Page 23 of Taken By The Wolves

“That’s a lot of attention.”

I tilt my head. “Only if you want it.”

Finn folds his arms across his chest and leans against the wall, studying her with the same quiet attention he gives to his carving.

“Most people don’t want to be watched,” she adds, gaze flicking between us. “They want to pretend they’re not being seen at all.”

“Then they’ve never been looked at the right way.” Nixon’s voice commands without raising volume. “When a woman is really seen by someone who knows what they’redoing… it changes things.”

Scarlet shifts in her seat, wine glass trembling slightly as she sets it on the table.

“What if I’m not someone who likes being watched?” she asks.

Finn’s the one who answers, his voice gentle but sure. “Have you tried it? I think you’ll like it”

Scarlet stares at him and smiles. It’s small and a little crooked, tinged with playful danger.

“You’re confident.”

I chuckle. “We’re not offering theory, sweetheart.”

Her laugh is a little shaky, her tongue’s looser than usual, and her eyes are too shiny to lie.

“I can’t believe I’m having this conversation with three men I barely know,” she mutters.

“You’ll know us better soon enough,” Nixon says.

Scarlet arches a brow. “That a threat or a promise?”

“Whichever gets you to stay.”

Andfuck, the way she looks at him after that? Like her whole body listened before her brain caught up.

But then the moment shifts. The flicker of tension, the weight of the wine, maybe too much heat too fast. She sways slightly and stands, blinking as if surprised by the room's movement.

“I think I need a bathroom break,” she says, more to herself than anyone.

Finn’s already up. “End of the hall. Second door.”

She nods, not quite meeting any of our eyes now, and makes her way down the hall, hobbling as she goes.

When she’s out of earshot, Nixon shoots me a glare. “She’s not ready.”

“No shit,” I say. “But she’sthinking about it.”

Finn watches the hallway like he’s already worried she won’t come back out.

“She’s never been with anyone who knew what the fuck todowith her,” I add, quieter now. “You heard what she said.”

Nixon says nothing.

But the look on his face tells me he did, and he plans to rectify it, soon.

10

SCARLET

I splash cool water on my face in the tiny bathroom, gripping the edge of the sink like it might steady more than my body.