He held out a small bag. I hesitated.
“You can take the bag. I promise. It won’t bite. And neither will I.”
I laughed. Then I froze. When was the last time I’d actually laughed? I reached for the bag. Was it an option to stay here? Feel safe and just despise Devon for not saving me? At least for now it seemed that I would be stuck here until things seemed to get fixed in my somewhat broken body.
“Thank you.”
And I meant that. I still wasn’t about to trust him at this moment, but he did win a little spot in my heart. For this moment I really did feel like I was okay.
I shivered as my wolf tried to push her way to the surface only to be too weak and fall back under the surface. Frustration had replaced my hope to feel her strength again and feel it uninhibited.
The bag was heavy. There had to be more than a single change of clothing.
“What’s all in here?”
He had on sweats and in true male fashion seemed to be uncomfortable talking about whatever was in here.
“Clothes. Sarah said there was a dress for tonight's thing too. Anyway, you can look at the rest. How about I walk you to your room?”
My room? I swallowed.
“How long will I have the room?”
This won a real smile from Colton.
“However long you need it. We won’t be sending you back to your pack and the there’s no chance of me letting you go back to those fucking mate trades. You can be at home here, if you choose.”
If I choose?
“I have a choice?”
I swear I was speaking the same language, but he looked at me confused.
“Yeah. Everyone has a choice. Or rather should. Anyway, I’m sure you’ll find what you are looking for here and then you’ll truly be home. Now, come with me. I need to go help Devon soon.”
There wasn’t a lot I could explain these days. I could understand how I ended up in the mate trades, but that wasn’t saying much. The way Devon’s name made me feel? I tried to breathe and then let out the air slowly like that would settle the nerves inside me that still had no explanation. Except my body was addicted to a dream of a man that I’d built up in my head.
“What is it you think I need to find?” I asked as I hefted the bag over my shoulder and pulled at the hem of the nightshirt.
“Wait, should I change here? So I don’t walk through the compound in this?”
He looked me up and down?
“Nah. You’ve got nothing to hide.”
I looked at him oddly.
“Yeah, no. I’m aware. I just. Well, let’s be honest. I wasn’t kidnapped into the trades because they thought I was undesirable.” This made me shiver. I didn’t want to be an object. I didn’t actually want a mate. Courage is what I needed. I watched Colton and felt like maybe I could really talk to him.
“I’ll be honest. I don’t want anyone looking at me like I’m their ticket to a whole family of little assholes. I fought off enough males that it would really suck to have to run into the arms of another pack that just needed breeders.”
The way his brow furrowed made him look kind. Everything I knew of this pack was rumors, one being that kindness was not their thing. Except everything I’d seen so far was the opposite.
“We don’t have any need for breeders. We prefer fated mates or at least love matings here. Now come on. I’ve got things to do besides parading your ass around this place.”
Why did he make me smile?
“I think I like you Colton. Can I call you Colton?”