Page 58 of A Blackened Bond

She enjoyed her food, always savouring each bite like it’s her first or last. She was also easily moved by the small gestures my brothers showed her. Something niggled at me with the thought.

My beast pushes forward, watching her as her eyes take in as much of the newly decorated town as she can.

“Do you…like Christmas?” My beast chuffs in my head with my words. I wasn’t used to talking to girls. I wasn’t used totalkingmuch in general.

I preferred to avoid people and crowds, the noises irritating both me and my beast with our sensitive senses. Over time, that had become normal for us. I was never a people-person anyway.

“Christmas…I don’t really do much for it. But I enjoy all of this,” She gestures toward the town’s decorations. “I’m not sure what it is about it all, but it just feels…homely.”

“Do you not spend the day with your family?” I ask as my brows pinch together. Don’t normal families do shit on that day? Like spend time together and have weird little traditions?

Then I kick myself, remembering her blonde half-sister from earlier.

Clearly, there was something there. Something that didn’t quite fit together. The look in her sister’s eyes as she stared at Micai…it wasn’t a look you give someone you care for. There was something darker glinting in her eyes that I just didn’t like.

My beast growls lowly in my ears, a sound of agreement ringing out.

A beat of silence passes, and I glance back up toward Micai. A strange look, something dark and reminiscent, forms in her eyes.

“Family? I wouldn’t call it that,” she murmurs before slightly shaking her head. “The Bane Clan holds a Christmas party every year, but…it’s not really my thing.” She looks away, a grim expression taking over her face.

As much as I would love to know more, I can feel this isn’t the time to push her. Clearly, there was more to this than any of us knew. Maybe it wasn’t just her sister that was the problem. Maybe Micai was more like us than any of the others had realised.

For her sake, I hope I was just overthinking things. But if I wasn’t…My beast begins his low growling again, thoughts and images of chaos and carnage flashing through our link. And this time, I fully agree. Her pain wouldn’t go unpunished.

“You didn’t bring your bike today, " she calls, her words more a statement than a question as she tries to change the subject. But there is a genuine curiosity in her gaze.

“Today was an exception.”

“An exception?” She calls, her eyes watching me as my beast bristles, enjoying each drop of attention she gives us.

“This time…I wanted to travel together.” My eyes meet her gaze, dropping to her soft, plump lips as a beat passes between us. A pink blush creeps into her cheeks as I watch her.Was that for me?

“I usually prefer my bike over any other ride.”

Normally, being in a car was like being locked in a metal box—something tight and oppressive that neither I nor my beast liked. But it had been different with Micai there. It was a comfort having her beside us and traveling together with Ezra and Annex.

‘Ours,’my beast growls.‘Pack.’

A grin graces her lips, pulling my attention back toward her as her gaze softens, remembering something. “Itwasfun, the Fight Night.”

Ah.She seemed to enjoy riding with Annex then. Maybe she would be up for another ride, but withmethis time.

The thought has an excitement bubbling up in me until I finally open my mouth, the words falling out with anticipation and hope.

“There’s a place I like to ride to…” My eyes meet hers. “It’s quiet and peaceful.” Her blue eyes watch me, her attention fully mine as I continue. “The ride to it is clear and open and rolls on for miles.”

“Sounds…freeing,” she adds as her rosy lips form a soft smile.

That one word seems to encompass it perfectly.Freedom.

That’s what riding was for me. A break from the world around me, an escape. My own little fragment of peace in this dark world.

A small smile tugs at my lips as I watch her, her blue eyes slightly widening as a small pink shade tints her cheeks. The colour making her look even more beautiful and tantalising.

My hand slightly reaches forward, wanting to feel it on my palm before remembering I don’t have that privilege. Yet.

‘Mate,’he growls softly. ‘Ours.’

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