Page 64

Vince

The water had been running for quite some time and worried they may have upset her, Vince gently knocked on the door. “Scarlett, may I come in?”

“Yes.” To his relief she didn’t sound upset. When he entered, she peeked out from behind the curtain. “Do you need to use the bathroom?”

He shook his head and closed the door behind himself. “I was just worried we overwhelmed you.”

“No.” Though Scarlett quickly hid behind the curtain again, which told Vince she clearly didn’t want to dwell.

“Would you like us to take you out to eat tonight?”

“Are you up for it? You’ve had some long days. I can always cook.”

“We enjoy going out with you.”

“I do too.” Vince could hear the smile in her voice.

“It is settled then.”

He left her to finish her shower, and they waited for her to get ready.

Once she stepped out of her room with her hair beautifully braided and a light colourful dress, it was all they could do to stare at her in awe.

Through the bond, Vince could feel his friends fall for her all over again, not because she looked breathtaking, but because she’d dressed up for them .

Ezra was quick to help her into her shoes while Mateo held her purse so she could slip on her cardigan.

“Have you decided on a restaurant yet?” she asked as she followed them out of the cabin.

“I’m craving a good steak,” Mateo admitted, lacing his fingers through Scarlett’s.

She turned back to Vince, who walked behind to guard them while Ezra and Mateo covered her sides. “I assume you’re all for that?”

“Of course.”

Dinner was laid-back, with her tasting a bit from each of their plates while barely managing to finish her own. At the end of the meal, Ezra followed when she excused herself to the restroom. Mateo stayed, his face turning serious.

“I’m sorry.” Vince wanted to tell him there was no need, but Mateo had always been quicker with words. “I was a moody dick to you and I feel terrible about it. Nothing was your fault, I just missed her, and it made me turn into a grumpy asshole.”

“You hadn’t seen her properly in weeks, we all would’ve felt the same. Probably even quicker than you.”

“Well, thank you for not beating the crap out of me.”

Vince smiled at his friend, and could only hope that he could feel how grateful Vince was for his sacrifice.

Without Mateo putting his needs aside, neither Vince nor Ezra would’ve gotten the time they did with Scarlett.

It probably would’ve ended with a trail of dead bodies on Ezra’s side.

Vince would’ve lost his mind as well, but he only realised that once he’d spent two weeks alone with her.

The separation afterwards had been heartbreaking.

Scarlett insisted on a stroll through the village after dinner, and was visibly more comfortable now that she knew her way around.

They sat at the fountain for quite some time, people watching and simply enjoying her company.

They swung by the bakery on the way back to the cabin, treating themselves to some ice cream and donuts.

Back at the cabin, Scarlett made herself cosy on the couch while Ezra and Mateo sat down with him at the table to discuss their upcoming hunt. Ezra was already frustrated, because the terrain was a shit show—the lycans lived in caves on a cliff.

“I wouldn’t suggest going into the caves, but we might have to consider it if we can’t lure them out.” Mateo said, trying to ease his own mind, but he felt Ezra’s frustration as well.

“They have to hunt in order to eat,” Vince suggested. “I can keep an eye on them from here.” He pointed at a spot on the map that was higher up, opposite the caves.

“That would also mean you won’t be hunting with us.”

“You can set up a trap while they are gone and I can watch your backs.”

Scarlett shuffled, drawing their attention. She approached the table with her book pressed to her chest.

“I’m tired,” she announced, stamping a kiss to Ezra’s cheek. “I don’t want to wake up alone tomorrow morning.”

“We will join you once we’re finished here and will try not to wake you,” Mateo promised, leaning in to accept a kiss of his own.

When it was Vince’s turn, Scarlett kissed his cheek and ran her nose through his hair. “I missed you. Come cuddle later, okay?”

Then she disappeared down the hallway. They didn’t have to confirm with each other, they all knew she’d left the room so she didn’t have to hear about the hunt. Despite adjusting to her new way of life, she was still scared—even if she was learning to cope with it.

They quickly agreed that their best bet was to wait for the lycans to hunt again and set up a trap for their return.

They didn’t know them well enough to lure them out, nor did they feel confident enough to enter the caves and kill them there.

Though waiting on them to hunt could possibly mean a longer time away from Scarlett, it was their safest bet.

Their ultimate goal was to return to her safe and sound.

With Mateo by his side, Vince entered her room not long after midnight.

