Chapter 4 Catching My Scent

• The next morning was the same.
• They liked bullying me into things.
• Vanquish banged on my door which barely closed on its weak hinges as it was.
• It couldn't withstand them if they truly decided to come in.
• "Open the door, Vanna." Vanquish ordered. Something about his commands demanded obedience.
• I tied the cloak and ran to the door. Barely awake.
• These three were always awake with first light.
• I ripped open the door and Vanquish's piercing green eyes lit on me. His head lowered ominously.
• The two flanking him slightly to the side postured the same.
• "We're going hunting." Vanquish turned and clearly expected me to follow.
• I was hungry.
• "I'm not hungry." I objected.
• Vanquish rounded and returned to tower over me. "Then you won't eat until I say so."
• I hated that he knew I was a poor hunter. I had to rely on the males to leave me food because I was too clumsy to catch anything.
• Poor wolf I am.
• ***
• I trudged after them, pouting. Carrying the ropes they'd use to haul any take and the pile of their tunics since they hunted shirtless. They'd piled them on me like I was some dutiful servant girl.
• Which clearly, I am. I'm carrying them. I rolled my blue eyes Heavenward.
• I knew I needed to learn to stand up to them but without anyone to back me how could I, a small female, stand up to these three well-honed and aggressive males.
• I wouldn't stand a chance.
• I could smell their bodies still lingering on their clothes and there was something appealing about the masculine scent of them. My gut tightened at the scent of trees and moss. Every bit as wild as the three males.
• Hunter found the most recent set of boar tracks and pointed them out to Vanquish. There was enough mud, and the animal was heavy enough, there was no need for Hunter to lead today so he fell back with Racer to walk behind me while Vanquish led us.
• I hated them behind me. I don't trust them.
• Sure enough, as I walked, Racer lightly gave me a shove which sent me toppling.
• The three of them bellowed with laughter. Stopping to wait for me to stand and collect everything.
• Bastards.
• I walked a bit further and Hunter stepped on the back of my heel.
• Making me lose my balance when I went to step. I teetered backward and he caught me.
• Playfully pitching me forward. "Clumsy girl!"
• "Yeah, can't you stay on your feet, Vanna Rae?"
• "All of you shut your mouths!" Vanquish barked. Lifting a hand. "It’s just ahead."
• ***
• All three were shirtless from the hunt but now they kicked off their boots to dive in.
• There was something erotic about watching the water pouring over their muscled bodies in the sunlight. While glittering rays danced atop the water. Their raven hair was flattened back along their heads, soaked from washing.
• Racer shook it wildly and tossed tiny drops over his brothers who playfully splashed him back while he objected and retreated.
• "Do you smell that?" Hunter lifted his head and sniffed the air.
• Racer did the same. "That smells delicious."
• Vanquish paused scrubbing the blood from his chest and his eyes lifted to look at me on the bank. Even from where I was, I could see they were flecked with yellow.
• I immediately recognized I was in some kind of trouble, though I didn't know why.
• ***
• All three crawled on all fours onto the bank, nearly simultaneously. Coming at me from three different angles.
• I slid backward, retreating as I looked at each of them fearfully. What's going on? What did I do?
• "That her?" Racer asked. Putting a foot on my chest to guide me to the ground so I couldn't keep moving backward.
• Hunter dropped to his knees and lifted the hem of my cloak, purposely catching my skirt in his fists as well. He tossed them over his head like a shelter and inhaled deeply.
• I yelped and eyed them in panic.
• Hunter emerged from beneath my skirts and I stared at him in shock.
• "Yep. It's her. She's not wearing undergarments." He said it so matter-of-factly though I'd no idea what they were talking about.
• I didn't have any underwear. The only clothes I had were those the others had given me.
• "You smelled me?" I lifted my brows, stunned.
• "We could scent your arousal from the creek." Vanquish nodded over his shoulder.
• "And it's not even the Mating Moon yet." Hunter looked at the other two. Still holding my skirt and cloak at chest level.
• Making me uncomfortable that the other two could get a look at me if they leaned over.
• Racer licked his lips. "She smells good."
• "Vanquish?" Hunter said in a low voice.
• "Yes?"
• "There's something else. You should probably come have a look at this."
• What? What are they looking at? Was I malformed? I was too confused to retreat as I should've.
• "What the Hell is that?" Vanquish roared, swatting my skirt off his head and gesturing to my middle.
• What's he talking about?
• "What?" I asked in confusion.
• "What the hell do you have wrapped around your waist?"
• Oh, no!