Page 76

Vince

The overwhelming scent of the different candles made Vince’s head hurt.

After their usual Sunday brunch, Scarlett had asked him to come along so she could look at some décor for the mating celebration.

She had taken each one of them on different missions, so none of them would see the full effect until the day.

“I wanted to talk to you about something,” Scarlett admitted, handing him a candle to smell.

It was pleasantly fruity and not too strong, so he gave his blessing with a nod. “And what may that be?”

“I have been thinking about having our first baby.”

Vince grinned. “Ezra will be thrilled.”

Scarlett laughed lightly and searched for more candles similar to the fruity one. “I know, but I need someone with a logical mind to help me figure this out.”

“I will listen.”

“I only just started my education, but I also don’t want to wait until I’m finished to become a mother.”

“Understandable.”

“I have been thinking a lot about it and talked to one of my classmates—she had her baby a few months ago.”

“And you sought out her advice.”

Scarlett nodded and added the candles to the basket that Vince held for her. “She and her husband are both taking care of the baby, alternating schedules so someone is always home.”

“You would have three willing men to help you if you would like to pursue this.”

“You too?”

“Of course.”

Scarlett stood on her toes to kiss his cheek. “Thank you.” Then the smile faded, and she turned her face away from him. “Can I be honest, and you not judge me or think of me as a bad mate?”

“You can.”

She sighed, taking her time to find her words and distracting herself with the candles on the shelf. “Do you think Ezra would do okay with watching the baby on his own?”

“He’ll do wonderfully.”

“A big part of me knows that, I just… Now that I said it out loud I think it’s ridiculous that I even questioned it.”

“Some thoughts need to be made verbal to fully process them. I would not worry about the child, not his and not Mateo’s either. He might teach them to swear and tell them horror stories instead of fairytales, but I think that will only build character.”

“Character,” she repeated and chuckled. “Oh, I feel so stupid for questioning him.”

“Ezra has many sides but with you, he seems to have found a middle ground.”

“How do you handle his emotions consistently intruding your mind?”

“It was hard at first. It was always loud, and I had trouble sleeping. When I did, my dreams were wrapped up in his feelings, making them rather restless. Mateo helped me learn to focus on my emotions and push Ezra’s into the background.”

“Like the traffic when living on a busy road?”

“Or the horn of a train every night at midnight. After a while, you won’t register it anymore.” He took her hand and gently rubbed his thumb over hers. “It will take time, and Ezra understands that. Seeking out distance at the beginning will help too.”

“I don’t want him to think I love him less because I can’t cope with it.”

“He knows that and if he is a jerk about it, Mateo and I will teach him a very gentle lesson.”

Scarlett burst out laughing then. “That I expected Mateo to say.”

“Don’t be afraid, Scarlett. There is nothing we can’t do. You want to be a mother, you have three men happy to make you one. You want your degree and start a career? We will keep those doors wide open for you. You are everything and more to us.”

Scarlett pressed her lips to each of his knuckles. “You’re soothing my soul and mind.”

“That’s what I’m here for.”

“Don’t tell them yet though.”

“It isn’t my news to tell. You’ll do it when you’re ready.”

Back home, she disappeared into her room, where they had not been allowed to enter for weeks now. It was her little fortress, where she kept everything she needed for the ceremony. As she came back downstairs, Ezra patted his lap and after she stocked up on snacks, she made herself comfortable.

“When are Kurt and Maximilian picking you up for the dress fitting?” Mateo asked, taking her feet into his own lap.

“Eight in the morning. So, if you want to have breakfast with me you need to wake up early.”

“I called Karena this afternoon,” Ezra said rather reluctantly. “She would like to meet up next week.”

Scarlett seemed just as surprised as Vince and Mateo, but then softly asked, “Would you like company for that?”

“I would prefer it happen here. We don’t have to watch what we say in our own home.”

“Will she be traveling from the village?”

“Yes, but she will have a room booked somewhere nearby.”

“Do you have a specific goal for the visit?”

Ezra looked down at her, rather puzzled. “What do you mean?”

“Do you want to tell her how much you hate and despise her and get all of that off your chest? Or are you trying to rekindle your relationship with her?”

Ezra only continued to stare at her, making Vince’s head hurt with the storm raging in his mind. “I don’t know.”

“I just want you to know whatever you decide we will help you with.”

“I can’t see you cursing her out,” Ezra retorted plainly.

“Well, I simply just won’t throw compliments at her.”

They all laughed, and Scarlett steered the conversation away into a calmer subject.

The following Wednesday, Ezra was a fucking wreck.

There was a storm of spite, anger, sadness and pure devastation raging in his mind—and therefore, in Mateo’s and Vince’s heads too.

Vince could barely endure breakfast before he went to his shop and started focusing on a table that he had to finish.

The customer wanted a landscape engraved into the edges of the thick tabletop, so he’d outlined a mountain range and forest and got to work.

Mateo had gone out for a run, leaving poor Scarlett to fend for herself.

But she had it easy—for now, at least. He still wasn’t sure if the blood vow was a good idea.