As soon as he laid beside her, she curled herself into his side, her fingers pushing under his shirt.

It felt good having her in his arms again, even if it had only been a week without her.

Those seven days had felt like eternity.

Vince already dreaded the moment he would have to say goodbye again.

Vince woke up alone in the bed with Scarlett. The bond let him know that Mateo and Ezra had left the house. Scarlett was still dozing in his arms, sweet and peaceful. He too closed his eyes again and soaked in her presence. When she stirred and reached behind her, he pried an eye open.

“I believe they went out to the village.”

“Oh…” She sounded rather disappointed.

“I’m sure they’ll return soon.”

Scarlett shifted her body and laid on top of him, her cheek resting over his heart. “Have you settled on a day you’re leaving?”

“No, we still need to go over details. Do you feel prepared to stay behind by yourself?”

“Honestly? I’m scared to be alone. I’ve always had someone watch over me.

I know that sounds childish, but I’ve never experienced being alone before.

” Scarlett sighed and pushed her hands under his shoulders while he gently stroked her back.

“Ezra asked me the same question and I keep trying to tell myself I’ll be fine.

A lot of people spend time alone, and I know you’ll come back to me. ”

“We’ll make sure you are prepared and stocked up on anything you might need.”

“I know. Maybe I’m just overthinking this.” Vince agreed, but confirming that out loud wouldn’t help soothe her worries—and might earn him a black eye. “Did Mateo find a moment to talk to you? He felt really bad about being so moody towards you.”

“We have talked about it.”

Scarlett hummed, her chest vibrating against his torso. “I’m sure there wasn’t much talking involved from your side.”

“Does that bother you?”

“You being my quiet soul? No. It’s refreshing and calming.”

“May I ask how it was with Ezra? Did he give you space when needed?”

“He did. I mean, he is very different from you, but when I needed it and asked for space, he gave it. He can be very sweet when he wants to be.”

That made Vince’s chest rumble with a laugh. “You are the only living being that will survive calling Ezra sweet.”

“You and Mateo would get away with it, because he knows that would hurt me.”

“Ah, but we would still be punished. Meanwhile if he heard you say that, he would purr like a proud tiger.”

“He might not show it or say it, but he does love you both very much. In his own twisted way.”

In an odd way, Vince too loved his little family.

It was no love like he loved Scarlett, but appreciation for their company—most of the time.

While he clearly favoured Mateo over Ezra, they wouldn’t be where they were without him.

Things never would have worked out without Ezra.

He only disliked the man because his mind was chaos and completely oversaturated his own.

“I know.” Vince sighed, deciding to take the honest route himself. “Hunting feels different with you around now. It was always a risk, but with you they feel much higher now.”

Scarlett paused for a moment, her breathing calm. “Mateo mentioned it too. Are my fears about being alone making it harder on you?”

“A little, but I believe you will grow with time. You might even start enjoying your time alone. With each new hunt, your fears will become more manageable, and a sense of normality might even set in.”

“Maybe you’re right. This is my first hunt with you and everything is just so new at the moment. I do hope that with time my nerves won’t flutter this much.”

He ran his fingers over her soft skin, his eyes closed and his mind content. Scarlett was so open to all their needs and was so well at reading their ever-changing moods. She brought something to the three of them that no one ever knew was missing.

They held each other in silence until the front door opened. Ezra rushed into the room, stopping in his tracks when he saw Scarlett lying there.

“She’s awake,” Vince clarified, confirming that Ezra could approach.

“Good morning,” she hummed as Ezra pressed a kiss to her cheek.

“We brought breakfast.”

“If you don’t like my cooking, just say so,” she teased.

“We wanted you to relax today.”

“That is very sweet of you. In that case, come cuddle with us.” She slipped off Vince’s chest and to his side, pulling Ezra down to her back. “Vince is too shy to ask for snuggles from you.”

Something in Vince’s chest fluttered. He loved the easy sort of domesticity she’d brought into their lives.

Ezra rolled his eyes, but wrapped his arms around her.

With his hand on her lower back, Vince turned on his side and closed his eyes again.

Peace settled deep within him, even with Ezra’s roaring emotions spilling into his mind.

Jealousy, love, hate and the need for peace while also ready to fight and kill—it was disorienting.

Vince focused on Scarlett, the sparks that spread up his arm that ignited with the simplest of touches.

Everything beside that became a white noise.

In that moment, nothing but Scarlett was important.