“Papa, stop it.” Sophia muttered. “He won’t do anything.”
“He won’t hurt her.” Bree rested her hand on Tristan’s arm. “I promise you Tristan.”
Tristan continued to gaze at Kaden and when he neither stepped back nor dropped his gaze, the Lycan nodded and went back to Sophia.
“Can you stand sweet Sophia?”
“Yes.” James and Tristan helped her to her feet and she clutched the ruined remains of her shirt to her chest. “I need a new shirt.”
The naked Lycans looked at each other, and Kaden nearly laughed at the looks on their faces. He tamped the laughter down and quickly stripped off his shirt. “Here.”
Bree took it from him with a nod of thanks, and the others turned away as she helped Sophia shed her tattered shirt and slip into Kaden’s. The Lycan moaned softly with the pain, and Bree made soft noises of comfort.
“I’m ready.” Sophia said in a strained voice.
Kaden swung into the saddle and leaned backwards as Marshall, James and Tristan lifted Sophia into the saddle. She sat rigidly before him and he eased his arm around her waist.
“Lean against me. It will help with the jostling.” He murmured into her ear. She leaned back against him. She was sweating and pale and she moaned softly when he shifted her in the saddle.
“Tristan, are you sure this is a good idea?” Marshall asked. “We could camp here for the night. Keep watch for Draken and the other. James can heal Sophia completely, and we’ll travel back in the morning.”
Sophia spoke quietly. “No. Draken may have more men.”
“I doubt it.” Marshall patted her leg gently. “Sophia, the pain will be very bad. Let James heal you further and – “
“No!” She said loudly. “I – I want mama.” She felt foolish saying it but she was anxious to leave the camp. She couldn’t stand the thought of spending the night in this place with the stench of dead Lycans, and the memory of Draken telling her she would make a good mother to his pups. She wanted to be at home, in her bed snuggled against her mother, and far away from the memory of the collar around her neck and her brush with death.
She trembled lightly. If Kaden hadn’t pulled her back from the brink of shifting, she would be dead right now. Her trembling increased and Kaden rubbed her hip almost soothingly. She looked up at him in surprise. He returned her look silently as his big hand rubbed circles on her side and hip.
“Okay.” Marshall patted her leg again. “We’ll get you home to your mama.”
Kaden watched, his hand tightening on Sophia’s hip, as Bree went to James. The Lycan kissed her softly on the mouth, his hand lingering around her waist, and she smiled at him.
“Hang on tight little one alright? I will be moving quickly.” He stroked her long blonde hair.
“Aye, my lord.” She kissed him a final time and stepped back as he shifted. He was one of the biggest Lycans Kaden had ever seen and even with James lying on his stomach, Nicholas still had to lift Bree on to his back. She leaned over him, her hands sinking into his fur, and he turned his head and licked her face. She giggled and patted him gently.
Tristan gave Sophia an anxious look. “If the pain gets too bad and you need us to stop, just say so okay?”
“Yes papa.” She gave him a weak smile.
“I love you Sophia.”
“I love you too.”
The rest of the Lycans shifted and Kaden nudged the horse forward. Sophia made a soft groan of pain, and Kaden moved cautiously behind her.
“Put your head on my shoulder and lean into me.” He said. She did what he asked, burrowing her face into his thick neck, and he moved his hand from her hip and towards her shoulder.
“This is going to hurt, but it’s better if I try and steady you while we ride. Are you ready?”
She nodded and he crossed his arm across her chest and quickly pressed his hand hard against her injured shoulder, holding her firmly against his upper body. She gasped loudly but made no effort to pull away, and he felt a grudging amount of respect for her. Her skin was hot and throbbing through his shirt, and he could only imagine how much pain she was in.
“Hang on.” He muttered as the Lycans began to lope through the woods. He dug his heels into the horse’s sides, and did his best to keep Sophia from jostling around as the horse broke into a run.
* * *
Sophia moaned softly and Kaden bent his mouth to her ear. “Do we need to stop?”
“No.” She muttered. “But I need to straighten a little.”
“Hold on.” He slowed the horse until it was walking. The Lycans matched their pace, and Tristan trotted up to the horse and stared at them quizzically.