A Nurse Among Wolves

Chapter 4: Ash

Our mate was beautiful. No, she was more than that, she was divine. She was small in stature but with curves, dark chestnut curls that shined in the sun like she had a halo and her eyes. Goddess above! a man could get lost in those eyes, they were swirling pools of blue and green with golden sunburst in the center. It was like staring at the ocean as the sun set. Our mate was still staring at me again but she didn't seem afraid, more as if she didn't quite know how to respond.

Finally she cleared her throat "that may be so but I don't have any men to take care of me so I just have to make do with doing it myself" she huffed trying to pull her foot away from me.

"You have us," I said, looking into her eyes again. Both my hands wrapped around her foot and ankle. The contact was like electricity running up my arms. I might have been worried that she didn't feel the same except for how she shivered when I touched her skin.

"I'm not yours" she whispered, was it just me or was there disappointment in her voice.

"He means we want to help out around here since you're all on your own" Toren gave me a nudge as if to tell me to lay off. I huffed under my breath. This was our mate, we should tell her what she means to us and convince her to stay by showing her how much we love and desire her in every way imaginable.

"Oh" she said, looking a little hurt. I gave Toren a smug look. I might have chosen to be beta rather than fight Toren for alpha but I had been among wolves the longest and knew that a female would want to be cared for and protected by her mates, whether she realized it or not. It was simply a part of her.

"You two don't look much alike" she said while I finished wrapping her foot and cleaned the cuts on her legs "are you step-sibling?"

"We are actually not related at all" Toren answered her "we're brothers by choice so to say."

"Oh" she nodded as if it all made sense "so what's everyone's names? I'm afraid I didn't get to introduce myself" she said reaching a hand toward me "I'm Miren."

"Ashton" I told her, taking her hand in mine "but you can call me Ash" only my brothers called me Ash and now so would my mate.

"It's nice to meet you Ash" she let out a small laugh "although I don't think having to bandage my sweaty, probably very stinky foot is a great introduction". The blush was back in her checks and it made her look adorable.

"You smell fine" I reassure her but in truth was she smelled better than fine. She smelled like a garden in spring just after a rain shower, sweet and fresh.

It was at this moment Rowan and Roman walked into the kitchen

"Glass is all cleaned up" Rowan announced to the room, I looked at Roman and who gave me a look.

"There was bear all over the window and house, and not the yogi after the picnic  basket kind either" Roman sent me through our bond. I threw Toren a quick look to let him know that our fears had been confirmed.

"How are you feeling?" Roman asked Miren, coming to stand on her left side. For a moment she simply looked between us before laughing.

"I'm fine, I swear" she said "I'm sorry I didn't catch your names earlier" she was looking between Roman and Rowan, who had come to stand beside his twin.

"These are the twins" Toren tells her "the one who looks like he's trying out the role as the energizer bunny is Rowan and the quieter, more sane one is Roman."

"Rowan" she said pointing at him with the arm that Toren wasn't clearing "and Roman, right?" She asked and both boys nodded.

"Cool names" she told them and I could see a blush spread across Romans face while Rowan just grinned like an idiot.

"There" I say, standing up and taking a step back so as not to crowd her "I'm all done".

"Me to" Toren says, not letting go of her hand. Lucky bastard. He never scared women, oh no they flocked to him. Me on the other hand they ran from like I was the boogie man.

"Thanks guys" she smiled at us "I mean it"

"Don't mention it" Rowan took my place in a flash, a smile plastered across his face "we want to help you whenever we can". Again she looked flustered as if she wasn't used to people paying attention to her or maybe it was just that we were guys and paying attention to her. I had seen how cruel human men could be to their women. Insult them about their weight, how they dress, or what thing interested them. It was pathetic really how human men shunned beautiful curvy women just to fawn over the stick thin models who looked like walking skeletons and who's only interests where how small their waists where.

"Well I really appreciate it" she stood up and tested her weight on her bad foot "it feels a lot better now" she looked around at us "it probably won't be much but would you guys like to stay for dinner?"

"We'd love to," Rowan answered and we all nodded in agreement.

"Wonderful" she smiled "how does pasta sound"

Pasta sounded wonderful.