Echo

by Seven Rue

I’ve been walking barefoot for hours. Days, even.

My screams for help would be silenced by his rough, big hand, and when he used his belt to hit me on every possible part of my body, no one would ever hear anything other than the belt hitting my skin.

But Nordin…something about his way of making jokes about my disability bothered me.

Nordin was ripped, and the tattoos covering most of his upper body weren’t something I was expecting to see.

Suddenly, my bottom lip started to tremble, and I realized that this was the happiest I’ve been in a very long time.

“You sleeping in Willem’s bed, then slipping into Nordin’s at night…I’m starting to think I’m not as fun as they are.”

“This cabin has thin walls, sweetness. It’s my turn next,” he growled, sending shivers down my spine.

It’s a female, he signed, then pointed to the two cubs following close behind the mother. My lips parted at the sight of them. They’re adorable, I replied, smiling brightly.

God, how I wished I could hear her voice. Just once.

“You’re gonna sneak into her heart if you keep that shit up, boy. She’s ours. Stay away.”

went to the bedroom to get a condom while she started to suck on Summit’s cock, and when I came back, her pretty copper hair was being pulled by him tightly, enjoying her sweet mouth around his shaft.

With Echo…it was different.

I’ve never felt like this before. I feel amazing. Loved. Like I’m worth it.

Not that they disappeared when they weren’t exposed to the sun. They were faint. But maybe this year I could make them appear more vibrant.

“We want you, and I think you’ve seen enough proof yesterday. If you stay with us, which I think we’ve established already that you will, we promise that you’ll be our only one.”

“You have no idea what you’re doing to me. To us,” he whispered.

Her sweetness and just her whole damn being. It’s so damn calming, and every time I look at her my heart skips a fucking beat.”

“You two became friends while we weren’t watching. Did he bribe you with something to make you cuddle him like that?” he

“We’re gonna mark you. All three at the same time, Echo. Once we do, you’ll be ours.” Officially, I thought, and I felt my heartbeat pick up speed.

I loved watching her communicate with us, and I couldn’t wait for that one day I could do the same with her. Without using my voice. Just signing.

“Yes, you’re home,” I told her.

I love you.

For Willem, I would use my pointer, middle, and ring finger stretched out, tapping it against my neck. The fingers showed the first letter of his name and tapping them on my neck indicated his beard. For Nordin, I just used my flat hand and placed it against the front of my head and flicked it upward, pointing out the baseball cap he was wearing often. And for Summit, I use the sign for S, which was just a closed fist, and twisted my wrists two times to sign his name.

I felt tears sting my eyes, but I didn’t wanna cry. Not because of my mother and Garrett.

Take me home, Summit.

They were my saviors, and they promised to keep me safe. Forever.