Page 41 of Fated to the Hunters
“Understandable.”
“They want you dead.”
“Also understandable.”
“Maximilian is looking for Ezra. He thinks he threatened me.”
“In a way, that’s true. Wearea threat to your family. Not because we want to hurt you, but because we will take you away.”
“Hedidhurt me.”
“I know he did, but Ezra sees it a different way.”
“Because technically I wasn’t hurt—physically.”
“That’s exactly it.” He sighed and kissed her hair. “He’s difficult to understand.”
“He’s not right.”
“Psychotic even.”
“Why did Vince do it?”
“I’m not sure. Maybe he knew there was no stopping Ezra. Maybe he was jealous too. I haven’t talked much with him.”
“Why would he be jealous?”
“Another man is closer to you than we are. Ezra doesn’t let on to his feelings a lot, but I think it upsets him that you’re not completely ours.” Mateo inhaled again, absorbing her scent. “I was about to head home when I saw your text.”
She didn’t know what to say, so Scarlett just let him hold her. It felt good in his arms. She even felt the urge to return the embrace. But she didn’t, afraid that she might not be able to let him go again. The bond strengthened every day, and she knew sooner rather than later she wouldn’t go back through the fire exit to her family, but rather let him—them—take her home.
Too afraid that it would be this day, she pulled away and Mateo let her slip from his arms. “Go home, you look tired.”
“You get some rest too, okay?”
Scarlett nodded and turned away. “I think there might be a bubble bath waiting for me.”
Then she let the door fall closed behind her, sealing her off from her gentle mate.
Chapter Fifteen
Mateo
When Mateo finally returned home, the house was dark and quiet, but it wasn’t empty. He could feel the others there. He wasn’t looking forward to confronting them, but spending the last week in the truck hadn’t been great. Yes, it was close to her but so fucking uncomfortable.
He opened the fridge and let out a frustrated groan. It was empty. Neither of the fuckers had even cared to buy food while he’d been gone. At least they’d thrown out the spoiled vegetables. Annoyed out of his mind, he moved on to the freezer and settled on a frozen pizza. He topped it with whatever he could find, then turned his attention to the rest of the house once his dinner was in the oven. The table was still littered with the vampire’s books, letters, and maps that had been marked at certain points.
He started filling a glass with soda when Vince entered the room, grabbing his own pizza from the freezer. He stuck it in the oven without toppings like a neanderthal. Mateo could feel that he had questions, but Vince didn’t say a word. He was dyinginside to know how his mate was. He was most quiet when he truly wanted to ask a question. It was what he’d learned, what he’d been conditioned to do. And right now, Mateo was too bothered by him to answer unspoken questions.
Vince stayed silent through the meal, only speaking once the dishes were cleared and Mateo was starting the dishwasher. He leaned against the island and looked down at his feet. “Did you see her?”
“Yes.” Mateo didn’t care if his words came out snappy. He was still fuming with what they’d done.
He walked off but before he could climb the stairs, Vince asked another question. “How is she?”
“Upset.”
He took another step, but the quiver in Vince’s voice stopped him in his tracks. “What did she say?”
