Their Little Wolf

Chapter Four

"No!" I screamed.

Sebastian's body tensed, his eyes flashing with a primal intensity. His Wolf's desires were unleashed, and I felt his urge to mark me, to claim me as his. My words restrained him for a moment.

I tried to slip free, but Sebastian's grip only tightened.

He snarled, his eyes flashing and I whimpered. Warrick suddenly grabbed him, ripping us apart with a fierce growl.

Heath caught me as I fell, pulling me tightly to his chest in protection.

Warrick slammed his fist into the side of Sebastian's jaw, roaring at him to control himself.

Seeing them fight, something tore in me and a pained whine left me, my Wolf begging them to stop.

Sebastian's eyes shone green again, he and Warrick freezing in their fight to stare at me.

I realised I was crying, whimpering.

Sebastian went to take a step forward, his eyes wide with guilt and sadness.

Warrick snarled, yanking him back and stepped in front of him, glaring. "Take another step and I'll put you down permanently."

I'd never heard the Trio threaten each other.

Sebastian looked at me, his eyes shining as if he was on the verge of tears. "I'm sorry, Ella." He whispered, his voice rough. He turned his head away, his jaw clenching. "Heath,"

Without another word, just Warrick and Sebastian looking at me as if they wanted to rip me from Heath's arms and hold me, Heath turned and led me to my small broom closet room near the kitchen.

He placed me gently on the floor, letting me find my hide-a-key and unlock the door, his brows narrowing.

"Wasn't this a supply closet?" He asked, his voice almost angry.

I nodded, not meeting his eyes as I turned the handle. "It was the only place my smell wouldn't bother the others,"

As we entered, Heath's eyes scanned the room, taking in the tiny bed wedge in the corner, the sink beside it and a cubbyhole where I had my clothes stashed.

My eyes widened, and I dashed across my small space, shoving the lacy underwear out of sight.

Thankfully, he didn't seem to notice. His gaze lingered on the bed, glancing around the room that he filled nearly half of.

"Ari, I...I had no idea," Heath said, his voice softening. He gave me a look of guilt and pity.

I shrugged, feeling a mix of emotions. "It's not much, but it's home." I found my jewellery box on my bed, my eyes narrowing. "How'd that get..."

Heath's eyes met mine, and I saw a deep understanding there, the smell of hazelnuts filling my small space.

He gave me a small smile. "Warrick knew I made it for you, we found it in the hallway and he put it here when he grabbed your towel." He stepped towards it, picking it up off the bed and giving me a slightly shy look. "I wasn't sure you'd accept it if I just gave it to you."

I stepped towards him, took it and opened it, a smile on my lips as the crystal wolf shone in my yellow light. "It's really beautiful," I whispered, looking up at him and then through my lashes. A look of worry flashed across his face, looking at the box in my hand.

I gave a shy smile. "Will you put it on me?"

"You like it," he smiled, realising.

I nodded, feeling a lump form in my throat as he grinned brightly, seeming ecstatic.

He pulled the necklace free, smiling at me as I turned and moved my hair.

"You really made this?" I asked quietly, more trying to distract myself from the sudden realisation of how close he was.

He stepped behind me, his arms reaching around my shoulders, his skin brushing mine and sparks ignited.

"I did," he said proudly, his fingers caressing me as he tied it into place. "I've honestly been carrying it around for a while, trying to man up and give it to you."

I turned, blinking at his admittance.

He chuckled, scratching the back of his head and shrugged. "I've liked you for a while," he paused for a moment, adding. "We all have."

I stepped back, squeaking when I hit my bed and fell into a seat.

Heath laughed, his eyes wide for a moment with worry before turning to emeralds of joy.

I scowled at him, a smile pulling at my lips. "So....you tease me because..."

He shrugged, coming to sit next to me.

Only, my bed wasn't made the best and, pretty sure, older than both of us.

His weight cracked the supporting, splitting my bed clean in half.

I squeaked, suddenly rolling and fell on top of him. Heath caught me, his face just as shocked as mine.

He tilted his head up from the debris of wood and fabric, looking at me. "Ugh....sorry about that." He gave me an apologetic grin.

The expression on his face, the way he held me gently but safely.

I burst into laughter. "You broke my bed!" I choked out.

Heath chuckled, shuffling and cradled me, suddenly standing with me across his chest and looking down at the broken wreckage. "Yeah..." He drawled. "Not exactly how I wanted to break your bed...." He shrugged them, his eyes glinting as he looked down at me. "At least you were in it, so I get to say you helped." He grinned at me, bright and mischievous. I laughed again, blushing at the same time.

