Three

The world tilted and I was on the hood of a big four-wheel drive.

I took a moment to battle the dizziness while they shuffled around and I squeaked when the car started, Dane smirked at me from the front seat, amused by my reaction.

I stuck my tongue at him. "Meanie."

His laugh was muffled by the sound of the radio he turned down as Theo came to stand in front of me.

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

I smiled back, nodding. "Okay," I agreed and reached for him, letting him pull me down and carried me into the backseat. I moved to sit, Xavier's arm wrapped my waist, pulling me in, making me giggle as his fingers on my ribs tickled 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. "Did you want to go to your house first?" He asked, a small smile on his lips.

I shook my head, pushing down on the panic at the thought of going there.

With them.

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

Annie told me that much, submitting and giving into them easily.

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 to those who harmed them.

I saw his eyes tightened as I tried to smile. "I'd rather spend the day with you." I blushed a little. "If that's okay?"

Dane gave a smirk. "Of course. You never have to leave us again, baby." A smile broke on me at his words as he started to drive.

They would let us....

Be free, Rose. They are ours. Annie soothed, calming the storm of years of fear and violence that had raged inside of me from the hands of my own Pack.

This is our Pack. Annie growled at me.

I faltered, but the feeling of them, the smell.

She was right.

I shuffled back between Theo and Xavier, somewhat nervously.

"You okay, Rosie?" Dane asked, a small smile forming on my lips at the name.

I nodded. "Where are we going?"

"Home." He answered simple.

The warmth and smell in the car filled my head, the feeling of safety, a wave of tiredness overtook me.

I yawned, stretching and apologised.

Theo chuckled, wrapping his arm over me and pulled me against him, kissing my temple. Xavier touched my leg, 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 earlier."

Xavier let go of my hand and grabbed my ankles, pulling them 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.

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

I tried to stretch, but Theo held me to his chest, wrapping his arms under mine and nuzzled my neck, I giggled and pressed into him.

No one had ever nuzzled me before, it felt so loving and sweet.

I suppressed another yawn, making a noise of annoyance. "Why am I so tired?" I grumbled into Theo's neck.

Dane chuckled and I raised my head to see him smiling at me through the mirror. "It's common for you and your Shifter..."

"Annie," I offered when he hesitated.

They all smiled.

"It's common for you and Annie to be tired from the excitement of the bond," Dane explained. "So, get some sleep and we'll talk more when you wake up, okay?" His green eyes met mine in the rear vision.

"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.

They all shared a look of tension.

"You're coming home, Rose. With us." Dane didn't leave room for argument.

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 to that place.

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

Xavier leaned down to kiss my exposed stomach.

I giggled, rolling slightly and trying 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.

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.

"My mates." I whispered back to them before I fell asleep, Annie purring and dreaming soundly for the first time since we'd joined.

The nightmares that had plagued me the last few weeks were dulled.

A warmth keeping them from forming properly.

Something in my veins burned for a moment, like a flash of heat and a coolness washed through me.

I shivered, feeling someone pull something up, covering me in something to cover me before I was pulled against a strong and warm chest, arms bounding around me in protection and love.

The warmth returned, the nightmares of another receding until the form of three, clouded in shadows, stood over me.

Protecting me.

My loves. Annie and I sighed at them, returning to a peaceful sleep in one of their arms.