Imagine if he found his "people" and then tried to take Nikki. He knows he can't just take Erin because she would leave and he would be afraid of that happening agin.
I was able to pull up the pic. I didn't see the link last night, sorry about that.
It looks like just a plain old scratch. That coupled with the heat from you working outside a lot they could itch because of the heat or from dry skin. I wouldn't worry they look completely normal. I get scratches and bruises all the time. If I'm outside they often itch because of the heat.