“Yes, it is, but not for the reason you think. Could you look at me, please?”
Quinn opened his eyes and leveled a curious stare at Deke.
“This mark? It’s a testament to your strength and fortitude. Ryker wanted to break you, to beat you down and force your submission, but you know what? I don’t think he succeeded. You did what you had to do to survive, and that took strength.”
Quinn barked a laugh. “You’re kidding, right? I’m afraid constantly. I don’t want to say the wrong thing and earn a beating, I don’t want to prove myself unworthy, and I certainly don’t want….” He looked toward the window. “Never mind.”
There was a spark of defiance there, and Deke needed to nurture it. To help Quinn build on it so he could harness it.
“No, go on. What don’t you want?”
Quinn bit his trembling lip. “I don’t want you to regret being my master.” His voice was soft, broken.
“That’s not going to happen. Ever. I know that I can say it, but it won’t help you to believe it.”
“But I should believe you. You’re Master, and I have no reason not to believe you.”
“Oh?” Deke took a deep breath, then reached out and gently placed his fingers on Quinn’s scar, which drew a sharp breath from Quinn, but he didn’t move. “I think this is every reason. Ryker abused your trust, tried to break your spirit. You’re not naive, and you have every right to question my motives. If I were you, I sure as hell would. I swear to you, though, I will always look after you, and I will do my best to keep you from being afraid of me or anyone else.”
“Master?”
“Yes?”
“Can I ask…? No, never mind.”
“Ask me anything you want. I don’t have any secrets from you.”
“Do you miss being able to walk?”
It was an interesting question. “Sometimes. I mean, I’d love to walk down the street with you, looking at the shops instead of concentrating on ensuring the sidewalk is even or the place I’m going to is accessible. But I can still run as a wolf, so that mitigates the sense of loss, I think.” He cocked his head. “Does the fact I can’t walk bother you?”
“What? No! I have to admit, I find it amazing how you’ve adjusted. When you’re in the chair, it’s like it becomes an extension of you.”
“Wanna know a secret?”
Quinn nodded.
“When I was younger, I used to go to a skateboard park and do stunts in the chair. I got pretty good at being able to flip in it.”
Quinn’s eyes went wide. “You can do that?”
Deke nodded. “It took a lot of practice and more than a few bruises, but yes, I learned to do it. I haven’t for years, though, because my life took a different path, and I had other things to think about. If you want, I can try and show you one day.”
A quick shake of the head. “I don’t want you hurt.”
“The thing about life is sometimes we get hurt, but we learn from it, and that helps us to grow as people.”
“I guess.” Quinn sighed. “When you shift and run? What’s it like?”
“Oh, it’s the best feeling ever. The wind whipping through my hair, the scents and sights. The whole world comes alive in a way it doesn’t in my human form.”
Quinn sighed. “I wish… I wish I could….”
The tears came again, and this time Deke put an arm around Quinn. “Wish what?”
His words were so soft, Deke had to strain to hear him. “I wish my wolf wasn’t dead.”
“What do you mean?”
Quinn turned his head, but not before Deke saw the mask of pain. “Ryker had Kristopher drag me into his office on my fourteenth birthday. When I got there, he told me to shift, so I tried but couldn’t do it. Sean was the only wolf who could always shift. That was the first time he….” Quinn gulped. “On my eighteenth birthday and my first shift, he pulled me into a room with him and Kristopher. They took turns stomping on me. The two of them kicked me, beat me, and stood there and laughed. He shattered my paw, broke my snout, and I thought I was going to lose an eye. Afterward they left me lying on the floor, with blood oozing out around me. I screamed when I shifted back because I didn’t have any strength left. That was the last time I shifted, and I can’t