For the first time, I truly wasn't scared or worried.

I giggled, slapping his chest to make him put me down. He seemed upset about it, but did, watching me as I tried to salvage my bedding.

He chuckled, grabbing my wrist as I went to start excavating. "How about you go get some new bedding and I'll clean this mess?"

I faltered, the words leaving my mouth before I could stop them. "Thank you, Heath."

He smiled brightly, hearing me say his name, a blush touching my cheeks.

Within half an hour, Heath had cleared out the debris of my ruined bed, helping me set up a den of fabric and bedding.

He went to the bathroom while I mused around, preparing for bed, raising an eyebrow when he came in.

"Did you..." He shrugged at me.

"Move over, little one." He instructed, making me shuffle across as he crawled into the bedding, throwing his own blanket across us and leaning back, sighing at his work.

I giggled, reaching under my sink and found the small box that wasn't ruined.

Heath raised a brow at me, smirking when I sat back.

"Wanna cookie?" I smiled up at him, offering him the half-eaten packet.

He chuckled, taking one. "You have a secret stash?" He asked.

I nodded. "Perks of handling inventory, if we get too much, it goes to 'waste'" I grinned, directing two thumbs at me when I said the words waste.

Heath frowned. "You're not waste, Ariella."

I rolled my eyes at him, bit into a cookie and leaned against the wall. My knees curled, and I slumped. "Not anymore," I muttered.

Heath flinched, my Wolf snarling at me for being a b***h.

I growled back; just because she didn't like it didn't mean it wasn't true.

After a moment of silence, I felt bad, realising I'd been completely spiteful...and he'd just been so lovely.

I glanced up at him, seeing the brooding expression of thought on his face.

"Alpha?" I whispered. He didn't move almost as if he didn't hear me.

"Heath?"

That seemed to work, but when he spoke, his voice was deep and melodic. "I can't erase the damage we caused, little wolf," his Wolf said, his eyes moving to lock with mine. "But, I promise it was never done in hate. Only inability to understand the call so early."

My brows narrowed. "So, you were cruel because you knew, on some level, I was your mate?"

He nodded once.

It didn't make it okay, but a part of me understood. It was why, I realised, they were the only men who could submit me, and I had submitted freely.

They never forced me to my knees.

I had started it.

I sighed, thinking for a moment and then, giving into my Wolf's demands, I leaned against his arm.

"Stay til I fall asleep?" I asked, my cheek pressed against his large arm.

He chuckled softly, raising it and I fell into his chest, his arm falling around me to tuck me in closer. "You have me forever, little wolf." He pressed his lips to my hair, the action causing tiredness to wash over me and I found myself fast asleep in his arms.

I woke up at some point, my breathing a little funny.

Only to open my eyes and realise why.

Heath had gathered me in his lap, his arms banded around me and his cheek resting against the top of my head.

I tried to move, only for him to squeeze me, stopping me from moving and cutting off my breathing for a moment. "Shh, you're fine." He grumbled at me when I dramatically wheezed from his grip, but he still loosened his hold on me slightly.

I chuckled into the darkness of my small room, filled with his scent of coconuts.

"You're still here?" I muttered, turning slightly in his arms to rest my head on his chest.

He leaned over me and nuzzled into my cheek, kissing me sleepily.

"I couldn't let go," he admitted, his hold tightening for a moment in emphasis.

I gave a soft giggle as he nuzzled into my cheek again.

"I hope that's okay," he whispered, his stubble rubbing against my face.

I nodded, drifting back to sleep. "You're much comfier than my bed was."

"I make a pretty great pillow too." He chuckled, shifting us to curl up in the den of fabric we'd made, pulling me onto his chest as a pillow.

His large fingers toyed with my hair absently, just as mine circled lazy patterns across his chest.

"I hope you'll give us a chance," he whispered, his voice thick.

I continued tracing invisible patterns. "I'm still scared this is a joke you're playing on me," I admitted, feeling him tense under me.

"Ari-"

"You can't blame me, can you?" I tried to sit up, but his arms held me against him.

"Please don't," he begged, my Wolf sobbing ad I relaxed. He waited a few moments, hugging me to him as if he was trying to memories the feeling of me in his arms. "I don't blame you..." He said finally, his voice thick with emotion. "I don't blame you if you reject all of us....but please, give us a chance to show we're serious. We want to be with you, Ariella."

The room was incredibly quiet for a few moments, my Wolf pleading with me before I finally answered.

"Okay," I whispered, relaxing into his shoulder.

He kissed my forehead, the tension easing from his body as we drifted.

He really did make a great pillow.

We fell asleep within seconds.