Page 86 of The Pack

“We’re really doing this,” I said, amusement in my voice.

Her lips pressed into a thin line, but she didn’t stop us.

Killian lifted the hem of her shirt carefully, as though he were handling something precious. The fabric peeled away, revealing her toned stomach and the faint curve of her ribs. Dirt streaked her skin, and I noticed faint scratches and bruises from her time in the caves.

They made me angry.

Callum’s soft gaze lingered on her breasts before they lifted back up to her eyes.

“You’re stronger than you look, you know. You’ve got a strength most people couldn’t dream of,” he murmured.

Killian smirked as he worked the shirt free, his playful expression glancing over her bare shoulders. “And a body to match,” he added, his voice teasing, but not unkind.

She rolled her eyes, but her cheeks burned brighter.

Her pants were next, the fabric stiff with dirt and dried blood. Callum and Killian worked together, their movements careful as they eased the material down her legs. She wasn’t wearing any panties underneath and her hands clenched at her sides, little gasps escaping her as more of her naked body was revealed.

I couldn’t help but admire every inch of her.

The curve of her shoulders, the line of her collarbone, the faint rise and fall of her breasts as she breathed—it was all maddeningly perfect. Her arms, slender and toned, hung at her sides, her hands curling slightly as if she were trying to ground herself. My gaze trailed lower, over the gentle slope of her stomach, the subtle curve of her hips, to her perfect little pussy, and her long, shapely legs.

There was nothing overtly provocative in the way she stood, but there didn’t need to be. She was beautiful, real, and utterly mesmerizing.

I could feel the heat rising in the room, and it wasn’t just from the fire. My wolf stirred beneath the surface, restless and possessive, the urge to protect her warring with the deeper, more primal parts of me.

Her dark blue eyes darted to mine, and for a moment, I thought she might call me out for staring. Instead, her eyes softened, a faint blush coloring her cheeks as she glanced away.

“Relax,” Callum said gently, his fingers brushing her arm. “We’ve got you.”

Killian let out a low whistle.

“Damn, lass,” he said, his grin turning wicked. “Every inch of you is flawless, isn’t it?”

I stepped closer, my eyes meeting hers as she stood there, vulnerable, but somehow still unyielding.

“He’s right, you know,” I said softly. “You’re beautiful, Zara. In every way.”

Zara’s lips parted slightly, her breath coming quicker as she glanced between us. Despite her embarrassment, she smiled.

“Get in the tub,” I commanded gently.

She hesitated for a moment longer, then nodded, stepping carefully into the steaming water. I offered her my arm, steadying her as she lowered herself beneath the surface.

Zara let out a soft sigh as she sank into the water, her tense shoulders finally relaxing beneath the soothing warmth. The steam curled around her, and her dark hair spilled over the edge of the tub, tangled and wild, framing her face in a way that made my chest tighten.

“Better?” I asked, my voice low.

She nodded, sighing with obvious bliss. “A little. Thank you.”

Callum crouched beside the tub, his usual smile soft, warm, and genuine.

“It’s going to get even better, lass,” he said, holding up a bar of soap he’d found among the supplies left in the cottage. “We’ll see to that.”

Killian let out a low chuckle, leaning against the wall. “Aye, we’ll make sure of it. You deserve the royal treatment after what you’ve been through.”

Her blush deepened, her hands gripping the edges of the tub as she glanced between us.

“This is ridiculous,” she muttered, though there was no real heat in her voice.

---