Page 7 of Curses and Casualties (Hunters Hollow #3)

“I’m ready.” Scarlett takes a steadying breath and grits her teeth, the buzzing of the tattoo gun filling the quiet studio.

Georgia settles beside Scarlett, whispering encouragement as Jules chants, each word weaving into the air like a thread of static. Magic pulses through the room, electric and raw.

Pack sister hurts, Kane whines, pacing restlessly in my mind. Want to help. Want to protect. Can’t do anything.

I know, buddy. Me too.

Georgia leans closer, her eyes locked on the delicate dance of the needle and magic. “You’re doing great, Scarlett,” she whispers, offering a reassuring smile despite the tension written in every line of her face.

Scarlett nods, lips pressed tightly together. The pain is evident, but she’s strong—stronger than most. Her resolve is something that’s always amazed me, the way she faces everything head-on, no matter the storm.

Hours pass slowly, with Scarlett enduring the painful process with an incredible stoicism.

Georgia remains by her side. I sit in the waiting area, bouncing my leg restlessly.

Ethan paces the tiny space in front of the door, his agitation growing with each pass.

Every time Scarlett winces or makes a pained sound, his jaw clenches tighter.

“I’m gonna keep watch outside,” he says abruptly, his voice rough. “Make sure we weren’t followed or anything.” Before I can respond, he’s slipped out the front door. I frown after him.

He cares for pack sister, Kane observes. More than pack caring. Mate caring.

Yeah, I’ve noticed that too.

“Do you think he’s OK?” Georgia asks, leaving her perch beside Scarlett to join me in the waiting area. Her presence is instantly calming, the subtle pull of our Soul Bond grounding me as her warm hand finds mine.

Through our bond, I feel her concern mixing with exhaustion. I send comfort back, trying to ease her worry.

“I think he’s just being cautious,” I reply, squeezing her hand gently. “But he might also be struggling with seeing Scarlett in pain. He cares about her more than he lets on. Some fresh air will help clear his head.”

Georgia’s understanding flows through our bond, tinged with sympathy. “Poor Ethan. It must be hard watching someone you care about suffer and not being able to do anything. But what if he runs into trouble outside?”

“Ethan can handle himself. He’s a trained soldier, remember?”

Georgia nods, but she still looks worried. My gaze drifts back to Scarlett’s tense form under the buzzing needle. I hate that she has to endure this. I should have done something more, stopped the Alpha before he even had a chance to sink his teeth into her.

“You and Ethan both know that none of this was your fault, right?” Georgia’s voice startles me, and I realize she just heard that through our bond.

“No one could have stopped the Alpha in that moment. Especially not in the middle of the full moon ceremony with the entire pack around. There was nothing any of us could do. We’d all be dead otherwise. ”

My chest clenches, and the memory replays of Scarlett’s eyes warning me to stay away when the Alpha had her.

I hate that I couldn’t help my friend. “I know,” I murmur.

“But it doesn’t make it any easier to see her go through this.

I should have done more to protect her sooner.

Shouldn’t have let her use her relationship with the Alpha to help us.

..” I swallow hard, unable to finish the sentence.

Georgia tightens her grip on my hand, her eyes softening with understanding and a hint of sorrow. She shares her own guilt about dragging everyone into this situation. I send reassurance back—none of this is her fault either.

After a while, she rests her head on my shoulder and sighs.

“I should get back to Scarlett,” she whispers, and I press my lips to her hair, breathing in her comforting scent.

“Of course,” I reply, releasing her hand with some reluctance.

It takes another solid hour before, finally, Jules sets down her tools and lets out an exhausted sigh. “It’s done.”

Scarlett’s shaking body stills, and she lets out a shuddering breath. “Thank god.”

When Jules holds up a plastic-framed mirror, Scarlett twists her body to see that her entire shoulder is now an intricate mosaic of magical symbols.

The new tattoo gleams from the rainbow hue of the heartstones mixed with the ink, creating an effect that’s kind of like oil on water. “Wow. That’s a tattoo, all right.”

“How do you feel?” The witch’s voice seems too loud in the wake of the gun’s constant whirring.

Scarlett lets out a slow breath, some of the tension leaving her posture. She examines the tattoo some more, brow furrowed in concentration. “I don’t feel his presence anymore. So I think the connection’s muted.”

“Not bad, huh?” the witch says, smacking her lips together as she chews her gum and grins at Scarlett over the mirror she holds.

“Just don’t go wolfing out until after it’s healed.

Even then, go easy. He won’t be able to get in your head the way he could before, but just like any intense emotion, shifting will establish enough of a connection for him to have an idea of where you are. ”

“I can handle that,” Scarlett says, the color already starting to return to her face.

“The fact I can lower my mental guard without feeling him try to slip into my thoughts is pure bliss right now. And honestly, if I never drink another cup of wormwood tea or smell it in another poultice again, it’ll be too soon. ” She laughs, full of relief.

Georgia quickly takes her hand and gives it a squeeze. “You are the strongest woman I’ve ever known.”

Scarlett scoffs. She’s not a big fan of compliments, but I don’t miss the blush on her cheeks. “I do OK.”

Jules sets the mirror aside and turns to address all of us. “Listen, I know it sucks big dog’s nuts that I couldn’t remove the mark entirely. But if you ask some of the other witches on that list Caspian gave you, you might find someone with enough power and knowledge to sever his claim for good.”

Scarlett nods. “Thank you, Jules. For everything.”

“Don’t sweat it.” The witch touches her shoulder lightly. “You’re free from that asshole’s control now. That’s what matters most.”

The atmosphere in the room lightens, a collective sigh of relief as we all get ready to leave.

For a moment, it seems like things might finally be looking up for us.

Scarlett is safe, and we’ve got a list of people who might help us understand this prophecy Georgia and I are entangled in.

But then, the universe decides to remind us that even without the connection from the Alpha’s mark, we’re still very much in danger when Ethan bursts through the doorway, his eyes wild and his chest heaving as if he’s just run a marathon.

“We need to move,” he orders, his voice sharp with barely contained panic. “Now!”