THIRTY

Sky's POV

Every step Zeke took sent a fresh wave of pain tearing through my body, but I didn't tell him to stop.

I should have.

I should have fought him, should have demanded he put me down and let me suffer through this on my own. But I didn't. Because as much as my body ached, as much as my pride had been shattered into pieces out on that training field, being in his arms soothed something inside me that I didn't want to admit needed soothing.

His scent surrounded me—woodsmoke and cedar, fresh rain and something uniquely Zeke. I hated how much comfort it brought me.

Pack members watched as we passed through the halls, their gazes trailing over me, over the bruises forming on my skin, the blood drying at the corner of my lips. They said nothing.

No one moved to help.

No one so much as asked if I was okay.

This was what Neo had built—a pack too afraid to intervene, too conditioned to question their Alpha's cruelty.

"Everyone's looking." I uttered before I swallowed the lump in my throat and pressed closer into Zeke's chest, ignoring the way my body betrayed me by relaxing against him.

"Little demon, everyone is always looking at you." He smiled down at me, but it didn't quite reach his eyes.

"Because I am an amazing fighter?" I replied, feeling a little lighter from his presence and smile.

"That... is not why the look." He laughed, rolling his pretty, mismatched eyes, sending my stomach into somersaults.

"Then why?" I asked with an arched brow before wincing as pain shot through my skull.

"Do you know why I call you little demon?" He asked, making me grin at the way my pet name sounded on his lips. Shaking my head, I narrowed my eyes on his grin. "Because wherever you go, chaos follows. And THAT is why everyone is watching." He finished with a wink that had my legs clenching painfully closed to hide my arousal.

"Dick!" I whispered, resting my head against his shoulder. By the time we reached my room, I was barely holding on. He placed me down gently on the bed, careful in a way that made my throat tighten and disappeared into the bathroom without a word.

"What are you doing?" I frowned.

He didn't answer.

A moment later, the sound of running water filled the air, followed by the soft, familiar scent of chamomile and lavender drifting toward me.

"Zeke." My breath hitched. "You remember?" I asked, my voice barely above a whisper.

"That they're your favourite?" Zeke leaned against the bathroom doorway, arms crossed, his expression unreadable.

"Yeah." He shrugged, avoiding my gaze. There was no emotion in his voice, but I caught the slight flush creeping up his neck, the way his jaw tensed like he was waiting for me to tease him for it.

I smiled, but I didn't say anything.

"Come on. Let's get you in the bath." He sighed and motioned toward the bathroom.

"I can do it myself." I stared at him, unblinking.

"Sky—" He arched a brow.

"I can," I huffed, struggling to sit up. "You're just using this as an excuse to get me naked, perv." Zeke grinned slightly, but there was a sharp edge to it.

"Suit yourself," he said, leaning against the doorframe with his arms crossed, watching. I rolled my eyes and reached for my sports bra, wincing the second I tried to lift my arms. My muscles screamed in protest, and I hated the way his smirk widened.

I ignored him and shifted to stand, but the moment I moved, pain exploded through my ribs, knocking the breath from my lungs. My legs buckled beneath me, and I braced for impact—

But I never hit the floor.

Zeke caught me before I could fall, his arms locking around me, his chest warm against mine.

"I hate you." I gritted my teeth as I clung to his shirt.

"I have seen you naked many times, Sky." He sighed, exasperated.

"When?" I scoffed, my breath still uneven. "Whenever we fucked, it was usually a quickie with my skirt around my hips." I felt him tense at that. The pain that flickered in his eyes was brief, but it was there. And I shoved it down, reminding myself that that had always been my choice, not his.

"Sky." Zeke groaned, shaking his head. "I'm not doing this right now."

Without another word, he ripped the sides of my shorts, tearing them down my legs, his movements swift, efficient.

"Zeke!" I yelled, my arms automatically shooting down to cover myself.

But he wasn't done.

The sound of fabric tearing filled the air as he grabbed the thin material of my sports bra and ripped it clean in half, the fabric falling apart like it was nothing in his hands.

I sucked in a sharp breath as the cool air hit my skin.

He didn't look away. His mismatched eyes trailed over me, not just with desire but with something darker. Something possessive.

His jaw clenched.

"I loved that bra," I whined, crossing my arms over my chest.

"So did every other fucking man out there today." Zeke snorted, his gaze flicking up to mine.

My heart skipped.

I shouldn't have loved the way he said it.

The way his voice was low, the way his eyes darkened.

But I did.

"What's your point?" I teased, shifting to lean against him, hiding my body slightly. His fingers brushed against my hip, and I felt his restraint.

"That if I remove all my warriors' eyes, I will have no one left to defend the damn pack."

"Jealous?" A smirk tugged at my lips, and I lifted my chin. His gaze snapped to mine, and my breath caught. His expression turned deadly serious.

"Don't test me." His voice was gravel and warning and promise all at once. He stepped closer, his hand sliding up my waist, his fingers pressing just enough to send a shiver through me.

"If I would kill for you…" He exhaled slowly, his grip tightening slightly. "I am more than happy to kill because of you too."

His fingers traced up my ribs, and my skin burned under his touch.

"This," he murmured, his other hand settling gently against my waist. "Is mine."

"Zeke, I never—" I swallowed, my pulse pounding in my ears. His thumb brushed over my bare skin, and my words died.

His gaze flicked up, locking onto mine, his expression unreadable.

"And only mine."

I shivered.

Slamming my lips shut in a pretend pout, I looked down at my shredded clothes, but inside, my heart was racing.