Page 34 of Fated to the Hunters
Armed with four ice creams, they made their way to Scarlett. She was already waiting for them, slipping her arms into a fluffy cardigan. As she did, her t-shirt sleeve slipped up and Ezra’s gaze caught on a darkening bruise.
The moment she saw the ice cream Mateo offered, her eyes sparkled. “You made it.”
“Of course we did.”
Ezra, however, stepped up behind her and now that she didn’t pull away, his body hummed. He tugged the sleeve of her cardigan up, revealing her bruise to the others. “Tell me, princess, who do I have to hurt for damaging what is mine?”
“I’m not your property.”
“And yet I will kill your whole fucking pack if you don’t tell me.”
“No one.”
Mateo stepped up to her, brushing his thumb around her darkened skin. “What happened?”
“I fell into a cabinet.”
“And why would you do such thing, little princess?”
“I lost my balance. I’m clumsy.”
“Do tell more,” he pressed further, confident that there was more to the story.
“Let her be,” Mateo scolded. “She doesn’t have to tell us anything she doesn’t want to.”
“She is hurt—again. Her pack is clearly incapable of taking care of her.”
She sighed and shovelled some ice cream into her mouth. “You would just make fun of me anyway.”
Ezra perked up at that. “Oh, sweet little toy, tell me what you have been up to all week that kept you from us.”
Scarlett stayed quiet… for way too long. The guys waited while she finished off her ice cream, holding her hand out for Ezra’s. “I’ll share if you do.”
“Of course.” Ezra handed over his dessert so fast he almost dropped it.
“I felt horrible when I was taken, useless and weak. So, I asked if I could train again.”
“And your father agreed?” Mateo asked, surrendering his ice cream.
Scarlett finished off Ezra’s, happily taking Mateo’s as well. “Yes.”
“So, was it a cabinet that hurt you?” Ezra pushed again.
“Yes. Maximilian was showing me something and when I tried to imitate him, I tripped, and he wasn’t fast enough to catch me.”
“Do you feel safer now that you’ve been training?” Mateo asked softly.
“I still won’t be able to hold much ground, but I put my foot down and it worked.”
“You don’t have to hold your own ground. We’ll always be there for you,” Ezra promised, pressing a kiss to the bruise and replacing her cardigan.
While Vince stood to the side, silently listening to the conversation, Mateo collected the empty cups. “Has he allowed you to spend more time with your friends?”
“He hasn’t said anything, but he doesn’t have to. Everyone knows how he feels about it.”
“I’m sorry.”
She shrugged and stuffed her hands into her pockets.
