, my hands hesitant as I placed our little mate into the enormous bed. Her copper hair splayed out, the largest thing about her. Her small frame was practically swallowed by the bedding, but she settled against the sheets almost instantly. I kept one hand on her while I moved the blankets, not wanting to let her go. Dane chuckled with knowing, a hint of longing in his assurance. "We'll be back before she wakes up, I promise." My fingers trailed across my Rose's moonlight skin, tracing the curve of her hip where her borrowed shirt had ridden up. My touch skimmed the discoloured flesh, my brows narrowing with confusion. A small noise of discomfort left her throat, her face scrunching in a moment of pain before she rolled towards me. Her heat and scent radiated, drawing me in like a moth to a flame and I was torn between two instincts — protect, and claim. Where had those bruises come from....she was too short for it to have bumping into