Things were good the way they were right now.

Scarlett was happy, safe and sound in her own mind.

He wasn’t sure what good it would do to share their every thought with her.

He only agreed because it was what she wanted.

When Mateo returned, sweat soaking his clothes and dripping down his face, he stopped by the shop. “Before I left, Scarlett said something about laying out clothes for us to wear.”

Vince looked up at the clock and saw he still had about an hour. He nodded and continued with the tree in front of him, gently and carefully carving intricate lines into the roots. Mateo disappeared without another word and with thirty minutes left, Vince returned to the house.

Scarlett was in the kitchen with Mateo, brewing coffee and displaying the cake she’d made. “I laid some clothes out for you, but if you don’t like them, wear whatever you like.”

Upstairs, he found a pair of jeans and a dark blue V-neck shirt on his bed. He quickly changed and ran a comb through his hair, hearing the gate alarm buzz just as he descended the stairs.

“You look handsome,” Scarlett complimented, kissing his cheek before following Ezra outside to greet his sister.

Vince walked over to Mateo, who kept a calm demeanour considering his mind was full of nerves. “Let’s hope the house stands after this.” Mateo sighed and ran his hand over his face. “Fuck, I’m an ass.”

Vince shrugged and crossed his arms over his chest, watching the door carefully. When Scarlett returned, she was smiling and her voice soft. “Ezra said you used to love strawberries, so Mateo and I tried our hands at a strawberry cheesecake.”

“That is very sweet of you.” Karena looked at Ezra. “I didn’t think you would remember that.”

Ezra’s features hardened. “I remember everything.”

Vince couldn’t help but think he wasn’t just talking about cheesecake.

A little paler than before, Karena distracted herself with the other two men in the room. “Mateo Elwood, right?”

“That would be me.”

Then her hand sought out his. “And you are Vince Hoyt.”

“I am.”

“It is nice to officially meet you two.”

They all sat around the dining table, with Scarlett and Mateo acting as a barrier between Ezra and his sister.

Ezra held his full attention on the piece of cake before him as he stabbed each bite with his fork and shoved it into his mouth. It was rather awkward, but Karena was determined not to let it bring her down.

“All three of you are mated to Scarlett, right?”

“We are,” Mateo proudly confirmed. “Not that we deserve her.”

“I believe that is up to Isis to decide, isn’t that true Scarlett?”

“She always knows us best.”

“Are you from the Moonlight Pack? Or is it just a coincidence you live so close to them?”

“It’s not. My brother is alpha.”

Karena’s jaw dropped as she looked up from her coffee. “Alpha Maximilian?”

“Yes, that’s him.”

“I’ve heard your father is rather strict.”

“He is, and he cut all ties to me. But once Maximilian became alpha, we were welcomed back as guests.”

The conversation went on as Scarlett and Karena got to know each other.

Ezra still struggled. Vince had been rather surprised to find out he’d reached out to Karena.

Though Scarlett might have been a large influence on that decision.

She had not pushed or persuaded Ezra—at least, not to Vince’s knowledge—but to Scarlett, family was everything.

Maybe Ezra hoped to make her new family larger by adding Karena.

After the cake was gone, Scarlett offered to take Karena down to the lake.

Although Ezra didn’t seem so happy about it, he joined.

Vince and Mateo sat on the back porch, watching the three walk over to the weeping willow.

Scarlett pointed out various spots, likely talking about the upcoming ceremony.

“Maybe this wasn’t a bad idea after all.” Vince looked over to Mateo, who’s mind was now much calmer. “Ezra might not be able to forgive the past but he just might put it aside so Scarlett can have a sister.”

“And that’s a good idea?”

“Maybe it’s a first step to healing.”

After a while, the three returned with Karena smiling at them both. “It was very nice meeting you two.” Then she turned to Ezra. “Thank you for letting me into your home and meeting your family.”

His jaw muscles twitching, Ezra surprised them all with his next words. “You may return.”

Eyes shining with unshed tears, Karena gently hugged her brother, who was visibly uncomfortable, but let it happen anyway. “Thank you.”

“Let me walk you out,” Scarlett offered, leading Karena to the front door.

Ezra sank into a chair, the war still raging within him.

Mateo was the first to break the silence once the women were out of earshot. “Was it what you hoped it would be?”

A knife in hand Ezra cut into his palm, the pain barely silencing his emotions. “Bitch,” he cursed under his breath. “So fucking perfect. Not one bit of trauma or a single bad memory.”

“And you want to punish her for it?”

“I can’t.”

“That doesn’t answer my question,” Mateo insisted.

“Yes, I want to.”

“But you know it’s wrong, because as she said before, it’s not her fault. Your parents were the ones to do you wrong.”

Before the pain could intensify, Scarlett stepped through the doors and held her hand out to Ezra. “You did so well.”

He stood and handed over the knife before cupping her cheek with his unwounded hand, ducking down to steal a kiss from her. “I love you.”

“I love you too.”

Vince and Mateo were left alone as Scarlett led Ezra back into the house.