Page 74 of The Dire Legacy

“Fuck, Hope! How can you ask me to do that?” Pinching the bridge of my nose doesn’t make the terrible pain behind my eyes disappear.

My stomach rolls at the thought of what she’s asked.

“That little boy deserves to be with people who don’t ask him for anything more than to be him. Please? Help me save him from a lifetime of torture.” Her tears drip onto my chest androll down my shoulder. “No one even comforts him. Not even a touch. I know you can relate to that.”

She’s right. And, I’m frustrated that she knows that will work on me.

A lifetime of growing up isolated and alone. Being looked at as different is something I’ll never wish on anyone. At least I had my mother long enough to remember what she looked like.

That little boy won’t even have that.

God dammit.

My guts churn as I try and think of any other way that this could work.

But, I can’t. And, truth be told, there’s no way I could ever deny her.

I’d walk through fire for her.

“You get to pick how you distract me.” Her fingers walk down the trail of hair on my belly and slide under the blanket. When she closes them over my nuts, my groan tells her she’s won.

She sucked out the last of my hesitancy before we napped through the early morning hours. It just felt so good to hold her, I slept better than I have in days.

Alpha passed the plans through the pack and they gathered near the base of the precipice we’ve been staying on.

I’m glad the dam village has been so busy dealing with the aftermath of our attack yesterday, they haven’t put much effort into keeping tabs on us.

Finding the right piece of wood didn’t take long. There are some old rounds from a fallen tree that looks like someone cut it years ago and never recovered.

The weathered bones nearby explained why they failed to complete their task.

It’s a harsh world we live in.

Getting my makeshift camp fastened up, my stomach rolls as the time to start creeps closer. It goes against everything I want to do.

The bags and equipment are stashed to easily retrieve when we leave. We haven’t decided where exactly we’re going next, but Alpha said he has some ideas.

We just have to survive tonight.

Hope pulls me close and turns her face up to me. The iridescence of her green eyes shines in the afternoon sun. “It’s time, baby. I need to be close enough before it gets too dark to see.”

Doubt is a cold veil. I don’t know if I can do this.

Sliding my belt from the loops and draping it around my neck, I give her a smile that theoretically exudes more confidence than I’m feeling right now. “Take off your shirt.” The only way I’m going to survive this is if I can somehow stay in the headspace that I’m in control.

Otherwise, I may break down. She doesn’t need that. I want her to be able to rely on me.

However hard it is.

She steps away, seductively shifting her hips as she slowly loops her shirt over her head. “Like this?” Her hands work their way under her full breasts, pinching her own nipples as her heavy lidded eyes watch me unzip my jeans.

“Yea, like that. Now your pants.” I didn’t think I could get hard, knowing what’s coming, but she brings out a lust in me that’s impossible to tame.

She turns away and bends at her waist, perking her ass into the air as she lowers her khakis an inch at a time.

Palming myself, it takes all of my willpower not to rush forward and impale her on my throbbing cock. But, her little strip tease is hitting all the right buttons.

Fuck, she’s sexy.

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