Page 10

He took a lap around the new wolves and inspected the additions that were now meant to protect their pack. Once he’d made his judgment, he came to a stop and gave them an approving nod. “You will serve, protect and provide well. But tonight, you may welcome your wolves to this earth.”

Cheers filled the air and howls echoed over the water and into the woods as the wolves returned to their pack and sought out their families.

She stayed with her parents and Jake for a little while before she wandered off to find Kurt. As they filled up their plates, she could practically feel him vibrating with tension.

“You okay?”

“My alpha hasn’t stopped watching me.”

She sighed and moved onto the side dishes. “He did mention that we were close last night, and I told him that you were my only friend.”

“Shit,” Kurt muttered. “Now he’s coming towards us.”

Scarlett turned, seeing both her parents approaching them. While Kurt bowed his head, she grabbed herself a fork and knife.

“No meat pie?” Her mother questioned. “I made them because you love them so much.”

“I thought I’d leave some for the pack first. After all, I can have them whenever I want.”

“Always thinking of the pack first,” her mother swooned, turning her attention to Kurt. “Maximilian mentioned that you’ve shown interest in accompanying him to Duneburry for the next mate meet up.”

“Yes, Luna, that’s right.”

Scarlett read right through the polite words.

That was her mother’s way of reminding Kurt that Scarlett was off limits.

Maximilian saved all of them from the awkward conversation by walking up and tapping Kurt’s shoulder.

“I need your help grabbing some more wood for the bonfire. Unless you’re needed here? ”

Her father took his time answering. He didn’t take his eyes off Kurt, who still had his head bowed in submission. “No.”

Kurt spun and followed Maximilian, visibly tense.

Choosing to tamp down her annoyance, she grabbed a drink and found a spot to sit near the bonfire.

She sat alone and ate her dinner, trying to fight the feeling of loneliness creeping into her bones.

Kurt was loyal to the pack. If he thought her father disapproved of their friendship, he would begin to distance himself.

That’s how packs worked, after all. The alpha made the rules, and everyone followed them.

The alternative was leaving the pack and its safety.

It wasn’t just that, but a pack cared for one another through sickness and health.

No one went without food or a roof over their head and it only worked that way because everyone obeyed the rules the alpha set.

The greatest example had been her grandfather. The whole pack had disapproved of the move to Brighton, but they’d flourished because he’d had a vision, and no one was able to question him.

“Mind if I sit with you?”

Scarlett looked up and saw Denise standing before her with her own plate in hand. “Not at all.”

“You looked a little lonely over here. It seems that Kurt is quite busy.”

“Maximilian sent you, didn’t he?”

Denise smiled as if she’d been caught with her hand in the cookie jar. “That doesn’t mean I don’t want to sit with you.”

“That’s very sweet of you.”

“You seemed happy last night.”

Scarlett nodded. “I enjoyed it.”

“I’m sorry I haven’t been there for you. I seem to spend a lot of time with Maximilian, but never really got to know you.”

“I don’t blame you. He is the cooler one of us after all.”

Denise let out a heartwarming laugh. “Don’t let him hear that. His ego is already too big for his head.”

“Will you be joining them for the next mate meet up?”

“My mom thinks it’s a waste because you can’t force finding one’s mate. So, she might not let me.”

“I’ve heard of a few who found them. At least, that’s what Maximilian says. Might just be a white lie to be allowed out more often.”

“You think so highly of him,” Denise said with a smile.

Eventually, Paul appeared and swooned Denise away.

When it was clear that Kurt wasn’t going to come near her, Scarlett quietly left the gathering.

Without stopping to tell anyone, she simply made her way back to the house.

It was dark and empty but without turning on any lights she made her way upstairs and collapsed onto the bed.

Calling their number happened without a second thought.

“Scarlett,” the quiet one hummed softly.

The moment she heard his voice, her tears wouldn’t remain at bay any longer. Despite how hard she tried, a sob choked its way out of her.

“Are you hurt?” he asked, his worry making her heart bleed.

“No,” she breathed, afraid someone would hear her.

“Do we need to get you?”

“No.”

“Do you want to talk about what happened?”

“You wouldn’t understand.”

“That doesn’t mean I can’t listen.”

She sighed and pulled the covers over her, hugging a pillow tightly to her chest. “Everything is going right and wrong at the same time. Maximilian wants me to study when he’s alpha, but that doesn’t matter anymore. I won’t even see him become my alpha.”

“You have time, Scarlett. We won’t reveal ourselves as your mates until you’re ready.”

“They will find out. It’s just a matter of time before I lose them.”

“Your brother seems like a reasonable man. Maybe things will change when he becomes alpha.”

“He hates you. They all do.”

A soft sigh echoed through the speaker. “We do have a reputation, don’t we?”

Scarlett paused, realising that she hadn’t heard the others chime in. “Are you alone?”

“For now, but they never stay gone for long.”

She didn’t know what to say, tears still soaking into the pillow beneath her. He too stayed silent, and Scarlett had to admit that she enjoyed his company.

“We don’t want you to lose your family,” he finally said.

“I’m sure you’re devastated about missing family dinners.”

His resulting laugh made her stomach flutter. “They would’ve been a delight to witness.”

“The longer I keep this a secret, the more betrayed they’ll be.”

“They might, but they’re going to feel betrayed no matter what. Go soak up every moment you can, enjoy their company. Then, whenever you’re ready, we’ll be waiting for you. We can’t replace them, but we will take care of you.”

