Page 18 of Fated to the Hunters
“That was all me. I donotwant my ass handed to me by my alpha,” Kurt laughed, ticking the rules off on his fingers. “No kissing, no drinking, and no other naughty stuff for you.”
“Damn, you really know how to limit a girl’s fun,” she teased. “I thought I could finally let my freak flag fly.”
“Not with me you won’t. I like myself with all my limbs still attached, thank you.”
“I’ll behave but only because I want to keep you as my bodyguard,” she laughed.
Scarlett didn’t move for the rest of the night, content to let Kurt wait on her hand and foot. She didn’t care about not being able to drink or find someone to make out with like the others. After all, there were already three men on her mind. She leaned against the tree and sipped her drink, spending the night people watching. Despite the happy, upbeat nature, her heart slowly broke. A few weeks ago, this was exactly what she’d been dreaming about, but getting to experience it now was bittersweet.
After a while, Maximilian returned and crouched down before her with sorrow-filled eyes.
“Time to go back?” she asked.
He nodded. “Sorry.”
Scarlett sighed. “It’s okay.”
“I’ll walk her,” Kurt offered, standing and helping Scarlett to her feet.
She pulled her brother into a hug, stamping a kiss to his cheek. “Thank you.”
He kissed her hair and gently nudged her to go with Kurt, who navigated her through the entwined couples. Scarlett hooked her arm through his elbow, resting her head on his bicep.
It was Kurt who broke the silence. “You know you can always talk to me, right? Because I feel something is going on and I can’t figure out what it is.”
“I know I can. I’m just being an ungrateful brat.”
“You and I both know you’re not a brat.”
“Other than the fact I’m confined to my tower, I have everything I could ever dream of. Some might even call me lucky.”
“Still, don’t call yourself a brat.”
“Only because you asked so sweetly.”
“If anyone else ever called me sweet they’d get punched,” Kurt grumbled.
“I know.”
“Get inside before I get myself and my future alpha in trouble.”
The house was dark by the time Scarlett stepped through the front door. She slipped out of her shoes and was almost safely up the stairs when a shadow moved, and her father stepped out of the office.
“Come here,” he commanded and like a privileged pet, Scarlett obeyed, stepping up to him with her head slightly bowed. “Was Maximilian with you this whole time?”
“Yes. Kurt too.”
“You two are awfully close.”
“I don’t have any other friends,” she said, her voice quivering with the fear that he would take Kurt away too.
“No, you don’t.” Without another word, he stepped around her and disappeared up the stairs into the master.
The entirety of the next day was spent in the kitchen with her mother, preparing dishes and cakes for their evening celebration. It was her mother’s sole purpose in life to organize events like this and the moment Scarlett was old enough, she’d been recruited to help.
With all the food prepared, Scarlett helped her mother carry everything to the tables set up by the lake where they would welcome their new wolves. This year, there would be three joining them. Her father could already feel their presence. When she found a quiet moment, she snuck off with the excuse of changing her outfit.
With some much-needed privacy, Scarlett found that disposable cell phone and dialled the sweet one’s number.
