Page 21 of Fated to the Hunters
“Do we need to get you?”
“No.”
“Do you want to talk about what happened?”
“You wouldn’t understand.”
“That doesn’t mean I can’t listen.”
She sighed and pulled the covers over her, hugging a pillow tightly to her chest. “Everything is going right and wrong at the same time. Maximilian wants me to study when he’s alpha, but that doesn’t matter anymore. I won’t even see him become my alpha.”
“You have time, Scarlett. We won’t reveal ourselves as your mates until you’re ready.”
“Theywillfind out. It’s just a matter of time before I lose them.”
“Your brother seems like a reasonable man. Maybe things will change when he becomes alpha.”
“He hates you. They all do.”
A soft sigh echoed through the speaker. “We do have a reputation, don’t we?”
Scarlett paused, realising that she hadn’t heard the others chime in. “Are you alone?”
“For now, but they never stay gone for long.”
She didn’t know what to say, tears still soaking into the pillow beneath her. He too stayed silent, and Scarlett had to admit that she enjoyed his company.
“We don’t want you to lose your family,” he finally said.
“I’m sure you’re devastated about missing family dinners.”
His resulting laugh made her stomach flutter. “They would’ve been a delight to witness.”
“The longer I keep this a secret, the more betrayed they’ll be.”
“They might, but they’re going to feel betrayed no matter what. Go soak up every moment you can, enjoy their company. Then,whenever you’re ready, we’ll be waiting for you. We can’t replace them, but we will take care of you.”
Another sob, and she closed her eyes. She knew they would take care of her—that’s what mates did—but how could she put blind trust into the people that hunted her kind? How could Isis trust them enough to give one of her children to them? Because that’s what she was: one of her goddess’ children and now Isis was giving her to the people who hunted them.
“The others are back. Would you like to speak to them?”
“I don’t have to?”
“Of course you don’t.”
“They’ll be upset.”
“Those are their problems to deal with. You and your needs are most important.”
Scarlett considered it for a moment. “I’d like to.”
She heard him shift and then the sickly sweet, toxic voice of her scary mate. “Oh, little princess. We thought you’d be spending time with your family and pack.”
Almost of their own accord, the words spilled. “I don’t have friends and my father doesn’t approve of the only one that cares enough to spend any time with me. I just sat there with Denise who only came because Maximilian asked her to be nice to me.”
“Does your father not allow you to have friends?” the gentle one asked.
“Why would anyone want to hang out with me when my father watches my every move?”