Another sob, and she closed her eyes. She knew they would take care of her—that’s what mates did—but how could she put blind trust into the people that hunted her kind?

How could Isis trust them enough to give one of her children to them?

Because that’s what she was: one of her goddess’ children and now Isis was giving her to the people who hunted them.

“The others are back. Would you like to speak to them?”

“I don’t have to?”

“Of course you don’t.”

“They’ll be upset.”

“Those are their problems to deal with. You and your needs are most important.”

Scarlett considered it for a moment. “I’d like to.”

She heard him shift and then the sickly sweet, toxic voice of her scary mate. “Oh, little princess. We thought you’d be spending time with your family and pack.”

Almost of their own accord, the words spilled. “I don’t have friends and my father doesn’t approve of the only one that cares enough to spend any time with me. I just sat there with Denise who only came because Maximilian asked her to be nice to me.”

“Does your father not allow you to have friends?” the gentle one asked.

“Why would anyone want to hang out with me when my father watches my every move?”

There was a pause before she was surprised by the scary one’s gentle, gruff voice.

“Just because they don’t befriend you doesn’t mean that you’re worthless.

Your father’s shadow does not define who and what you are.

You are strong, beautiful, and smart. He’s just too afraid to see you flourish.

He doesn’t want to lose the little girl who you used to be, and he is weak for it. ”

As he spoke, Scarlett only cried harder, grateful that no one could see her.

“Sometimes the people we love are afraid we might get hurt,” the gentle one added. “I believe that’s what’s keeping your father so protective of you.”

“He won’t love me once he knows about you.”

“I don’t believe his love for you will ever die, but he has principles that he’ll value above that love. Deep down you’ll always be his daughter,” the gentle one soothed further. “I’m sorry tonight did not go as you had hoped.”

“Last night was better.”

“We would love to hear about it,” her gentle one said softly but without pressure.

“I went to my first party.”

“Do tell what kind of party that was, little princess.”

“Well, it wasn’t really a party but Maximilian allowed me to go drinking with him and his friends.”

While her silent mate grunted amused nearby, the scary one feigned offense. “Did our little princess get drunk without us?”

“No, but it felt good to be included.”

The scary one chuckled. “Oh, you’ll have so much fun with us.”

“Whenever she is ready,” the quiet one offered.

“Yes, of course, whenever you are ready, my little princess.”

“I should go now.”

“Sweet dreams, love.”

Scarlett awoke to a knock on the door, and her brother trudging into the room. “Good morning, sleepy head.”

Her eyes drifted to the clock on the nightstand, and it truly was late. She never slept past ten.

“We’re heading out shortly. But there is still breakfast if you are hungry.”

“Who’s driving me back?”

“You’ll be with Kurt.”

Scarlett swallowed her sigh of relief. Kurt was still protecting her.

“I wanted to drive you, but Father said it was a bad idea. Especially with the article being so new, he doesn’t want any connection drawn.”

Scarlett nodded her understanding and pushed herself into a sitting position.

Her brother inhaled deeply, as if he was preparing to say more, but then shrugged it off and walked out. She quickly dressed and followed him downstairs where their mom was already plating the left-over breakfast.

“Ah good, I was just about to call for you.”

“Sorry. I must have been tired.”

“You have had a few long days.”

Scarlett sat at the table and watched her mother pack up before she gave her a kiss. Just like her brother, their father was already out and ready to go. Scarlett soaked up the peace and quiet of the next couple hours before Kurt arrived to take her home.

Scarlett could still feel the tension between them, especially when he didn’t give her his usual hug.

She hated it, but she didn’t say anything, knowing it would have just made it harder for him.

She knew he loved her. Kurt didn’t need to use his words for her to know how much she hated this.

But having her father breathing down one’s back was nothing to take lightly, especially not if you didn’t want to fall from his good graces.

Still, Kurt opened the car door for her and helped her into her seat. “Did you pack snacks?”

Scarlett shook her head, relieved when he gave her one of his classic cheeky smiles.

“Middle console.”

She reached over, finding her favourite crisps inside before sitting back and buckling her seatbelt.

Paul took the passenger seat, while Daniel slid in next to her.

She lost herself scrolling through her phone while they sped down the highway.

The drive back always felt much shorter than the drive out and she hated every minute of it.

Kurt would usually stop somewhere along the line to pick up food, but even that was out of the question.

He probably had strict orders to bring her home without any delays.

The shattering of glass caught Scarlett’s attention.

A sickening gurgle came from Kurt, and he grabbed at his abdomen.

A bullet hole splintered the windshield, and blood dripped from her best friend’s mouth.

Before she could scream, a loud bang echoed in her ears and the tires screeched on the asphalt.

Kurt lost control, swerving and crashing into a tree. Daniel’s arm shot out to protect her, but his head crashed into the driver seat, blood trickling down his temple. Paul slammed forward, hitting the dash before the airbags could deploy.

Scarlett’s head ached and her ribs burned. Daniel’s visibly fractured arm lay in her lap. Her door shot open, a fist grabbing her by the hair

“Worked like a fucking charm.”

Someone laughed, but her eyes were transfixed on the blood pooling in Kurt’s lap.

He was aiming a gun at her attacker, his eyes blurry and unable to focus.

She screamed and tried to yank the fist from her hair but before she could even leave a mark, a pain rocketed through her skull, and everything went black.