Primals (Reverse Harem 1)

“Any broken bones?” Kyle asks, trying to smile but grimacing instead.

I shake my head. “Maybe you’re not as fragile as you think. For a human, that is..”

He grins. Clearing taking it as a compliment.

Men.

“Just rest.” I set the piece of cloth aside. “I’ll get some bandages.”

I leave his side, going into the kitchen to search the drawers for bandages. After a few minutes, I finally spot a tin can of Band-Aids with clover leaves and I rush back to Kyle with it, only to find him already asleep, his head turned towards the window.

That’s fine. He needs as much rest as he can.

Quietly, I approach the bed, sitting on the chair beside it, the can of bandages trapped between my thighs. As I place the first bandage on his cheek, I recall the first time I met him.

I was new to the Lab while he had been working there for two years already. One of the birds pecked me so I went to the clinic to get a Band-Aid. He was there, too and he gave me one. I mistook him for the doctor, actually, since he was also wearing a white coat, but as it turned out, he was just there because he wanted some ice for his stiff neck, which wasn’t even from overwork or hunching over his desk. He’s been playing a video game for hours.

Weeks later, I was sent to the field to collect some samples. To the Amazon, specifically. There was a joke that all the new recruits were sent there as some sort of test. To my surprise, Kyle

was there, too, and as we spent evenings trying to defend ourselves from swarms of mosquitoes and days playing hide and seek with the wildlife, getting chased by some monkeys and nearly getting attacked by a harpy eagle, we became friends.

Best friends.

Smiling at the memory – yes, it’s amusing now – I place another bandage on his arm, just below his shoulder, then another near his elbow. I move to his other arm, bandaging the same spot near the elbow and the back of his hand.

As I smoothen the edges of the bandage down, I notice the broken glass on his watch and I frown. I bought him that watch for his birthday since he kept complaining about his old one but wouldn’t dare replace it because it was his father’s, given to him at his high school graduation. I had a hard time finding that watch, too – a Limited Edition Pac-Man watch with a glow-in-the-dark Pac-Man and holographic ghosts – since I wanted a unique one that he would surely like, if not wear. He’s been wearing it ever since, even when he’s sleeping.

Sighing, I run my hands over the cracked glass.

I guess I’ll have to get him a new one now.

Since I still have a few more bandages in the can, I lift the blanket. I took off his pajamas since they were too dirty but couldn’t find a new pair so he’s just in a shirt and his boxers, more bruises, scrapes and cuts dotting his legs.

I bandage the biggest scrape on his knee but as I do, my gaze is drawn somewhere higher up, a blush coating my cheeks as a result.

Quickly, I look away, putting the blanket back on and slapping my cheeks. What’s wrong with me? It’s not like I’ve never seen a guy in boxers before. In fact, in the past week, I’ve seen two with them, and less. I’ve never seen Kyle in boxers before, just in swimming trunks, which seems different entirely.

Really, Clarissa, are you acting around him like this now? With your best friend?

Suddenly, he stirs, mumbling as he turns towards the window. “Clarissa.”

“I’m here,” I answer softly, about to touch his shoulder.

I stop, though, my eyes wide as I see more gashes and bruises on his back.

Horrified, I kneel on the floor, my fists trembling on my lap.

How on earth had I let this happen?

I should have stopped Toshi and Sebastian from fighting. I know I could have if I only tried harder, if I wasn’t so drained and disoriented from trying to accept what I learned in Africa. But I didn’t so Kyle had to do it. And because of that, he’s battered and torn in places. True, none of his bones seem broken and I don’t sense any internal bleeding. But what if he was just lucky this time? What if he gets more seriously hurt next time?

The problem is that I can’t guarantee there is no next time, now that I know what I am. I’ll be hunted or surrounded by primals who are a hundred times stronger and tougher than Kyle, whose animalistic sides mean they cannot always keep their temper in check. And what about me? What if I end up losing my temper, too or find myself unable to control my strength? What if I end up hurting him?

I shake my head, my fists clenching in my lap.

As long as Kyle is with me, he’s in danger. As long as he’s with me, he could get hurt. Worse, he could die...because he can die. And easily.

And I wouldn’t be able to bear that.