Page 81

Mateo

In a sense, driving onto his family’s ranch still felt like coming home. Not much had changed, and it probably wouldn’t until Adrian took over once his parents gave him his inheritance.

He pointed at the main house, Scarlett’s gaze following his finger. “That’s where my parents live and over there,” he pointed to their right at the barn, “is where Adrian and Fabian stay. They converted it a while back, but when I last came, they weren’t quite done yet.”

“How long has it been since you’ve seen them?”

“Probably a year.” He parked and as he shut off the engine, Vince helped Scarlett to the ground.

“Right on time,” his mother greeted, stepping onto the wrap-around porch. “I just pulled the cake out of the oven.” She descended the steps and pulled Mateo into a hug, then turned to Scarlett with a warm, motherly smile.

“Mother, this is Scarlett.”

“It’s nice to meet you Mrs. Elwood.” Scarlett was squeezed into a hug before she could even get all her words out.

“Oh, please, don’t make me feel like an old woman. Call me Margaret.”

His mother gave Vince and Ezra the same treatment, which clearly made the latter uncomfortable.

Vince, however, seemed to be more pleased.

They were ushered inside, where his father sat in his usual recliner.

He set his beer aside and grunted as he pushed himself up, greeting Scarlett with a soft handshake.

“Ah, the woman of the hour. I’m Jim. Margaret has not stopped chewing my ear off about you since Mateo first mentioned your name.”

That earned himself a soft slap against his shoulder. “That is not true.” Margaret moved for the kitchen. “Sit, everyone and make yourselves at home. Adrian and Fabian should be here soon.”

Mateo nudged Scarlett onto the couch next to Ezra, who had sprawled out, his long arms draped over the backrest. In the kitchen, he gave his mom another squeeze. “How have you and dad been?”

“Well, though I must say I think he is growing bored of retirement.”

That made Mateo chuckle. “It’s barely been what? Six or seven months?”

“I had hoped he would help me reshape the vegetable garden, but he always seems to find an excuse.”

While she took the glasses, Mateo carried the pitcher of sweet tea. His mother waited for everyone to have their glass filled before the dam restraining her curiosity burst. “So, Scarlett, Mateo said you’ve started studying. How are you liking the fine arts?”

“I love it. So far I’ve only done anything creative from my gut feeling, but the new techniques help me understand everything better. I find my history lessons rather interesting as well.”

His mother peppered Scarlett with question after question, but Scarlett didn’t seem to mind, eagerly answering every single one. Mateo had never asked about her relationship with her own mother, afraid it would open barely healed wounds, but she seemed to bloom in his mother’s presence.

Mid-conversation, the door sprang open, and Mateo’s brothers stormed into the house. “Told you we’d be late,” Fabian complained.

“The best always comes last.” Adrian’s gaze found his sister-in-law and made his way over to her. Scarlett had barely managed to stand when he had her wrapped up in a tight hug. “God, you’re pretty.”

There was a whoosh through the air, and Ezra suddenly held a dagger to Aiden’s thigh. “Try that again, pretty boy.”

Adrian released Scarlett who quickly sat back down, while he cocked his brow at the dagger.

“Nice to see you too, little psycho.” Then he turned and reached for Vince’s outstretched hand.

“I see you still put up with them.” Vince shrugged, and Adrian took the empty seat next to Mateo, sandwiching him between his brothers.

“So, what happened with the Silvermoon Wolves?” Mateo asked, daring to poke the bear.

“A fucking disaster. Thank goodness we fucked off once Hunter told us the lycan was dead.”

His mother shook her head and silenced them before Mateo could ask for more details. “Let’s not talk about such things.”

Everyone was offered a slice of cake before Mateo and Fabian took Scarlett on a tour of the ranch. “Ezra seems calmer,” Fabian stated once they were out of earshot. They’d just left Ezra and Adrian to target practice.

“Scarlett has her way with him,” Mateo said, chuckling when he noticed her blush.

“And here I was, afraid for my brother’s life that his psychotic friend would kill him in a fit of jealousy.”

