Page 116 of Scent to the Feral Cowboys

The smaller dog beside me tilted its head and let loose a sharp, quick bark. The larger dog shook its great body, as if sloughing off its protection mode.

"Shit," I breathed, briefly considering spinning right back around again and taking my chances with the whistling threat. Getting eaten by a mountain lion or bobcat might be preferable to facing the five Alphas. But what was the point? With two dogs escorting me and my captors bearing down, I'd make it approximately three feet before being caught. Less, maybe, considering my aching body and bleeding feet.

Better to face this with whatever dignity I could salvage.

As they drew closer, details emerged from the darkness. Their faces were strained, even Boone—with his beautiful, deeply brown skin—seemed pale. Though the night had seemed crystal clear earlier, I must have missed clouds. Because now? Now those clouds I’d missed seemed to part, fully releasing the silvery moonlight.

Starlight kissed bare chests.

The peaks and valleys of muscles in stark relief.

Sweat-glistening foreheads scrunched in worry.

They all raced barefoot towards me, some wearing only boxers, others in loose pajama bottoms that hung low on their hips. Levi was the only one with something on his upper body—a brown canvas jacket unzipped at the front. As he moved the coat’s sides fluttered away, showing off his athletic, washboard stomach.

Something new tried to awaken inside me.

Something more than just my Omega recognizing scent matches.

When they all skid to a stop near me, their gazes roving over my body and taking in the state of me, I found myself studying them in return. These weren’t the faces of men who’d just lost a prized possession. Their expressions were full of angst and worry. I didn’t see frustration and fury that I’d escaped them. As they let out a collective, synchronized breath, I didn’t see triumph replacing the anxiety. They weren’t celebrating that they’d captured me back. Instead… I saw utter relief.

Then I saw what they carried.

Each of them held a rifle in one hand, shoulder straps hanging limply to skim the ground below. I bit my lip, releasing the dog’s collar and taking a step back.Should have kept going. Shouldn’t have come back. Maybe it was a nice, vegetarian mountain lion. I’d have been just fine. I’m not broccoli.

As my brain filled with nonsense, I unconsciously backed up again.

“Nelly, you’re okay.” Cooper breathed out, covering his face with one hand and hanging his head. He breathed deeply, shoulders rising and falling. Boone moved closer to him, wrapping an arm around his pack mate’s shoulders.

“She’s fine, Coop. Tripp and Tater did their job.” Boone looked at me, then down at the two dogs appreciatively. “You two are getting the biggest damn steaks we can rustle up.”

“Good boys, protecting her like that,” Cooper added.

The two dogs cocked their heads left, then right. Then they padded over to Boone and Cooper. Boone scratched the back of the larger dog’s neck, while Cooper patted his chest and the smaller dog jumped up for head scratches.

I shivered, still unsure what the guns meant, still unsure if they were going to lock me up and throw away the key now. They looked like they’d been truly worried. They looked like they cared about me as a person, not a purchase, but… I couldn’t trust their outward selves.

"We heard you scream," Levi said, his lavender eyes wide, scanning me for injuries. "Are you hurt? What happened?"

Before I could answer him, he handed Wyatt his rifle, then stripped off his coat as he moved swiftly towards me. I had to fight the urge to stumble away. Levi fanned the jacket through the air, around me, and over my shoulders. When I didn’t move, he gently lifted my arms to push them into place, then zipped the outwear over the thin shirt I’d stolen from Cooper’s room.

Warmth enveloped me immediately, both from the new layer of clothing and from Levi's proximity. His autumnal scent—heady with smoke, marshmallow, and nutmeg—wrapped around me as purposefully as the heavy coat. I stared at him wordlessly, caught off guard by the concern his eyes and the way he wrapped my body so gently. My body responded to him, natural scent intensifying. It had been acrid and full of fear earlier. Now, it plumed in full glory, causing the air around me to shift with florals and fruit.

Levi tensed, brow furrowing deeply. His hand raised into my line of sight, then dropped again. “Can you talk?” He breathed out. “Are you hurt?” He repeated the earlier question.

The other men crowded closer behind him, waiting for my answers. My eyes kept flicking down to the guns. Levi noticed. He turned around, eyes roving over his pack, trying to figure out what was bothering me. He understood after a moment.

“Guys, put the guns away. You’re scaring Nelly.”

One by one, the other Alphas looked down at the rifle in their hands—or rifles, in Wyatt’s case—and threaded the attached straps over their shoulder to swing the weapons onto their backs. Though they still carried them, having them out of their hands and ready for immediate use made my pulse calm down.

“Better?” Levi questioned, those unique eyes of his locking back on my face.

I nodded.

"I heard something out there," I finally managed, my voice small and raspy. "A growl. Then this weird chirping sound, or maybe almost a whistle." I shuddered at the memory.

The men looked at one another, then towards the driveway.