I felt my stomach drop. I wanted to help them, but could only sit there and watch them suffer. My life was on the line, I couldn't go against Madam's will.
I continued to clean her boots until she moved them away from my hands, looking down at me.
"Lying about not liking females, huh? You little minx was supposed to become their mate, not their competition."
I stopped breathing. Was it wrong to like Madam? It wasn't a secret that I liked her. I didn't try to hide it. Why did it sound so bad when she said it?
"Am I not supposed to…like Madam?" I asked, my eyes on her boots. Liking Madam was what made the owners take me in, after all, "Why didn't you tell me…sooner?"
"We don't believe in arranged relationships," she moved Skaris off her shoulder and placed him on the floor beside her, then leaned down to my level, her hand tilting my face up to look at her, "We gave you a choice. And you chose wrong."
"I...I wasn't jealous of Madam's mates. I..." I swallowed, quickly looking for a way out and not displeasing her further. "I was jealous of...of...Madam. You have so much...so much love...so many people...w-who would give their lives for you. I...I envied that. That's all."
I hung my head low. I didn't want to pressure her into accepting another mate in her life, the opposite. I wanted to lift some of it away.
"Lies," Madam said, "You want to be my mate, you want to be loved by me. Be honest."
I shook my head, realizing the position she wanted me to take, "I...I want...to be like you. Strong...and...and...powerful. Like you. That's all."
"Prove it," she towered over me, "Show me you want my strength, not my love."
Her hand pressed against my chest and pushed, making me fall on my back, my head almost hitting the floor if she hadn't caught it with her other hand.
She kneeled above me, placing both of her hands on either side of my head, her face close to mine.
"Make me believe you, Little Black Sheep. That your feelings for me are nothing but admiration. That there is no desire in your heart to become my mate like my boys."
My chest raised against her palm, my heartbeat giving me away. I wanted her to believe me, but how could she when my own body betrayed me?
"P-predator, Madam," I reminded her, my voice quiet, "Sheep...are scared of...predators."
"Hm?" She leaned closer, her lips brushing against my cheek, "So you are scared more of me than my boys? You don't react this way with them."
I quickly nodded in agreement, "Madam, is more scary…"
Her nose traced the outline of my jaw, her breath tickling my skin, "Your heart beats even faster now."
"M-Madam...I'm...I'm..." I was going to explode at any moment, the tingling and hotness spreading through my entire body, "I'm scared...I don't...I can't...think. It's my...instincts, I don't...I don't..."
The weight lifted from my chest, her body no longer hovering over me, "I'm not going to eat you."
I took a deep breath, trying to calm down, to regain control of my body, but couldn't. I was still hot, still trembling, my toes curling.
"I'm sleeping in Little Miss' tent from now on."
Madam announced, removing her boots, and even that simple action was done in a powerful way, as if she was performing an intimidating act.
"She's out if she makes any move on me. And that includes looking at me with lust in her eyes. I have enough of it from you lot, don't need to deal with another horny beast."
I swallowed, feeling like an insect she had dissected and left to die on the ground, the one she couldn't wait to get rid of.
Madam changed her clothes and then grabbed Skaris by the ear, dragging him outside with her. Not once did he provoke her, complain, or fight back. He was like a pet on a leash, a loyal one.
Even the weather seemed to be afraid of Madam. The rain had stopped, the rumbling in the distance quieted down, which meant the storm was moving away.
Michael and Baron moved to the corner of the tent to whisper to each other, looking in my direction from time to time.
"Vick said it's alright if Little Miss wants Dearest the most," I heard Baron say.
"Well, I don't want Little Miss to want Darling the most," Michael quietly hissed back, "She can have anyone else, but not her. Preferably all of you, and leave Darling to me."
"She loves her the most," Baron sighed, "It's obvious now."
Love? The close family bond. Was that what they were talking about? Did I not prove that I loved the owners as well?
"H-how do I want you more?" I asked in determination, lifting my head, supporting myself on my elbow, "What should I do?"
Baron came to me and helped me sit up, "If we knew, none of us would be stuck in this situation right now, would we?" he patted my head, "We are just as lost as you are."
I looked down at my lap, "I'm sorry...I love you, I really do. I want to be yours. All of yours."
Baron chuckled and picked me up to his arms, placing my head on his shoulder, "It's strange to have someone confessing their love like this."
"You don't say you...love each other?" I asked, my arms wrapping around his neck, showing him my love in a hug, in case he didn't know, in case I was not doing it right.
"Oh, we do," he replied, squeezing me in return, "But in a different way. We don't say it out loud, or show it with words and hugs. We do it differently."
I carefully pinched his neck and then kissed the same place, "Like this?"
He didn't feel the pinch, but it got him to chuckle again, his chest vibrating against mine, "Yeah, like that."
I kissed the same place again, hoping to make him feel good, "I love you. Thank you for taking care of me."
"Why do I think you are misunderstanding something here?" Baron snickered, but didn't clarify as to what I was misunderstanding, "Michael is sulking, go make him feel better as well."
I left Baron's arms, tiptoeing toward the cross legged Michael, who had his chin propped on his fist, staring at me with his brows furrowed.
I looked back at Baron, and he nodded, gesturing for me to continue. So I did.
I carefully stepped over Michael's legs, and plopped myself on his lap. He didn't react, so I wrapped my arms around his neck and hugged him, "I love you too."
Baron burst in laughter, his hand on his chest, as if he was in pain.
I hugged Michael tighter, and he finally put his arms around me, "That's all?"
I didn't know what else to say, so I tried to imitate his intimidating smile that he used to show his love toward others, baring my teeth at him, "Rawr."
Baron slapped his leg, his laughter shaking the entire tent, "I can't...she's so...hahaha!"
Neither of them told me they loved me back, so I still felt a little unsure if I was doing it right.
It was better for me to say it, than not say it at all.
Maybe they would eventually believe me, since my body seemed to make them misunderstand me.