“Nah, he might bark, but then remembers that Scarlett loves me and restrains from biting.”

“He loves you too,” Scarlett whispered. “He just doesn’t like people to know that he sees you as his family.”

Mateo pulled her into his side and kissed her hair. “I know.” Changing the subject, he asked, “So now that mom is no longer listening, why did Hunter Allen go off the rails?”

“Honestly? No fucking idea what got into that idiot. I mean, he always had a thing for the Sommer girl but damn, that was a shit show.”

“Well, I’m glad you two idiots didn’t go along and returned in one piece.”

“So, rumour says that you killed three lycans?” And though Fabian seemed curious, he was also reluctant—typical when talking about his youngest brother’s success.

“Five,” Mateo corrected, throwing a cocky grin his brother’s way.

“Fuck you too,” Fabian mumbled.

“Sibling rivalry is clearly a thing in your family,” Scarlett giggled.

Fabian rolled his eyes and then curiously glanced at Mateo again. “So, did you sell all of them?”

“No, Ezra demanded on keeping two for himself. He was down in the slaughterhouse for days. If Scarlett hadn’t lured him out with food, he probably wouldn’t have seen daylight at all.”

Scarlett hadn’t gone near the hidden cellar, but that was probably for the best. The silver down there wouldn’t do her any good.

Neither of them had made her feel bad about it, even encouraging that she stay away from it.

It would always be the one part of their house that they wouldn’t cleanse of silver.

Once they returned to the main house, they found Vince setting the table, having fallen victim to his mother’s incessant babbling. Mateo chuckled, but when he felt into their bond Mateo was surprised to find Vince rather content, not one ounce annoyed.

Dinner was no less talkative, with Scarlett having to answer all kinds of questions about their mating ceremony.

Though she shared some details, she still kept most of them hidden—especially her dress.

After dinner, his mom ushered Scarlett and his father away on a secret mission, leaving her three mates and new brothers-in-law to fend for themselves.

“She’s far too sweet for you,” Adrian commented, staring at the spot Scarlett had just vacated. “She can’t even go hunting with you without burning herself on half of your equipment.”

“She’s not expected to hunt with us,” Mateo countered calmly, but he could already feel Ezra becoming annoyed. After all, no one was allowed to talk down to his princess.

But it seemed Adrian was on a roll. “That’s the whole point, right? Keeping the family business going?”

Now Mateo bristled. “And who are you to talk about ‘family business?’ When was the last time a hunt of yours actually brought in a payment? Because last time I checked you as the heir to all of this, are doing pretty shitty compared to my family’s success.”

Ezra slowly turned his head towards him, and a feeling of love and acceptance swam into Mateo’s mind. Mateo was his family, and admitting that towards his blood brothers was something Ezra hadn’t expected.

“So you call a fucked-up psychopath, a broke carpenter, and a werewolf ro—”

Adrian gasped, a dagger deeply embedded in his shoulder.

Ezra had it out and across the room before anyone could blink.

Adrian then let out a ragged scream. Fabian leapt out of his seat to revenge his brother’s injury, but Vince was up and had his own weapon against the man’s neck before he could move.

Mateo shook his head and rather annoyed, he pushed himself out of his chair.

“You should know better than to insult Ezra, but going after his woman is a whole other ball game.” His parents stormed into the room with Scarlett right behind them, the blood fading from her face.

“Don’t pull that dagger out,” he barked and walked out to the truck.

By the time he found what he wanted and returned, Vince had dropped his blade while Ezra gently soothed Scarlett.

Mateo pulled the dagger from Adrian’s shoulder, letting a few drops of vampire blood heal the wound as he did. “Next time you insult my family, you better have your own to heal whatever damage will be inflicted.”

It was clearly time to leave, so once Adrian had healed—at least his physical scars—Mateo pulled his mother into a hug.

She kissed his cheek and squeezed him tightly. “We can’t wait to come to your ceremony.” Then she turned to Scarlett and kissed her forehead. “Welcome to our chaotic family, Scarlett.”